Editor-at-large, TechCrunch
Mike Butcher MBE is Editor-at-large of TechCrunch, and co-founder of Pathfounder editorial events and reports series on ‘impact innovation’. Mike has been named one of the most influential journalists in European technology by Wired and The Daily Telegraph, among others. He has interviewed Tony Blair, Dmitry Medvedev, Kevin Spacey, Lily Cole, Pavel Durov and many other tech leaders and celebrities. He co-founded The Europas Awards for European startups, the non-profits TechVets and Techfugees, the co-working network TechHub. He is a regular tech commentator on the BBC, Sky News, CNN, CNBC and Aljazeera and has been a judge on The Apprentice UK. GQ magazine named him one of the 100 Most Connected Men in the UK and he’s a “Maserati 100 innovator”. He has advised previous UK governments on tech startup policy and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Community Alchemist
Lana Jelenjev is a community alchemist and learning design specialist with a solid background in training and education. She is the author of Community Builder: Designing Communities for Change and The 90 Day Action Planner, a Kickstarter backed planner for creative entrepreneurs. Lana provides support in various areas related to ideation, curriculum design, community building and personal development.
Lana is an avid firestarter, having co-founded initiatives like Neurodiversity Education Academy, an online platform providing awareness, education and support for teachers, parents and students on the topic of Neurodiversity. She is also a co-founder of Shift Foundation, an organisation for real life learning and awareness based collective action. Lana also established Community Rituals, a training and support platform to enable leaders to understand the language of rituals in communities. Supporting fellow community weavers, transformational leaders and impact driven NGOs, Lana also launched Community Alchemy, an online learning and mastermind program focused on designing communities for change.
CEO, EventMind
Ashanti Bentil - Dhue is Founder and CEO at EventMind, a market leader in the virtual meetings and events sector. EventMind provides training, consultancy and delivery for businesses looking to engage virtually with their audience and community. EventMind specialises in creating diverse digital communities and events, with access to 300 event technologies. Ashanti is currently a judge on a number of awards panels, including the Eventex Awards, Independent Publisher Awards and the Virtual Event Institute Awards.
Editor-in-chief, EventMB
Miguel is passionate about helping event professionals working online and offline to develop digital communication and content strategies. He is no stranger to the world of business events and he speaks, consults, and trains on topics around communication, content and event technology.
Since 2005 Miguel has held multiple industry roles, starting in his native Portugal, then spending 10 years in the UK and US and currently based in Denmark. He played an key role in developing the IMEX Group’s digital content and social media presence from 2011 to 2017, and since then Miguel has worked independently on digital communication strategies for business events. focused organisations
Miguel holds a masters degree in Conference and Events Management from the University of Westminster and is certified as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and a Digital Event Strategist (DES). He sits on the International Board of Directors of Meeting Professionals International and is past-Chair of Events Industry Council’s Industry Insights Committee.
Innovation Director, Identity Group
Phil is a creative technologist, experience designer & innovation director with Identity. He began his career by designing Special Effects for TV, Film and Live Music with notable projects including world tours for Katy Perry, Guns & Roses and The London 2012 Olympic Ceremony. Working with brands like Rolls Royce, Pepsi and Nike. Phil creates digital, interactive and technology-based immersive experiences. Working from initial technology strategy, research & development through to prototyping unique products, activations and tools, he encompasses the full spectrum of emerging and innovative technologies.
Founder, The Events Hub
Ruby Sweeney founded The Events Hub in 2011, bringing together a team of experts who provide clients with a bespoke service which meets their objectives. Her strengths in strategic planning, creativity and adaptability are crucial when a company is placing a great deal of responsibility in the team’s hands.
Working with senior leaders and decision-makers, The Events Hub typically manages conferences and events for ambitious SME’s, consultancies, professional & financial services, membership, public sector & purpose-driven organisations.
The Event Hub’s mission is to provide their clients and their partners, clients, customers, and communities with a first-class experience where people are learning, sharing, and connecting. The biggest satisfaction is knowing that they have taken a client’s idea and transformed it into a unique event.
Ruby has a keen interest in supporting businesses and organisations who are keen to transition existing conferences and events into the online and hybrid space, as well as planning ahead for face-to-face events – whenever and however they make a comeback.
Ruby is determined to encourage and support the benefits of online events and encourage those that are missing out on holding annual conferences, exhibitions, AGM’s or large meetings to consider planning and designing virtual
and hybrid events.
Executive Vice President - Head of Marketing, Technology and Customer Experience, Clarion Events
Liz’s endless curiosity, desire for learning, and passion for building relationships infuse her responsibilities as the Executive Vice President- Head of Marketing, Technology and Customer Experience for Clarion Events. With over 20 years of experience in the events industry, she is focused on delivering results by creating brand strategies and providing innovative approaches that meet her customers’ needs.
