2022 Agenda

PANEL 1: What are the new realities and how can we shape them?
What forces are driving the world of major events today? Where will the events industry be in five years’ time? What have we learned from the pandemic and COP? Do in-person major events have perennial value, or do we need to find a different model? How can we respond to inflation and cost constraints? Where will the balance lie between global and local audiences? And what role can events play in progressing diversity, equity and inclusion?

Speakers:
Ivo Ferriani, President, GAISF, SportAccord, AWOIF and IBSF
Sam Ramsamy, Honorary Member, IOC and Vice President, FINA
David De Behr, Head of Sales, Major Events, Aggreko
Susan Deighan, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life
Chair: Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland

PANEL 2: New event concepts – disruption and synergy
Will new event concepts like the Commonwealth Esports Games, festivals in the metaverse and hybrid conferences continue to emerge, or are we seeing a post-covid return to traditionalism?
Where are the synergies between rights holders and event hosts, and how can they support each other’s development?

Speakers:
Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball-Softball Confederation
Tine Eriksen Green, Head of Major Events, City of Copenhagen
Prof. Andy Miah, Metaverse Council & Commission Member, Global Esports Federation
Moderator: Robbie Clyde, Head of EventScotland, VisitScotland

PANEL 3: The future fan
Who is the future fan? What do they want? Are they online, ethical, busier, younger or older? What can we learn from other industries who have embraced the customer journey? How do we convert data to growth?

Speakers:
Brendan Williams, Chair of the Athletes Advisory Commission, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
Alice John, Head of Economic Growth and Development Advisory, Deloitte’s Sports Business Group
Mate Bor, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President, FITEQ AND Gergely Murány, Head of Diplomatic Relations, FITEQ
Jonny Murch, CEO / Founder, Redtorch
Jonathan Coates, Marketing, Communications and Events Manager, ESA (European Sponsorship Association) and Communications Manager, UIPM
Moderator: Mike Laflin, CEO & Founder, Global Sustainable Sport

Panel 4: Partnership paradigms of event hosting and delivery
Good relationships between rights holders, hosts, organisers, suppliers and sponsors are essential to deliver positive events. How are these relationships being fostered and nurtured?

Speakers include:
Hilary Atkinson, Director, FIH Pro League & Olympic Games, International Hockey Federation (FIH)
Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh
Helen Marriage, Director, Artichoke
Moderator: Jonny Gray, Senior Managing Director, Ankura

Panel 5: Unlocking the power of technology to deliver events to fans
Events are generating ever more sophisticated data about their audiences, but how can they capitalise on this knowledge? How do we convert data to growth? And how should we give fans access to content? What opportunities and challenges do digital twins, the metaverse, VR and AR present for major events and host cities?

Speakers:
Yiannis Exarchos, Director, Olympic Channel Services, International Olympic Committee
John Tweardy, Managing Partner - Olympic, Paralympic & Major Events Practice, Deloitte
Andy Meikle, Founder and CEO, Recast
Catherine Chapman, Senior Programme Manager, Wiz-Team
Moderator: Martin Fitchie, Director, Motion Technology Services

Panel 6: How events make a “world sports capital”

Speakers:
Debra Gawrych, Secretary General, International Federation of Sport Climbing
Liese Abili, Vice President of Sports Development at the Florida Sports Foundation
Mathew Ratner, Associate Director, Sports & Entertainment Tourism, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Miami
Jennifer Arnold, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, U.S. Soccer Foundation
Moderator: David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer, Centre for Sports and Human Rights*

Panel 7: Cities of the future
How can urban design impact health and wellbeing? What kind of leisure facilities are needed for a changing economy and habits? How can events bring economic diversification and increase participation?

Speakers:
Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers
Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka
Sandra Wall, Creative industries, Event and Meetings, Norrköping Municipality - UNESCO City of music​
Moderator: Andrew Dixon, Director, Culture, Creativity, Place

Panel 8: Showcasing the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships
Will new event concepts like the Cycling World Championships, the Commonwealth Esports Games, festivals in the metaverse and hybrid conferences continue to emerge, or are we seeing a post-covid return to traditionalism?

Speakers:
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland
David Lappartient, President, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
Moderator: Martin Ross, Global News Editor, SportBusiness

Panel 9: Sustainability solutions in action - Sponsored by Aggreko
There are many tools available to make events more sustainable, but how can we incentivise their deployment? How can events account for carbon? And how should we design and adapt events with social sustainability in mind?

Speakers:
Georgina Grenon, Director of Environmental Excellence, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Arlette Anderson, Director of Sustainable Golf, The R&A
David Stubbs, Independent Sustainability Expert
Richard Bate, Chief Safety & Sustainability Officer, EBK Grand Prix and Vice President, IOSH
Moderator: Daniel Cordey, Chairman, Association of Global Event Suppliers

Panel 10: The rise of women's sport and entertainment
What can major event stakeholders do to further tap into female audiences and talent?

Speakers:
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Vice President, Badminton World Federation and IOC Member
Jennifer Arnold, Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications, U.S. Soccer Foundation
Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, Managing Director, Global Sports Leader
Claire Nelson, CEO, Netball Scotland and Sirens Netball Superleague Club
Moderator: Duncan Mackay, Founding Editor, insidethegames.biz

Panel 11: Justifying the impact and benefit of events
What kind of impacts and benefits do events bring and are we demonstrating them all? Why are social benefits becoming more important to prove? How can events help governments to achieve multiple policy goals?

Speakers:
Toni Jorba, Head of Event Operations, World Athletics
Perttu Pesä, Director, Major Events, City of Tampere
Jack Nixon, Strategy Director, Nielsen Sports
Moderator: Iain Edmondson, Founder, Legacy Delivery and Honorary Member, IAEH

Panel 12: Designing a better events industry
Creating organisational systems of power for good. Succession planning for diversity and sustainability. How can we attract young people to the events industry, and deal with the shortage of skills and labour?

Speakers:
Martin Boyle, CEO, The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO)
Jason Ferguson, Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
Gayle Shepherd, Director of People, Projects and Technology, Scottish Event Campus (SEC)
Moderator: Chris Barrett, Editor, Access All Areas