Event Industry News Podcast

James Dickson speaks with Kristina McCoobery, Global President of INVNT, about the agency model of the future. They discuss INVNT's theatrical roots in storytelling, the renewed value of in-person events, and how live experiences drive emotional engagement.

Kristina explains how INVNT is adopting AI responsibly - hiring a Chief AI Officer and building Orbby for analytics and on-site insights - while keeping human-led creative strategy at the centre. She also covers global collaboration, cultural nuance, and how new tools speed decision-making and boost efficiency.

Overall, the episode highlights the evolving role of agencies in delivering connected global brand stories, blending creativity, data and technology to enhance live events and attendee experiences.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

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James Dickson talks with Kieran Garlic of Present Communications about how many people “accidentally” find careers in the events industry, and the challenges of creating formal routes into the sector through apprenticeships, work experience and links with academic institutions.

They also discuss the growing role of technology and AI in events, the need for practical on-site training, real-world production anecdotes (including the “Bose Stick” story), and upcoming topics such as freelancer rates and evolving technical skills.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.
If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson speaks with Anita Macdonald (Meet Cambridge) and Andy Williamson (Welcome Brain) about the newly launched Neuro‑Inclusive Networking Guide. They explain why traditional unstructured mingling can exclude neurodivergent attendees, share survey findings, and describe simple, practical changes—like networking buddies, badge icebreakers, and low‑cost tech or formatting options—that make networking easier and more effective for everyone.

They also cover the guide’s silver/gold/platinum approach, the value of publicising neuroinclusive practices, and how organisers can access the free guide at welcomebrain.com/neuroinclusive-networking-guide.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson speaks with Rick Stainton, CEO of The Power of Events, about the organisation’s industry map, the nationwide schools engagement program and the new Experience of Work initiative designed to give young people meaningful work placements.

They discuss how the project bridges education and vocational skills, the scale so far (over 142,000 students reached) and plans to deliver 1,500 work experiences in year one with support from industry partners.

Find out more and get involved at www.thepowerofevents.org or email hello@thepowerofevents.org.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson talks with Jess Gould from Weezevent about closed‑loop cashless payment systems, NFC wristbands and unified ticketing and access control that work offline to reduce theft, speed up entry and simplify vendor operations.

They also cover live reporting, data ownership and emerging AI integrations that give organisers real‑time insights and long‑term audience intelligence for festivals and venues.

To find out more about Weezevent and their cashless solutions visit https://weezevent.com/en-gb/weezpay/cashless/

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode, James Dickson interviews Chris Carter‑Chapman, event director of World Travel Market London, on his first year in the role.

They discuss WTM’s scale and heritage, new WTM Travel Tech and innovation zones, attendee journey and planning tools, logistics across London and Excel, the show’s economic impact, and strategies to grow buyer attendance despite venue capacity limits.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

Mark Hutchinson, Managing Director of creative agency INCEPTION, joins the Event Industry News Podcast to discuss how his team designs trade show stands, retail activations and product launches with commercial outcomes front of mind.

They cover using data and technology—dwell time, heat mapping and interaction tracking—to measure event ROI, the importance of authentic creative over theatrical gimmicks, and embedding sustainability through reuse and smarter planning.

Mark also shares client work highlights, including global projects with Pokémon, and explains how clear metrics help clients increase investment when activations drive real business growth.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson interviews Muhammad Younas, founder and CEO of vFairs, about how he built the platform from his experience running online events, scaled rapidly during the 2020 pandemic, and prioritised stability and hands-on support for customers.

They discuss vFairs’ evolution into hybrid and in-person events, global expansion of support teams, integrations with marketing and CRM systems, and the company’s plans to embed AI features to streamline event operations and improve attendee engagement.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson is joined by Rainfocus CMO Ashleigh Cook to discuss how event data and AI are transforming attendee experiences and providing measurable ROI. She explains data-driven personalisation, real-time analytics, and AI-powered sentiment and recommendation tools that speed decision-making and improve conversions.

The episode covers practical topics like data migration, integrating event data with CRM/marketing stacks, pre-population to reduce friction, and using dashboards to track velocity and retention over time.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn discusses the company’s ground‑breaking project to install mains power at London’s Finsbury Park — the first installation of its kind in the UK. The move, a collaboration with Haringey Council and National Grid, aims to reduce reliance on temporary generators and use renewable energy for major concerts.

Broke ground in March with the first mains-powered concerts scheduled for the end of June; the change offers operational efficiencies and modest carbon reductions as a statement of intent. Reading is already next in line for a similar installation in 2027.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.