If you lead an association in 2026, the question isn't whether things are changing – it's which changes actually matter.

In this first episode of the Boardroom Association Podcast for 2026, host Naomi Smith brings together members of the Boardroom Advisory Board to discuss the shifts and decisions shaping association leadership in the year ahead.

Joined by Susan de Bièvre, Senior Association Management Consultant and Managing Director of NATA, and Carlos Lee, Director General of EPIC – the European Photonics Industry Consortium, this conversation explores:

• How geopolitical risk and polarisation are reshaping boardroom decision-making
• The difference between using AI and being genuinely AI-enabled
• Whether event-centric revenue models are still sustainable
• How boards should rethink member journeys, impact, and legacy in 2026

This is Part I of a two-part episode examining the realities association boards must navigate this year and the moves leaders should consider next.

Produced by Boardroom Magazine, in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE).