PPAI kicked off its International Leadership Summit Monday in Brussel, Belgium. The tentpole event of PPAI’s global presence, ILS emphasizes the Association’s intent to expand its global voice, develop international alliances and support a more connected worldwide branded merchandise community.

  • The event convenes global leaders and industry experts from the branded merchandise sector for three days of engaging dialogue and strategic discussions.
  • In its second year, ILS serves one of the Priority Lanes of PPAI’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which is International Partnerships and Advocacy.

Record-Breaking Polar Explorer + Panels and Content

After a lunch and opening remarks, ILS kicked off with a series of speakers and panels that inspired the audience and provided content that could bridge conversations for the branded merch market from one country to the next.

Attendees were treated to a keynote session from Ben Saunders, a polar explorer, who has broken records in some of the coldest conditions. His session was titled, “Leading In Extreme Environments: Lessons from An Arctic Explorer and Tech CEO.”

  • He holds the world record for the longest human-powered polar journey in history, a 108-day, 1,800-mile return journey to the South Pole (69 consecutive marathons, dragging 440 pounds of supplies).
  • He’s also the youngest person to ski solo to the North Pole, spending 72 days alone on the Arctic Ocean in the worst conditions in 25 years, and the third person in history to ski solo to both poles.

Saunders described his record journey as “a tough camping trip,” reflecting the understated humor and honesty that define his leadership style. For a conference that would touch on differences in trends between countries in the industry, Saunders was able to begin the journey together by helping everyone find common ground as humans who can persevere through hardships.

Other Monday sessions included:

  • “China, What’s Next?” featuring Fred Sengers, professional speaker and Dutch journalist considered an expert on China.
  • “The Next Era of Product Creation: Compliance, Sustainability and Responsible Trade,” moderated by Elizabeth Wimbush, CAS, PPAI’s director of sustainability and responsibility and a panel of experts.