ICE CONFERENCE UK – 10 July 2025

The ICE Conference, is a dynamic fusion of enlightening keynote speakers and engaging campfire sessions where you can participate in an open forum, sharing your unique events while gaining valuable insights from fellow event planners. This interactive platform transcends industry boundaries, serving as a melting pot for corporate event creators.

At The ICE Conference, the stage is set for lively discussions that traverse the corporate event landscape. Delve into a diverse array of topics, from virtual gatherings to in-person experiences, as you learn from the successes and challenges of your peers. This collaborative exchange of ideas is not limited by borders or sectors; it’s a unifying force that propels event planning innovation.

This year, we introduced an exciting new addition to ICE24: the ICE Expo. Here, innovation and collaboration took centre stage. Forget the conventional exhibition model; we reimagined the experience to create a dynamic, interactive environment where your challenges were the main focus. The ICE Expo transformed into a Co-Lab space, a creative workshop where challenges faced by corporate planners were collaboratively addressed. With the support of our ICE partners, we delved into these challenges and uncovered expert solutions. Learn more about the Expo here.

ICEAWARDS, Expo and Conference took take place on 11th July 2024 at Convene Sancroft, St Pauls, London. Take a look at the programme below. More details for 2025 will be released nearer the time.

TITLE	DATES & TIMES	SUMMARY	SPEAKERS	REGISTRATION
ICE EXPO OPENS	10.45 - 11.00	REGISTRATION & COFFEE		Register...
ICE EXPO	11.00 - 13.00	Welcome ICE Expo 2025 Anita Howard and Felicia Asiedu warmly welcome you to ICE Expo and set the stage for the morning ahead.	ANITA HOWARD Co-Founder ICE FELICIA ASIEDU Marketing Director CVENT	Register...
ICE CONFERENCE OPENS	13.00 - 14.00	Connections Over Lunch: Networking & Innovation Step away from the agenda, grab a plate, and dive into conversations that matter. This is more than a meal—it’s a chance to exchange ideas, forge new connections, and discover fresh perspectives.		Register...
Welcome	14.00 - 14.15	Welcome to ICE Conference 2025 Welcome and Opening Remarks	ANITA HOWARD Co-Founder ICE FELICIA ASIEDU Marketing Director CVENT	Register...
Keynote Session 1	14.15 - 14.45	Unlocking Sustainability: Siemens' Path to Success and Practical Tools for Your Journey Join Stephen Rose, Head of Communication Services at Siemens, as he shares his inspiring journey of integrating sustainability into Siemens’ core strategies. In this exclusive session, Stephen will explain why sustainability is vital to Siemens and how the marketing and events teams are proactively driving the company’s ambitious sustainability targets. This truly inspiring presentation will reveal practical tools and strategies to help you embark on your own sustainability journey. Learn from a leader who is shaping the future of business through innovation, responsibility, and commitment to a sustainable world. more... ...less	STEPHEN ROSE HEAD OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES SIEMENS	Register...
Campfire Sessions	14.45 - 15.45	Campfires They are back with a difference Join us for a series of interactive campfire sessions designed to spark fresh ideas, tackle industry challenges, and explore the latest innovations in event planning. These discussions will cover AI and event technology, attendee experience and branding, strategic influence and career growth, and event measurement and analytics.		Register...
Campfire 1		EuroSTAR Conferences - Turning Venue Crises into Seamless Success Learn how to handle unexpected venue challenges with confidence. This session shares real-world strategies for rapid problem-solving, team coordination, and managing difficult vendor relationships—while maintaining a seamless experience for attendees. Discover how clear communication and standing your ground can turn a crisis into a successful, reputation-preserving outcome.	AINE KILAGALLON Events & Conference Manager EuroStar Conferences GLENDA CARYLYLE Senior Conference Sales Manager SEC	TBD
Campfire 2		PWC - Brand You – How to Stand Out In a world where we are being influenced daily, whether that be new trends, new gimmicks, new '#'s, it poses the question, where do you start with building your own personal brand. This session will deep dive on the do's the don'ts, and the tricks and tips on how to start, build and elevate your personal brand. more... ...less	ELE MATHER Senior Creative Experience Manager PWC JENNA DEMASI Global Enterprise Sales CONVENE	TBD
