The Karnataka Event Management Association (KEMA), the premier body representing the state’s event management industry, successfully concluded its 4th Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) and held its first Executive Committee (EC) meeting at Conrad Bengaluru. The milestone gathering brought together over 150 industry leaders, stakeholders, and members to reflect on achievements, chart future growth strategies, and discuss vision setting, governance reset, priority initiatives, operations, and planning for the official installation ceremony.
During the meeting, the newly elected Executive Committee members formally took their oath, committing to uphold their respective responsibilities and work towards building a united, inclusive, and progressive KEMA. The team also reaffirmed the association’s unifying vision statement: “Stronger Together.”
Leading the new team is Tony Stephen, elected President of KEMA. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “This term is deeply personal to me. My priority is to bring our event community closer across cities, roles, and generations and ensure that every professional feels valued and supported. We are building on the trust and foundation laid earlier by strengthening collaboration and listening more closely to every stakeholder. A key focus will be to bridge gaps between hoteliers across Karnataka, event equipment and production partners, and our artists, creating stronger working relationships built on mutual respect, clarity, and shared success. Alongside this, we are creating enabling platforms such as a dedicated Legal Cell and stronger liaison with government authorities to simplify processes and protect the interests of our fraternity. When we stand united, support one another, and move forward with shared purpose, we don’t just build an industry we build a community. And that is what truly makes us stronger together.”
Echoing the sentiment of collective action, Srikant Kanoi, elected Executive Vice President, added, “I’ve already felt the pulse of possibility, and under our President Tony Stephen’s visionary leadership, we will bridge gaps, secure foundations, and chart bold paths forward. I urge each and every member of KEMA to bring their best ideas, strong support, and unwavering commitment in the coming months. Let’s not just attend events—let’s shape them. Be the change our event ecosystem needs.”
Sharing her vision for the association’s next phase, Sucheta Shekhar, elected General Secretary of KEMA, said, “When diverse voices come together with shared intent, the industry grows stronger, fairer, and future-ready. My vision as the General Secretary of KEMA is to champion collaboration grounded in inclusivity—our greatest strength. Together, we lead forward, and together, we are stronger. By aligning our state-level strengths with a unified national platform, we create a powerful ecosystem where knowledge, opportunities, and best practices flow seamlessly across regions. This integration not only amplifies our collective voice but also ensures that our state contributes meaningfully to shaping national industry standards. Unity, inclusion, and collaboration are not merely ideals; they are the foundation of a resilient and progressive industry.”
KEMA, which began as a small group, has rapidly expanded to include 150 registered organizations and witnessed participation from nearly 200 event organizations, reflecting its growing influence across Karnataka’s event ecosystem. The association aims to collaborate and address key industry issues including licensing, start-ups, venues, legal matters, incubation, and more.
As part of its forward-looking roadmap, the Executive Committee also introduced KEMA Konnect, a dedicated knowledge and capability-building platform created exclusively for the event management community. Designed as a series of workshops, masterclasses, and high-impact sessions, the initiative will provide practical insights, trend-based learning, and collaborative skill-building for business owners, partners, senior leaders, employees, artists, and allied professionals.
Through workshops and discussions focused on innovation, operational efficiency, leadership learning, and real-world challenges, KEMA Konnect aims to raise industry standards and strengthen long-term growth across the community—reinforcing KEMA’s core belief in continuous learning and collective progress.
