Matt Stalker has officially stepped into the role of executive director at ABPCO, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the professional body sector to the association.
He will be in attendance at this week’s ABPCO Excellence Awards in Manchester, joining finalists and industry leaders to celebrate outstanding work and to wish outgoing executive director Heather Lishman well in her retirement.
Stalker’s background spans senior commercial, marketing, and public relations roles, most recently at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), where he led commercial strategy, managed an international multidisciplinary team, and delivered growth across training, events, publishing, and advertising. He is also a CIM Chartered Marketer and a CIPR Accredited PR Practitioner.
Since starting on 1 December, Stalker has met with ABPCO’s co-chairs, executive team, task force leaders, industry partners, and suppliers. He said he is impressed with ABPCO’s reputation and is keen to build on the foundations laid by Heather Lishman.
“I’m thrilled to be joining ABPCO and in the New Year I’m looking forward to working closely with our executive team and taskforces,” Stalker said. “The ABPCO Excellence Awards in Manchester is incredibly exciting and impressive and an ideal opportunity for me to engage with as many members as possible to better understand their needs. There’s no doubt it will be the start of many interesting and productive conversations and, of course, the time to celebrate the outstanding achievements within our community. I’m looking forward to building an even brighter future for ABPCO as we move into 2026.”
Stalker’s appointment marks a new chapter for ABPCO as it continues to deliver education, networking, and development opportunities that support members’ growth and career success.
