MESA Monthly Member Meetings (4M's)
Takes place in the last week of the month (where possible)
1400-1500 GMT / BST
1500 - 1600 CET / CEST
2025
Next sessions:
Wednesday 28th May Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and The Five-Minute Window from Clare Forestier, Emcee / Event Host / Moderator, MESA Member.
Main topic: 🚀 Scaling Smart: Sustainable Growth Strategies for Event Tech Start-ups. Growing an event tech business is exciting - but scaling the right way is crucial for long-term success. Join us for this interactive panel discussion, where three industry founders will share their real-world experiences on building sustainable business models, scaling technology without breaking it, and growing the right team at the right time. Whether you’re working for a start-up, or a small company looking to expand, this session will give you actionable insights to help you scale smart. Don’t miss the chance to learn, discuss, and connect with like-minded professionals! With speakers: Geoffrey Campbell, Managing Director of Oxford Abstracts, MESA Member, Kerem Baran, Co-Founder & COO of Eventpack, MESA Member and Joe Atkinson, Director and Co-Founder of Lineup Ninja, MESA Member.
Moderated by Jelmer van Ast, Founder & CEO of Conference Compass, MESA Patron Member.
Tuesday 17th June Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and The Five-Minute News Brief from Paul Cook, Writer, Producer, Facilitator of Paul Cook Storyteller, MESA Member and Bob Toovey, Founder & Owner of Event Planner News (EPN), MESA Member.
Main topic: 🚀 Raise Your Profile: PR Tips to Stand Out in the Events Industry. Join us for an exclusive MESA session in June as we explore how to raise your profile—personally and professionally—through smart, strategic PR. Guest speaker Paul Colston, Managing Editor at Mash Media, will share his expert insights in a live interview, covering what gets noticed, how to pitch stories, and how to build lasting media relationships.
Ideal for individuals and companies looking to boost visibility, enhance brand presence, position themselves as thought leaders, and tell their story more effectively in the competitive meetings and events space.
Moderated and interviewed by Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
Thursday 24th July - OUR SUMMER NETWORKING - MESA'S BIGGEST NETWORKING EVENT EVER!
"The Engagement Equation: Before, During, and After the Event" 👉 How to keep attendees engaged at every touchpoint — not just on event day.
Open to all industry colleagues but you must pre-register!
Tuesday 26th August Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and The Five-Minute Window. Main topic: From Vendor to Voice: Using Podcasts to Grow Visibility in Events. How can suppliers use podcasts and vodcasts to promote their business? Learn how to pitch yourself, how to get on one and be a great guest, and get the most from each appearance. Ideal for sales and marketing teams looking to boost visibility and connect with new audiences. With speakers Bob Toovey, Founder & Owner of Event Planner News (EPN), MESA Member, Paul Cook, Writer, Producer, Facilitator of Paul Cook Storyteller, MESA Member and Gordon Glenister, Podcast Host and CEO of Membership World, MESA Co-Founder.
✅ Great for Supplier Visibility
Podcasts and vodcasts are powerful platforms to tell stories, share expertise, and build brand credibility without the hard sell. Giving suppliers the tools to get featured (or start their own) helps them amplify their voice in a more authentic way.
✅ Timely & Trendy
Audio and video content is exploding. People are multi-tasking more — listening while commuting, walking, cooking. This is an on-trend and very now-topic that feels fresh and engaging.
✅ Perfect for Sales & Marketing Teams
Gain practical insights like:
- How to pitch yourself to podcasts
- How to prep and show up well on air
- What makes a good guest
- Where to find podmatching opportunities
- How to repurpose appearances for content marketing
Moderated by Clare Forestier, Emcee / Event Host / Moderator, MESA Member.
Tuesday 30th September Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and The Five-Minute News Brief from Paul Cook, Writer, Producer, Facilitator of Paul Cook Storyteller, MESA Member and Bob Toovey, Founder & Owner of Event Planner News (EPN), MESA Member. Main topic: Finding New Clients: Smarter Lead Generation for Events Businesses. Whether you're branching into a new area or refining your approach, this session explores practical ways to generate leads in the meetings and events industry. From paid ads to personal referrals and tradeshows, join fellow members to share ideas, ask questions, and boost your client pipeline with confidence. With speakers: Jelmer van Ast, Founder & CEO of Conference Compass, MESA Patron Member, Sebastien Braun, CEO and Founder of idloom, MESA Patron Member and Marija Malinić, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Mamma Consulting.
