The events industry is evolving at pace, driven by rapid tech innovation, rising attendee expectations, and the urgent need to rethink how we work. At AIME 2025, some of the world’s leading minds in business, neuroscience, and events came together to offer bold, practical solutions. Here are three powerful lessons from the AIME Knowledge Program that every business events professional should carry forward into 2026. 

1. Adaptability Is the New Competitive Advantage
Speaker: Gus Balbontin GAICD | Innovation Expert & Former Executive Director, Lonely Planet 

In a standout keynote, Gus Balbontin made one thing clear: in today’s world, adaptability is not optional—it’s essential. Drawing from his remarkable journey across business and adventure, he urged industry professionals to let go of perfection and legacy systems in favour of curiosity, agility, and creative problem-solving. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Innovation starts with empathy: Real change begins by solving genuine customer pain points—not internal KPIs. 
• Beware “concrete pouring”: Over-rigid systems stop evolution. Structured experimentation empowers real innovation. 
• Momentum is meaningless without direction: Constant movement means little if you’re not solving the right problems. 
• Stay mentally agile: Balbontin trains his brain by learning something new every year—pinball, astrophotography, even glass-blowing. 

For the events industry: Don’t wait to be disrupted. Drive change before it hits. Ask hard questions about legacy formats—and don’t be afraid to try something radically new. 

2. The Future of Events Is Personal, Sustainable, and Tech-Enhanced 
Panel: Global Business Outlook | Tim Groot (Grip), Carina Bauer (IMEX Group), Dr Senthil Gopinath (ICCA), Sven Bossu (AIPC) 

This global panel explored the macro forces reshaping the events landscape—and what it means for planners, venues, and buyers. 

What’s Changing: 

• AI will power, but not replace, human connection: From automating logistics to personalising experiences, AI is now a baseline tool, not a threat. 
• Sustainability equals profitability: Green practices are no longer a ‘nice to have’, they’re delivering real financial ROI and shaping event design. 
• Hyper-personalisation is the new standard: Attendees expect relevance, flexibility, and well-being to be built into the experience. 
• Venues must lead innovation: Smart facilities, agile teams, and new marketing approaches are critical to staying competitive. 

Big Idea: Return on Relationships (ROR) now matters as much as ROI. Trust, community, and human connection are your strongest assets in an increasingly digital world. 

3. Beat Burnout, Reclaim Focus, and Thrive in a Hyperconnected World
Speaker: Dr Kristy Goodwin, CSP | Neuro Performance Scientist 

With 76% of event professionals experiencing burnout, Dr Kristy Goodwin delivered a timely and practical roadmap for peak performance, grounded in neuroscience. 

Her ‘Flourishing Formula’ includes: 

• Stress Adaptability: Stress isn’t the enemy, rigidity is. Use tools like cold exposure, breathwork, and mental challenges to build resilience. 
• Focus Quotient (FQ): Your ability to manage attention is your future-proof skill. Try 90-minute “digital dashes” and remove phones from sight. 
• Recovery Reframing: Rest is a performance strategy, not a luxury. Use NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) and micro-breaks to restore mental energy. 
• Work with, not against, your biology: Know your chronotype, walk to unlock creativity, and ditch unnecessary meetings. 

Final Reflection: We all get roughly 4,000 weeks in a lifetime. How we manage our energy and focus determines not just productivity—but fulfilment. 

Final Thought: Rethink, Refocus, and Act Now 

Whether you're designing exhibitions, managing teams, or planning the next great gathering, the message from AIME 2025 is clear:  

• Adaptability isn’t just a skill, it’s survival. 
• Innovation doesn’t start with tech, it starts with purpose. 
• Productivity doesn’t come from hustle, it comes from rhythm. 

As we look to AIME 2026, let these insights guide you. This is your opportunity to not only respond to change but lead it.