Session Descriptions
We have an incredible line up of speakers this year delivering a wide array of educational content. Check back often as more sessions will be added as they are confirmed.
OK, Boomer Meets Slay, Gen Z: Managing Multi-Generational Teams Without Losing Your Mind (The Main Stage)
Anh Nguyen
From boomers to Gen Z, managing a team that spans multiple letters (generations) can feel like translating five different languages—on a group chat where nobody agrees on the emoji.
This panel dives into the quirks, strengths, and occasional facepalm moments of working with multi-generational teams. How do you balance the millennials’ “work-life balance vibes” with the boomers’ “early bird gets the worm” mantra? What happens when Gen X just wants to get things done, but Gen Z is asking, “What’s the vibe check on this project?”
Join a diverse panel of #eventprofs as they spill the tea (or the coffee, depending on your cohort) on navigating generational differences. We’ll share stories, laugh at our own stereotypes, and serve up practical advice on keeping your team harmonious, productive, and maybe even a little less confused by each other’s slang.
Behind the Curtain: What Planners and Suppliers Really Think (The Main Stage)
Anh Nguyen
Planners and suppliers: the ultimate partnership.
Many of us get along great—we’re friends, collaborators, and industry allies who celebrate each other’s wins and create incredible, Instagram-worthy experiences together.
But like any relationship, challenges exist. Rising costs, exclusivity clauses, and unexpected contract terms can spark frustration and test even the best partnerships.
This panel will peel back the layers to explore what’s working, what’s not, and where we can improve. Planners and suppliers will share candid insights, address common pain points, and air out pet peeves.
With tough questions, a bit of humor, and plenty of practical advice, we’ll uncover how to build stronger, more transparent, and productive collaborations.
Drawing the Line: Making Ethical Choices in the Age of AI (The Main Stage)
Avery Swartz
In this thought-provoking presentation, Avery Swartz, acclaimed tech educator and best-selling author, tackles a pressing question: How do we navigate the ethical landscape of artificial intelligence? As AI integrates into our lives, the line between acceptable and unacceptable use blurs.
These days, it feels like AI is being foisted on us. It seems that AI is baked into every digital system we encounter, whether we want it there or not. That doesn't mean we can't be thoughtful about AI adoption though. With her signature blend of expertise and humour, Avery will gently challenge you to consider different AI use cases and make informed decisions about AI use in your own life and work by examining your personal and professional values.
Leave this presentation feeling confident in your ability to navigate the AI landscape, with a nuanced understanding of the technology's potential and pitfalls. Join Avery in shaping a future where innovation and ethics go hand in hand.
ChatGPT Workshop for Event Professionals (Pre-Event Workshop)
Avery Swartz
Master ChatGPT for event planning and management in this hands-on workshop. Learn to streamline operations and enhance attendee experiences using this powerful AI tool. No technical background needed.
What You'll Learn:
ChatGPT fundamentals for event management
Practical applications for event planning and logistics
Writing techniques for event communications and marketing
Best practices for prompt engineering
Ethical considerations when using ChatGPT
By the End of the Workshop, You'll Be Able To:
Create compelling event descriptions and marketing copy
Draft professional attendee communications
Analyze attendee feedback and data
Develop custom prompts for event-specific needs
Use ChatGPT efficiently in your event planning workflow
Transform your event planning process with ChatGPT. Learn to create better content faster, streamline your workflow, and deliver exceptional experiences for your clients and attendees. Join us to discover how this powerful tool can revolutionize your approach to event management.
Note: This is a hands-on workshop and laptops are required. Please sign up for a free ChatGPT account before the workshop (sign up at chatgpt.com).
Beyond the Buzz: The Future of AI Adoption (Breakout Session)
Avery Swartz
In this thought-provoking and engaging presentation, Avery Swartz, digital pioneer and founder of Camp Tech, provides an insightful look into the rapidly evolving landscape of machine learning and generative AI. With a blend of expertise and humour, Avery offers a high-level overview of how this technology functions, and demonstrates the game-changing potential of generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
The discussion goes beyond the hype to examine AI's complex ethical terrain. Through open dialogue, you'll learn how to navigate issues like bias, privacy, and copyright concerns as you harness AI's remarkable capabilities responsibly.
You’ll leave this presentation feeling empowered with vital knowledge and a mindset to implement these powerful technologies ethically while championing inclusivity. Get ahead of the curve by learning how to guide the positive transformation AI can bring. Embrace the future as an innovative leader driving ethical AI adoption.
Rise Above the Rest: How to Outperform 99% of Your Competition (The Main Stage)
Brandee Gaar
If you're ready to position yourself as the go-to expert in your market, this session is exactly what you need. This isn’t just another keynote—it’s your wake-up call to stop settling for “good enough” and start building a business that truly stands above the rest.
