Rafat Ali

Rafat is the CEO/founder of Skift, the largest industry intelligence and marketing platform in travel, providing news, information, data and services.

Previously, he was the founder/CEO of paidContent and ContentNext, which he sold to UK’s Guardian News and Media in 2008, and left in 2010. Prior to that, he was managing editor of Silicon Alley Reporter.

Rafat was the Knight Fellow at Indiana University, where he completed his Masters in Journalism, 1999-2000. Prior to that he completed his BSc in Computer Engineering, from AMU in Aligarh, India.

Corbin Ball, CSP, CMP, DES, MS

Corbin Ball, CSP, CMP, DES, MS is an international speaker, consultant and writer helping clients worldwide use technology to save time and improve productivity. After 18 years running international city-wide technology meetings, Corbin transitioned in 1997 to become a highly acclaimed speaker with the ability to make complex subjects understandable and fun.  Corbin is a 2018 inductee into the Event Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders, the most prestigious honor in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry. He is the only person to have received both the MPI International Supplier of the Year and the MPI International Chapter Leader of the Year awards. Corbin has been named as one of “The 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” five times by Successful Meetings/MeetingNews magazines.

Dahlia El Gazzar

Dahlia has an “OMG” attitude about all things tech and audience engagement solutions. With more than a decade of experience in the meetings and events sector, working on both the professional planning side and as an association collaborator, Dahlia is known as the coffee-fuelled ‘go-to’ source for trend-setting solutions, eventtech news, and social media expertise.

Her mission is to untether the busy professional from their desktop and office and enable them to be more efficient and productive working from a beach in Mexico (umbrella drink in hand) through their mobile device utilizing smart solutions and apps.

Dan Berger

Dan Berger is an American-Israeli entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and former CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Social Tables, which was acquired in 2018 by Cvent, a Vista-backed company, for a reported $100mm.

Founded in 2011, Social Tables provides sales, marketing, and operations SaaS products, which have enabled over 250,000 hospitality and event professionals execute over 1.5 million events per year. The award-winning software is used by over 50% of all full-service hotels in North America.

The company serves over 6,000 customers, including Hyatt, IHG, The Venetian, Under Armor, Live Nation, and Forbes. Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, QuestMark Partners, Thayer Venture Partners, 500 Startups and other investors, Social Tables raised approximately $27mm.

Dan has been recognized as an industry and tech leader by BizBash, Catersource, Washingtonian, MeetingsNet, and other publications. He is the recipient of the Pacesetter Award from the Events Industry Council, and was named one of the most influential leaders in the meetings industry in Successful Meetings for two years in a row. Dan founded the Capital Tech Coalition, a #dctech advocacy group, and the Georgetown Tech Alliance’s DC Chapter. He is an active member in YPO.

Prior to Social Tables, Dan worked in management consulting (Booz Allen), ran a large NY-based association (DL21C), worked for a senior Member of Congress, and ran a boutique web design agency.

Dan is an investor and advisor to BangOn!NYC, an event production company that organizes several events per year, amongst them Elements Arts & Music Festival, a multi-day festival outside of NYC that has been referred to as “the next Burning Man.”

Dan also has several hospitality investments (restaurants and hotels) in San Diego, Washington DC, New York City, and Baltimore.

Dan is currently working on a new digital venture focused on offline community-building, writing a business memoir that will be out in late 2020, and producing a documentary.

Dan, 38, has a BA from Hunter College (2004) and an MBA from Georgetown University (2010). Born in Israel and raised in NY, Dan has a home in the East Village (NYC) but lives in Boise, ID with his dog, Leroy.

Abi Cannons

Abi is the Global Innovation Success Manager for Reed Exhibitions where she works with digital teams around the world to help them find, test and implement the best event technology on the market. Previously at Slido – an audience interaction tool for live Q&A and polling – and having managed and produced conferences for 9 years before that, Abi has experienced multiple aspects of what it takes to drive innovation in events. Abi loves nothing more than getting underwater as a scuba diver, and is a budding bass house DJ on dry land.

Adam Parry

Adam Parry is the co-founder and editor of the event industry’s global online magazine, www.eventindustrynews.com (EIN).

As an avid technology evangelist, Adam coupled his 10+ years’ experience in the event industry with his passion for the latest tech trends to co-create Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology. On top of this, Adam is also the co-organiser of the Event Technology Awards, a world-renowned awards scheme showcasing the very best in event technology.

EIN’s vast readership comprises organisers, promoters, event management and production companies, suppliers, experiential agencies, the corporate sector, local government and organisations that host exhibitions and conferences.

Kenny Lauer

Kenny is an experience creator. He has spent decades using technology to collapse distance between people. His passion is to transform people-where people are the product and feel different after great experiences. He specializes in marketing strategies and digital experiences (both face-to-face and remote) that drive emotional connections. He believes it all about State of the he(art)!

