Lorraine Heggessey, famed for being the first ever female BBC One controller, will headline a thought-provoking and interactive content programme at our forthcoming International Women’s Day event, taking place on Monday 6 March at Mandarin Oriental London.

Under the theme of ‘A New Pathway to Leadership’, the one-day exclusive event will bring together female leaders from the event industry with the next generation of talent to inform, inspire, and educate through keynote sessions, panel discussions, collaborative workshops and more.

We are delighted to partner with Speakers Corner to announce Heggessey as our keynote speaker for the event. During her thought-provoking session, she will share her experiences from the world of media and insights on what it takes to be an effective and inspirational leader in a fast-changing world.

“The purpose of this event is to challenge the status quo, breaking down the barriers to leadership for our women so in MICE, so our sector can be a more equitable and inclusive place in which everyone can thrive,” said Zoe Tuffs, micebook’s head of learning and people development, who is leading the content for our IWD 2023 event series.

“If you identify as a women and have a strong desire for progressive change, then this is a rare opportunity to take time out from the day-to-day. Think of it as a ‘foot on the ball moment’ to not only celebrate other female talent within our sector but also to think deeply about how we can come together to better serve the needs of women as we move forward.”

The day, which is being hosted by Samme Allen, founder and CEO of Conferenceemcees.com, will kick off with a scene-setting interactive session, along with a discussion around why we need IWD, what are the problems we need to solve for women in MICE, and what outcomes do we want to create for our community.

Sheffield Hallam University’s Emma Abson PhD will share insights into a research study on women’s experiences of developing leadership careers in the event industry. In partnership with our sponsor Visit Monaco, we’ll also hear from Manila Di Giovanni, a young technopreneur seeking to create the world’s first ever Virtual Economy that acts as a bridge between the real world and the virtual one through her newly launched DWorld. DWorld creates an interconnected metaverse platform for smart cities globally with their respective virtual economies starting from the Principality of Monaco.

“This is a chance to have a seat at the table, to have a say in how we take strides to #embraceequity. You’ll hear real life stories from industry experts and inspiring leaders who will all be sharing insight, ideas and career hacks to help you navigate the rollercoaster ride that is a career in MICE. You will also get a chance to meet with some familiar faces and meet new people too to build relationships that will support your career development,” added Tuffs.

The evening programme, open to everyone will include more content, networking, a celebratory drinks reception and entertainment.

Find out more and buy your tickets here – Early bird ends Fri 17 Feb.