PROGRAMME
We are really glad to share with you the programme for EVCOMference 2021, featuring panel discussions, keynotes, workshops, specialist sessions and more across topics including leadership, diversity and inclusion and creativity!
Get your tickets here to join us!
Keynotes:
LEADERSHIP AND RESILIENCE IN THE NEW NORMAL
Exploring the lessons that can be learned from successful leaders in practicing organisational and personal resilience for the future. Ronan has recently interviewed a raft of high performance business leaders from a wide range of industries and will be sharing what he, and they, have learnt about resilience in all its forms. He will examine how the best companies prevented burnout, and the premise that COVID has humanised the workforce for good, and will go on to explore how companies are preparing for ongoing uncertainty.
Speaker: Ronan Harrington, Partner, Tough Cookie
THE CLIENT VIEW: FUTURE FOCUSED CORPORATE COMMS
Marc and Tom will discuss how Tom and his team at Liberty Global (which works across Events, Film and Graphics) dealt with issues such as home working, using their multiple channels in new ways and getting his team to think differently. For example, the benefits of UGC in the content mix and how you can be authentic but also creative. Tom will talk about lessons learned and what their priorities are going into 2022.
Speaker: Tom Hurley, Director Events and Creative Services, Liberty Global Europe
Facilitator: Marc Wright, Founder, Simply-Communicate
THE CLIENT VIEW: THIRD SECTOR
This session will explore how communications strategies have needed to change for this sector. What do you need to consider when striking the balance between a range of communications – funders, awareness with core users vs a wider brand awareness? How does a sudden surge in demand for your service affect your strategy? How do you manage a comms budget with multiple, ever changing demands?
Speakers: Sophie Castell, Director of Relationships, RNIB – Lorrin Braddick, Head of Creative, NSPCC – Rohini Pahl, Associate Head of Marketing, NSPCC
Facilitator: Ed Hardy, Creative Lead, RAW London
Panel Sessions:
WHAT DOES WORKPLACE CULTURE LOOK LIKE NOW, AND WILL IT BE BETTER THAN BEFORE?
Senior women from the film, event and the experiential space discuss work practice and culture and how this has changed for all, with a particular perspective on how it has impacted women. Does the future look bright or will there be a whole new raft of issues to navigate? Martin Fullard will facilitate the panel discussion and, as a father to two young children himself, will be able to add his own perspective.
Speakers: Jane Sayers, Head of Film, Content Engine, Shell Plc – Karen Kadin, Managing Director/Partner, Brands at Work – Emily Clements, Head of Film, Radley Yeldar
Facilitator: Martin Fullard, Editor, Conference News
A FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITY
Hear from a range of business leaders sharing their insights into where new business might present itself in the coming years and what these opportunities might look like.
Speakers: Andrew Smith, CEO, A-Vision – Simon Hambley, CEO, Strata – Sue Darlaston, Senior Director – Sales Solutions, BCD Meetings & Events
Facilitator: Maarten Schram, Founder, LiveCom Alliance
THE CLIENT VIEW: THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE
Andrew will quiz senior comms professionals on how they think the corporate communications are going to respond to the rapidly changing landscape. What impact will budgets, technology, culture, people, and the shifting dynamic of the workplace have on business and what are they doing in their business to respond?
Speakers: Paul Taylor, SVP Corporate Marketing, Blue Prism and Amber Skinner-Jozefson, CEO and Managing Director, Loal
Facilitator: Andrew Winterburn, Director, 3Sixty Event Consulting Ltd
CREATIVITY, DATA AND TECHNOLOGY: THE IMPACT
The rapid acceptance of new technologies and platforms has changed the how corporate communications can be delivered forever. Join the discussion with three industry experts as they explore where and how creativity, data and technology can impact your business
Speakers: Jeremy Stinton, Head of UK, TwentyThree – Dale Parmenter, CEO, DRPG – Jon Gout, CEO, Karma
Facilitator: Emma Hilditch, Content Director, VEI
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, DEVELOPMENT AND TALENT ACQUISITION
Join three experts (two from specialist recruitment companies and one specifically helping first jobbers) discuss the future landscape of our industry. Where will the talent come from, do the they have the right skills, how do you hold onto those that do, are you recruiting to improve your agency diversity and what problems lie ahead?
Speakers: Robert Kenward, Founder, The Hub – Cathy Alford, Managing Director, Searchlight – Benedicta Asante, Founder, Events 101
Facilitator: Martin Fullard, Editor, Conference News
MEET THE SHADOW BOARD: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
We speak to members of our newly formed shadow board about what the future of the industry looks like, and how we can be at the forefront of it.
Speakers: Adam Davies, Video Producer, TRO – Celine Amara – Dan Rhodes, Shelton Fleming – Gabriela Ferenc, A-Vision – Sophie Evans, Performing Artistes – Marlijn Hegge, DRPG
Facilitator: Benedicta Asante, Events 101
Breakout Sessions:
FIT FOR THE FUTURE – FINDING YOUR FOCUS
As an agency leader, there are numerous tactics and strategies you could be employing to help your agency thrive. So how do you choose where to focus? Based on proven experience of agency growth and value realisation, this provocative and informative session takes you through the steps required to find your agency’s focus and help your business thrive.