Thursday 30th October Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and The Five-Minute Window
Wednesday 26th November Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and The Five-Minute News Brief from Paul Cook, Writer, Producer, Facilitator of Paul Cook Storyteller, MESA Member and Bob Toovey, Founder & Owner of Event Planner News (EPN), MESA Member.
Thursday 11th December
If you have not received your calendar invite, or the zoom link, please contact Sandie
MESA is my go-to industry body for me and my own well-being and self-interest. It's different from other associations where I'm with my 'tribe', but usually tends to be purely focused on business.
Michael Jackson, Global Conference Presenter - The Other Michael Jackson, MESA Member.
PREVIOUS 2025 SESSIONS
Tuesday 28th January Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
Main topic: Hot Topics for 2025 - with speakers Paul Cook, Writer, Producer, Facilitator of Paul Cook Storyteller, MESA Member and Bob Toovey, Founder & Owner of Event Planner News (EPN), MESA Member. What are the latest industry trends and hot topics for 2025? Paul and Bob deep dived into some top industry trends and why we should be aware of them.
Moderated by Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
Tuesday 18th February Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
Main topic: AI in Events: Practical Uses & Pitfalls - with speakers Bogdan Maran, Event Technologist - Consultant of Realise, MESA Member and Gordon Glenister, Influencer Marketing & Membership Consultancy, MESA Founding Member and Vamshi Velmajala, Head of Product of Snapsight, MESA Member. AI is reshaping the event industry, from streamlining planning and marketing to enhancing attendee engagement and exhibitor preparation. But how do we ensure AI is a valuable tool rather than an added complexity?
In this session, we explored:
✅ How AI can optimise event planning, networking, and content management
✅ The role of AI in exhibitor success and attendee experience
✅ Practical AI tools - what works and what doesn’t
✅ Key industry developments in AI and why staying ahead is crucial
Moderated by Jelmer van Ast, Founder & CEO of Conference Compass, MESA Patron Member.
Thursday 27th March - Main topic: Transforming Organisations Through Coaching: Leveraging the ICF Coaching Culture Compass and Leadership Coaching Skills. In this discussion, we delved into the transformative power of coaching in organisations, highlighting how both leaders and teams equipped with coaching skills can drive innovation, enhance employee engagement, and sustain growth. With guest industry Keynote Speaker: Robert Garcia, Vice President of the International Coaching Federation.
Moderated by Sebastien Braun, CEO and Founder of idloom, MESA Patron Member.
Summary - Transforming Organisations Through Coaching
Thursday 24th April Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
Main topic: Exhibiting at Tradeshows – The Emotional Hook - with speaker Jakob Dyrbye, Founder of The Trade Show Academy, MESA Member. With the enormous investments made in trade show participation worldwide, it's alarming that so few exhibitors truly know their ROI—some estimates suggest as little as 12%. You might think this calls for a radical change, but what if the key lies in small, strategic wins?
🔹 Emotional hooks often have a greater impact than the products on display
🔹 Many exhibitors approach engagement the "wrong" way—are you using the LEFT Model?
🔹 A shift in mindset can make all the difference
Since 2009, Jakob has helped exhibitors measure, document, and improve their success, starting with the right questions. These insights, along with years of participant feedback, led to the creation of The Trade Show Academy, which focuses on how to exhibit successfully, not just what to do.
🚀 In this session, we explored:
✔ The LEFT vs. RIGHT Model—and why it matters
✔ The critical role of staff training
✔ Setting clear objectives and optimising your stand zones
✔ Why how you say goodbye is more important than your first hello
Moderated by Sebastien Braun, CEO and Founder of idloom, MESA Patron Member.
SUMMARY - EXHIBITING AT TRADESHOWS - THE EMOTIONAL HOOK
VIEW OUR 2024 MONTHLY MEMBER MEETINGS (4M'S)