3 min readOn 5 September 2024, The Association of Event Organises held its annual AEO Conference at Manchester Central for a day of motivation, inspiration and insights.
Chaired by Ruth Carter, chief executive of CIBSE, the conference featured keynote sessions and panel discussions covering inclusivity, international expansion, artificial intelligence (AI), workforce dynamics, and lessons from failure.
Attended by over 250 senior event organisers and key players in the industry, the conference aimed to help shape the future of the industry by providing opportunities to learn from and share ideas with peers.
It featured 7 sessions surrounding the theme ‘Motivate. Innovate. Create’ covering topics that will help nurture creativity in the events space, build community and support sustainable growth in the sector.
Credit: AEO Conference 2024
Manchester was chosen as the host destination for the AEO Conference 2024 as it has continually evolved as a hub of innovation, boasts a thriving tech sector driving research and development and has a vibrant cultural scene that champions creativity in music, arts, and media; perfectly encapsulating the spirit of this year’s theme.
The conference was opened by Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon with a keynote on inclusive leadership, emphasising the importance of moving “from the art of interruption to the art of conversation” and how diversity strengthens decision-making.
The international opportunities panel explored the challenges of expanding into new markets, with Raphael Sofoluke, founder of the UK Black Business Show, highlighting the critical role of partnerships in achieving successful global growth and collaboration.
Sonia Bate, founder of Edit Development, focussed on future-proofing the workforce. She discussed the impact of Gen Z and the need for ethical employee value propositions, while also highlighting essential skills such as creative thinking, technological literacy, and resilience.
Credit: AEO Conference 2024
Bate further emphasised the importance of cultural intelligence, collaboration, and psychological safety for leaders, sparking discussions on how to adapt to evolving workforce challenges.
In the AI in events session, panellists discussed how AI can enhance knowledge retention and streamline event management. They introduced the “forgetting curve,” showing that 80% of new information is lost within days without reinforcement and examined how AI can improve long-term learning and efficiency.
The session on learning from failures featured Greg Hitchin, who shared his experience of transforming the World Low-Cost Airlines Congress into a successful Aviation Festival. The discussion underscored how resilience and adaptability can turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.
The conference closed with a fireside chat between Tony Robinson, chief executive of Next Events and Conferences, and Alison Jackson, group managing director of Nineteen Group.
Chris Skeith OBE, chief executive officer of AEO, said: “This year’s conference exceeded our expectations in both attendance and engagement. The insights shared will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our industry as we continue to innovate and grow. The feedback so far has been fantastic, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the outstanding contributions of Manchester Central, our members, sponsors, partners, and the AEO team.”
