Ideas Academy Speaker FAQs

AIME will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The program commences on 10 February until 12 February:

• Monday 10 February – Knowledge Program (11.30am - 5.30pm) & Welcome Event (7pm - 10pm)
• Tuesday 11 February – Day 1 Tradeshow including the Ideas Academy (9am to 5:30pm)
• Wednesday 12 February – Day 2 Tradeshow including the Ideas Academy (9am to 5pm)

You can view the program here

Click here for information outlining transport and parking options at the MCEC.

The dress code across all days will be business casual.

The MCEC has large cloaking facilities. Please feel free to use these services throughout the show or on Wednesday morning for luggage if you are departing immediately at the conclusion of the event on Wednesday afternoon. Alternatively, all hotels have storage facilities if you prefer to store your luggage at the hotel either prior to check-in or after check-out.

Travel restrictions and Covid-19 requirements have been relaxed across Australia. It is no longer mandatory to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to enter, Australia, the state of Victoria or the AIME 2025 venue, Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre. It is also no longer mandatory to wear masks, however, we recommend you make your own judgement on whether you would prefer to wear a mask. We also recommend keeping this in mind if you have an upcoming event in the weeks immediately leading up to or following AIME. As AIME 2025 gets closer, please also keep up with developments via the https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/

The Australian government website contains a range of information for those who wish to enter the country on a temporary basis, and you will find answers to many of your questions on their site.

Please check your passport is valid before applying to become a hosted buyer. As we’ve seen around the world in recent times, there are long delays to have passports reissued. The Australian government does not impose six month passport validity for travellers entering the country, however, some airlines insist on the validity as part of their terms and conditions to board a flight – please ensure you have checked this.

Please check visa requirements for entering Australia on this site - visas are dependent on which country issued your passport.

From the list on the government site the main purpose of your visit is ‘attending a conference or expo’ which is about halfway down the list on the link above.

Visas applications must be covered at your own expense, and you should apply once your hosted buyer status has been confirmed. Please be advised that, due to high demand, visas are taking longer to process and can take months in some cases.  Please book early to avoid disappointment.

If you require a letter to support your visa application, please advise the Hosted Buyer Manager ASAP.

The Spice team will be your primary source of contact and guide you on your journey to AIME, The AIME team will also invite you to the Knowledge Program Hub.

The Hub is your go-to resource for all things AIME. Within the Hub you’ll be able to access information to assist you with presenting at AIME, upload your presentation as well as download customisable banners that you can share across your digital channels.

We ask you arrive at least 30 minutes before your session is due to start, allowing you time to collect your badge from the registration area before entering the showfloor and making your way to the Ideas Academy. To find your way to the Ideas Academy, you can view the floorplan here.

We also ask that you bring a copy of your presentation on a memory stick. Even though you will have been asked to provide a copy of your presentation to the team ahead of AIME, it’s always good to have a backup.

The Ideas Academy is set theatre style, with sessions delivered via headphones providing a ‘silent conference’ experience.

Please see a layout of the Ideas Academy linked HERE

The Ideas Academy includes the following set-up and AV:

• Theatre style seating for 100 pax
• Individual headphones for the audience to support the silent delivery of speaker content
• Black stage (2000 x 1000 x 300mm H) set with 3 x tub chairs and small coffee table for speakers
• 1 x lectern with mic
• 3 x handheld mics for speakers
• 1 x handheld mic for audience Q+A
• 1 x screen 3360px W x 960px H – for displaying speaker presentations (noting speaker presentations do not occupy the whole screen and presentations need to be provided in 16:9 format)
• 1 x clicker and foldback screen for speakers to manage their presentations
• 1 x AV technician on standby to assist with programming of speaker presentations and AV requirements

Yes, there is. The full screen has a pixel resolution of 3360px W x 960px H. The AV team however will pip your presentation to ensure easier viewing for the audience.

It’s best if you provide your presentation in 16:9 ratio. For visibility it is our recommendation to not go any smaller than 18pt with your text. If you are using an unusual font you may need to bring the font file for our AV team to upload onto their machine to display it correctly.

No. As the Ideas Academy sessions are delivered silently via individual headphones, it’s preferrable that you provide our team a copy of your presentation so our AV technician can pre-load the content, test it and ensure that it is compatible with our AV.

