The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), a technical trade event for the recreational marine industry in North America, has announced its programme of presentations, panel discussions and technical seminars for the 2025 IBEX Education Conference.
IBEX 2025 is scheduled for 7–9 October at the Tampa Convention Centre in Florida, with a theme this year of ‘Fast Forward’.
The IBEX Main Stage will feature daily sessions covering subjects including tariffs, trade, supply chain management and workforce development. Speakers include Robyn Boerstling, senior vice president, government relations at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA); former NMMA president Dr Thomas Dammrich; Freedom Boat Club president Cecil Cohn; and National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) president and executive director Mark Reedenauer.
The technical Seminar Series, produced in collaboration with Professional BoatBuilder magazine, the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), the NMEA and IBEX co-owner the NMMA, will include more than 50 individual sessions. Topics include artificial intelligence for safety and autonomy at sea, consistency in yacht coatings, foil design for recreational boats, engine room inspections, advances in digital switching, and subcontractor integration. Attendees can earn one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for each verified hour of seminar participation.
Free Tech Talk workshops will run throughout the three-day event in the Tech Talk Theatre, with topics ranging from brand loyalty to design protection. Pre-Conference sessions hosted by exhibitors will also be available.
On 9 October, IBEX and ABYC will host a Student Career Day for students from technical schools. This includes access to exhibit halls, networking opportunities and demonstrations. The IBEX app will offer a Career Day Connections map to help students identify exhibitors offering job openings and interactive experiences.
The Education Conference schedule is available on the IBEX website. Registration is currently open, with early bird pricing available until 5 September 2025.
“IBEX serves as a central hub for collaboration and real-time problem solving to bring together some of the brightest minds in boatbuilding, with its educational lineup at the cornerstone,” says Mary Velline, IBEX show director. “We know that our industry is facing new challenges every day, and the best way to face those challenges is by learning and working together. We are very excited to bring educational opportunities to every level of marine business through this year’s expanded schedule.”
Earlier this year, IBEX organisers confirmed the show will adopt a new event schedule beginning in 2027, shifting from its traditional October dates to a December timeframe.
The show will continue to take place in Tampa, Florida, with the 2027 edition set for 7 to 9 December at the Tampa Convention Centre.
Organisers say the decision to revise the schedule follows feedback from industry stakeholders and exhibitors. The main aim is to reduce disruption caused by hurricane season in Florida. In 2022, IBEX was cancelled as Hurricane Ian intensified swiftly before making landfall in southwest Florida, becoming the state’s costliest hurricane to date and resulting in over 150 fatalities.
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