When Expertise Aligns: The Story Behind Our ABPCO Award Nomination
In just over a week, we’ll be heading to Manchester for the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) Excellence Awards. It’s one of the moments each year when we get to pause, come together with fellow PCOs, venues and suppliers, and celebrate everything that makes our industry so special.
This year feels especially meaningful for us at OD&V: we’ve been shortlisted for the Best Partnership Award for our work with the convention bureau, Meet Cambridge. Being selected has encouraged us to reflect on the value of deep collaboration within our sector - and how much stronger our work becomes when we combine expertise, align purpose, and genuinely support one another. It has also reminded us of the tangible benefits this brings to our clients, who gain access to wider networks, smoother planning journeys, and solutions shaped by multiple perspectives.
OD&V’s directors Rose & Madalina have been long-standing supporters of ABPCO’s mission to champion PCOs working in association events. The guidance, advocacy and the opportunities that ABPCO provides for learning, exchanging ideas and collaborating have played a significant role in OD&V’s development over the years.
Our nomination alongside Meet Cambridge is, in many ways, the culmination of a decade of working side by side. Together, we’ve welcomed eight high-profile international conferences to Cambridge, enabling more than 2,000 delegates from around the world to share research, build connections, and experience the city at its best.
What makes this collaboration so impactful is how naturally our strengths complement one another. OD&V brings a purpose-led, inclusive approach to conference design and delivery, while Meet Cambridge contributes deep local knowledge, venue coordination, and strategic stakeholder insight. This shared way of working has given our clients an exceptional foundation, supporting them to deliver events with meaningful, lasting impact.
Through our combined efforts, clients have been able to:
- Offer bursary programmes that widen participation
- Achieve an estimated £1.5m in economic benefit for the region
- Embed environmental and social sustainability, from using local suppliers in catering, AV and branding to creating community-rooted social and partner programmes
- Promote and support initiatives like Meet Up & Make a Difference, and collaborate with local charities to distribute surplus food
- Navigate logistics more efficiently, with clearer communication and access to trusted local networks
- Provide delegates with a more seamless, welcoming and memorable conference experience
For OD&V, this nomination is more than an acknowledgement of past achievements - it’s a celebration of what’s possible when trust, shared purpose, and genuine connection underpin the work.
Whatever happens in Manchester on the 12th of December, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built with Meet Cambridge, and we’re excited to continue strengthening this partnership as we look ahead to 2026 and beyond.
Check out the e-poster that we submitted for the nomination!
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