Wednesday 18th November
0930-0950 How to Make Delegates Belong, and Why it Really Matters
In a world of ROI, ROE and ROO, StoryCraft Lab, Google and Meet In Wales take guests on a deep dive into why creating a sense of belonging amongst delegates could create the most meaningful impact. Driven by StoryCraft Lab's own masterclass in belonging, be prepared to share your own stories and shape them to create a genuinely modern and powerful event.
Betsy Rives, Insights & Innovation Manager, Google / Naomi Clare, CEO, StoryCraft Lab / Heledd Williams, Head of Business Events, Meet In Wales
1000-1020 Are We Seeing the Person or the Generation?
What happens when we think we know someone because of their generation? In this conversation, Alastair Greener explores the assumptions that shape relationships across the events industry. Through real stories, we’ll examine how different expectations around communication and collaboration can lead to misunderstandings, and how curiosity can turn those moments into stronger connections. How might events professionals work better together when they see the person before the label?
Alastair Greener, Communications Speaker & Consultant, PresentYourself.co.uk
1030-1050 Where is the expert in the room?
One of the main reasons that people attend events, and particularly conferences, is to learn. But how do you find the expert you want to meet? Do the meeting formats used by conference organisers help you do this? And what do we mean by “expert” anyhow? In this interactive campfire session, we’ll find the experts in the room and highlight how the meeting format itself can help.
Tamsin Treasure-Jones & Raymond Elferink, Co-Founders, Kubify
1100-1120 Full Rooms or Real Reach? The Hybrid Question
Hybrid access or full rooms: What really defines congress success? How realistic are hours of undivided attention? Planners want measurable success and full rooms, yet participants who benefit from knowledge transfer at their own pace and share it onward may be the true multipliers. Let’s put our heads together and come up with some ideas on how we can strike this balance!
Thomas Berghausen, Owner, meta-fusion
1130-1150 MESA Group Hosted Buyer Presentation (Closed Group Presentation): A Discovery Journey of Event Services and Technologies for Your Next Event (Part One)
1200-1220 The Moment Everything Went Wrong
We've all had that moment at an event, the one where everything falls apart. Join us for an honest, informal campfire conversation about the chaos, my quick fixes, and the lessons we’ve learned in our industry. No slides, no pitches, just real stories from people who've been there. Come ready to laugh, cringe, and swap survival tactics with fellow congress and event professionals. Pull up a chair. Bring your story.
Jan Diesbach, Director Sales & Strategy, ESTENSIS
1230-1250 Organising Events Abroad: What Changes and What to Plan For
Taking an event overseas is exciting, but everything you know about delivering at home gets tested. In this conversational session, I will draw on 20 years in event operations to talk through the changes that occur when you cross a border: health and safety, local suppliers, budgets, compliance, culture, and language. Bring your questions and your stories. You will leave with practical ideas and a clearer picture of what to plan for before you make the leap.
Julia Danmeri, Founder, TranslateAble
1400-1420 MESA Group Presentation (Closed Group Presentation): A Discovery Journey of Event Services and Technologies for Your Next Event (Part Two)
1430-1450 Proposition, Presentation, Process: The Commercial Engine of Event Sales
When sponsorship drops, organisers often blame market trends. Revenue leaks stem from failures in the 3 x P's: Proposition (selling outcomes over physical components), Presentation (leading with buyer ROI), and Process (building a sales engine). In this interactive session, event strategy consultant Richard Morris explains why missing just one component can break the whole machine and provides actionable steps to fix your commercial engine.
Richard Morris, Director, Active Media Events
1500-1520 Speaking Matters – Busting Myths with a New Superpower – Preparation
It doesn’t matter what your speaking opportunity is; if you want to be successful, you have to prepare. And preparation can be fun. In this discussion, Paul Cook will explore speaking myths, bust them open, and dive into your key questions. Bring your stories of what happens when you are asked to speak, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and let’s share insights for a better approach for getting ready to speak.
Paul Cook, Storyteller & Creative Producer, Paul Cook Storyteller
1530-1550 No AI Sheriff in Town? How the Event Industry Can Write Its Own Rules
Silicon Valley is moving fast and breaking things, but there is no global "AI Sheriff" riding into town anytime soon to keep the algorithms in check. We’re all galloping through a digital Wild West without a badge or a map. No slides, no sales pitches, and no doom-and-gloom. Just a straightforward, campfire chat on how we can demand accountability, protect our delegates, and bring some law and order before the bandits take over.
Grégoire Bradley, International Account Executive, LetzFair
1600-1620 How to beat the late registration game attendees love to play
Attendees play a waiting game, and right now they’re winning. Early-bird deadlines slide, reminder emails go unopened, and most of your registrations land in the final stretch. Bring your reg curves, your clever saves and your failed experiments. Let’s compare notes, pick apart tactics from waitlists to airline-style price holds, and leave with ideas that change the rules of the game.
JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE MESA RE-FRESH DINNER
tuesday mesa campfire programme
thursday mesa campfire programme
overall mesa campfire programme
Logistics and overall support for MESA at ibtm provided by MESA Patron Member ACS audiovisual solutions 
Our audio visual screens at ibtm are sponsored and provided by MESA Member ESTENSIS
Our campfire seating is sponsored and provided by FestivalChairs 
MESA campfires will take place using MESA Sponsor Partner Silent Seminars headsets 