The Ultimate Sales Funnel: Mastering the Strategies for Guaranteed Success (Pre-Event Workshop)
Brandee Gaar
Transform your business by mastering the art of creating a sales funnel that converts! In this power-packed session, you'll learn the step-by-step strategies to build a streamlined, high-performing sales funnel that attracts leads, nurtures relationships, and drives guaranteed results.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this workshop will break down complex concepts into actionable steps, covering everything from lead generation and email campaigns to upsells and client retention.
You'll walk away with:
Proven techniques to design a sales funnel tailored to your audience.
Insights into automation tools that save you time and increase efficiency.
Strategies to optimize every stage of your funnel for maximum revenue.
Join us for this game-changing workshop and take control of your sales process. It's time to turn cold leads into loyal clients and create a system that works while you sleep. Get ready to supercharge your business with the ultimate sales funnel!
Event Professionals Guide to Great Social Content (The Main Stage)
Clark Campbell
TBD
Six Surprising Facts About Your Partners in Production (The Main Stage)
Dave Crainford
The world of production is often an essential component of an effective and memorable program. For event planners, it can often seems mysterious. But as SenovvA’s Dave Crainford has discovered, event planners and production team have a lot in common; when they’re aligned, in full understanding of each other’s strengths, capabilities, and needs, the result is a partnership that elevates every aspect of the client experience. In this entertaining presentation, Dave sheds light on six surprising facts about your partners in production and illustrates how they can be the secret weapon in your success.
Great Saves! Being Ready For Anything … Because Anything Can Happen (Breakout Session)
Dave Crainford
Every event looks perfect on paper – or the onscreen PowerPoint that you pitched to the client. But every event professional knows there’s a lot that can happen between those pixels and a perfectly executed program – and the client doesn’t care what caused it. With over 25 years in high-profile productions on three continents, SenovvA’s Dave Crainford has had his share of challenges in executing with excellence, and collaborating with colleagues from across the industry, he’s become something of a student of recovery and resilience in live events. In this informative, interactive, and entirely honest session, he leads the group in a study of what can go wrong, and the smartest, simplest solutions to get back on track without missing a beat.
Building a sellable brand and creating a legacy (Breakout Session)
Jocelyn Flanagan and Sébastien David
Fresh from announcing an eyebrow raising acquisition in the events industry by the SÉNIK Group, join Jocelyn Flanagan, CEO and Founder of e=mc2 events and Sebastien David,CEO and Co-Owner of Sénik Events as they discuss the how, the when, the why and what’s next for the companies
Creative Collaboration - How Producers and Artistic Directors collaborate to create impactful experiences (The Main Stage)
Jocelyn Flanagan and Brian Hansen
Join powerhouse Producer Jocelyn Flanagan and Artistic Director Brian Hansen as they share their secret sauce in creating impactful moments through integrated entertainment. With over 25 years of successful productions under their belts you’ll see first hand how the power of collaboration and strategic use of entertainment can change your events.
What’s trending in events in 2025+ (The Main Stage)
Keri Miller and Sébastien David
Join Keri and Sebastien as they share hot topics, trends and event industry impacts in this rapid fire session!
Accessibility in Action (Breakout Session)
Hannah Whittaker
In 2023 and 2024 NAIT hosted the AccessAbility Symposium in recognition of National AccessAbility Week. Featuring keynote presentations, guest speakers and artists, the Symposium was designed to understand and address barriers to accessibility and inclusion, and was a finalist for a Canadian Special Event Award. During her Accessibility in Action session Hannah will present the event as a case study from the planners perspective, review some of the supports provided, and share the lessons learned to help further her peers work on integrating accessibility in their events.
Starting Strong: Mastering the 5 Phases of Event Production (Pre-Event Workshop)
Jody Paulson and Caitlin McElhone
Calling All New and Emerging Planners: Unlock the Secrets to Successful Event Planning
Are you a new or emerging event planner with less than 5 years of experience? Ready to elevate your event planning skills and learn industry best practices? Join us for a 4-hour workshop designed to introduce you to the professional standards and tools used by top event planners worldwide.
What You’ll Learn:
Event Planning Best Practices: Learn how to approach each phase of event production, from preparing and planning to promoting, executing, and following up.
Professional Templates & Tools: Gain access to templates, checklists, and the APEX Event Specification Guide that will help streamline your planning process and improve event outcomes.
Real-World Case Study: Work through a live case study with your instructors, applying the 5 phases of event production to a real event scenario. This hands-on experience will prepare you for your next big event.
Complete Project Plan: Walk away with a nearly finished project plan for your own event, grounded in professional best practices and customized for your needs.
