In this episode I speak with Oliver Smart, Managing Director of Jonas Event Technology, a provider of event registration for organisers of trade shows, consumer events and conferences. Oliver spent 4 years as a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and is a Reserve in the British Army. He joined Jonas Event Technology in 2017, and has risen through the ranks, being appointed Managing Director in May 2023. In 2018 he was awarded the Event Supplier & Services Association, "ESSA" Young Person Award, and in July 2023 was appointed to the ESSA board.
Discussion Includes;
- Oliver's journey into the events industry
- What parallels can be drawn between his experience in the Royal Air Force and leading a business in the events industry?
- What key trends Oliver has seen in the events industry since the pandemic?
- Oliver's views on what an organiser can do to improve the experience of exhibitors and attendees
- With an explosion of event technology, how can an organiser determine which solution to use?
- Oliver's view on the impact of the advances in AI on the events industry
- What does Oliver believe are the key ingredients of a good event?
- What Oliver hopes to achieve as a board member of the Event Services and Supplier Association
- How can we ensure more diversity in the events industry? What more can the events industry be doing in the area of sustainability?
- The differences in attendee, organiser & exhibitor behaviour in the US compared to the UK?
- Who Oliver would like to meet that is no longer alive and why?
The Dan Assor Show official venue sponsor is carbon neutral conference and exhibition centre, BDC London, who are currently setting their sights on reaching net zero before 2030. https://www.businessdesigncentre.co.uk/
The Dan Assor Show supporters:
Tarsus Group https://www.tarsus.com/
Nineteen Group https://www.nineteengroup.com/
tfconnect https://www.tfconnect.global/
Terrapinn https://www.terrapinn.com/