In her current role, Liz oversees the strategic direction and integration of the marketing and technology functions across North America. These are led by insight, marketing effectiveness, digital and virtual platform development and innovation. In addition, she is responsible for virtual product strategy development where she partners with Clarion’s portfolio directors to identify growth opportunities to enhance our existing events and develop new digital offerings. She constantly has her eye on the customer experience and how to continuously evolve what our events offer to increase the value we provide face-to-face and digitally.
Liz’s interest in events began when she would work hands-on to assist her father in setting up his local food distributor events. From there she worked a variety of positions in college assisting the Convention & Visitors Bureau and quickly her passion for the events business spread. Before joining Clarion , Liz was with Reed Exhibitions for 14 years, in a variety of marketing leadership positions across several events, including the leading jewelry media brand, JCK.
Liz earned her bachelor’s degree from Niagara University and a master’s degree from the University of New Haven. She is active in her community where she volunteers in her assisting her sons’ sports teams throughout the year, managing communications and events. Liz is involved in SISO’s planning committee and chairs the Marketing Special Interest Group. Liz lives in Connecticut with her husband, two boys and two dogs and cat.
Chief Strategist, Powers of Marketing
Megan Powers is a creator who has vast experience in the meetings and events industry. She has worked in marketing for tech companies, in a venue, as a planner, and in audio-visual production sales, before starting her own business. All of this experience gives her a unique lens through which she sees and approaches events. Founded in 2013, her company Powers of Marketing is a boutique strategic marketing communication agency, providing product marketing, podcast hosting, strategy consultation, training, content development, and community-building to organizations seeking to strategically market themselves through content and events. Megan is passionate about being face-to-face for events AND about the opportunities digital spaces also give us to interact, learn, and grow revenue. Her podcast Making a Marketer is closing out its fourth season, and covers all aspects of marketing and business.
Director of Event Marketing, Informa Connect
Kathryn Frankson is the Director of Event Marketing at Informa, the global leader in specialized events and event intelligence. After 48 straight quarters selling exhibition space and custom event sponsorships, Kathryn launched Informa’s sales marketing team, modernizing demand generation. Kathryn now leads the experience and digital marketing efforts for Informa’s content led events in the architecture, event planning and hospitality space.
Chief Event Executioner, iSocialExecution, Inc.
Tess thrives virtually and face-to-face. She is #EventTechPullUp Podcast Co-Host, Virtual Event Superhero and Speaker.She is Chief Event Executioner & Event Technologist for iSocialExecution, Inc., Live Event Associate with ExecOnline, Tech Whisperer with DAHLIA+ AGENCY & Speaker. Tess was named one of the United States' most influential event professionals on the 2020 #BizBash500 list! She was recognized as a member of Connect Association magazine’s “15 Over 50.” The honor highlights the top professionals in the events industry. Tess is a Certified Meeting Professional, Digital Event Strategist, stage manager for TEDxAtlanta (9yrs).
Master of Ceremonies, GDS Group
After spending years presenting, coaching and managing teams globally, Chloe Richardson is now a Master of Ceremonies and content at GDS Group. With over a decade of experience in the exhibition and events industry, she is not only a moderator, but a business event expert, a sales specialist, communication enthusiast and commercial coach.
Director of Community, mmhmm
Andrew's experience creating community spans over 14 years. He started his career as a founding member of an annual festival for documentary photographers, then joined Instagram in early 2014 to grow the global community of creators, and now as Director of Community at mmhmm, Andrew is setting the path for how thousands of users connect and learn an essential new skill: how to be great on video.
Founder | Event Strategist
Deanna is a hostess at heart. This led to her career in event planning which allows her to coordinate countless opportunities to connect with clients, vendors and stakeholders across all social strata. With more than 20 years of customer service related work, taking care of clients, members and attendees is second-nature and the driving force behind her work.
Deanna most recently held the role of Event Planner for Foundation Software who provides back office solutions for small to mid-size construction firms. A CMP since 2017, and a DES recipient, she is also an active member of Meeting Professionals International, serving on the RISE Awards committee globally, and the membership and marketing committees for the Ohio chapter. In 2020 she launched DeannaCamille.com offering event industry strategy, public speaking and workshop facilitation services.
Founder & CEO, Growth Blazers
"Vasil is a growth marketing and startup event entrepreneur, who has produced over 500 in-person and virtual events, as well as built a 90K+ network of tech entrepreneurs and marketers.
Formerly, he was also the founder of the Growth Marketing Conference, one of the leading growth marketing events in the industry.
"
Editorial Director, Mash Media
Award-winning, experienced web and print editor and video presenter across news, sport, business events, technology, lifestyle and automotive sectors, with demonstrable experience of high-profile website building and management, including social media.
Editorial Director, TSNN & Corporate Event News
Matt Swenson is a communications specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in journalism, marketing and B2B companies. He currently is editorial director at TSNN and Corporate Event News. Previously, he was editorial director of Connect's B2B publications and websites.