Who Should Attend? This workshop is perfect for new event planners (less than 5 years of experience) looking to build a solid foundation in event planning and gain confidence in their skills.
Something To Talk About with ILEA Canada: Navigating the Challenges of Fair Pricing and Competition (Breakout Session)
Jody Paulson
The event industry has faced a significant shift in pricing dynamics, especially post-COVID, and fair competition has never been more important. With price increases across many sectors, the question arises: what constitutes fair competition, and how do we ensure that pricing remains competitive in a market where exclusivity clauses and limited vendor options can complicate matters? This attendee led discussion will include:
Understanding Fair Competition: What does "fair competition" mean in the context of the event industry and how does it impact your pricing and purchasing strategies.
Managing Exclusivity and Limited Vendor Choices: What happens when the venue you’ve chosen has exclusivity clauses, or when competition is scarce? How do you navigate these challenges and protect your event’s budget.
Current Advocacy Initiatives: Get insight into the latest industry advocacy work and initiatives aimed at promoting fair pricing and competition practices.
Practical Tools and Protections: Understand what safeguards are in place to protect event professionals and ensure competitive pricing.
Why Attend? This session will facilitate discussions on how to manage and navigate pricing challenges, help to ensure you’re equipped to advocate for fair pricing and competition in your events.
Meet Your Facilitator:
Jody Paulson, CSEP
National Chair, ILEA Canada | Event Professional with 30+ Years of Experience
Jody is a leading advocate for fair competition within the events industry. With decades of experience, she is actively involved in key advocacy initiatives and brings a wealth of knowledge on navigating the complexities of pricing, exclusivity, and fair competition.
Session Highlights:
Insights and discussion into fair pricing practices and competition.
A closer look at industry advocacy and ongoing initiatives.
Practical strategies for dealing with exclusivity clauses and limited vendor options.
A chance to ask questions and engage in thought-provoking discussions.
Something To Talk About with ILEA Canada: Contract Negotiations – You Won’t Get What You Don’t Ask For (Breakout Session)
Jody Paulson
An Attendee-Driven Discussion on Mastering Contract Negotiations and Responding to RFPs
Are contract negotiations and responding to RFPs giving you anxiety? It’s time to tackle these challenges head-on! Join Jody Paulson, CSEP, Chair of ILEA Canada, and a seasoned corporate planner who has been responsible for writing RFP’s, evaluation and selection. This interactive, attendee-driven discussion will focus on the art of negotiation and strategies for successfully responding to RFPs as a vendor. Whether you’re negotiating terms with venues, suppliers, or clients, or crafting a compelling proposal, this session will give you the confidence to handle these critical aspects of your business.
What You’ll Gain:
Mastering Negotiation: Engage in real-time discussions about common negotiation challenges and share strategies for asking for what you need, pushing back on unfavorable terms, and protecting your interests.
Decoding Contract Language: Understand key contract terms, how to interpret them, and how to effectively negotiate them to meet your needs.
Responding to RFPs as a Vendor: Learn how to respond to RFPs in a way that sets you apart from the competition. We’ll discuss best practices for crafting clear, compelling proposals that meet client expectations and showcase your value.
Tips for Successful Proposals: Gain insights into what clients look for in RFP responses, how to address their needs, and how to present your offerings in a way that stands out and gets you hired.
Why Attend? This session provides a unique opportunity for event professionals to engage in open dialogue and learn from each other’s experiences. Whether you are negotiating a contract with a client or responding to RFPs as a vendor, this session will help you gain the skills and confidence to navigate these crucial aspects of event planning.
Meet Your Facilitator:
Jody Paulson, CSEP
Chair, ILEA Canada | Event Professional with 30+ Years of Experience
Jody has a deep understanding of both sides of the contract negotiation process and is dedicated to helping event professionals build confidence in their negotiations and proposals.
Session Highlights:
Attendee-driven discussion focused on real-world challenges in contract negotiations and RFP responses.
Best practices for responding to RFPs as a vendor, including how to craft clear, compelling proposals.
Key tips for understanding and negotiating contract language.
Practical strategies for improving your negotiation skills and securing better terms.
The Champion Model & Signature Fundraising Event (Breakout Session)
Margo Buckley
This session will introduce The Champion Model of fundraising with a specific focus on the Signature Fundraising Event. The Champion Model is a 4-step process that can be implemented year-round in any non-profit, no matter the size or cause. The foundation of the model is the Philanthropic Mindset: suggesting the idea of abundance over lack in the planning of fundraising acquisition & events. The Signature Fundraising Event (Step 3) of the model will be the main topic, and lead to meaningful Q & A discussion. How does the event planner move the non-profit client past the transactional and into the transformational when curating a fundraiser? How can the event industry encourage non-profits to create events that hold true space for a powerful program that is specific, succinct, and effective. Attendees will leave with:
A basic understanding of 4 Step Champion Model
Drilldown on the Elements of the Signature Fundraising Event Program
Discussion around the challenges of a transactional versus transformational approach
From client testimonials, fundraising videos with impact, the ask (and who makes it) and how to give in the moment – a combination so potent it will draw fundraising success.
