Held in the RDS Dublin, 11-13 September 2025, The 14th Autism Europe Congress hosted by Ireland’s national autism charity, AsIAm, delivered on intentional change established well before the functional planning of the congress began.
Noel Mitchell, Chairman & Managing Director of Keynote PCO reflects on how the Conference Ambassador, AsIAm Founder & CEO, Adam Harris, seized upon the opportunity to deliver real and meaningful change for autistic people both at home and away.
“What would the impact be of having an event of this scale here in Dublin, what would be the legacy in terms of the life for autistic people – or as we talk about it at AsIAm in simple terms – that vision of an Ireland where every autistic person is accepted as they are? And critically, where every autistic person has the same chance to live, learn, work, and play in the community,” said Harris.
Harris’s vision was for a Theory of Change, and with the support of the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, the Autism Europe Congress was piloted as an intentional impact project. This involved the implementation of Fáilte Ireland’s Association Conference Impact and Legacy framework, co-developed with Ireland’s Business Events Ecosystem and #MEET4IMPACT, meaning that Keynote PCO were able to execute on the vision outlined by AsIAm when co-designing the congress.
The partnership between AsIAm, Keynote PCO and Fáilte Ireland, meant that the congress was flipped from being medic-led to autistic led. From top down to bottom up.
And the reaction from Mitchell says it all – proof that the promise of the IAPCO membership to their clients that the art of effective delivery lies at the outset, that a keen pair of ears are the most essential tools for creating positive change including the legacy of the Fáilte Ireland ‘Business Access Checklists’ set to recalibrate accessibility across all genres of meetings held in Ireland.
You can view the Fáilte Ireland AEC 2025 Case Study below, winner of the ICCA and BestCities Incredible Impact Seed Grant Award 2025.
Further Learning:
Autism Europe Congress: From Inclusion to Impact – Redefining What’s Possible Through Cocreation – Fáilte Ireland Case Study
Keynote PCO – Providing Specialised Conference Management Services in Ireland
IAPCO – Promoting Excellence in Professional Congress Organisation
#MEET4IMPACT – BE Impactful Framework for Business Events
Incredible Impacts Programme – Celebrating the Lasting Impacts of Association Meetings
Fáilte Ireland Business Access Checklists – Helping businesses to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for guests with diverse abilities