Yes. If you arrive at least 30-minutes prior to your presentation, you will be able to familiarise yourself with the Ideas Academy and liaise with our onsite AV technicians. Please be aware that most sessions have at least 15 minutes before the next session starts - this is your time to test AV and make sure everything is ok.

Presentations run for 20-minutes with a 10-minute Q+A at the end.

Your presentation should be submitted by no later than Monday, 12 February so our AV team can check it and make sure it’s all ok. Presentations can be uploaded via the AV Form provided in the Knowledge Program Hub. The AV form will be closed off, 5pm on 12 February. If you do miss the submission deadline, please email the AIME Marketing team here

Yes. The Ideas Academy Master of Ceremonies will be Simon Cooper, Managing Director of Interpoint Events.

AIME hosts business events media who are all invited to attend the Ideas Academy, however attendance is not compulsory and is subject the media’s schedule and availability.

Whilst we do take photos of the event, we cannot guarantee we will take photos of your specific presentation. If you are wanting professional photos or video content of your presentation, it’s best to organise your own production crew.

No, presentations are not streamed live or recorded. If you would like to record your presentation, you are most welcome to bring in your own AV team. To discuss this further, please reach out to AIME's Operation Manager here

As part of our pre-event marketing, we will promote the Ideas Academy presented by Spice across AIME's social media channels and within our email marketing campaign. In addition, Spice are also doing a spotlight on speakers and sharing this on their social channels. We encourage you to follow both Spice and AIME's social media accounts and re-share content. AIME's Social Media Channels

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Please use #AIME2024 when posting Spice Social Media Channels

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Please use #SpiceMagazine when posting

Unfortunately, we do not currently offer expense reimbursement for speakers.

Unless confirmed otherwise, speakers are responsible for booking and paying for their own accommodation. You will find a list of hotel partners with discounted rates for AIME within the Hub.

Knowledge Program speakers are invited to attend the Knowledge Program Networking Lunch on Monday 19 February. All speakers are invited to attend the Welcome Event on Monday 19 February and the two-day tradeshow on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 February. Speaker access to the tradeshow includes morning, afternoon tea and lunch in the Accor Hosted Buyer Lounge on both days of the trade show.

No unfortunately parking is not available FOC at MCEC. Speakers do however receive discounted parking - it is $15 per day.  Passes for discounted parking are available from the AIME Information Desk (outside Door 8 on the Concourse). Wilson Parking operates the secure underground car park at MCEC. If you book online before you visit you can receive a better parking rate and ensure you’re guaranteed a great spot.

Book a car spot online at Wilson Parking

There is also an abundance of convenient secure car parking available around MCEC. Nearby there is:

• South Wharf Retail car park

• Siddeley St car park

• Freeway car park

• Montague Street car park

Yes, everyone who attends AIME is required to register and wear a name badge. Once the AIME team has your details, we will take care of your registration and email you a confirmation. Your name badge is what allows you entry to the showfloor, feature areas as well as the Knowledge Program and Welcome Event on Monday 19 February.

Speakers will be automatically registered by the AIME team. You will receive an email confirming your attendance. Please bring a copy of this confirmation with you to AIME. Once onsite, you will be able to collect your pre-printed badge from the AIME Registration desk (located outside Door 8 on the Concourse).

When you arrive at MCEC head towards door 8 and you will find the AIME Registration Desk. Proceed to the self-serve computer, scan your QR Code and print your badge. Staff are available to assist with any questions.

You will receive an email with your confirmation number and a link to access your registration. Click the link in this email to modify your registration.

If you did not receive the confirmation email within a few minutes of submitting your registration form, please check your 'junk mail' folder or contact the AIME team here.

The Knowledge Program Hub is your go-to-resource for all things AIME.

After the AIME team has registered you as a speaker for AIME, you will receive an email via Xpobay with login details for AIME’s Knowledge Program Hub.

You will be able to download the AIME Event app via the Google Play or Apple Store from 8 February 2024. The app is your guide to the AIME 2024 event program.

In the first instance, we encourage you to reach out to the Spice team who are curating the Ideas Academy content and managing speaker requirements. You are also welcome to connect with AIME’s Marketing Team at aime.marketing@talk2.media