My role as senior events manager at Chemical Watch sees me organise international B2B conferences on global chemicals regulations . We have moved our programme of live events online , and like many others , have been non-stop in creating virtual content for our audiences , which has been a fantastic learning curve and fantastic offering .
However , in our sector , and any other for that matter , what we can ’ t replace are those personal moments . A glance to an industry peer on your table when a joke was made , a chance meeting at the airport and sharing a cab to the hotel , an elevator pitch in the queue for coffee , resulting in business , a new role , or a new friend . We can try and replace networking in a virtual world , and there are some incredible initiatives out
LIVE CHEMISTRY
Juliet Tripp , senior events manager at Chemical Watch , says there is no substitute for live experiences
there working towards that goal . But for many in my industry , content led networking is key ; from the opportunity to catch a speaker on their way out to ask those burning questions you didn ’ t get round to asking , to sharing a glass of wine and reflecting on the latest regulatory updates and how they might affect you and your business . When events are content heavy , they can absolutely be presented online , but it ’ s the magical moments of being together in one room which takes a content-heavy conference and transform it into an experience .
It is these moments that form relationships within the B2B world , from partnerships to associations to sales and when we can facilitate these moments and relationships as event organisers we are encouraging our delegates and
Above : Juliet Tripp , senior events manager at Chemical Watch
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stakeholders to be part of a bigger picture ; a story , even , that they can take away and grow and develop themselves long beyond event day .
These stories form future strategies , partnerships , businesses and working relationships and it ’ s us that creates them . But to create them we need to be able to create live experiences .
And , I ’ ll say it one more time : you simply cannot replace live experiences .