Speaker: Angela Law, Founding Director, Every Sense
ACCESSING INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS FINANCE IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR
Whether you’re a larger business looking to expand or buy, or a small agency looking for business opportunities, finding the right financial support can be a long an arduous task. Nick will guide you through the various offering that Creative England have available, and share his own tips and advice.
Speaker: Nick Cavander, Investment Manager, Creative England
EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION – TRENDS IN LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS DURING, AND AS A RESULT OF, THE PANDEMIC
After framing ‘where we are now’, Callum will explore how the pandemic has radically altered comms in terms of trust, candour, and rapid response with regards to technology. Through a variety of examples he will demonstrate how advancing from blue sky to black sky technology will become viable in the next 18 months.
Speaker: Callum Gill, Head of Research, DRPG
DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSTION: DO WHAT YOU SAY
Companies are often confused about the exact action points when it comes to embedding Diversity, Equality & Inclusion internally. Using the Conscious Conversation Framework, Ashanti will help you move forward with actionable insights which will enable you to implement and embed impactful initiatives.
Speaker: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue, Founder, Diversity Ally
DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION: SAY WHAT YOU DO
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is about reflecting and connecting with your audiences.That’s what all good communications do. But businesses still struggle to communicate their DEI perspective, despite its increased importance. But why is it so hard? Sharn and Gaye will guide you through some practical steps to help your brand avoid missing the mark or messing up, from your visuals and language to your channels and content: The ten principles of communicating authentically.
Speakers: Sharn Kleis, Employee Experience Lead and Gaye Bennett, Executive Producer, Radley Yeldar
SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATING YOUR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME
Mike will share with you how to creative a distinctive, high impact sustainability communications strategy and his experience of shaping stories with impact. He will look at how the right teams, with the right range of voices and skills are formed creates effective collaboration and how to stay grounded in a sea of hot air – avoiding greenwashing and greenwishing!
Speaker: Michael A. Oakes, Global Sustainability | Brand, Marketing & Communications Program Lead, EY
THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO D&I
Sharing her vast experience of diversity and inclusion within a large, international financial institution, Ama will begin with assessing some of the challenges faced and debunking a few myths. The main thrust of her session is based on importance of a holistic approach and the intersectionality of inclusion. She will also discuss the importance of the messaging and communication of diversity and inclusion both internally and externally.
Speaker: Ama Ocansey, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, BNP Paribas
MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR CORPORATE COMMS STRATEGY
Rachel and Mike will share their case study of how Amey’s communication team developed their measurement approach. They will delve into ROI, the dangers of vanity statistics and keeping and eye on the big picture. You will leave with examples and tips that you can put into practice right away and learn how to be your own hero!
Speakers: Rachel Tolhurst, Communications and Engagement Specialist [formerly Amey Head of Internal Communications] and Mike Elkington, Senior Communications Manager – Digital, Amey Plc
FROM IMPACT THROUGH RESILIENCE, TO THE RENEWED FUTURE OF FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION
LiveCom Alliance Founder & Managing Director Maarten Schram speaks about the key challenges and future opportunities in the live communication industry.
The LiveCom Alliance European Industry Survey, yearly conducted by the renowned RIFEL Institute, exposes the dramatic impact that Covid-19 had on the live communication sector. Turnover, projects and employment were most heavily impacted. Unprecedented times in which our industry showed resilience while facing the challenges that the reignition of the business brings. Kickstarting the eagerly awaited comeback of meeting each other face-to-face. And that’s exactly where the opportunities are in the renewed future of live!
Revealing insights, bringing you an interesting ‘after corona/before corona’ benchmark.
Speaker: Maarten Schram, Founder & Managing Director, LiveCom Alliance
ON THE COUCH WITH:
Meet our Business Partners in person, ‘on the couch’ for an introductory chat about business issues that might be on your mind. They are here to talk!
Partners: Camilla Honey, JFDI – Phil Lewis and Claire Croft, Corporate Punk – Sam Wilson, Syntiro Associates – Tina Fegent, Procurement – Emma Hilditch, VEI – Angela Law, EverySense – Dave Clarke, Richmond Communication Directors’ Forum
Agenda at a Glance
Senior Leaders Breakfast: 8:30am – 9:45am
Facilitated discussion around the challenges to the corporate event and film sector in the coming years, facilitated by Andrew Winterburn (360 Degree Event Consulting). Please get in contact with Claire Fennelow to express interest in attending.
Morning Sessions: 10:00am – 12:10pm
Including opening remarks, panel discussions and workshops
On the couch with… : 12:10PM – 12:35PM
Experts platform and Next Generation panel
Lunch: 12:35PM – 1:35PM
Networking opportunities
Afternoon Sessions: 1:35PM – 5:15PM
Including keynotes and a variety of workshops
Celebration and Drinks Reception: 5:30PM – 6:30PM
Featuring a showcase of winning work over drinks
Get your tickets here!
Hilton London Bankside Hotel
For any queries regarding EVCOMference21 please email amelia.brown@evcom.org.uk.