Building bridges, breaking ceilings

10:45 am – 5:30 pm

1st Day Women in Exhibitions World Summit

During the two days of the summit, participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, share experiences, and connect with fellow professionals passionate about driving positive, sustainable change. Like last year, a high level of interactivity with the delegates will be encouraged. There are also a few surprises in store! This event is subject to Chatham House Rules wherein the content may be shared, but never the identity of the person (not information pertaining to the person).

10:45 am – 11:00 am

Welcome Coffee & Refreshments

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Setting the Scene: Welcome from the moderators

Speakers:

Silvia Forroova, Global Event & Sustainability Strategy Specialist | Mentor | Coach| Speaker | Moderator, Informa Markets

Joseph Kearney, Creative Content Copywriter | Pharma, Informa Markets

11:30 am – 12:15 pm

Kick-off with Transforming Event Experiences: The Power of Experience Design

In today’s evolving event landscape, simply providing a “good time” is no longer enough to drive meaningful business results. This session will explore how Experience Design can enhance every touchpoint—meeting expectations, addressing pain points, and enriching interactions to maximise business value. We’ll also examine how immersive technology and AI, including virtual and augmented reality, AI-driven personalisation, and predictive analytics, can create unforgettable, emotionally resonant experiences. Featuring case studies from the retail and finance sectors, this session is a clear call to action—let’s disrupt our industry!

Speakers:

Valérie Maure, Senior Advisor, Oxygen Advisory

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

Networking Lunch

A moment to relax, enjoy some Italian cuisine and facilitated networking.

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm

Panel Discussion: Planning Your Course, Stepping Up and Moving Forwards

During this session participants will share their experiences in navigating their career paths and transforming challenging circumstances into valuable learning opportunities. Discover what fuelled their confidence to persist, break barriers, and aim for the sky. The panellists will offer insights on the best strategies to secure promotions and advance your career. Additionally, they will provide perspectives from their respective business sectors, including practical advice and industry-specific knowledge.

Speakers:

Danica Tormohlen, VP of Group Content for Meetings, Travels & Sports, Informa Connect

Philippa Christer, Portfolio Director, Montgomery Group

Alison Willis, CEO, Easyfairs UK & Global

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

A Journey of Courage: Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

Michèle Tiley-Hill, Chief Financial Officer of RX Global, was born into a world where tolerance was low and stereotyping widespread. Michèle’s journey is one of courage, of overcoming life’s often tough obstacles to build her career while respecting her values and employing her strengths. During this session, Michèle will share valuable insights on how she dealt with prejudice, coped with tragedy and built bridges to forge ahead.

Speakers:

Michèle Tiley-Hill, Chief Financial Officer, RX

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Networking Break and Refreshments

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Workshops in breakout rooms

Delegates will have the chance to choose between different themes such as: – Speaking in public/confidence building – Embracing cultural differences – Workplace harassment & unwanted attention – Period pains & menopause – How to have difficult conversations – How to ensure psychological safety in the workplace

4:00 pm – 4:45 pm

Panel Discussion: Giving the next generation a voice!

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on what the next generation is seeking in their careers. Our panellists, representing the voices of the emerging workforce, will share their experiences and aspirations. We will explore their expectations from senior leaders and discuss actionable strategies that organizations can implement to attract and retain top talent. Discover how to align your company’s values and culture with the needs of the next generation to create a thriving, innovative workplace. We’ll also hear from Joy Hurrell (+1 year later!) who was with us last year in Maastricht…

Speakers:

Elisabeth Biedermann, Content Creator, Conteo AG

4:45 pm – 5:15 pm

Fireside chat – Breaking ceilings

Lori will reflect on the different experiences in her career and how she managed to break through the glass ceiling, and change business sector. Lori will provide insight into the catalysts in her career, and the role that building bridges has played. Sometimes we all need to take bold action and go somewhere different.

Speakers:

Lori Hoinkes, Chief Executive, Manchester Central

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm

Summary and highlights of the day

Speakers:

Silvia Forroova, Global Event & Sustainability Strategy Specialist | Mentor | Coach| Speaker | Moderator, Informa Markets

Joseph Kearney, Creative Content Copywriter | Pharma, Informa Markets

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Olive Oil Tasting & Networking Dinner

9:00 am – 2:30 pm

2nd Day Women in Exhibitions World Summit

This event is subject to Chatham House Rules wherein the content may be shared, but never the identity of the person (not information pertaining to the person).

8:30 am – 9:00 am

Welcome Refreshments

9:00 am – 9:45 am

Women Speaking Up from Different Regions!

This session will bring together inspiring representatives from diverse regions across the globe, with each speaker providing insights into the unique factors that have shaped their regional experiences. The discussion will explore how they have successfully navigated challenges and highlight region-specific strategies and approaches that have fostered success. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives that resonate globally while offering practical takeaways for their regional contexts.

Speakers:

Donna Hyland, General Manager – Middle East, GES

Eva Klinger, Director Sales & Marketing Guest Events, Messe Frankfurt

9:45 am – 10:30 am

Panel Discussion: Embracing Diversity: Strategies for Inclusive Success

As our client base becomes increasingly diverse and inclusive, it’s imperative that we follow suit. Beyond the ethical responsibility, there are significant commercial benefits to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. In this session, we will delve into the concrete measures organizations have taken to promote diversity and inclusion. Our panel will share what has proven effective, what hasn’t, and the lessons learned along the way. Join us to explore practical strategies for creating a more inclusive and successful business.

Speakers:

Ruth Creely, Group EA & Head of Culture, Nineteen Group

Mike Sealy, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Informa Markets

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Networking Refreshments

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Keynote: Be Inspirational, Be You

11:30 am – 12:15 am

Panel discussion: Perceptions and views from both sides of the fence!

One of the key benefits of a diverse workforce is its enhanced ability to understand and meet client needs. In this session, we will hear from experienced women who have worked on both sides of the event industry. They will share valuable insights into client expectations and needs, shedding light on what we are doing right and where we need to improve. Join us to explore strategies to better serve our clients and identify areas where we can focus our efforts to achieve greater success.

Speakers:

Nadra Mohy el Dine, Managing Director, EMEA, Kubik

Diddy Durant, Director of Global Business Development, Amsterdam Rai

12:15 am – 12:30 am

Wrap-up and Closing

Speakers:

Silvia Forroova, Global Event & Sustainability Strategy Specialist | Mentor | Coach| Speaker | Moderator, Informa Markets

Joseph Kearney, Creative Content Copywriter | Pharma, Informa Markets

12:30 am – 2:00 pm

Networking Lunch

With a little olive oil surprise or two.