IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, has announced that six attractions industry leaders were elected to the IAAPA Global Board of Directors for 2025 during a board meeting this week in Amsterdam, where IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 is currently being held.
IAAPA’s global board collaborates with the IAAPA Team on developing the trade association’s strategic priorities. The board approves IAAPA’s Strategic Priorities and annual business plans and oversees the association’s finances. The board also advocates for IAAPA members and the industry in all board decisions, and board members serve as global goodwill ambassadors.
For the six available seats, the IAAPA Governance Committee reviewed 35 applications. After each application was thoroughly considered and debated, the best candidates for second vice chair and treasurer were interviewed. The committee considered professional experience, prior volunteer involvement with IAAPA, experience in the business, and the knowledge and abilities required on the board to successfully advance the association’s strategic aims.
“The extensive selection process was very comprehensive,” says IAAPA Governance Committee chairman Amanda Thompson, Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s CEO and Stageworks Worldwide Productions’s president. The new board members have decades of experience, are proven industry leaders, and I’m confident they will effectively guide IAAPA into the future.”
Meet the new board members
Qiddiya Investment Company’s executive director of entertainment strategy, Christopher Perry, was chosen as IAAPA’s second vice chair for 2025. He will then move to first vice chair in 2026, board chair in 2027, and immediate past chair in 2028. Perry’s global perspective comes from his leadership roles in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and North America and his substantial experience in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
Previously, he led water parks, resorts, cruise lines, and industry suppliers. As a founding member of MENALAC, the Middle East and North Africa industry trade group, Perry helped build the industry. He presented at several IAAPA Expos and regional events, sat on the IAAPA Board from 2013 to 2015, and helped develop and implement the inaugural and successful IAAPA Leadership Conference in Dubai.
The board appointed Liseberg Group CEO and president Andreas Andersen as treasurer from 2025–2027. Andersen has 20 years of industry experience, a master’s in law, and a postgraduate degree in accounting and business administration.
His IAAPA involvement is extensive. He headed the IAAPA Global Board and participated in EMEA regional advisory, governance, strategic planning, sustainability, rebranding, and committee restructuring committees and task forces. Andersen has served on 13 tourism boards and committees. His extensive financial expertise, knowledge of the sector, volunteer history, and enthusiasm for the industry provide him with a unique perspective on association treasurership.
Omid Aminifard, COO and general manager of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, will join the board as a facility director in 2025. During his 30 years in the attractions industry, Aminifard has led SeaWorld in San Diego, various Las Vegas hotels and resorts, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Aminifard now manages daily operations and strategic planning at the Boardwalk, a family-owned amusement park with 40 rides, restaurants, attractions, arcades, a bowling centre, and hotels. Regarding his involvement with IAAPA, he has headed the amusement parks and attractions committee for ten years, managed the education subcommittee for three, and spoken at several IAAPA education sessions, webinars, and events.
Miral’s group CEO, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, was chosen as the IAAPA Global Board facility director for 2025-2027. Al Zaabi helped Miral become Abu Dhabi’s top immersive entertainment curator and developer on Yas Island.
Under his direction, the Miral Group is growing Abu Dhabi’s leisure and entertainment industry, diversifying the region’s economy. He joined the organisation in 2015 and specialises in technology, construction, engineering, strategic planning, and investments.
He was in the top ten of Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Travel and Tourism Leaders in 2024.
Geoff Chutter will serve as IAAPA Global Board MSC director from 2025 to 2027. Chutter is a long-time supporter and advocate of the IAAPA and global attractions industry. He has attended every IAAPA Expo since 1982 and every IAAPA Expo in Europe and Asia. He has attended 84 IAAPA Expos and several regional conferences and activities.
Chutter has extensive knowledge, experience, and understanding of the worldwide attractions sector. In 2019, he received IAAPA’s Outstanding Service Award for his global industry experience, entrepreneurial vision, and awareness of IAAPA members’ needs, both attractions operators and suppliers.
Rene Aziz, CEO of Mexico’s Grupo Divertido, was appointed past chair director of the IAAPA Global Board for 2025–2027. He was chair of the board in 2000 and has more than four decades of industry experience, with a unique Latin American and Caribbean region viewpoint. Aziz has long supported IAAPA as a volunteer and ambassador. He formed two Latin American industry associations and expanded IAAPA’s presence there. He served on the IAAPA Latin America Caribbean Regional Advisory Committee for numerous terms.
These new global board members will begin their terms on December 1, 2024.
IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 opened earlier this week with a historic opening ceremony & record-breaking exhibit floor.
