IBTM has revealed the keynote speakers for the Knowledge Programme at IBTM World 2022, which runs November 29 to December 1 at Fira Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain.

In partnership with ACS, IBTM World’s Knowledge Programme will focus on the event’s core theme of “culture creation” as the business events world adapts to a more disparate working environment post-pandemic, and will include session tracks on connections, business, careers, brands and experiences.

The first keynote speaker will be Anick Beaulieu (photo bottom left), vice-president, Growth and Partnerships at C2, which is widely regarded as one of the most forward-thinking business events in the world. Beaulieu and Igor Beuker (futurist, entrepreneur and activist) will discuss how business entertainment can shape culture, using the C2 Montréal event as a case study.

The second keynote is Gareth Kelly (photo top left), senior director and head of Strategic Events EMEA at Salesforce. Kelly will explore how Salesforce uses its empowering and inspirational events to bring better business results and create meaningful cultural experiences for businesses.

Day three features keynote and futurist Igor Beuker. Known for his foresight on the trends and technologies impacting business, economy and society, Beuker (photo right) will inspire with his radical vision and imaginative ideas and share his strategic foresight on the issues that will shake up the events industry as he considers the question: What will the events look like in 2030?

Another highlight of IBTM World’s Knowledge Programme will be a presentation by Despoina Zachariadou (photo centre), Lead UX Designer – Creative Technologist VR/AR, Jack Morton Worldwide. Zachariadou will take attendees on a journey that travels from storytelling to story experiencing, as she considers how the Metaverse is shaping communication, behaviours and communities and what implications it may have for the future of events.

“Our market-leading Knowledge Programme is the place to be inspired by the best expert speakers from within our industry and beyond, all under one roof,” says David Thompson, event director, IBTM World. “We’ve gathered an amazing schedule of new voices this year, to deliver fresh perspectives, interesting solutions and thought-provoking concepts. This is content that delivers tangible, take-home value, and that will inspire people to think outside the box and help them create their own incredible events.”

A full programof sessions will take place on the IBTM Accelerate stage, which returns this year to help answer delegates’ questions on the future of the events industry. This year IBTM Accelerate presents “Tech for Good,” with three days of content that looks to assess where the industry is now, what it looks like in the near future, and what is to come’next in the world of technology, both within the events industry and out.

With a combination of interviews, keynotes, panel discussions and highly interactive formats, Accelerate will look at everything from Gamification, the Metaverse, AR and VR, to the changing face of technology in events, and how it fits into a new world of ethical, values driven events.

Accelerate stage speakers include influencer and creative director at Chorus, Grant Dudson, who has become one of the leading creative voices in the business events industry. Dudson will look back at the journey of event tech through a creative’s eyes and speculate about what this can tell us about the future for tech innovation at events.

During IBTM World, several sessions will reveal the latest market trends and insights, including the Global Meetings & Events Trends report presented by AMEX. In addition, the annual IBTM World Trends Watch report, presented by its author, Alistair Turner, MD of Eight PR, will explore how current world events are shaping culture, influencing both the events we create, and the people that attend them. A preview of the 2023 Trends Report is now available for download on the IBTM World website.

On November 28, The Association Leaders’ Forum and The Corporate Experiences Day will both take place in exciting venues in Barcelona. The Corporate Experiences Day is a tailored day of learning for Corporate Buyers, designed to provide an interactive look at the latest technology and sustainability developments within the events industry. The Association Leaders’ Forum, curated by Stylianos Filopoulos, International Associations Expert, will consider the role that associations can play in our changeable world.