Beyond the Stage: Transforming Event AV into a Content Powerhouse (Main Stage)
Michael Hoffman
As AV costs continue to rise, event planners face increasing pressure to stretch their budgets while still delivering exceptional experiences. This short and engaging talk will explore innovative ways to amplify the value of your AV investment by creating content that extends the life and impact of your event. Discover how pre-event storytelling, in-event engagement strategies, and post-event content repurposing can turn your AV spend into a long-term asset. Learn how to leave your events not only with memorable moments but also with high-value content that fuels audience engagement and drives organizational goals well beyond the closing session.
Learning Outcomes:
Explore strategies for repurposing event AV content to extend audience engagement post-event.
Understand how to integrate pre-event, in-event, and post-event content creation into your planning process.
Learn practical approaches to creating scalable, cost-effective video content during events to maximize ROI.
Audience as Creators: Building an Engagement Strategy with User-Generated Content (Breakout Session)
Michael Hoffman
In this hands-on workshop, dive deep into the transformative potential of user-generated content to increase event attendance, boost sponsorship revenue, and enhance audience engagement during and after your event. Through a mix of insights, examples, and interactive exercises, you’ll learn how to leverage attendee voices, sponsor participation, and organic storytelling to create powerful, authentic content. Participants will leave with actionable strategies and a working plan tailored to their events, ensuring they can implement these ideas immediately to amplify their event’s impact.
Learning Outcomes:
Identify the key types of user-generated content that drive event attendance, sponsorship value, and engagement.
Learn best practices for collecting, curating, and utilizing user-generated content before, during, and after your event.
Develop a customized content plan for your event, including actionable steps to implement and measure success.
Don’t Sign That Contract!!!: A Deep Dive into Venue AV Negotiation (The Main Stage)
Scott Frankel
For over 25 years Scott Frankel and Animatic Media have built a business on their ability to save their client’s money, steer clear of hidden contract terms with hotels, audiovisual companies, internet providers and vendors of all kind. This session will teach you how to avoid the pitfalls so you are not cornered into decisions that might blow up your budget or handcuff your abilities to make your events as great as they can be.
Hotel Contracts – the things you need to know BEFORE you sign. Room rates, F&B, attrition and VIP transportation are only a few of the things you need to think about before signing your hotel contract.
But there are “fine print” clauses that you need to address that can cost or save you tens of thousands of dollars. Learn how identify things to redline out, pre-negotiate costs or budget accurately.
DETAIL
This session will teach you the ins and outs of things like:
o Rigging
o Electrical
o Internet
o Signage posting in common areas (gobos, easels, digital signage)
o Hotel TV Channel
o Audiovisual – Bringing in outside vendors
§ Third party costs
§ Load in supervisor
§ Union Labor/Shadow Labor
§ Matching in-house AV costs
o Room Availability for setup and strike
Must See Event Technology Trends (Breakout Session)
Scott Frankel
Event planners move fast but technology moves faster. This session will lend insight into the hottest trends in event-related technology. This comprehensive session will teach you what’s available, what technology to embrace and which ones to stay away from.
See the technology in use at this session and takeaway action items you can implement TODAY!
AV 101: What every Meeting/Event Planner needs to know (Breakout Session)
Scott Frankel
This session will get you up to speed with AV technology, terminology and make you more comfortable working with both your AV vendor and clients/speakers. We will delve into each area of basic AV including audio, video and lighting. We will also discuss other event related technology like speaker timers, slide advancers and recording technology. We will also touch on things like rigging, electric, internet and budgets.
Our KPI is Joy: How live events catalyze happiness (Main Stage)
Tahira Endean
We live in a complicated world where everyone is balancing, teetering, trying. Live events have the power to bring people together, build trust, and have participants leaving fulfilled, rich with ideas and connections, amplified when we plan events with empathy and intention. Let’s be inspired together.
Intentional Event Design: Building with empathy (Breakout Session)
Tahira Endean
People-centric, purpose-driven design is critical to achieving the results your clients – internal and external - demand. In a world that is driven by technology, face-to-face events are more critical than ever and have higher expectations from both organization and participants. Let’s peel back the layers of design and generate ideas for inclusive, wonder-filled events.