Explore the M&I Expo Educational Content Programme
Learn from industry leaders, discover trends, and gain actionable insights across incentive travel, exhibitions, and sustainable events.
The M&I Expo educational programme brings together leading industry associations and experts to share insights, best practices, and innovations for the meetings and events industry.
Education sessions
According to PwC, the global workforce will be predominantly under 40 by 2030. This shift is already transforming how incentive travel is conceived and delivered. Younger professionals bring different motivations, preferences, and definitions of meaningful reward. Therefore, today's incentive programmes must evolve to stay relevant and inspiring. In this interactive session, we'll examine key findings from SITE's latest Incentive Travel Index and additional research to understand the generational trends influencing incentive travel today.
Learner outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify the most influential generational trends shaping incentive travel expectations
- Understand key insights from the SITE Incentive Travel Index and related research
- Apply generational data to redesign or enhance incentive travel programmes
- Collaborate with peers in a rapid design sprint to develop future-focused incentive concepts
Pádraic Gilligan is co-founder and managing partner at SoolNua Consulting, where he advises destinations, venues, hotels, and associations on strategy and marketing. Before founding SoolNua, he served in senior leadership roles at MCI. A former educator with BA and MA degrees from University College Dublin and Boston College, Pádraic is a past president of SITE, later served as its chief marketing officer, and now acts as SITE's head of research & consultancy.
The exhibitions industry continues to perform strongly, but sustained success requires constant evolution. As organiser expectations shift, needs diversify, and digital behaviours accelerate, exhibitors must rethink how value is delivered. Remaining relevant while introducing new and innovative approaches is now essential for increasing ROI, deepening engagement, and strengthening participation. This session provides a comprehensive update on the leading trends that influenced the exhibitions industry in 2025, how these shifts are unfolding across different markets, and what they mean for organisers, exhibitors, and attendees.
Learner outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify the most significant trends that emerged across the exhibitions industry in 2025
- Understand how these trends are influencing event relevance, engagement, and ROI
- Create a personalised plan of action for increasing attendee acquisition and participation
- Learn which trends IAEE is prioritising and how they support strategic growth
Matthias Tesi Baur is a strategist and consultant with over 24 years' experience in the international trade fair and B2B sector. He has held senior roles at Messe Frankfurt, Reed Exhibitions and UBM/Informa, leading global portfolios and high-growth teams across the USA, UK and Asia. As Global E-Business Director at Reed, he championed digital transformation initiatives. Since 2012, he has led MBB-Consulting Group, advising on growth strategy, M&A and leadership development.
Food waste is a pressing global issue with serious environmental, economic, and social consequences, and events are a significant contributor. This session offers a practical, solutions-focused exploration of how event professionals can dramatically reduce waste by designing smarter systems from the outset. Participants will examine the scale and root causes of food waste within the event ecosystem, explore innovative approaches to tracking and management, and learn how strategic planning and behavioural design can eliminate waste at its source. Packed with actionable insights and real-world examples, this session equips event professionals to build more responsible, efficient, and sustainable food practices across their programmes.
Learner outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify and address the root causes of food waste in meetings and events
- Apply strategic planning techniques to prevent waste before it occurs
- Use behavioural insights and practical tools to implement more sustainable food practices
Anne Dalgaard, known as EventAnne, is the Founder of EventAnne and Manager of Strategic Events at The Danish Society of Engineers, representing more than 175,000 members and hosting over 3,000 events annually. With nearly 25 years of experience in strategic event portfolio management, she is a respected industry strategist, facilitator, and international keynote speaker. Anne helps organisations develop event strategies that strengthen business objectives and brand value. She is a long-standing member of MPI, former MPI European Advisory Board member, Past President of MPI Scandinavia, and an MPI Verified Facilitator.
