Event Industry News Podcast

James Dickson interviews Rae Malcham and Darcy Gabriele from BW Events Tech about their platform-agnostic consulting, implementation and on-site support for complex events. They discuss the value of expertise across multiple platforms, tech tours that share real deployments, and practical solutions like Wallet Passes and QR integrations.

The episode also covers rising attendee expectations, collaboration in the events community, responsible use of AI, and how BW Events Tech helps clients choose or optimise tools to reduce friction and improve quality.

 

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

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James Dickson interviews Rob Murdoch, Sales Director at Exposure Analytics, about their Physical Engagement Index - a data-driven report measuring 43.8 million visitors across 3,000 events from 2020–2026. They discuss how anonymised sensor data captures dwell and engagement time, the limits of footfall and badge scans, and why actionable insights matter more than raw visitor counts.

The episode highlights key findings (average engaged dwell ~13:50), regional and sector differences, and how organisers and exhibitors can use benchmarks to redesign booths, improve layouts, and prove event ROI. The full report is available now at https://exposureanalytics.com/physical-engagement-index/.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.



To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.
If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson speaks with Kristina McCoobery, Global President of INVNT, about the agency model of the future. They discuss INVNT's theatrical roots in storytelling, the renewed value of in-person events, and how live experiences drive emotional engagement.

Kristina explains how INVNT is adopting AI responsibly - hiring a Chief AI Officer and building Orbby for analytics and on-site insights - while keeping human-led creative strategy at the centre. She also covers global collaboration, cultural nuance, and how new tools speed decision-making and boost efficiency.

Overall, the episode highlights the evolving role of agencies in delivering connected global brand stories, blending creativity, data and technology to enhance live events and attendee experiences.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.
If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson talks with Kieran Garlic of Present Communications about how many people “accidentally” find careers in the events industry, and the challenges of creating formal routes into the sector through apprenticeships, work experience and links with academic institutions.

They also discuss the growing role of technology and AI in events, the need for practical on-site training, real-world production anecdotes (including the “Bose Stick” story), and upcoming topics such as freelancer rates and evolving technical skills.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.
If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson speaks with Anita Macdonald (Meet Cambridge) and Andy Williamson (Welcome Brain) about the newly launched Neuro‑Inclusive Networking Guide. They explain why traditional unstructured mingling can exclude neurodivergent attendees, share survey findings, and describe simple, practical changes—like networking buddies, badge icebreakers, and low‑cost tech or formatting options—that make networking easier and more effective for everyone.

They also cover the guide’s silver/gold/platinum approach, the value of publicising neuroinclusive practices, and how organisers can access the free guide at welcomebrain.com/neuroinclusive-networking-guide.

This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time.

To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here.

If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.