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INTRODUCTION

INCON offers a series of virtual learning lectures on topics of relevance to their teams, clients and partners. The programme focuses on polishing skills so we are ready for the ever changing and increasingly competitive events industry landscape. This year we look forward to learn from each other so we can respond to the changing face of customer service whilst leveraging new technologies to spark creativity and ensure operational efficiencies. You can also check out previous INCON Learning programmes in our archive below where you can learn about leadership development, AI tools as well as innovative strategies to make your event stand out, drive registrations and enhance audience engagement.

Friday 28 November | 12 pm CET / 9pm AEST

Practical Cyber Resilience in 2025

Prem Bhawnani, IT and AI Advisory and Consulting
Speaker Profile →

In today’s connected events ecosystem, every vendor, device, and login is part of your security perimeter. This session unpacks critical domains every event organiser should understand, from third-party risk and AI misuse to identity protection and ransomware resilience. Learn how to build trust, and do more with less through practical steps that strengthen your defences without blowing your budget.

About the speaker:

Prem Bhawnani is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of executive experience spanning digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI strategy. A former Chair of the INCON Technology Collaboration Forum, he spent eight years in the global events industry driving innovation and technology adoption. Today, Prem leads AI with Prem, a strategic technology and AI consultancy, serves as AI Practice Director at Alkemiz, and acts as Fractional CIO – Digital Strategy at ActivateUTS, helping organisations align technology initiatives with measurable business outcomes.  

Thursday 9 December | 13.00-14.00 GMT / 14.00-15.00 CET

An AI Journey “from the outside in”

Bar Gelfand, VP Marketing & Innovation at ORTRA
Speaker Profile →

This session from Bar Gelfand, ORTRA's VP of Marketing and Innovation, will address how AI is transforming the MICE industry. His session will explore not only what AI can do today, but also where human expertise and judgment remain essential. The session will cover real implementation examples, why AI projects fail, and a practical framework for combining AI capabilities with professional experience to stay competitive in the industry.

1. AI on the Outside – Enhancing the Event Experience

   • How AI tools are reshaping the participant, exhibitor, and sponsor journey (with case examples such as AI-powered meeting summaries, facial expression analysis, dwell-time and location insights etc.)

2. Real-World Use Cases & Data-Driven Insights

   • Leveraging AI to improve efficiency, streamline repetitive tasks, and maintain competitiveness against new players using apps, AI agents, and self-serve platforms.

   • Practical examples of how organizers can turn these technologies into day-to-day working tools.

3. The Human Challenge – Thriving in the AI Era

   • Insights from my “From Dinosaurs to Unicorns” article: how seasoned professionals in a traditional industry can adapt and thrive with innovation.

   • Overcoming resistance, bridging generational gaps, and embedding change through real case studies from his work as an Innovation Officer.

About the speaker:

Bar Gelfand is VP Marketing & Innovation at ORTRA, Israel’s leading PCO & DMC, where he drives the integration of AI and emerging technologies to transform the events and MICE industry. Previously, as Head of Product Marketing at Trigo—a global leader in computer vision for retail—he led the company’s AI strategy and implementation for sales and marketing, developing internal tools to leverage AI for sales efforts and go-to-market success. Earlier in his career, at Monitor Deloitte’s Strategy practice, he advised technology-sector clients on growth-beyond-the-core and corporate strategy projects.

RECORDED SESSIONS:

February 2025

AI for Events & Data Analysis

Nick Borelli, Marketing Director, Zenus
Speaker Profile →

Learning objectives:

• Apply data-driven decision making to improve strategic and operational management within our businesses.

• Explore and adopt current data and AI tools that enhance operational efficiency and productivity.

• Leverage data insights and AI capabilities to deliver more informed, value-driven support to clients.

• Utilise AI for real-time data interpretation to drive incremental improvements in event design and outcomes.

April 2025

Bitesize Session: How Big Things Get Done

Jurriaen Sleijster, President & COO, mci group | Jack Macleod, President, 360 Live Media, a Smithbucklin Company

Jurriaen and Jack discuss the book ‘How Big Things Get Done’ by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner and how it applies to the Events Industry. This Bitesize INCON Learning Session was recorded at the 2025 INCON Masterclass & University in Abu Dhabi in April 2025.

May 2025

Use AI to Disrupt, Reimagine, and Lead in the Events Industry

Dawid Naude, CEO and Founder, Pathfindr
Speaker Profile →

Description: Running events means juggling tight timelines, sponsors, speakers, venues, budgets, and audience expectations. This session cuts through the AI noise and shows how you can use it to streamline operations, personalise experiences, and free up your team to focus on what really matters.

Key Takeaways: 

• Supercharge what you can do today, reimagine what you can do tomorrow.

• Save time by automating manual tasks and use AI to personalise member experience without extra workload. 

• Get real examples of how events are already applying AI in events, marketing, and operations. 

July 2025

Redefining Events in 2025: Impactful and Regenerative Business Event Strategies

Milda Salciute, Director, Events Consulting and Academy
Speaker Profile →

As we enter 2025, the world of event management is shifting towards creating lasting legacies and driving sustainability. This session for meeting professionals with emerging priorities transforming events into powerful platforms for long-term positive impact. You'll discover how to leverage the Hannuwa methodology to design strategies that deeply engage stakeholders, embed circular economy principles, and integrate regenerative food systems into your event planning. By adopting this holistic approach, your events will contribute to social, environmental, and economic regeneration, leaving a profound and measurable legacy.

We will analyse the ESCRS Congress—hosted in Milan (2022), Vienna (2023), and Barcelona (2024)—as a case study to showcase how these events have set new standards in the industry, offering valuable lessons for your future event planning.

Learning Outcomes: 

1. Gain a clear understanding of how legacy building and sustainability are reshaping event management as we approach 2025. 

2. Explore the GDS-Hannuwa methodology and how it enables the creation of regenerative events that positively impact society, the environment, and the economy. 

3. Extract actionable insights from the ESCRS Congress (2022–2024) to design innovative, impactful events for the future. 

November 2025

Building a Unified Front – How Sales, Finance & Operations Drive Sustainable Success

Nicky McGrane, INCON Co-Chair and CEO Conference Partners International & Walid Menessi, ICOM

In this session, Nicky McGrane, INCON Co-Chair & CEO of Conference Partners International, and Walid Menessi, COO of ICOM, share practical, real-world strategies for unifying teams behind a single client and commercial vision. Together, they explore how integrated workflows, clear communication, and financial transparency can transform project delivery and elevate client experience across complex, high-impact global events.

What You’ll Learn:

• Integrating sales, finance, and operations
  How leading agencies align commercial goals with operational delivery to maximise revenue and ensure seamless client experiences.

• Managing deposits, payments, and financial workflows
  Practical tools, processes, and checkpoints that keep teams aligned and prevent financial bottlenecks.

• Lessons from large-scale events
  Insights from projects where cross-functional collaboration and close partnership with clients made the difference between good and exceptional outcomes.