AEV 2017 conference programme announced

The Association of Event Venues (AEV) has announced its finalised programme for the AEV annual conference, 29 June at the Vox, Birmingham. The programme features speakers from both inside and outside the event industry, with a wide range of experience, who will be leading the conference through a series of presentations oriented around creating world class events and experiences. New for 2017 is the opportunity for delegates to attend an icebreaker event travelling back 67 million years to experience the greatest safari ever, ‘Dinosaurs in the wild'.

Delegates will then congregate for the conference the next morning with Kathryn James, NEC MD starting the proceedings with a welcome presentation.

The keynote address will come from Stuart Johnston of Ascential Events, who will encourage delegates to take an organiser's perspective, followed by Paul May, Trivandi chairman, who will examine venues and events in an international context.

After a short coffee break, delegates will reconvene for the third session of the day, featuring James Mark, independent venue consultant, chairing a panel session that will examine how healthy food stimulates performance, how to mobilise high street catering to the events sector and the future directions of event catering.

After lunch, the fourth session will take the form of a technology panel, with Murray Dickson, head of business engagements, Group IT – NEC Group, and Manish Chandak, president and CEO of Ungerboeck Software International, contributing.

Craig Dunkerly, head of Midway attractions, Merlin Entertainments presents the fifth session on experience and customer service from the world of attractions. Paul Kehoe chief executive of Birmingham Airport will present the final session drawing on his experience to provide an overview of airport operations, with particular focus on customer service, leadership, commercialisation of the consumer and working in a highly regulated environment.

Kathryn James will return to the lectern at the end of the conference proceedings, and wrap up the day's events before delegates will be invited to post-conference networking drinks.

Revealing the conference program, Jeremy Rees, chair of the AEV board and executive director, ExCeL London, expressed his enthusiasm for the breadth of expertise represented by the speakers at the conference, saying, “We're delighted to welcome so many leading exponents of world class events from such different disciplines and backgrounds, and I'm confident that our delegates will find their experience and insight compelling and relevant."

Venue professionals, and event venue teams in particular, are invited to register to attend the AEV Conference via the conference website http://www.aevconference.org.uk/booking-information