Event Industry News Podcast
Business & Finance
About
Welcome to the Event Industry News podcast, the leading portal for event organisers. Each week we invite industry guests on to the show to discuss a range of topics with event management.
Episodes
- Inside 50 Years of Hilton Birmingham Metropole: Memories, Teams and Milestones
James Dickson sits down with Area General Manager Nicola Betley to celebrate Hilton Birmingham Metropole’s 50th anniversary, exploring the hotel’s role at the heart of the UK events industry, long-serving team members, and evolving guest a…
- Creating Immersive Events: Inside Hilton Birmingham Metropole with Eventologists' Rita Chandarana
James Dickson sits down at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole with Rita Chandarana from Eventologists to explore how creative production turns standard hotel spaces into immersive, memorable events. They discuss collaboration with technical p…
- Inside the Hilton Metropole: 50 Years of Big-Stage Events
James Dickson records at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole to mark its 50th anniversary, interviewing Simon Jelley from Protec about the venue's vast event spaces, technical capabilities, and the on-site partnership that powers seamless prod…
- 40 years of The Showman's Show with Johnny Lance
James Dickson sits down with Johnny Lance, co‑director of The Showman's Show, to explore the event’s 40+ year history, its role in the outdoor events industry, and how it evolved from a printed directory into a must‑attend trade show. They…
- From Stage to Stream: How Present Communications Reinvent Events
Host James Dickson chats with Kieran Garlic, MD of Present Communications, about how modern AV, live streaming and hybrid production can extend the life and reach of events. They discuss leveraging event content, building resilient systems…
- Do You Sleep Well at Night? The Hidden Stress of In‑House Event Managers
James Dickson interviews Alex Pearn, CEO of ClinkClink, about their new report 'Do You Sleep Well at Night? Sleep, Stress and Wellbeing in UK Event Management', which examines how in-house event managers experience stress, poor sleep and p…
- Putting Delegates First: How Venues Lead the Way on Welfare
At Confex 2026 James Dickson speaks with Katie Whitby, Head of Sales at The Venues Collection , about modern delegate welfare. They discuss practical, easy-to-implement measures venues can offer — from quiet spaces and residential options…
- Inflating Event Spaces: Inside Evolution Dome's 15-Year Journey
At Confex 2026, James Dickson sits down with Ash Austin of Evolution Dome to explore 15 years in the inflatable structure industry. They discuss the benefits of inflatable venues—rapid setup, acoustics, temperature control, and wind rating…
- Inside Visual Architects: How Set Design, Robotics and AI are Shaping Events
Recorded live at Confex 2026 inside an Evolution Dome, James Dickson sits down with Lefteris Angelidis, CEO and creative director of Visual Architects. They discuss the company’s journey from club and festival theming to a full-service cre…
- Confex 2026 Live: The Training Department’s Hands-On Route Into Corporate Event Production
Recorded live at International Confex 2026 from an Evolution Dome pod, James Dickson interviews Fran Starkie and Joe Chilvers about The Training Department’s new nine-module corporate production management programme. They discuss how the h…
- How Feast & Fable Turns Meals into Immersive Brand Stories
James Dixon talks with Jenny McNeil, founder of Feast & Fable, about creating immersive, narrative-driven dining experiences that use food as the central storytelling device for brands and events. They cover Jenny’s career path, examples o…
- From Michelin Kitchens to Event Feasts - Bubble Food’s Jens Nisson Reveals All
James Dickson speaks with Jens Nisson, Director & Executive Head Chef at Bubble Food, about translating restaurant techniques to events, crafting narrative-driven menus, and prioritising provenance and sustainability. The episode also expl…
- GEI18: How Live Events Are Powering a Greener Future
James Dickson is joined by A Greener Future’s Claire O’Neill to talk about GEI18, AGF’s Green Events & Innovations Conference taking place next week on 24th February at Royal Lancaster London. GEI18 is set to be a day of succinct, practica…
- From Hotels to Events: Nick Oxborrow’s Journey to Becoming an Event Business Coach
James Dickson welcomes event business success coach Nick Oxborrow to kick off 2026 with a candid conversation about his journey from hospitality into events, starting a business in Singapore, and the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. Ni…
- Return on Experience: Measuring What Matters in Events
James Dixon records live from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with guest Goc O'Callaghan — co-founder of ArcTanGent Festival and founder of UBQex. They discuss measuring the "return on experience", real-time metrics, personalisation, imaginat…
- Inside Twickenham: How Allianz Stadium Reinvented Event Spaces
