April 11th, 2022

The Conference team couldn’t possibly put on an event where 98% of attendees rated The BIBA Conference 2019 as Excellent or Good, without the help of our dedicated contractors who form part of  ‘Our Conference Community’. They work tirelessly for months leading up to the event to make the show the success it is today…some have been working with us for more than 20 years. Hear what they have to say about The BIBA Conference.

‘I have been involved in the Build/Design of the feature areas for a number of years now and work closely with the BIBA team to achieve their vision. The show itself always looks fantastic and has a real buzz about the place. Going forward I will be project managing the event from a build perspective and look forward to seeing what The BIBA Conference 2022 brings!’

Ben Atkinson, Account Manager
Full Circle Events & Exhibitions Ltd

‘I have worked on the BIBA Conference and Exhibition since the late 1990s, when it was hosted in different venues across the UK, including Bournemouth, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Brighton and ExCeL (London), before moving to its more regular home in Manchester.

My role is to liaise with exhibitors regarding their lighting and power requirements for the duration of the event. I have witnessed first-hand the growth of the BIBA Conference and Exhibition from a relatively small annual meeting, to what is now a huge logistical event and I always look forward to the BIBA conference.’

Charles Paines, Divisional Director
Full Circle Events & Exhibitions Ltd

‘Here, at Gus Campbell Photography, we always look forward to the big events each year, which of course includes The BIBA Conference. We love working at Manchester Central providing photographs for BIBA, their clients and even Manchester Central who have used a number of our shots for themselves. We deliver the images throughout the day, including stage shots of the speakers, events and seminars, prize winners, stand shots and general exteriors and interiors to help promote this and next year’s event.’

Gus Campbell
Gus Campbell Photography

‘I’ve been working on the BIBA conference since 1998, the first year that the Campaign Partnership started organising the event. In that time, I’ve seen the conference and exhibition get busier and more successful every year and although my main responsibility is to help manage the exhibition, once open, I work on a whole variety of other things during the two days. I’m also there right to the end of breakdown when we wave off the last truck, usually just before midnight.’

John Akehurst
Freelance Events Manager

‘I’m Rob Sumner, the Creative Developer who designs, builds and maintains the BIBA Conference website. My formal qualifications are in Graphic Design, but I moved from print to web in the late 90’s and have since worked with some of the largest IT and media companies in the UK.’

Rob Sumner
Conference Website Developer

‘I have worked at the venue for some 25 years and have had the privilege of working with the BIBA team since the build up to the 2014 event. The BIBA event is always one of the highlights of the events calendar year for me, as it brings together the Insurance industry with an engaging networking platform. The buzz in the venue from the first day of the build, through the daily networking in the exhibition to the last stand being removed at the end, is electric and something that has been deeply missed recently.

There are very few conferences that bring the atmosphere BIBA brings, and it is a pleasure to help to make this happen.’

Craig Beardall
Senior Event Manager
Manchester Central

‘We have been working with BIBA since 2009, and every year it’s always a huge success. When BIBA are in town their delegates can be seen in every hotel, bar and restaurant, creating a real buzz of activity across the city and here at the venue. Each year the show grows and becomes more and more innovative, bringing the venue to life with quality speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and enthusiastic delegates. My role is to work closely with the amazing BIBA team to ensure the venue provides the space, facilities and services needed to execute a fantastic experience for their visitors. BIBA always delivers a ‘not-to-be-missed’ show so we’re really looking forward to welcoming the event back in 2022 and playing our part in bringing the association members together again!’

Rosie Jacques, Senior National Association Account Manager
Manchester Central

‘I’ve been working with BIBA for nearly 25 years now, producing the conference plenary and breakout sessions. I’ve had the pleasure to work with some amazing people over the years – not just at BIBA but also with all sorts of business, political, technology, sporting and media luminaries and loads of other brilliant thought leaders who have contributed so much to the success of the event. The pandemic has put paid to face-to-face meetings for the events industry for way too long. It is their lifeblood, so coming back together to produce another brilliant live event for BIBA this year means the world to me and my crew.’

Sarah Shuter
Sarah Shuter Productions

‘I design and produce the on-screen content for the BIBA Conference each year. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of bringing to life some of your key industry themes each year. Clearly coming back together again this year after two years off being unable to hold the Conference is amazing, not only for your industry but also for live events world which has suffered so much hardship during the pandemic. We are delighted as always to be working with BIBA again.’

David MacIver
Creative Director
Sarah Shuter Productions

‘DSV (previously Agility Fairs & Events) supply a full logistics package to Exhibitors including International and UK shipping, customs clearance, courier receiving and warehouse handling services. We also provide forklift services and onsite storage facilities.

I have been working alongside the Organisers on BIBA since 2015. I enjoy seeing the Exhibition come together; from initial client enquiries, moving into an empty exhibition venue and working with all involved to build and deliver a successful show. I am looking forward to working on the show again in 2022.’

Josie Smith
Exhibition Co-ordinator
Fairs & Events

‘I deal with the space only stand approvals on behalf of the organiser and have worked on BIBA shows for many years. It’s a great show to work on as the stand designs are imaginative and eye catching! The organising team become like part of the family for a few months of the year.

I have really missed the buzz and energy of the build up to the live shows as they always mark a highlight of the spring season. Here’s to 2022!’

Duncan Gordon 
Deputy General Manager
Select International Events

‘We’ve been working on the BIBA conference since 2009, filming conference keynote sessions, hackathons, interviews, vox pops and creating fast turn-around videos for YouTube and social media that give a flavour of each day at BIBA conference. And I can honestly it is one of the best conferences that we cover. The imagination and creative of the exhibition hall allow us to point our cameras in any direction knowing that we’ll shoot something colourful and visually stimulating. Each year gets better and better. The best thing about shooting at The BIBA Conference has been the incredible calibre of hosts and key-note speaker, ranging from Sir Tim Burners-Lee to Sir Chris Hoy and from Baroness Martha Lane Fox to Ruby Wax.

In the most recent live event in 2019, our cameras were rolling when Boris Johnson announced his candidacy to run for leader of the Conservative Party and hence Prime Minister. It was one of the serendipitous moment that happens at BIBA, which is just one of the many reasons why it is always a delight to be asked to return, and why I’m so pleased that I stopped my bike ride to take the call 12 years ago.’

Julian Mayers
Yada Yada