Symposium: Innovative Practice in Business Events
24 Jun 2025 8:45 AM
to
4:00 PM
Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus, 219 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1DJ
This event is now sold out. For enquiries about waitlist tickets or joining the Symposium online, please email: tourismresearch@napier.ac.uk
Hosted by Edinburgh Napier's Tourism Research Centre, this one-day symposium will bring together researchers and tutors of all career stages, industry practitioners, and other individuals with an interest in business events and business tourism.
Guest Speakers
- Visiting Associate Professor Dr Judith Mair, University of Queensland, Australia
- Dr Leo Jago, Emeritus Professor, University of Surrey
- Dr Rob Davidson, Director, MICE Education, Research & Consultancy
Invited Panellists
- Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events at VisitScotland; Chair, PCMA Board of Directors and Trustees
- Gary Hutchison, Assistant Principal, Edinburgh Napier University
- James Latham, Founder, The Iceberg
- Elaine Miller, Associations Business Development Manager, Edinburgh International Conference Centre
- Lesley Williams, Consultant, Gaining Edge
- Laura Wilson, Head of Aberdeen Convention Bureau and ABPCO Executive Committee Member
Visit here for biographies on guest speakers >
Programme
| 08:45-09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00-09:15 | Welcome & Introduction -Paul Barron, Dean of The Business School |
| 09:15-10:00 | Guest speaker - Leo Jago 'The Importance of Research to Demonstrate the Value and Contribution of the Business Events Industry - an Industry Perspective' |
| 10:00-10:30 | Coffee break |
| 10:30-11:00 | Guest speaker - Rob Davidson 'New Approaches to Destination Marketing for Business Events' |
| 11:00-12:00 | Industry panel - Impacts and Legacies - Neil Brownlee; Lesley Williams; Laura Wilson |
| 12:00-12:45 | Lunch |
| 12:45-13:30 | Guest speaker – Judith Mair 'The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Business Events' |
| 13:30-14:30 | Papers - Plenary Session |
| 14:30-14:45 | Coffee break |
| 14:45-15:30 | Industry Panel - Academics and Venues in Practice - Gary Hutchison; Elaine Miller |
| 15:30-16:00 | Fireside chat with Leo Jago and James Latham |
| 16:00-17:30 | Drinks reception - Celebrating 3 years of the Tourism Research Centre (TRC) |
At this Symposium, there will be parallel sessions in the afternoon, that will focus on three sub-themes:
- A. Knowledge Economy: e.g. education; event legacies; research & innovation (not limited to these topics)
- B. Sustainability initiatives: e.g. circular economy; community engagement; sustainable development goals (not limited to these topics)
- C. Technology: e.g. hybrid events; applied technologies; impact of AI (not limited to these topics)
Engagement and Networking Opportunities
This symposium is hybrid in format, and you are welcome to join us online if you are unable to attend in-person. Details will be circulated nearer to the time. There is no cost or fee to attend. It will be held at our Craiglockhart Campus in Edinburgh. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided.
This event is now sold out. For enquiries about waitlist tickets or joining the Symposium online, please email: tourismresearch@napier.ac.uk
