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Programme

AEO Conference 2026

The annual AEO Conference brings together key players within the events industry and offers networking, insight and motivation. With an outstanding speaker line-up delivering inspirational, dynamic and thought-provoking content, the AEO Conference is a fantastic platform from which to debate, learn and share ideas that can help shape your organisation and the industry.

 

The event attracts more than 300 senior industry professionals from the UK and abroad, from organisers to venues and suppliers, creating an unmissable opportunity to network in a relaxed environment.

The conference is geared towards senior event professionals: managing directors, portfolio directors, SME directors, group MDs, heads of departments.
Please note, the content is subject to change.

Dare to win

Real winning rarely follows the script. AI is reshaping how we work, economies are shifting and change is coming from every direction - and with it, real opportunity.

"Dare to win" is about meeting that head on. Backing bold ideas, building cultures where people thrive, and learning from those who've launched, scaled and evolved - people who moved when opportunity showed up, uncertainty and all.

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03 Sept 2026
  1. Sponsored by:  Messe Frankfurt.
  2. Yoga disclaimer: A health and safety disclaimer will be provided on the morning, and will need to be signed ahead of participation.

    Mats: Please note, mats are limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Otherwise, we encourage attendees to bring their own to join in the fun.

    Please note, this is an optional session.

    Sponsored by Messe Frankfurt.

  3. Arrivals, badge collection, and welcome refreshments.

    Sponsored by: Fusion by ClearCourse

  4. The AEO Conference chair will welcome the audience and give a rundown of what's in store for the day. 
  5. 3 industry 'future' leaders 'in conversation' with today's keynote Pippa Grange, discussing mindset, performance, authenticity and their personal and professional growth.
  6. A chance to pause, recharge and reconnect with fellow attendees.
  7. Refreshments and informal conversation.
  8. Exploring what sits behind sustained growth: the leadership, culture, and behaviours that create organisations capable of scaling. A candid conversation with Louise White & Gareth Bowhill, about how leadership evolves as businesses grow, what entrepreneurialism really means at different stages of scale, and the lessons they have learnt along the way.

    Sponsored by: Collingwood

  9. Sales has always been the engine of the events industry. But in just a few years we've moved from spreadsheets and cold calls to AI, predictive analytics and hyper-personalisation. Has technology fundamentally changed what makes a great salesperson - or are the fundamentals exactly the same? Today we'll explore what it takes to build fearless sales teams that don't just survive change but use it to win.

     

  10. In an industry increasingly dominated by corporates and private equity, has playing it safe become the biggest risk of all? Join us for a candid fireside chat with Doug Emslie, an entrepreneur who spent 25 years building a business from the back of a taxi to a billion-dollar exit - and who believes the secret to winning is refusing to be normal.

    From attitudes to risk and staying motivated through adversity, to the lessons he'd tell his younger self, this is an honest, practical conversation about keeping entrepreneurship alive. He'll also share how he's backing the next generation through Manta, investing time as well as capital.
  11. A sharp, strategic recap of the day’s key messages-and where we go from here.
  12. Raise a glass, reconnect with peers, and relax into the evening.

    Sponsored by: Fusion by ClearCourse

  13. As the AEO Conference draws to a close, join us for an exclusive evening celebrating the NEC's 50th anniversary.

    Created exclusively for AEO Conference attendees, this festival-inspired celebration is the perfect way to round off the day with great food, drinks, live entertainment and the chance to connect with organisers, partners and industry friends in a relaxed setting.

    It's also an opportunity to discover more about the Nation's Experience Capital, explore what's new across the venue and see how the NEC continues to evolve as one of the UK's leading destinations for world-class events.

Testimonials

  • The AEO Conference is an important forum because it brings together change makers in the event industry, I'm also looking forward to networking with some great people as well.
    Raphael Sofoluke
    Founder & CEO, UK Black Business Show
  • The AEO Conference has always been a really important forum, it talks about some of the kind of key topics and trends and certainly as I've sort of developed throughout my career it's always topics around mergers and acquisitions or where the industry is going or the pivot to digital it's always given us really good talking points and things to think about.
    Duncan Reid
    CEO & Co-Founder, Reset Connect
  • The conference was a fantastic experience, truly living up to its theme 'Motivate. Innovate. Create.' The speakers were highly engaging and entertaining, offering invaluable insights into key industry topics. Well done, Team AEO!
    Ian Kidson
    Harrogate Convention Centre

HEADLINE SPONSORS

Event Sponsors

Event Partners & 360 Partners: