Episode 71: IBEX & the Future of Boating: Big Industry Conversations from a French Terrace with Anne Dunbar

Welcome back to The Boat Princess podcast and today I am coming to you from the other side of the world at the ICOMIA Congress in La Rochelle, France. In this episode I am having the big boating conversations with Anne Dunbar, the Executive Director of IBEX, International Boat Builders Exhibition and Conference, which serves the North American market. As Covid took over the world, Anne was faced with cancelling live shows and exhibitions and and a workforce crisis. She became instrumental in the road to recovery, leading IBEX, alongside other leadership teams from IFBSO (who have just celebrated 60 years of community and comradery).

Anne shares how even at that level of leadership coming together at the live shows and sharing conversations on stage or ideas in workshops is how they stay connected to the front line and keep the heart beat of the industry going and growing.

With a love of boats for as long as she can remember, Anne actually completed a degree in communications and filming after school and moved to LA with the dream to make movies, and work behind the scenes in production during the days of the new and emerging MTV era. Anne recalls facing the barriers of entry and gender issues, getting her first introduction to the marine industry with an invitation to work at the Long Beach Boat Show, working the booth over a 10 day show. She describes the experience and now provides the advice of taking up opportunities even when you don't feel ready. 'It was so much fun meeting new people, and I just love boats.'

From 'manning' the booth her performance landed her a job selling advertising in the marine industry. 'My job was to go to boat shows and talk to people - it was so aligned.'

Anne eventually moved back to east coast selling that incredible tech called faxing before transferring her skills to IBEX selling exhibition space in 2001. Anne shares her 'breaking the glass ceiling story' and the secrets when it comes to taking on leadership in a male dominated arena, and is well qualified as you'll hear her humbly explain how she transformed the experience of Boat Shows around the world.

With Sydney Boat Show coming up soon 1-4 August join me at my networking event on Saturday morning before show opens and meet Annie Wilmot and Sarah Hoffman to incredible young women competing in the America's Cup for Australia in October!

Book on the link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/CTIJG

Enjoy, let me know what you think, please review and I will see you on the water soon.

www.theboatprincess.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-dunbar-b5b56815/

https://www.ibexshow.com/