ACE CONFERENCE
16 JULY 2026
NEW YORK

Welcome to Amazing Corporate Events (ACE) AWARDS & Conference: An Investment In You

This isn’t just another event; it’s a day of investment—in yourself, your team, and the future of our corporate event industry. No senior leader should come alone—bring your newest team member, make their day, and shape their perspective. It’s free to attend the event.

ACE is a deep dive into the empathy, creativity, and impact of events. You’ll walk, talk, learn, and experience why this industry is extraordinary. More than insights, we want you to leave with one promise—to invest in yourself, expand your network, and reclaim balance. Events may be in our blood, but taking time for yourself—at least twice a year—should be too.

ACE AWARDS & Conference will return to New York on 16 July 2026. More details will be shared closer to the time, but in the meantime, take a look at the 2025 programme from this year’s event, held on 17 July 2025 below.

TITLE	DATES & TIMES	SUMMARY	SPEAKERS	REGISTRATION
AICE CONFERENCE OPENS	12.30 - 13.30	The Gathering: Lunch, Coffee, Conversations & Connections The day begins—not just with coffee, but with possibilities. A space to pause, observe, and connect. No formalities, just meaningful introductions. Shared ambition, fresh perspectives, real conversations.		Register...
Welcome	13:35-13.40	Welcome to AICE Conference 2025	ANITA HOWARD Co-Founder ICE	Register...
Keynote Session 1	13:40-14:00	Embracing Leadership at Any Level Leadership is not defined by a title but by actions, influence, and the ability to inspire others. This session explores how individuals can demonstrate leadership qualities, regardless of their formal position, by taking initiative, fostering collaboration, and driving positive change within their teams. Attendees will learn practical strategies for influencing outcomes, building trust, and demonstrating accountability. By embracing leadership at every level, professionals can contribute to organisational success, promote innovation, and create a culture of empowerment—proving that leadership is about impact, not hierarchy. more... ...less	MATT FRANKS Group Director of Events at DRPG CEO at TSEC DANA DIPERI Vice President Head of Events & Experiences ING AMERICAS MEGHAN RHOADES Director of Global Events AVAYA ASHLEY KEATING Head of Global Events CALLMINER	Register...
Keynote Session 2	14:00 -14:20	Three key ingredients to create powerful and aligned event experiences Learn how a strategic plan, science-based people principles and a guest journey drive your event experiences to the next level.	GREG BOGUE Chief Experience Officer MARITZ	Register...
Campfire Sessions	14.20-15.05	SKILLS CAMPFIRES - FIRST SESSION At start of session each lead gives a 1-minute summary of the campfire Groups consist of 10 chairs, with 1 corporate lead and 1 facilitator. The corporate lead speaks for 10 minutes, sharing an event they are proud of or exploring a topic they believe the industry should address. This is followed by a 10-minute discussion where the remaining 8 participants share their experiences. When the bell rings, participants move to the next campfire session of their choice. Campfires what they are? Think Scouts, summer camp, or family holidays in a tent or caravan! A ‘Campfire’ session is an opportunity for a small group of people to gather around and hear a story or have a chat. They are informal in their setting and style, this allows the audience to relax and engage in the content. more... ...less		Register...
Campfire 1 – ESW		CURATED WITH PURPOSE: EXPERIENCES AS A BRAND LANGUAGE Trecia Lorelle, CMP shares her approach to crafting immersive experiences that communicate brand intention without saying a word. Through thoughtful curation, design, and storytelling, she explores how experiences become a brand’s most powerful language. This session highlights real world activations and the strategy behind creating moments that resonate, engage, and last. more... ...less	TRECIA LORELLE Marketing Manager, US Events ESW DANIELLA FISHBEIN Account Executive, Business Event Solutions MARITZ	TBD
Campfire 2 – BLOOMBERG		Bloomberg - Navigating Internal Events: Aligning with Business Stakeholders In this session, we’ll explore effective strategies for navigating the complex dynamics of internal events, focusing on the importance of aligning objectives with business stakeholders. John will cover best practices for communication, managing expectations, and fostering collaboration across departments. Learn how to keep stakeholders engaged, address potential roadblocks, and ensure event success from both an organizational and participant perspective. Whether you’re hosting a team meeting, a corporate conference, or a company-wide initiative, this session will provide actionable insights to streamline your internal event planning process. more... ...less	JOHN TORRENCE Senior Events Manager BLOOMBERG MICHAEL WEBBER Regional Vice President, Enterprise Solutions CVENT	TBD
