Adam Soroka, CEO, Cavendish Ltd Ben Avison, Editorial & Conference Director, Cavendish GroupAf Host City

Speakers: Marie-Josee Adam, VP - Managing Director Events & Experiences, Cirque du Soleil Bobby Hare, Director, Host City Partnerships and Hospitality, ESL Pro League Jonathan Coates, Communications Director, UIPM Joel Lavery, Strategic Lead Major Sporting Events, West Midlands Growth Company Mike Golub, President of Business, SlamBall League Joe D…

Giulio Alessandrini, Director of Venues & Infrastructure, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with Q&A with Ben Avison, Conference DirectorAf Host City

Speakers: Toni Jorba, Head of Event Operations, World Athletics Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Birgitte Nestande, Senior Advisor Sport and Cultural Events, Innovation Norway Martin Boyle, CEO, IAPCO Moderator: Iain Edmondson, Founder, Legacy Delivery and Honorary Member, International Association of Event H…

Speakers: Petra Sörling, IOC Member and President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland Dr Beatriz Garcia, Member, Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission, International Olympic Committee Damien Combredet-Blassel, Director of Impact & Heritage Deputy of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee Cha…

Christina McKelvie MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, ScotlandAf Host City

Joel Lavery, Strategic Lead Major Sporting Events, West Midlands Growth CompanyAf Host City

Jeremiah Yolkut, Vice-President, Global Events, Major League Baseball Stuart Snowden, Founder and Managing Director, IPSEM Squared Trudy Lindblade, CEO, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Moderator: Daniel Cordey, Chairman, Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES)Af Host City

Liese Abili, Vice President of Sports Development, Florida Sports Foundation Mathew Ratner, Director, Sports & Entertainment Tourism, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Consuelo Sanchez, Tourism Assistant Director, Pasco CountyAf Host City

Speakers: Jimena Saldaña, CEO / Secretary General, PanamSports Organization David de Behr, Head of Sales, Major Events, Aggreko David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships, Centre for Sports and Human Rights Annamarie Phelps CBE, Vice-Chair, British Olympic Association and Executive Committee Member, European Olympic Committees Moderato…

Simone Hawkins, International Relations Manager, Air Race X Desmond Barry, Project Manager, Air Race XAf Host City

Speakers: Andrew Ryan, Managing Director, FIBA Media Jack McGill, CEO, QTV Tanya Heimlich-Ng Yuen, Director of Client Services, Two Circles Moderator: Martin Ross, Global News Editor, SportBusinessAf Host City

Vikram Philip Rajkumar, Account Director, Satisfi LabsAf Host City

Stefano Manelli, Director, Citec ItalyAf Host City

Mike Golub, President of Business, SlamBall LeagueAf Host City

Speakers: Jana Wacht, Conference Manager, European Society of Human Genetics Jason Ferguson, Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Brett Williams, Senior Sponsorship Manager, NatWest Group Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers Moderator: Jonathan Coates, Marketing, C…

Hilary Ash, Vice President, Games Delivery & Infrastructure, LA28 in conversation with Ben Avison, Editorial & Conference Director, Cavendish GroupAf Host City

Speakers: Carole Colin Kjaer, Director of Digital, DATA and CRM, Paris 2024 Organising Committee of the 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games Gerdine Lindhout, Head of Marketing Operations & Event Promotion, FIFA Tim Kasper, Account Manager, Sport & Culture, Explore Edmonton Corporation Paul Foster, Founder, OnePlan and VenueTwin Moderator: Siân Jenkins,…

Speakers: Abi Ijasanmi, Chief Operations Officer, Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) John Langford, COO, AEG Europe Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO, 2029 FISU World University Games Susan Deighan, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life Chair: Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotlandAf Host City

David de Behr, Head of Sales, Major Events, AggrekoAf Host City

Host and Presenting Partner: Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotlandAf Host City

Host and Presenting Partner: Susan Deighan, Chief Executive, Glasgow LifeAf Host City

Creating organisational systems of power for good. 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 Shephe…

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 Dir…

What can major event stakeholders do to further tap into female audiences and talent? Speakers: Jennifer Arnold, 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 E…

Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Vice President, Badminton World Federation and IOC MemberAf Host City

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 …

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

How can cities use events, sports, horticulture and creativity to achieve development goals? 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 – In…

Speakers (L-R): Debra Gawrych, Secretary General, International Federation of Sport Climbing David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer, Centre for Sports and Human Rights (moderator) Liese Abili, Vice President of Sports Development at the Florida Sports Foundation Mathew Ratner, Associate Director, Sports & Entertainment Tour…

Tine Eriksen Green, Head of Major Events, City of CopenhagenAf Host City

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? Yiannis Exarchos, CEO, Olympi…

Stefano Manelli, Director, Citec Italy; Transportation Supervisor, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026Af Host City

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 Ma…

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? Speakers: Brendan Williams, Chair of the Athletes Advisory Commission, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Alice John, Head of Economic Growth and Development Advisory, Deloitt…

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games review Ian Ward, Leader, Birmingham City Council with questions from Ben Avison, Conference Director, Host CityAf Host City

Antony Warren, Head of Business Development, World Supercross Championship (WSX) & Founder, Supersize LiveAf Host City

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, Worl…

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 l…

Matthew Astill, Chief Executive Officer, Cavendish Group Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland Ivo Ferriani, President, GAISF, SportAccord, AWOIF and IBSF Ben Avison, Conference Director, Cavendish GroupAf Host City

The art of being yourself to attract visitors Case studies of how destinations have used events to create a destination brand What can cities learn from other sectors about building a marketable brand? Placemaking: how to integrate the design and management of public spaces into major event strategy Speakers: Chloe Targett-Adams, Global Director of…

Destination Showcase of Oman by David Graham, CEO, Oman SailAf Host City

Is it possible to create a common language for measuring the impact of events? What kind of effects should be measured and how? Which of impacts are the most challenging to measure and how can this be overcome? Can local benefits be considered alongside more global concerns? Can hosting events create happier, healthier citizens? Speakers: Frank Lee…

Presentation by Erich Wolf, Managing Director, Red Bull Air RaceAf Host City

Can broadcasters sustain their reach or will they be further disrupted by technology companies? Immersive media and its role in event experience, both at the event and for fans at home Enhancing live event reach in the digital, catch-up world How can eSports contribute to the values and development of sports? Speakers: Stefan Kuerten, Executive Dir…

How major events can drive transport innovation What will urban transport look like in 10 years and what role will major events play in these changes? How technology is transforming the event transport and logistics sector Speakers: Panos Protopsaltis, CEO, Global Event Mobility & Management Solutions (GEMMS) Rutger Alferink, President, Saan Trucki…

Presentation by Michal Buchel, CEO, FIAS - International SAMBO FederationAf Host City

How to design venues that stand the test of time Successful venue operators share experiences of how they maximise footfall and impact How innovations in venues can drive revenue Achieving economic and environmental sustainability With a keynote introduction by: Peter van der Veer, CEO, Rotterdam Ahoy and President, European Arenas Association Spea…

Jean-Francois Martins, Deputy Mayor in charge of Tourism, Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, City of Paris tells the story of Paris Olympic journeyDiogo Taddei, Head of Sports and Events, Egis contributes Paris case studyAf Host City

Shared experiences of major event security strategies The future of access control At what stage should a host city develop a security strategy? Speakers: Patrick Vajda, Senior Consultant, SIACI ST HONORE - S2H Ken Scott, Head of Inspectorate at Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) Billy Garrett, Director of Sports and Events, Glasgow Life Modera…