Kenny has been awarded the elite “Certified Experience Economy Expert” designation and in 2017 was added to the BT-150 recognized as one of the top global executives leading innovative business transformation efforts in their organizations and this year was added to the AX-50 list for those leading in ambient experiences.

He is currently the Chief Experience Officer for the AI company, Lifekind. Previously, Kenny led Marketing & Digital experiences at the Golden State Warriors where he ran day to day operations and led the team’s brand experience creation in the digital and physical space. Previous to the Warriors, he led worldwide digital for George P. Johnson. He has also held senior positions at KPMG and Peppers & Rogers Group while beginning his career as an Evangelist at Apple Computers.

Kenny is also an active member of :

• The voting member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
• Advisory Board Member to the SXSW Interactive Festival

Marco Giberti

Marco is a successful serial entrepreneur and investor with more than 25 years of intensive experience in media, technology, and the events industry. He is Founder and CEO of Vesuvio Ventures, providing entrepreneurs access to coaching, partnerships, advisory, and capital.

After several years in a successful career as a corporate executive at Apple, Marco pursued his entrepreneurial ambitions and became:

• Co-founder and Board Member of Mind Opener, a leading publishing group in Latin America that was later sold to British Pearson Media Group, and
• Co-founder and Board Member of e-mind, an internet and media communications company that was sold to Liberty Media.
• President, CEO and co-founder of Mind Trainer (later Reed Exhibitions), a firm specializing in the organization of major regional trade-shows and events that was sold to Reed Elsevier after a successful long-term joint venture.

Marco is a Harvard Business School OPM Graduate, and member of YPO, the Young Presidents Organization and a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He is also a co-author of the best-selling book The Face of Digital focused on how digital technologies are changing the live events business industry.

Aja Bradley Kemp

Aja Bradley Kemp is a marketer and experiential event designer who has spent over 20 years growing consumer, lifestyle, and tech brands in the United States and international markets including Expedia, MAC Cosmetics, Sunglass Hut, and Reebok. A natural connector, she loves bringing people together and is fueled by the impact technology has on the way we interact socially.

Aja founded Conversate Collective, a brand experience agency, to help brands develop lasting relationships with their audience through the power of shared experiences. The enjoyment she gets from bringing people together coupled with her personal mission to get the perfect curl, led her to create Love My Curls Festival, the first beauty event celebrating women in Australia & New Zealand with curly and textured hair.

Brandt Krueger

Brandt is a technical producer and consultant based in Minneapolis, MN, and is the highly acclaimed instructor for MPI and the Event Leadership Institute’s Virtual Event and Meeting Management certificate course. He has over 20 years of experience, has spoken at events and conferences all over the world, been published in numerous magazines and websites, and is ranked among the most influential people in the meeting and events industry. More information at www.brandtkrueger.com

Tess Vismale, CMP, DES

Tess thrives virtually and face-to-face managing events logistics and tech merged with events. She is Chief Event Executioner & Event Technologist for iSocialExecution, Inc.,  Live Event Associate with ExecOnline, Tech Whisperer with DAHLIA+ AGENCY & Speaker. She was recognized as a member of Connect Association magazine’s “15 Over 50.” The honor highlights the top professionals in the events industry. Tess is a Certified Meeting Professional, Digital Event Strategist, stage manager for TEDxPeachtree (9yrs).

Kathryn Frankson

Kathryn Frankson is the Director of Event Marketing at Informa, the global leader in specialized events and event intelligence. After 48 straight quarters selling exhibition space and custom event sponsorships, Kathryn launched Informa’s sales marketing team, modernizing demand generation. Kathryn now leads the event and digital marketing efforts for Informa’s content led events in the architecture, event planning and foodservice space.

William Thomson

William ran his first paid for online event in 2005 “controversially” charging the same price for the online as the physical event. William now runs Europe’s largest online training and virtual events business for executive assistants, Practically Perfect PA.

As an organiser and business strategist, William is a firm believer in the role that virtual has in replacing revenue from physical events.

Danielle Maveal

Danielle started her career in community and events as a founding team member of Etsy.com. She has since worked on community, communication, and events strategies and operations at BarkBox, Airbnb, and Lyft. She believes powerful community work is creating, supporting, and growing the spaces where meaningful conversations happen.

Nick Borelli

Nick Borelli’s consultancy, Borelli Strategies, focuses on marketing solutions for events and event companies. He is an international speaker and has been member and volunteer with numerous event industry associations. He is also the marketing chair of the event industry non-profit, The SEARCH Foundation.

