Season 3 Guests
Annick Ireland, CEO & Founder of premium ethical & sustainable fashion platform Immaculate Vegan www.immaculatevegan.com
Immaculate Vegan is here to help people buy better. We search the world for the most covetable ethical & sustainable brands, all available to buy under one beautifully designed roof. We give you the labels you’ll want to get behind, the products you’ll feel proud to purchase, and all the information and inspiration you need to start living a more ethical and sustainable life – stylishly.
Immaculate Vegan have been featured on BBC News, and in Vogue, Marie Claire, the Stylist, GQ, Evening Standard and YOU Magazine and now, the Waves Connects Podcast ;-)
Duncan Reid, Reset Connect
With over 20 years experience running large-scale events & media products, Duncan has led award-winning exhibition, conference & publishing teams in the US, UK and across the world. Previous awards include Best Trade show and Best Conference at the UK's AEO & EN awards, and Trade Show Executive Fastest 50 in the US. He is past-Chairman of the UK's AEO Development Board.
Duncan is currently consulting for Event tech and entrepreneurial start-ups.
Iain Pitt, Managing Director, Clarion Events
Iain has 20 years’ experience in the live events working across a broad range of products, sectors and international markets. Prior to joining Clarion, Iain founded the Energy Council, the world’s leading conference organiser for the O&G industry that saw a successful exit in 2015.
Since 2015, Iain has been part of the management team at Clarion with oversight for various portfolios. Iain was previously a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was given the honour to close the New York Stock Exchange in June 2019
Season 2 Guests
Marco Giberti, ReInventing Live
Marco is a successful entrepreneur and investor with more than 25 years of intensive experience as Co-Founder and CEO in media, technology, and the events industry companies. In this capacity, he sits on Boards of Directors as well as on advisory boards and he assists co-founders and CEOs in consultative capacities to help drive business planning, growth, and strategy.
Marco is Founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures, providing early stage entrepreneurs access to coaching, partnerships, advisory, and capital.
Listen to Marco on episode 13 of season 2.
You can buy Marco’s new book Reinventing Live, the always on future of events here
Nolan O’Connor, NOC Events
Nolan is a seasoned marketing professional with over 20 years’ experience in the events industry. He started life at Haymarket Exhibitions looking after the biggest shows in the business before taking the role of Marketing Director at Centaur Media for five years and currently spends part of his time working as Marketing Director on SmartCitiesWorld - a publishing product he researched and launched in 2015.
His experience has crossed many sectors from B2B and B2C with events including Autosport International, Max Power, and Urban Games to launching Marketing Week Live, National Home Improvement Show and the Performance Car Show amongst many others.
His role at NOC Events sees him consulting to event organisers on planning new, and different, strategic marketing initiatives that drive audiences in this new digital world. His experience of working with the retail industry and how they are utilising the latest marketing techniques has helped him apply numerous ideas to the events industry.
Catch up with him on Linkedin Here
Sabrina Meyers, Founder, Hot Hospitality Exchange
Sabrina Meyers is the Event Industry’s GO-TO on all things social media and how to effectively use social media to optimise online visibility for professionals, brands and businesses. She specialises in social media strategy for events as well as social media campaigns for hotels, venues, shows and destinations in the industry. She is founder of Hot Hospitality Exchange, her brand where she actively creates online content for, from and with the event community across a plethora of social media platforms (as expected) from her own YouTube Channel to newest social kid on the block, Clubhouse. She is also an experienced speaker and virtual event moderator. Be sure to follow her on handle @hothospitalitye on all popular social media platforms.
Dahlia el Gazaar - Dahlia+
Dahlia has an OMG-attitude about all things tech and audience engagement solutions. With more than a decade of experience in the meetings and events sector, working on both the professional planning side and as an association collaborator, Dahlia is known as the coffee-fuelled ‘go-to’ source for trend-setting solutions, tech news, and social media expertise.
I first Met Dahlia we think in 2009 and have been friends ever since. Always one to share her opinion and never afraid to step into the fold, Dahlia shared her thoughts on what lay ahead for “event communities” of the future in Episode 9 of season 2 of the Waves Connects Podcast.
She wants you to break the status quo and #getshiftdone!
Andy Hickinbotham is Sales Director at Human Built.
Originally trained as a 3D designer, Andy has never really lost his creative leanings.
Having worked within the exhibition and events sector for many years, his journeys have included every sector and most geographies.
