The President of Symposium Cracoviense has taken 41st place in a European ranking of PCO leaders. The Meetings Star ranking assesses the experience and leadership of congress agency executives, as well as their organisations’ ability to deliver association congresses professionally. Anna Jędrocha, President of Symposium Cracoviense, is ranked 41st in the Top 50 PCO Leaders 2026 and is the only person from Poland on the list. The ranking is published by KONGRES New Europe Meetings Industry Magazine.
The distinction recognises both the leader and the company they head, assessed together under the methodology as a “Leader–Agency Pair”. This is an important distinction: the ranking is not simply a list of well-known names or an assessment of a single event. It considers the leader’s capabilities alongside the agency’s proven ability to manage institutional congresses.
What does the PCO Leaders ranking assess?
The PCO Agencies methodology comprises 50 criteria worth 100 points. Forty criteria shared by the leader and agency assessment account for 60 points, while the ten criteria specific to the PCO category make up the remaining 40. The assessment considers, among other areas, the executive’s leadership and accountability, as well as the agency’s ability to manage a congress as a complex process involving delegates, the programme, finances and stakeholders.
The assessment is based on current, verifiable evidence. The methodology calls for a review of three completed congresses from the previous 24 months, including at least one delivered within the most recent 12 months. Areas considered include delegate management, the quality of the scientific programme, sponsorship, technology, compliance and lasting impact. The ranking is not based on a public vote, and a leader’s reputation alone cannot replace evidence of their work.
Experience in congress management
Symposium Cracoviense has operated in the meetings industry for many years, specialising in congresses and conferences. Anna Jędrocha has been associated with the company since its early years. Her experience combines agency leadership with a commitment to the development of Poland’s meetings industry and the promotion of Kraków as a destination for international events.
One example of Symposium Cracoviense’s international work was its role as local partner for the 2022 ICCA Congress in Kraków. The congress brings together representatives of the global association meetings community. Hosting it in Kraków provided an opportunity to showcase the city and its local event infrastructure to industry decision-makers from a range of markets.
For a PCO, acting as a local partner involves more than logistical support. It calls for detailed knowledge of local suppliers and infrastructure, effective collaboration with the organiser, and the ability to translate an international association’s requirements into a practical delivery plan. These capabilities contribute both to the smooth running of a congress and to the delegate experience.
Symposium Cracoviense holds a Recommended PCO certificate for 2025–2026, awarded by Poland Convention Bureau, part of the Polish Tourism Organisation.
Leadership and the international promotion of Poland
Anna Jędrocha’s career also includes involvement in national industry organisations and the international promotion of Kraków and Poland. For PCO leaders, this work complements day-to-day operational responsibilities. Building relationships with associations and professional communities can raise a destination’s profile, while in-depth local knowledge helps shape proposals that meet congress organisers’ needs.
Jędrocha’s position in the ranking highlights the role Polish PCOs play in Europe’s meetings industry. Their work extends beyond event delivery to coordinating multiple partners, managing financial and operational responsibilities, and supporting associations as they organise meetings with an international reach.
The full list is available on the KONGRES website.
