The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has announced the content for its conference at Stadium MK on 29 November 2018. The annual conference for ESSA members and guests returns to the venue with a line up of influential speakers and practical sessions.

ESSA director, Andrew Harrison explained the choice of speakers and content, saying, “With this year’s conference we wanted to increase our focus on member participation, and with the addition of working group feedback and peer to peer problem-solving, we are aiming to add a new element this year. We have secured some excellent, thought-provoking, guest speakers and made sure there is plenty of time allowed for networking, something our members want at every ESSA event.”

The one-day conference begins with registration from 8 am, with keynote speaker, Ed Gillespie taking to the podium at 10 am, after an address from the conference chair, Andy Gibb, sales & marketing director at Stadium MK.

Ed Gillespie is a writer, communications specialist, serial entrepreneur, futurist and co-founder of Futerra, a change agency that specialises in business transformation and creative communications and campaigns. Professionally Gillespie is known for his own unique brand of authentic ‘insultancy’ – being strategically rude to clients, with judicious wit and wisdom to inspire them to greater heights and aspirations.

Gillespie’s presentation will be followed by a new feature for the conference, where delegates will split into three break-out sessions: Two cross-association Working Groups will feedback and discuss their work in the areas of technology and electrics, and there will also be a ‘Solutions Room’ where members can discuss common issues and offer potential solutions in a moderated, peer to peer session.

The second speaker of the day, Ian Rowlands, will address the conference after lunch. Rowlands, a member of the Inner Magic Circle and the only person from outside the United States to be hired by the FBI for training purposes, is also a sought-after speaker by the sports psychologists working with the British Olympics Team, and the Ministry of Defence amongst others.

2018 Conference Keynote speaker, Debra Searle MVO, MBE

Debra Searle MVO, MBE will round off the day with her keynote presentation. Searle shot to fame for rowing the Atlantic solo, after her teammate in the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge suffered a medical setback and had to retire. As a highly regarded motivational speaker and presenter of over 40 BBC programmes, Searle has brought her inspirational messages to audiences including TEDx, Airbus, Nestlé, Google, AstraZeneca and many more.

The day’s proceedings will conclude with the chair’s round up, and the conference for 2018 will officially close at 16.45pm, allowing delegates time to relax and change in readiness for the Chairman’s Ball and ESSA Awards Night 2018 which will follow in the evening.

“After the success of the first ESSA Awards presentation at our 10th Anniversary Snowball Celebrations last year, we’ve chosen to continue with the tradition and we’ll be handing out the 2018 ESSA Awards at this year’s ‘Chairman’s Ball and ESSA Awards Night’.” concluded Harrison.

To register for the Conference and book for the Chairman’s Ball and ESSA Awards Night follow this link: https://www.essa.uk.com/ticket-prices-2018

Headline sponsor for the event is beMatrix, with event sponsors being Aztec, Europa International, InEvexco, Jungheinrich, Mash Media, Perton Signs and The Barista.

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.