A lover of both commercial analytics and lyrical metaphor, he’s always on the prowl looking for ways to help improve the profile and power of the sector.
Andy was our guest on episode seven of season two.
Listen to the Waves Connects Podcast episode here.
Adam Barber, Managing Director of Tamarindo Group.
A recognised industry commentator within the finance and renewable energy markets, Adam left a City-based investor relations firm to found A Word About Wind in 2010. Having first published A Word About Wind in November of that same year, Adam remains an active participant and commentator on the conference circuit and plays a key role in the strategic development of the membership platform and service.
Jo-Anne Kelleway is CEO of the Infosalons Group part of the Freemans family.
An entrepreneur at heart, Jo-Anne started a registration business back in the 90s when knowing who your visitors were wasn’t the number one factor for organisers. While opening offices throughout China, Asia and The Middle East she continued to prepare her clients on the importance of their data. In 2018 the Freeman Company decided to acquire Jo-Anne’s business. Today Info Salons Group is the leading data, technology and registration business around the globe. She continues to work with Freeman to expand the data business even further for them.
We had great fun at all times of the day talking with Stephanie Selesnick about all things 2021. Have a listen here.
Stephanie Selesnick is President of International Trade Information.
A second-generation trade show enthusiast, Stephanie began working trade shows at a young age and is passionate about helping internationalize the world, one show at a time. She has worked on different types of exhibitions and events in many industries both online all over the world.
Stephanie is a frequent domestic and global speaker and blogger for the industry including UFI, Exhibition World and is also the co-founder of #ExpoChat the weekly tweetchat for the expo industry.
Steph specialises in all things trade show related, international training, coaching, content development, virtual anything, writing, blogging and is a well experienced and connected #eventsprofs. You always come away from a conversation with Steph feeling inspired.
Find out more about Steph here and listen to our podcast here.
Tim Manning is executive producer at Jack Morton Worldwide.
The unique blend of experience design, brand strategy and customer service drawn from years working with 5 star hotel brands, brand experience and marketing agencies allows Tim the privileged oversight and ability to blend a number of relevant strategic disciplines.
Delivering magic moments through customer journeys, experiences, storytelling with an understanding of what is current thinking for the audience type and well as having a track record delivering what will work.
Landmark moments including the blend of customer experience and neuroscience to sell 500 Ford Mustangs, at full price, during the Champions League Final 2015 for Ford and the use of storytelling and customer experience to retail $175,000 of DVD’s in two days from a small exhibition stand for Paramount (repeated twice!)
Helen Harlow is director at Benchmark Collective.
Helen has 18 years experience within the events industry working within event management, logistics, taking on brand ambassador roles, managing sports hospitality but her favourite passion is onsite global exhibition sales and rebook. Following a former successful career as a professional Dancer and Singer in Musicals like 'Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang' and 'Singing in the Rain', she hung up her tap shoes and fully immersed herself in the exhibition scene globally.
As a proud Co-Director of Benchmark Collective, Helen is helping sales people and teams reach their full potential, training them on the customer centric and social styles approach, reigniting their passion for their role and motivating them to smash targets and bring in early revenue! Since starting the rebooking rounds, Helen has worked with over 120 sales teams in over 45 different industries globally from Russia to China, USA to South Africa, through Europe and back to Blighty…and yes, she loves to travel! Good job really.
Helen always bring a sense of theatre to her training and sales techniques, which both teams and exhibitors seem to enjoy...once a performer, always a performer!
Stephan Forseilles is CTO of Easyfairs.
His short story is he migrated from the telecom industry to exhibitions 15 years ago and is passionate about digital.
For something a little more in-depth….
After studying computer sciences and a first life in the telecoms world, Stephan joined the exhibition industry 15 years ago. He is currently the Head of Technology and Digital Transformation (aka CTO) for Easyfairs. He is also active in industry initiatives like UFI’s Digital Innovation Workgroup and MBB Consulting’s Exhibitions Think Tank. A regular speaker at live and online gatherings on event technology and digital transformation, he is passionate about helping the industry to get in better shape and more customer-oriented for the future.
Jasper Squier is Managing Director of Intergalactic, which has offices in London and Vancouver. In his close to two-decade career, Jasper worked agency side throughout, in marketing, events and technology, for clients such as BMW, Sainsburys, Barclays, Sony Ericsson, Unilever and many others. In 2011, at Dare, he worked on the London 2012 Olympic app, which led to joining the Intergalactic team in 2014 to set up the European operation.