Campfire 3		P&O CRUISES - Queen Anne Ship Launch in Collaboration with Culture Liverpool In this session, Kelly shares the story behind the June 2024 launch of Cunard’s new ship, Queen Anne — a spectacular event held in partnership with Culture Liverpool. Taking place at the iconic Pier Head, the celebration drew over 15,000 attendees and transformed a commercial launch into a powerful community moment. With Liverpool as Cunard’s spiritual home, the city was named Queen Anne’s Godmother, represented by five inspiring Liverpudlian women. Hosted by Emma and Matt Willis, the event featured performances from LIPA, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Craig Charles, and Andrea Bocelli. Kelly will walk through this standout case study of brand, culture, and community coming together on a global stage. more... ...less	KELLY FREW Events Director P&O CRUISES SARAH JOHNSON Corporate and Agency Sales Manager ACC LIVERPOOL	TBD
Campfire 4		Herbalife - Budget vs Innovation In today’s corporate event landscape, the tension between budget constraints and the drive for innovation is more pronounced than ever. Post-pandemic recovery, inflation, and shifting audience expectations have forced planners to rethink how to deliver impactful experiences without overspending. Innovation doesn’t always require a big budget—it requires creativity, strategic thinking, and smart use of resources. Leveraging technology like virtual platforms, AI-driven personalisation, and data analytics can enhance engagement while keeping costs manageable. At the same time, partnerships with vendors and venues can unlock value through collaboration and shared goals. However, budget limitations can stifle experimentation if not managed carefully. The key is to prioritise innovations that align with event objectives and audience needs. Small, meaningful enhancements—like immersive storytelling, sustainable practices, or interactive formats—can create memorable experiences without breaking the bank. This campfire invites open dialogue on how event professionals are navigating this balance. What trade-offs are worth making? Where can we cut costs without compromising quality? And how do we foster a culture of innovation within financial limits? more... ...less	MEGAN BIRD Director, Events, Communications and Recognition HERBALIFE DIANA FREDERIKSEN Head of Business Development EXCEL LONDON	TBD
Campfire 5		AFME	SARAH NOAKES Senior Content, Sponsorship and Event Manager AFME LUCY SPENSLEY Venue Account Director FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL	TBD
Campfire 6		AMEX GBT - The Art & Science Behind Unforgettable Events In a world where so much of our connection happens through screens, where virtual meetings fill our calendars and our homes double as offices, the moments we choose to spend together in person carry more meaning than ever. People are seeking intentionality—experiences that feel purposeful, emotionally resonant, and worth the effort to be there in person. When done right, these moments become more than just events; they become opportunities to connect, feel something real, and walk away with stories to tell. Our latest research takes learnings from on-the ground experience as well as the science behind memory retention and emotional engagement. This is where the fusion of “art and science” truly shines. In this campfire, we explore this balance, unpacking expert perspectives and scientific insights that not only explain what works but also uncover the reasons behind it. more... ...less	CATHERINE SOUTHALL Head of M&E Business Development UK & Ireland AMEX GBT	TBD
Campfire 7		Mintel - What’s Driving Your Events? Julie from Mintel will lead a candid discussion exploring the true drivers behind corporate events. Ever faced a stakeholder insisting on an event simply because "we’ve always done it"? Julie dives into how to challenge that mindset—shifting from habit to strategy. She’ll share how redefining objectives and using data-led insights can dramatically improve impact, including real examples like doubling opportunities creation yoy while reducing th annual number of evemts delivered. Expect a lively session on how to remove emotion from decision-making and build stronger, evidence-backed event strategies. more... ...less	JULIE MAYERAS Director of Events MINTEL ALISTAIR TURNER Managing Director EIGHT PR	TBD
Campfire 8		Microsoft AI Tour: Enhancing Event Impact with a "Behind the Screens" Full Day Live Stream Discover how the Microsoft AI Tour turned a 650 in-person event into a digital experience for 2,000 attendees, with 1,200 engaged all day. Key elements included a professional host, always-on Q&A with experts, and interstitial content. Learn strategies for enhancing event impact and ROI through digital formats.	NICOLA BEVAN Senior Event Marketing Manager MICROSOFT	TBD
Campfire 9		Aviva - Building Stakeholder Engagement for Aviva’s Early Careers Event Organising Aviva’s Early Careers event for 500 graduates began with complex stakeholder engagement. The dedicated event team proactively built support, unified participants, refined the experience, and accelerated innovation, ensuring seamless delivery and measurable outcomes, transforming it into a high-impact, can’t-miss occasion perfectly aligned with strategic corporate objectives and organisational goals more... ...less	KATY BEADNELL Corporate Events Manager AVIVA NICK MOORE Senior Business Development Manager Specialist CVENT	TBD