Neuroinclusion is no longer optional in modern event design. This session explores how engaging neurodiverse individuals and neuroinclusion experts leads to more thoughtful, impactful, and human-centred event experiences. Grounded in the principle "do nothing about us without us," the session highlights the importance of involving neurodivergent voices throughout planning and decision-making. Participants will explore The Neu Project toolkit, understand the practical realities of neurodiverse needs, and learn how to design inclusive environments that support comfort, clarity, and meaningful engagement.
Learner outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance of neurodiversity in incentive and event programme design
- Apply The Neu Project toolkit to build more inclusive environments
- Implement actionable strategies to promote neurodiversity awareness and design more supportive, enriching event experiences for all participants
Federico Toja brings more than two decades of expertise in the European meetings and conference industry to his role at MPI. As a strategic consultant and seasoned professional, he supports MPI members and non-members across Europe by driving business development and facilitating new event opportunities. His career spans senior roles in sales and marketing for international hotel brands, cruise lines, and conference centres, complemented by over eight years of entrepreneurial experience in Monaco.
Too often, carbon figures and ESG metrics sit in spreadsheets as a compliance exercise, rather than shaping strategy or influencing client decisions. This session is aimed squarely at venues and destinations, exploring how to develop environmental and social propositions that help you win more business, deliver more value to your location, and build a more responsible, sustainable meetings and events offering. This session shows how sustainability data can move beyond box-ticking to become a genuine strategic advantage. You'll learn how to use your measurements to drive decisions, showcase progress, strengthen bids, and tell compelling stories that resonate with clients.
Learner outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Use sustainability metrics to strengthen proposals, bids, and client conversations
- Develop clearer environmental and social value propositions for venues and destinations
- Translate raw data into compelling narratives that demonstrate genuine commitment and progress
- Identify practical next steps to ensure sustainability efforts directly support business growth and long-term impact
Matt Grey founded event:decision to support the event industry in making better, more responsible and sustainable decisions, following a 25-year career in event management and production. event:decision works with brands such as Amgen, AZ, BP, Defra, Encore Global, EY, Google, Mastercard, Sanofi Aventis, Vodafone, VW and YouTube, helping events teams plan and deliver more sustainably.
In this thought-provoking interview, Anju Gomes engages a distinguished industry leader in an in-depth conversation on the evolving landscape of event design. The discussion explores how events are shifting beyond traditional experiential formats to become transformational journeys that create lasting impact for delegates, communities, and host destinations. Through real-world examples and forward-looking insights, the speaker delves into the next frontier of design thinking, blending behaviour science, immersive technology, sustainability, and co-creation to shape events that inspire meaningful change. This session will offer practical takeaways for planners, destinations, and stakeholders seeking to elevate their events from memorable to truly transformative.
Anju Gomes has more than 25 years of experience across conferences, associations, events management, and the airline and tourism sectors, she plays a pivotal role in advancing the region’s business events landscape. Known for her strategic leadership and commitment to education and capacity building, she works closely with ICCA members to strengthen partnerships and position the Middle East as a leading global hub for international meetings and conventions.
Our Content Partners
Founded in 1973, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) is a global association for professionals across the incentive travel industry. Today, SITE represents more than 3,600 members in over 90 countries, spanning corporations, agencies, airlines, cruise lines and the wider destination supply chain.
Active since 1928, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events is the leading association for the global exhibition industry. Today, IAEE represents more than 12,000 professionals across 50+ countries, supporting and advancing the businesses and individuals behind exhibitions worldwide.
Formed in 1972, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the leading global association for the meetings and events industry. Today, MPI supports a worldwide community of more than 60,000 members and participants across over 70 chapters and clubs.
Created in 1963, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is a global community for the international association and governmental meetings sector. Today, ICCA is one of the most prominent organisations in the industry, offering education, data and global connections to support successful international meetings.
In 2021, event:decision was created to support the global events industry in delivering more responsible and sustainable programmes. Today, it works with corporate teams, venues, agencies and associations to benchmark performance and demonstrate the real impact of sustainability across events.