Intergalactic is a Creative Tech company, established in 2004, whose mission is to create ground-breaking digital experiences for their clients. Intergalactic's experience spans events, enterprise and real estate. The client list ranges from Enterprise brands, such as Microsoft and Cisco, globally renowned events such as SXSW and Sundance Film Festival, as well as collaborating with global agencies such as Ogilvy and George P Johnson. Over the past 2 years, Intergalactic has been developing in house tech products, of which Event XR, their virtual event solution, is one.
Season 1 Guests
My first guest on Season Two of the Waves Connects Podcast, Parry Malm, CEO of Phrasee. Parry is the CEO and founder of Phrasee. Phrasee empowers global brands with AI-powered copywriting. Parry has over 15 years’ experience working with countless brands to optimise marketing results. A leading expert on digital marketing, Parry combines this expertise with an extensive background in computer science, statistics, and commercialising artificial intelligence.
After identifying a need for improved optimisation in the digital marketing industry, Parry founded Phrasee in 2015 and went on to be named Tech Entrepreneur of the year at 2016’s UK Business Awards. More recently, Phrasee was recognised by CB Insights as 2017’s Most Innovative AI Company.
Tamar Beck | Gleanin
Tamar is CEO of Gleanin.com - a platform that empowers event marketers, with word of mouth community marketing tools, to create market leading events. For 15 years prior to launching Gleanin in 2012, Tamar was a group exhibition director at Reed Exhibitions.
Tamar talked to us about trust and transparency and what that means for your customer relationships, your team and what it means for your business.
Katie Morhen | 52Eight3
Katie Morhen is Director at 52eight3, a marketing and PR service provider dedicated to events and event tech. In 2016, Katie created 52eight3 to support event tech, suppliers and venues companies launch into the world of exhibitions, conferences and live events, giving them exposure to key buyers and drive sales. Using skills and experience gained over fifteen years in the industry, Katie drives the 52eight3 mission to support companies in the events community by promoting technological innovation, crafting the optimum attendee experience, delivering new audiences and cultivating an empowered events community.
Jason Allan Scott | A Podcast Co
Jas Allan Scott is an award-winning Entrepreneur, Podcaster, and Bestselling Author. Various media and social media platforms including Amazon have called me a top influencer on the web, Double Dutch said I am one of the most influential Event Professionals in the world as did Eventbrite. I was recognized as a top 100 small business for my Podcast Production and Teaching Platform and invited to Number 10 Downing Street.
Scott has spoken at over 210 conferences, events, and companies around the world. From speaking at Google, Oxford, and Coutts to major growth marketing conferences, he now focuses on teaching people to use podcasting for their business and brand with www.apodcastcompany.com where we teach Process, do Production and help Promote you.
Chloe Richardson | Acier Events
Chloe is an exhibition and trade show sales expert and owner of Acier Events, a company that creates, develops, coaches and executes exhibition-specific commercial strategies, including how to maximise commercial communications with your exhibitors and sponsors. A multi-lingual sales leader with clients all over the globe, Chloe has always believed that tech can be the cherry on the solution-based sales cake.
Dan Corderoy | Vista Events
Dan is an events professional with over 20 years experience in the industry - 11 years on the organiser side with IBC and 9 years with GES working as a supplier to the live events sector. Dan set up Vista Events in November 2019 as an agency supplying freelance operations support and also plant/floral hire.
Currently Dan is organising a 3 night comedy festival in November! We’ll update links as soon as it is live.
Adam Parry | Event Industry News
Adam Parry is the editor of Event Industry News and co-founder of Event Tech Live and The Event Technology Awards.
Started in 2007, Event Industry News is an online news portal for event professionals, covering topics such as festival production, event management, event technology and trends within the industry.
Parry is also co-founder of the Event Technology Awards and Event Tech Live, two events dedicated to recognising the development and use of all types of technology across event disciplines.
Miriam Sigler | Ways&Means
With more than twenty years experience working in events management, Miriam Sigler has seen it all.
As Founding Director of Ways & Means Events, Miriam brings her vast breadth of industry knowledge to projects large and small.
Miriam’s long list of attributes include her uncompromising work ethic, attention to detail and ‘work hard – play hard’ attitude. Coupled with her love of teamwork and head on attitude to problem solving, she has become a well-respected figure of the industry and we were super excited to speak to her!
Why are virtual conferences important?
Just like a podcast, virtual conferences help bring in an audience that maybe couldn’t attend your in -person event.
Read our 2022 Article Why are virtual conferences important for more.