Eventing the Future:
Insights from NZEA’s industry conference
“Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a non-negotiable priority for anyone serious about the future of events”
There’s something incredibly powerful about being in a room full of people who share your enthusiasm and drive and getting to connect with fellow event professionals and share our insights and successes. Over the two days in Papaioea, Palmerston North, I made new friends and reconnected with previous colleagues.
As someone who specialises in using technology to create engaging and memorable events, I loved seeing NZEA utilise Congress Rentals’ multi-channel headsets for breakout room audio. This technology enabled two streams to happen simultaneously in the same room, without attendees needing to leave their seats. Streamliner delivered high-tech production with a great lighting rig, multiple screens and IMAG, allowing us to see each speaker up close. Event Solutions provided an event app that enabled real-time question submission for panels and Q&A sessions.
A highlight of the conference experience for me was the awards dinner, featuring 69 finalists from across the country, representing all sectors. Congratulations to all the winners! The conference venue was transformed into an evening soirée with enhanced lighting, a red carpet, natural table centerpieces and some dazzling drag performers.
I had the pleasure of hosting a booth in the Future Trends zone, showcasing JIX Reality’s innovative digital solutions for the event market. I displayed our virtual venue renders and virtual exhibitions, demonstrating how your tradeshow floor plan can be gamified and brought online 365 days a year to a global audience, increasing the longevity of partnerships and trade connections. Attendees had the opportunity to try our latest VR brand activations for Health NZ and Education NZ that utilise your hand gestures instead of controllers and displays the immersive VR experience over the current real-world view—an ideal solution for busy event environments to provide a safe environment for users. I enjoyed connecting with the other exhibitors and learning more about their products and services.
Finally, as someone deeply committed to sustainable events, I was thrilled to see the unveiling of the new Sustainable Events website by NZEA. This initiative showcases resources and events that make a positive environmental impact, helping to drive change across the industry. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a non-negotiable priority for anyone serious about the future of events. A big thank you to the working group that brought this vision to life.