Campfire 10		Input Output - Is it me or are lead times getting shorter? - How can we Create Impactful Events at Scale and Speed  Join this dynamic 20-minute collaborative campfire session to conquer shrinking event lead times! Share quick-turn success stories, map blockers, brainstorm actionable “speed hacks,” and vote on top solutions. Walk away with one personalized hack commitment and vivid visuals. Energize your next event with impactful, innovative, agile strategies—fast-track your workflow today! more... ...less	STEVIE SIMPSON Global Senior Events Manager INPUT OUTPUT JILL HOULAHAN Head of Corporate Sales ICC BELFAST	TBD
Campfire 11		Mind the Gap: Aligning Events, Marketing and Design Behind every great event is a team effort — but often, events, marketing, and brand teams aren’t fully aligned. Miscommunication, mismatched expectations, and unclear roles can lead to confusion, wasted effort, and diluted impact. We’ve seen it many times — the clash of priorities between stakeholders from Events and Marketing teams with Brand bringing up the rear and occasionally throwing a spanner in the works. We’ll look to explore: - Where do your internal teams typically clash during an event project? - Who owns the brief in your organisation — and who should? - What’s one thing another team doesn’t understand about your role? This session creates space to talk openly about the disconnect and explore ways to build better collaboration, from first briefing to final delivery. Broadsword will share tactics from our own work with clients on building a shared brief to align on goals and avoid Events teams being stuck in the middle. Takeaways - Clarity on why internal disconnects happen. - Real tactics to bring teams together earlier and more effectively. - Peer-shared language and tools that smooth collaboration. - A renewed confidence to challenge unclear or siloed briefing processes. more... ...less	DIANE CARTERS HEAD OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT BROADSWORD	TBD
Campfire 12		Admiral Group	IRIS ROBINSON Projects and Events Lead ADMIRAL GROUP PLC JOHANNA BYRANE Head of Business Development – Allianz Stadium TWICKENHAM EXPERIENCE LIMITED	TBD
DRPG		Creating Impactful Engagement Through Experience During this session, DRPG will explore how to drive deep audience engagement through powerful internal communications and learning and development experiences. Guided by the Experience Framework for Audiences (EFA), they will look at how to design and deliver experiences that captivate, inform and deliver measurable ROI. Through real client case studies, DRPG will uncover the creative and strategic process—from bringing a message or product to life, to using data and benchmarks to shape content and target audiences effectively. Discover how a data-led approach to creativity leads to stronger outcomes, greater engagement, and clearer success metrics. more... ...less	TOMMY MOORE Senior Creative Director DRPG	TBD
Coffee Break	15.45 - 16.15	Break and Networking Light refreshments and informal discussion opportunities.		TBD
Keynote Session 2	16.15 - 16.35	The Bigger Picture: Events in the Integrated Marketing Ecosystem Rich Atkinson-Toal, VP Global Brand & Marketing Communications, Amex Global Business Travel, will explore the challenges & opportunities of today’s fragmented marketing landscape and how to integrate events into a broader marketing strategy. He’ll share actionable insights on events as part of the marketing mix and why experiential events have a big role to play. You’ll also learn more about how to define meaningful event metrics, driving value and generating ROI, supporting tangible marketing and business outcomes. more... ...less	MR RICH ATKINSON-TOAL VP, Global Brand & Marketing AMEX GBT	Register...
Keynote Session 3	16.35 - 17.05	Using AI in events	SHAYMA TAI Head of Events X (TWITTER) CATHERINE SOUTHALL Head of M&E Business Development UK & Ireland AMEX GBT	Register...
Sofa Session	17.05 - 18.05	The Things I Wish I Knew Then It’s back! Our much-loved session, “The Things I Wish I Knew Then”, returns to shine a light on the unexpected twists and turns of event planning that no one tells you about. Our panel of seasoned event professionals share the real behind-the-scenes moments—the surprises that didn’t make the brief, the curveballs no one saw coming, and the quick thinking that saved the day. From hilarious hiccups to last-minute miracles, this session is packed with laugh-out-loud stories, valuable lessons, and the kind of insight you only gain through experience. more... ...less		Register...
ICEAWARDS25	18.45 - 23.00	ICEAWARDS25 Welcome cocktail and canapés before being seated for main course followed by the awards ceremony. Desserts and drinks will be served after the awards		Register...