Mike Williams (Australia)
Mike is a highly respected expert in destination marketing and convention bureau development, with more than 30 years of experience in the tourism and business events sector. Since joining GainingEdge in 2007, he has led major consulting engagements worldwide across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the United States. He has served as lead consultant in establishing and strengthening convention bureaux, with expertise in strategic planning, destination sales and marketing, bidding, product development, and business development, while overseeing In-Market Sales Representation services. Previously, Mike held leadership roles at the Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau and Tourism Australia, driving international business development and market expansion. An influential industry leader, he contributed to global initiatives and served in governance roles industry.
DAY 1 (Wednesday) 4th February
Synergy Unlock: Claiming The AI Advantage In The New Era Of Business Events
Plenary Session II (55 minutes) : Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, economies and decision-making. But technology alone does not create progress—competitive advantage now lies in how effectively organisations combine human insight with intelligent systems. This session explores how AI is reshaping strategy, bid competitiveness, market analysis, delegate behaviour, event design and productivity across the global Business Events ecosystem. It examines how AI-human collaboration is redefining how destinations grow, how businesses compete and how value is created in the industry.