James Dixon sits down at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham with event lead Johanna Byrane to explore the venue's recent refurbishments, new on-site hotel and upgraded conference technology. The episode highlights flexible event spaces, pitch-s…
- Show Ready - The Edit: GES Launches a new premium chapter in its award-winning Show Ready collection
James Dixon speaks with Penny Banks, Creative Director at GES, about the launch of Show Ready - The Edit, a curated range of four modular exhibition designs (Khan, Luter, Vico, Rho) aimed at the 30–50 sqm exhibition stand sweet spot. The e…
- From Hovercrafts to Live Surgery: Behind the Scenes of Event Production
Recorded at Stream7 to mark Event Industry News’ 15th anniversary, this episode brings together event producers, staffing experts and broadcasters to share real-world stories and practical insights. Guests discuss Wildfire’s show‑stopping…
- Northern Voices: NOWIE Members on Careers, Community & the Future of Events
delighted to record this episode in person at the Stream7 studios in Sheffield. Joining us for the conversation was a brilliant panel of Northern-based event professionals, all members of the fantastic NOWIE community: Emily Woods, Marketi…
- From Broadcast to Hybrid: Stream7 on Adapting and Evolving in Events
Recorded at Stream7’s Sheffield HQ as part of Event Industry News’ 15th anniversary series, James Dixon sits down with long-time listener and big fan of the podcast, Andy Jeffries. They explore Stream7’s journey from event broadcasting to…
- AIME 2025: Inside the Premier Business Event of the Asia-Pacific
In this episode of the Event Industry News podcast, host James Dixon is joined by Matt Pearce, the CEO of Talk2 Media and Events, to delve into the dynamics of the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME 2025). Held in Melbourne,…
- Defining customer experience with Olympia Events
In this episode of the Event Industry News Podcast, host James Dixon welcomes Carly Gibbs, recently appointed as the Head of Customer Experience at Olympia Events. Carly shares insights into her new role, discussing her extensive backgroun…
- Crossing the gain line with Project 30
Managing director Craig Mathie founded full-service event production agency Project 30 in 2022, after nearly 12 years as MD with Bournemouth 7s Festival. In conversation with host and friend Adam Parry, Craig gives a detailed background to…
- Unlocking the secrets of neuroscience in event design
Event strategist and consultant at ElectraLime Marketing, a company she founded in 2009, Lisa Schulteis is also a director of the North West Event Show. Coming to the sector from working as a neuropsychology technician isn’t the most tradi…
- The Importance of Quality Audio in Events
Duncan Strain started Silent Noize 16 years ago. A gamechanger. In this episode, Duncan talks host Adam Parry through the journey from promoting Birmingham club nights to hearing about headphones for events from his business partner, launc…
- Industry first AI tool for conference session selection
A part of the event industry for as long as he can remember, in some form or other, latterly Chris Carver is co-founder and CEO at Florida-based content/speaker management platform Sessionboard. Beyond the traditional background detail, Ch…
- RunMerge - The last integration you'll ever need
In among the event tech-world for 20 years, working with the likes of Cvent and SwapCard, Kevin Singh launched data integration platform RunMerge little over four months ago. Prompted by host Adam Parry, Kevin, who’s picked a luxuriant bac…
- Exhibitor experience is your brand experience
With 40 per cent of an organiser’s time spent ‘chasing exhibitors’ according to a recent Bizzabo study, this episode is about what’s broken, what exhibitors want, and the impact/potential impact of smart technology. Client director at Asce…
- The Showstop Procedure: The best way to ensure event safety in an emergency
Mark Hamilton, strategic, tactical and operational advisor with over 50 years’ experience in security, Paul McCartney among his long-term clients, and equally independent crowd, security, event and fire safety consultant, Steve Allen, have…
- 10 Years of The Purple Guide Grant Scheme
In and around events since the 1970s Steve Heap needs little introduction. Saying that, there’s a whole lot of it in the shape of his forthcoming book: You Call That a Career? The Memoirs of a Festival Organiser… In the context of this epi…
- Micro-Events - The future of marketing
With a background in managing 10,000 plus events, for the last three and a half years Utah-based Rodney Hart has been at next generation marketing platform RainFocus, where he’s vice president, events. Experienced in mechanics/checks and b…
- Sustainable branded apparel/merch - TeamTogs’ create, supply and ‘take the pain away’ process
Karen Saragoussi, owner of branded apparel/merch company TeamTogs, follows up her 2024 appearance on the podcast, accompanied by business development and sustainability manager Katie Noonan. Karen reiterates the impact of her time as an ev…
- Tariffs – now what for trade shows
