“Once upon a time…” These magic words stop audience chatter immediately. Why? Could it be that we associate them with our time in primary school when the teacher used to read stories aloud for our enjoyment and education?

Fast forward to our attendance at conferences as delegates and we still thrill to the power and impact of the spoken word. Although in our adult years we may hanker for the simplicity of childhood it could also be that we delight in being informed via sound rather than screen.

The recent MEA conference in Melbourne had its usual assortment of inspirational plenary sessions and concurrent vocational sessions. As adults we listen to the presenters and distil the information through our individual filter systems. We’re constantly analysing the information and deciding which bits we should apply to our lives.

Any “industry” conference is a wonderful opportunity to try new approaches in a safe and mutually supportive environment. We learn what works, what doesn’t and how we can apply the new knowledge in our everyday lives. We see amusing videos, personally delivered autobiographies from people in all walks of life, technical excellence and technical challenges and customised ceremonial and social events.

Conferences also attract ancillary meetings whose organisers take advantage of the critical mass assembled. After the MEA conference I had an opportunity to attend the Business Events Summit. Tribal elders gathered to hear about the latest efforts to prove to the federal and state governments how meetings are the critical pre-requisites to rapid change and innovation that benefits all citizens.

Finally, I was invited to meet the board of directors of a major venue to discuss how meetings might change in the next 10 years. Do events make sense? You bet they do...








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