In 2019, Eventex named Swenson one of the 100 most influential members of the event industry. Previously, Cadmium CD ranked two of his stories among its top 10 blogs about the events industry, including the No. 1 story, which examined what Donald Trump’s affect would be on the industry.
Matt came to Connect in 2014 after having served as assistant managing editor at Washington Post Express, a daily publication in Washington, D.C., of which he was a founding editor in 2003. At Express, Matt oversaw production of the news side of the newspaper, organizing coverage on everything from the Olympics to presidential elections.
Originally from Washington, Matt is now based north of Atlanta, Georgia, where he lives with his wife and two children, ages 7 and 6.
Founder, BostonSpeaks
Social Media Strategist, Wier/Stewart
Jackie Rogers has been in social media marketing for over 5 years. From planning and strategy, to copy and content creation, Jackie works closely with business owners and event managers to help them get the most out of any promotion.
Jackie didn’t always see herself as a social media manager. In fact, her path was quite different just a few short years ago. For almost 10 years Jackie worked in health communications. She’s mastered how to talk to audiences where they’re at in their health journey, and help them make better choices for their overall wellbeing.
When she saw how little community there was for people who were trying to get well on their own, she knew she needed to work in a space where she could make a difference.
Fast forward to today, Jackie has branched out to help business owners communicate with their audiences where they’re at meaningfully. From local arts and crafts shops, to national brands, to an international tech startup, she’s thrilled to be able to help so many people in a way that’s close to her heart.
Education and Community Lead at Airmeet
Founder & CEO @ AllEvents.in
10 years back, Amit co-founded [AllEvents.in](http://allevents.in/) along with his friend Ruchit Patel.
They were looking for business networking events to attend. But it was challenging to know what's happening in the city, where, and when.
So to solve this problem, they started aggregating event information from all over the internet and made it easy to discover events by interest & location on a single platform.
They launched AllEvents in April 2011. Today, it's one of the world's largest - event discovery platform covering 40K cities worldwide, helping more than 10 million people discover events of their interest and book the tickets.
Entrepreneur. Investor. Advisor.
Marco is a successful entrepreneur and investor with over 25 years of intensive experience in media, technology, and the live events industry. He is the Founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures, where he works with startups, Venture and Private Equity investors, and corporate innovators serving as a coach, advisor, interim executive, board member, or angel investor (or a combination thereof).
After several years in a successful career as a corporate executive at Apple, Marco pursued his entrepreneurial ambitions and became:
• Co-founder and Board Member of Mind Opener, a leading publishing group in Latin America that was later sold to British Pearson Media Group, and
• Co-founder and Board Member of e-mind, an internet and media communications company that was sold to Liberty Media.
• President, CEO and co-founder of Mind Trainer (later Reed Exhibitions), a firm specializing in the organization of major regional trade-shows and events that was sold to Reed Elsevier after a successful long-term joint venture.
Marco is a Harvard Business School OPM Graduate, and member of YPO, the Young Presidents Organization and a frequent speaker at industry conferences.
He is also a co-author of the best-selling books The Face of Digital focused on how digital technologies are changing the live events business industry and Reinventing Live about the “Always-On” future of live events.
Executive Chairman, AMR International
Denzil Rankine is the Executive Chairman of AMR International, which he founded in 1991. His experience spans 30 years of advising companies on strategic development and acquisition throughout the world. This work has taken him to 35 countries.
In his early career Denzil supported industrial products companies on their international growth strategies with a strong focus on the US. Over the past two decades he has been working increasingly with companies in business media, information and technology. In addition to strategic development work for major groups, Denzil has been involved in some of the most significant deals in these sectors, as well as many dozens of smaller transactions.
Denzil is a regular speaker at industry conferences including the SISO CEO Summit, UFI events, and EEAA.
He is also an author of six M&A related books, including Acquisition Essentials (Pearson). Most recently Denzil has co-written a book with event tech leader, Marco Giberti, titled: Reinventing Live: The Always-On Future of Events.
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Adapting to the new reality of virtual events has been challenging for many. The challenging role of organising events has been made even more complicated with organisers having to plan differently and having to adapt to the new digital reality. Data can offer organisers the knowledge and understanding and can help organisers think quantitatively about their event. Join us to find out more…
Jackie Rogers
Megan Powers
Liz Irving
Kathryn Frankson
Ruby Sweeney
Marco Giberti
Denzil Rankine
Mike Butcher MBE
Martin Fullard
Miguel Neves
Matt Swenson
Chloe Richardson
Phillip Maggs
Tess Vismale, CMP, DES
Andrew Owen
Kit Pang
Amit Panchal
Lana Jelenjev
Andrew Owen
Deanna Nwosu, CMP, DES
Nevena Tomovic
Vasil Azarov
Ashanti Bentil-Dhue
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