AIME 2026 will be held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9-11 February, and the Knowledge Monday program will take place on the opening day with a theme of “Expertise Matters!”.
The program will focus on the credibility, clarity and strategic importance of the business events industry, and will spotlight professionals who bring expertise across areas such as recognising patterns before problems arise, navigating complexity with composure, and uniting people with purpose and precision.
The program on 9 February continues the 2025 theme of “We Matter!”, where focus was on self-acknowledgement and self-leadership.
“Expertise Matters!” continues the conversation by elevating the role of industry expertise in driving progress, creating impact and transforming how people connect and grow.
“The success of ‘We Matter!’ in 2025 laid the essential groundwork,” says Knowledge Monday program curator El Kwang, founder of BEAMexperience.
“With ‘Expertise Matters!’ we evolve the conversation because in the age of AI, being deeply human has never been more relevant.
“What sets our industry apart is not just what we know, but how we express and apply that expertise.”
Guiding the development of the program’s topics and speaker line-up is the Knowledge Monday Advisory Committee, which comprises eight leaders from the Asia Pacific business events industry: Ashleigh Cooper, events manager, Charter Hall; Maggie Diasinos, account director, MCI Australia; Max Jantasuwan, founder and CEO, Events Travel Asia Group; Ronald Lim, business events strategist, Think Event by Think Tank Productions; Sarah Markey-Hamm, CEO, ICMS; Denise Sorrell, director of events, Australian Dental Industry Association; Felicity Zadro, founder and managing director, Zadro Agency; and Anna Patterson, founder, Sight Agency.
AIME 2026 is managed by event director Silke Calder and her team at Talk2 Media & Events on behalf of Melbourne Convention Bureau.
“At AIME, our mission is to provide a platform that reflects the credibility and confidence of our industry, bringing together the best minds, the most innovative ideas, and the leaders who are redefining what’s possible,” says Calder.
“With the guidance of El Kwang and BEAMexperience, and the dedication of our esteemed Advisory Committee, we are able to shape a Knowledge Monday program that truly reflects the strength and insight of our industry.
“‘Expertise Matters!’ highlights the knowledge and insight that drives meaningful outcomes for businesses and communities worldwide.
“Knowledge Monday in 2026 will empower our attendees to step forward as leaders, confident in the impact they create.”
AIME 2026 promises to be the biggest and best edition yet, with more 16,500 square metres across 11 bays of MCEC to accommodate more than 700 exhibitors, 700 hosted buyers and in excess of 20,000 pre-scheduled appointments.