Nick has been named a Changemaker by MeetingsNet, awarded International Volunteer of the Year by International Live Events Association, and has won numerous marketing awards. He has served as an advisor and ambassador for associations, conferences, technology companies and numerous event suppliers. Nick is obsessed with telling stories that change behaviors.

Liz King

Liz King Caruso is an Event Strategist, Consultant and Speaker. As CEO of Liz King Events and techsytalk, she has helped countless thought leaders grow their audience and sell their products through in-person, virtual & hybrid events. Liz is a big-picture person – passionate about tying events into your overall sales and marketing strategy and being efficient at every point of the process. Technology is her niche and she’s obsessed with helping organizations of every size leverage technology to produce more seamless and engaging event experiences.

In addition to her client work, Liz connects & educates her industry colleagues through platforms she has built – techsytalk GLOBAL, the techystalk community & IGNITE Consulting program. Liz authentically collaborates, shares knowledge & learns constantly from others in the events industry and beyond.

Liz has been featured in Eventex’s 50 Most Innovative Virtual Meeting Planners and 100 Most Influential People in the Events Industry, Successful Meetings list of 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry, Top 5 Women in Event Tech, Connect Magazine’s list of 40 Under 40 Up-and-Coming Event Planners, and Meetings and Conventions list of Top Influential Female Leaders in the Events Industry, amongst other awards.

When she’s not working with clients or building her business, you can find her with her family or in the kitchen experimenting with some new gadget or recipe!

Corey McCarthy

Corey McCarthy has more than twenty years of experience in media and tech. As Socio’s Chief Marketing Officer, Corey and her team bring event organizers impactful tech and thought leadership that truly delivers success.

In her former life, Corey ran a portfolio brand for Penton Media, and has extensive insights into all facets of the event, digital media, and publishing businesses.

Joe Schwinger

Joe Schwinger is Co-Founder and CEO of MeetingPlay, an event technology company forging meaningful connections for Fortune 500 companies including Marriott, PepsiCo and Bristol-Myers Squibb. With a background in ecommerce, he has extensive experience providing customer-facing solutions on a global scale. 

Joe was named to the 2018 list of 40 under 40 by Connect Corporate and the elite list of BizBash 500. In 2019, he was again named in the BizBash 1000 list of Top People in the U.S. Event Industry.

Pierre Metrailler

Pierre joined SpotMe in 2001 and became CEO in 2016. In 2004, after a research position on distributed algorithms at NTT Japan, he returned to SpotMe and led the pivot from proprietary hardware to SaaS, making SpotMe the leading event app and virtual event platform. Pierre holds an MSc in communication systems from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of INSEAD. He enjoys sky running and ski mountaineering in the Swiss Alps.

Matthew Sessions

Matthew Sessions has been in the events industry for over 25 years, the last 7 of which have been with the Digital Summit Series where he co-leads the division overseeing all sponsor sales, audience marketing, content strategy, and pivot-to-virtual initiatives. He’s managed event operations & sponsorships for trade shows, incentive travel, road shows, consumer events, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Julius Solaris

Julius Solaris is the editor in chief of EventMB. Started in 2007, EventMB is the number one online platform for event professionals. EventMB was acquired in 2019 by Skift, the largest and most influential travel media company worldwide.

He has been named one of the most influential individuals in the meetings industry by many magazines and media for the past 10 years.

Julius has conducted some of the most groundbreaking research for the event industry. Over 3,000 events reviewed and 15,000 event professionals interviewed.

Julius’ analysis and reports have been downloaded by over 300,000 event professionals. 300,000 more read EventMB every month. Julius has been keynote for events in 12 countries and for over 200,000 attendees.

Sabrina Meyers

Sabrina Meyers is an independent event planner and founder of Hot Hospitality Exchange, her brand and platform where she creates visual content from a MICE and event planners’ perspective mainly on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn as well as Facebook and Twitter. She’s also co-founder of newly launched social media creative agency, Two Social Media Chicks which consults with clients in the events, hospitality and lifestyle on social media content creation, coaching, marketing and strategy. She’s a very active voice in the global events community and big believer in creative collaboration and all things #eventprofs related!

Heidi Legein

Heidi Legein is the founder and Chief Executive Guru at The MICE guru, a full service destination management company consulting in – and producing all types of MICE events for global brands choosing Norway as their destination.
With an innovative and sustainable approach, The MICE guru matches companies to tailored ideas, experiences and locations in Norway, rather than selling places, venues and products.

Heidi is an active member of the #eventprofs community, recently launched #eventprofswalk to help peers stay positive and active and has been a front runner in reinventing the DMC value proposition.
Her biggest Covid-19 achievements include having dinner on the couch without spoiling food and adding virtual – as well as hybrid destination experiences to her company’s portfolio.

She is always ready to activate an audience on social media and has recently been baptised “the face of Norway” thanks to the online visibility of her brand.