Campfire 3 – McDermott Will & Emery		ROI MEASUREMENT FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS Join us for a case study session where we explore the complexities of understanding ROI for events and the challenges organizations encounter in defining and calculating this crucial metric. Gain valuable insights from a practical working model, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to measure event success, such as registration, attendance, engagement, revenue impact, and brand awareness. more... ...less	GABRIELLA CYRANSKI Head of Events McDermott Will & Emery MELISSA HAMMANS Vice President Event Operations TSEC	TBD
Campfire 4 – CALLMINER		HOW TO BE THE ONSITE EVENT SUPERSTAR In today’s fast-paced, experience-driven world, events are more than just picking a venue; They’re high-impact stages to elevate your brand and drive revenue, and it all starts with the events team. In this campfire, we will discuss a playbook for transforming every in-person activation into a powerful growth engine for your company. From internal enablement to budget management, food selections and content builds, and perfecting the overall attendee experience, this session will explore the steps to take to ensure your attendees leave your event with glowing reviews. You’ll walk away with actionable tips to lead with energy, connect with intention, and leave an impression that lasts long after the lights go down. Be the voice of your brand. Be the energy in the room. Be the superstar your event deserves. more... ...less	ASHLEY KEATING Head of Global Events CALLMINER MARIA LUPARDO Director of Sales CONVENE	TBD
Campfire 5 – WM		KEEPING SCORE: MEASURING WHAT MATTERS IN EVENT SUSTAINABILITY Discover how WM tracks waste, carbon, and materials data to build actionable sustainability insights for major venues, events and leagues like MLB. We’ll explore tools and strategies that drive progress—and show how real stakeholder partnerships make sustainability wins both measurable and meaningful.	NICOLE PAMANI Management & Sustainability Consultant WM	TBD
Campfire 6 – MEDIDATA SOLUTIONS		DATA DRIVEN EVENT PLANNING - HOW TO LEVERAGE DATA TO SHOWCASE THE VALUE OF YOUR EVENTS Events are more than moments—they’re strategic tools. Learn how to harness data to prove impact, align with business goals, and plan smarter. From onsite metrics to post-event storytelling, discover how creativity, customer experience, and data come together to showcase value and drive results.	CARLY ANTLE Global Events Senior Manager Medidata NATALIE FULTON Business Events Manager Tourism New Zealand	TBD
Campfire 7		FROM LOCAL NONPROFIT WORK TO A GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE EVENTS MANAGER Explore the 13+ year journey of a previous AmeriCorps volunteer to now a Sustainable Events Manager as they discuss their path to integrating their passion with their strengths. Learn how authenticity and inclusivity are vital for future events, the significance of mentoring, and hear about innovative projects.	TAMMY HSU Sustainability Events Manager MICHAEL O’BRIEN Vice President Freeman	TBD
Coffee Break	15.05-15:20	Connections Over: Networking & Innovation Grab yourself a refreshment and take the opportunity to connect and network with each other.		TBD
Keynote Session 2	15.20-15:40	Bridging the Generational Gap: Crafting Engaging Event Experiences for Multi-Generational Audiences The Next Generation Event Goer (NGEG) is no longer emerging—they are here. Gen Z has officially overtaken Boomers in the workforce. This means there are four generations actively attending events and their needs and expectations differ and new expectations are arising. This session will review the latest research on event attendees through the XLNC model—eXperience, Learning, Networking and Commerce— David will share differences between the generations and highlight key priorities to enable event planners and sponsors to attract and engage attendees in order to deliver critical outcomes for all. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your event experience with actionable takeaways for meaningful engagement. more... ...less	DAVID SAEF Chief Instigator FREEMAN	Register...
Campfire Sessions	15.40-16.25	CAMPFIRES - SECOND SESSION Another round of campfire sessions.		Register...
Summary	16.25 - 16.35	Song Division Summary of the Campfire Learnings		TBD
Sofa Session	16.35-17.15	The Things I Wish I Knew Then Session Mistakes make us. But in a world of perfection-driven Gen Z professionals, the fear of failure is real. This closed-door, no-recording session is a raw, unfiltered conversation where industry leaders share the biggest, funniest, and most unexpected mistakes they’ve made in their careers—and how they survived (and thrived).	GWYNNE WARDROP Executive Director THE NEW YORK TIMES JOSHUA SLUSARZ Global Head of Event Strategy BLOOMBERG TERMINAL MARY CASEY Chief Client Officer MARITZ STEVE BROWN Event Consultant	Register...
AICE AWARDS25	18:45-21:00	Awards Ceremony & Networking Keep the conversation going as we celebrate success and recognise outstanding achievements for you and your team. Join us for the announcement of the Year 2 AICE AWARDS Winners in a fast-paced, engaging format. No long speeches—just energy and excitement! Enjoy a standing starter, followed by a seated main course, a 20-minute awards ceremony, and a relaxed standing dessert. Simple, fun, and full of celebration! more... ...less		Register...