AIME, the leading meetings and conventions event in the Asia Pacific region, has today revealed a world-class speaker line-up and the official themes behind its highly anticipated 2022 Knowledge Program.

Delivered in partnership with Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Meetings & Events Australia (MEA), with the support of Destination Gold Coast and ICMI, the AIME Knowledge Program is a curated mix of keynote and breakout sessions. The three core themes behind this year’s program are Business Innovation, Driving Engagement and Human Connection organised by PCMA, and Fostering Collaboration by MEA.

The Knowledge Program will be hosted by respected Australian broadcast journalist and former news anchor Mimi Kwa. Confirmed speakers for the program include ​​Simon Griffiths and Steve Sammartino. Griffiths is the co-founder and CEO of Who Gives A Crap, a profit-for-purpose toilet paper company that uses 50 per cent of its profits to build toilets in the developing world. Sammartino is Australia’s leading futurist, tech entrepreneur and growth hacker. He is also the host of TV Program The Rebound (featured on the Nine Network, one of Australia’s largest commercial free-to air television networks).

In anticipation of the Knowledge Program, Steve Sammartino says he is most looking forward to sharing his expertise on how to lead and succeed despite the uncertainty of the pandemic. Steve shares, “The past 23 months have led to dramatic shifts in the way organisations operate. In a climate of constant disruptions, effective leaders have to embrace and thrive within uncertainty, possessing the foresight to transform their organisation to capitalise on new business growth.”

With a focus on rebuilding the events industry and re-instilling confidence in industry professionals, Sammartino adds, “I hope those attending AIME will come out of the Knowledge Program with actionable insights that will help them take their business to the next level.”

AIME event director Silke Calder adds, “AIME’s top priority is to put on a quality and thought-provoking show, especially when it comes to the Knowledge Program. This year is no exception, our line-up of speakers will undoubtedly excite and motivate attendees. With innovators and thought leaders from a myriad of industries sharing their insights firsthand, attendees are encouraged to actively participate in the breakout sessions and get the most out of our speakers’ brilliant minds.”

Program partner, PCMA’s Managing Director (APAC) Florence Chua says, “PCMA is very excited to partner with AIME in curating this much-awaited opportunity to re-convene the community for the human connections we dearly missed.

The Knowledge Program will deliver a balance of future-ready thinking, priceless peer-sharing and focused discussions around business and social responsibility of our community. I am cautiously optimistic we, as an industry, are ready to build momentum for 2022. Our time is now.”

AIME’s Knowledge Program will commence in person Monday 21 March and continue with the Ideas Academy on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 March. AIME will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 21–23 March in person and 28 March–1 April online.