This is a top-notch panel. Every single member has great experience and knowledge of running events, the business of events, and the wider strategic issues that the sector needs to address.

Where is the sector heading? What are the key issues and where are the opportunities? And, how relevant is the work of event professionals?

You can be sure that we have some hard-hitting questions ready. The beauty of this session is that whilst the panel members have a big soft spot for the events sector, they are ‘distant’ enough from it to be our critical friends to help provide guidance and advice on what needs to happen next.

Through their constructive comments, you will see events in a new light.

In this session, Jessie States will be in conversation with MPI’s President and CEO Paul Van Deventer and Stephen Revetria, who is the current Chairman of MPI. Between them they have stacks of experience and insights to share.

The global pandemic has severely impacted the events sector. No one has come away unscathed. However, MPI has always had a global outlook helping event professionals at all stages of their careers. Today MPI is more important than ever in being the organisation that helps those professionals cross borders, continents and oceans. Collaboration and having a world view has never been more important. Find out how these senior leaders of MPI see the international opportunities available to you and discover how you can get more involved and develop your career.

In this session Paul will reflect on some of the issues that have been raised and what that means for you and as importantly for how you want to help shape the events sector.

He will ask that you take action as a result of attending EMEC 2021. It isn’t a big request just a natural one. Little point in attending a virtual conference unless you are going to do something with the insights, thoughts and stories that have been shared.

But don’t worry you can keep your actions to yourself. There is no need for anything to be shared. This is the time for you to sit back and reflect.

In the fast paced world of events, sometimes we need to take a breath, stop and be grateful for all that we have. The desire to always improve, always keep moving and always keep being better than you were before is tiring.

Being involved in MPI means that you can stop and celebrate key moments. You can be with kindred spirits and people that understand what it means to be an events professional. There is a lot to be grateful for.

In this session we offer our thanks to those people that have helped us and we take a look at what we can do to help others.

But it’s not all about words, we have some a surprise or two in store in this session.

As the virtual production heads into the final stages, we look forward to the closing comments of Annette Gregg, Senior Vice President, Experience for MPI.

Closing comments can often be overlooked but you don’t want to miss the thoughts and sentiment of Annette. She is an inspirational presence and is sure to help us end a thought-provoking event on a big note.

And let’s not forget she will be announcing the winners of the challenges. You better stay tuned.

This session sees Priya, Caitlin, and Elena come together to offer advice on just how to get on in your career. It is invaluable to pretty much everyone right now especially given the changes created by Covid. Even if you are a veteran in the sector there will be something new in here for you as well.

Expect this session to be lively and full of useful insights.