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To address the growing demand for business meetings and events. 

Agenda Highlights

Business Events Strategy 

Meaningful, engaging and memorable. What’s next for Business Events and Incentives?  Join a panel of events experts including Michelle Sargent, Managing Director of Events Beyond

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Procurement & Events

Integrating meetings and events into your travel program with HelmsBriscoe's Trina Butler

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Business Events & Sourcing

Smarter event sourcing: Procurement’s role in better Business Events with FCM Meetings & Events' Katie Fraser

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Peak Performance

Building stronger workforces and travellers with Jono Nicholas from The Wellbeing Outfit

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Speakers

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Trina Butler

Senior Director, Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe

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Fernando Lonergan

Vice President, Asia Pacific Sales, Account Management and Australia, BCD Meetings & Events 

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Renee Elliott 

VP of Product, EventsAir

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Susette van der Linden

Vice President, Global Accounts, Team Director, Asia-Pacific, ConferenceDirect

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Ali Lord 

CEO, Headbox

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Michelle Sargent

Managing Director,

Events Beyond 

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Marissa Fernandez

Managing Director, DMS Destination Marketing Services

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Leon Burman

Managing Director, Tribe Travel & Events

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Jakki Govan

Chief Fun Officer 

Clockwise Consulting

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Rob Vass

Co-Founder, Joi

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Janene Wardrop 

Program Manager Events

International College of Management Sydney (ICMS)

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Alana Hay

Managing Director,

Milestone Creative

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Katie Fraser

General Manager, Customer and Operations, FCM Meetings & Events

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Harris Meitanis 

Founder & CEO, acta

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Donna Kessler

Founder & Managing Director

Tourism Portfolio 

Explore more at FACTS

Stronger Together: Aligning Corporate Travel & Business Events for Greater Impact
When Business Events and Corporate Travel work in sync, the results speak for themselves. In this session, our expert panel shares real-world case studies that show how strategic alignment can unlock new revenue, streamline delegate journeys, and deliver greater value for clients. From pre-trip planning to post-event reporting, discover what successful integration looks like in today’s evolving business landscape — and how to make it work for your organisation.

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Gen Next: Shaping the Future of Work, Travel & Business Events 

The workforce is evolving — and so are expectations around travel, business events, flexibility, and purpose. This session explores how generational shifts are reshaping delegate experiences, team engagement, event formats, and incentive design. We’ll unpack key questions, including:

  • What do Millennials and Gen Z really expect from business travel and events?

  • How can we design programs that attract, retain, and motivate the next generation?

  • How Business Events can adapt to the values and behaviours of Gen Next — and stay future-fit in the process. 

 

Integrating meetings and events into your travel program 

- Understand the core principles and value of Strategic Meetings Management (SMM).

- Identify practical steps to begin integrating M&E into travel/procurement strategy.

- Build a custom “Strategy and Action Plan” tailored to their company’s maturity and category.

- What is happening in North America?

 

Smarter event sourcing: Procurement’s role in better Business Events
Aligning corporate travel and business events is more than an operational task — it’s a strategic opportunity to drive meaningful business outcomes. For Procurement teams to deliver true value, it’s essential they understand the unique role Events play in employee engagement, company culture, and overall business results. This session explores how Procurement, Account Managers, and Event professionals can work together to:
• Recognise the impact of Events on employee motivation and retention
• Streamline sourcing processes and improve compliance
• Leverage data for smarter negotiation and duty of care
• Drive sustainability and risk management goals

With Account Managers at the heart of collaboration, discover how Procurement can move beyond cost-cutting to become strategic partners in delivering business value through Events.

 

PLUS - your pass will unlock even more sessions at FACTS:

  • The Big Picture economic/trade outlook - with implications for business travel / meetings and events

  • GBTA Global and AU Business Travel Outlook

  • Purposeful Travel & Events 

  • Australia’s place in the travelling world

  • Designing the airports and visitor attractions of the future

  • Sustainability should NEVER by a dirty word

  • Cybersecurity and AI

  • Travel Tech and the roadmap to 2030

  • How does AI truly operationalise and become a digital workforce? Tech Bros Talk​

 

Explore personal and professional development sessions

  • Wellness, Mindfulness & Resilience - Building stronger workforces and travellers

  • Develop a career that’s thriving and overcomes every barrier

  • Demystifying offshoring and outsourcing - how to avoid the pitfalls

  • The Ultimate Loyalty Showdown: Points vs. Status for Corporations in 2026

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