Conference News February 2020 | Page 48

48 Show Preview Revealing secrets at Confex Right: Fabien Riggall, inventor and creative director of Secret Cinema The strong content agenda at International Confex in 2020 encourages delegates to get immersed International Confex’s theme for 2020 centres on immersive events, and organiser and CN publisher Mash Media is inviting attendees to do more than just visit. Organisers say the event, which takes place at ExCeL London, 25-26 February, is pushing its topics of Speak, Meet, Debate, Network, Enjoy and Learn to highlight the multiple opportunities available for event professionals to immerse themselves with. Speaker snapshot With immersive events at the top of the billing, who better to talk about topic than the king of immersive cinema: Fabien Riggall. Riggall is inventor and creative director of Secret Cinema, a concept where the audience doesn’t watch the film, but rather are the film. Riggall will be talking to Conference News editor Martin Fullard on the keynote stage at 11.40am, 26 February, about how and why these immersive principles could be applied to events of all types. The theme of putting the audience in the centre of the experience carries on with Nick Gold, MD of speaker agency, Speakers Corner and president elect of the IASB. Gold will be tackling the skill that strikes fear into many: public speaking. He will conduct a session on moving your delivery to the Art of Conversation where the focus is then on the audience to perform rather than the speaker. Hear his views on why the art of delivery is only a fraction of the criteria for success and be part of a great audience in the Association Events Forum at 11am on 25 February. www.conference-news.co.uk Right: Emma Watkinson, co-founder and CEO of SilkFred.com Emma Watkinson is the co-founder and CEO of London-based digital fashion destination SilkFred.com. Launched in 2012, when Watkinson was just 24, SilkFred has seen 400% year-on-year growth to become one of the UK’s top destinations for independent fashion and accessory brands, achieving great commercial success while remaining true to its principles of showcasing and nurturing young talent. Hear Watkinson talking on the keynote stage on 25 February at 11.40am about the highs and the lows along the way, and the prominent role social media has played in the brand’s success. Giving something back It is a widely held belief that the key to happiness rests in helping others. Whether you are a corporate event organiser, association event organiser or agency, there’s no doubt that events have the ability to create a positive impact and legacy, be it social or economic. International Confex will once again by working in partnership with Blue Hat Teambuilding on the B1G1 campaign where interactions on the show floor generate impacts including clean drinking water and educational opportunities for communities who