Step away from the stage and join a series of focused, peer-led discussions tackling the issues that matter most to independent exhibition organisers. Choose the conversation most relevant to you, share your experiences and challenges, and learn from the people around the table.

Roundtable 1 hosted by MCM Click
Moderator: Samantha Sharp, CEO, FEL Network
Are You Underinvesting in Your Most Valuable Asset: Your Community?
As events become year-round businesses, community managers are playing an increasingly important role in driving audience engagement, exhibitor retention and long-term growth. This roundtable explores the commercial impact of investing in community and why it could be one of the smartest hires an independent organiser makes.

Roundtable 2 hosted by ASP
Moderator: Jon Monk, Head of Permormance, ASP
Your Event in the Age of AI Search
AI tools are now part of how buyers find and choose events. What they say about your show, and whether they mention it at all, depends largely on your website. Jon Monk, Head of Performance at ASP, covers what AI visibility means for events in practice: how to see what AI says about your event today, what you can measure for free and how to make the content your event already produces work harder all year round. Bring your questions, and leave with clear, practical next steps whatever your team size or budget.

Roundtable 3
The real value of winning awards
Moderator: Luke Elliott, Head of Community Engagement at Mash Media
Explore the real business impact of winning industry awards, from building credibility and attracting new clients to strengthening exhibitor relationships and recruiting talent. Discuss how independent organisers can make the most of award recognition and turn a win into a lasting commercial advantage.

Roundtable 4
Moderator: Mark Parsons, managing director, Event Intelligence
The Indy Organiser Advantage: When Does Agility Win?
Being independent can mean faster decisions and greater freedom to experiment. The cost often fewer resources and less room for error. This roundtable explores when those freedoms create a real competitive advantage, and when scale wins (and what we mean by scale). Through practical examples, we’ll discuss which opportunities independent organisers are best placed to pursue, what holds them back, and how to balance protecting today’s business with building tomorrow’s.

Roundtable 5
Is media still a revenue stream, or just a way to deliver sponsorship?
Moderator: Heather Nicholls, Features & Series Editor, Mash Media
Are organisers still building profitable media businesses, or has content become primarily a tool for delivering sponsorship value and driving event sales? This roundtable explores whether editorial, newsletters and digital content can still generate standalone revenue, or whether their real value lies in supporting the wider event business.

Roundtable 6
Talent Wars: How Independents Can Compete Against Major Organisers
Moderator: Carmela Coop-Rodia, portfolio event director at What Else Events
Discuss how independent businesses are attracting and retaining senior talent without enterprise-level budgets. Explore what makes independents an attractive career choice, how they can compete with larger groups for experienced people, and what it takes to keep ambitious employees engaged as the business grows.