Behind the recently published article: Tariffs – now what for trade shows , this episode’s guest, media and events entrepreneur Dr Baris Onay, is a bit of a coup. Referencing the impact of international sanctions on Russia in 2014 from fir…
- The Evolving Role of Photographers in Today's Event Landscape
Ten years ago, recognising the narrow horizons of his sales job, Big Event Media founder Vincent Roazzi Jr started exploring New York City through the lens of a new camera, going on to take gig pictures for music events startup Sofar Sound…
- In Person, a journey through the unstoppable evolution of events
This special edition of the Event Industry News podcast sees editor Adam Parry in conversation with Enrico Gallorini, co-founder and CEO of GRS – a global research and strategy company based in Dubai. Alongside the business, Enrico has wri…
- The Evolution of MEGA Events - From Local to Global
Nathan Reed runs experiential events company MEGA, which he founded 15 years ago. Behind rolling successes like The Rock Orchestra, Illuminated Orchestra and Incredible Silent Discos, his story is equal parts passion, conviction, commitmen…
- Accelerating Growth and Impact at RainFocus
Brian Gates, SVP of Industry Strategy at next-generation event platform RainFocus, is James Dickson’s guest for the first Event Industry News podcast of 2025. Founded in 2013, RainFocus made a fast mark on heavyweight shows like Oracle Clo…
- Greenwashing: How it manifests in the events industry
Sustainability strategy experts Sam Wilson, managing director at Syntiro Associates, and Dr Dominic Tantram, partner at Terrafiniti, present a podcast precursor to the ‘Unmasking Greenwashing in the Events Industry: Understanding, Identify…
- MJ Unpacked: A different kind of 'green' event
In and around events-world for years, Seattle-based CEO and co-founder of MJ Unpacked, George Jage, sowed the seeds for a show committed to the cannabis sector back in 2014. MJ Unpacked, the biggest trade event in a now burgeoning business…
- Eventwise up to event numbers
Founder and CEO at Eventwise, Chris Carter, and company set out to transform financial management in the sector for ‘greater efficiency and control’. Formerly a promoter in Bristol, Chris wanted to get into accounting. This episode, his fi…
- Resonance = Relevance. Why Experiential is The Key to Unlocking Culture for Brands
Louisa O’Connor, managing director of female-led brand experience agency Seen Presents , which represents the likes of Netflix and TikTok, has been in the industry since she joined Grace & Tailor subsidiary We are Vista, formerly Logistik,…
- How tech has changed the face of events
From sales director at Mentor Direct Marketing to vice president, European sales, at software solutions giant Cvent, nearly 30 years later, Jamie Vaughan has been in the thick of event technology. In this episode, a fast, informative 35 mi…
- Putting the GES in ESG
In and around events since 2002, Kate Holliday brought her considerable sustainability chops to trade show and exhibitions giant GES, where she is head of ESG, some 12 months ago. In this episode, Kate defines ESG – environment social and…
- The importance of Event Strategy
Multi-award-winning creative agency Sledge can boast an impressive catalogue of clients, Sage, Aruba and O2 contemporary among them. Managing director Sarah Yeats has been with the company for more than 12 and a half years, so she knows a…
- A round with Exhibit 3Sixty
With a background in graphic design, marketing and web development, commercial manager Sam Pearce joined Exhibit 3sixty from the Dovetail Group in 2023. This episode sees Sam talking about Exhibit 3sixty’s development from straight-ahead s…
- Tramlines Festival: The wider benefits
An outdoor event’s relationship with its local authority ranks high among the elements crucial to success. Following on from Timm Cleasby, director of operations at Tramlines, this episode is about Sheffield City Councillor Richard William…
- Tramlines: The festival journey from Sheffield city centre to Hillsborough Park
In the event industry for more than 20 years, monitor engineer to director of operations at Tramlines, where he’s worked since it started in 2009, and much more besides, Timm Cleasby is a perfect festival season guest. In this episode, Tim…
- Worlds Better x Event Academy: ‘Delivering Sustainable Events’ Course
Chrissie Beck, founder of sustainability consultancy for the live events industry, Worlds Better, joins host James Dickson in this episode of The Event Industry News Podcast. Chrissie has worked in delivering events all over the world for…
- The ever changing focus of event sustainability
In this episode of the Event Industry News Podcast, host James Dickson is joined by founder of event:decision, Matt Grey. Matt has worked in events for 25 years focussing mainly on the agency side servicing all kinds of events worldwide un…
- Beyond The Event: little things that enhance the attendee experience
After a break in recording (and an eventful football tournament) we are delighted to welcome back the Event Industry News Podcast, host, James Dickinson is joined by Valentina Ruffoni, Founder of Beyond The Event, International Event Strat…