Free Event Managers Network webinar
From both sides of the lanyard
What makes a conference triumph or tank
In this free & practical, interactive hour, discover what works and what doesn't across design, marketing, operations and risk, using real examples from conferences Sally Porteous has produced and conferences she has attended.
Wednesday 21 October 2026 11am to 12pm Brisbane time (AEST) Online via Zoom Free to attend
Can't make it live? Register anyway and you'll receive the recording afterwards.
Register for freeLearn from conferences that have already happened
The quickest way to understand what makes a conference succeed is to look closely at real ones. In this webinar, Sally Porteous shares examples from conferences she has produced and conferences she has attended, and unpacks what worked, what didn't, and why. Every example comes back to the same practical question, which is how you can apply the lesson to your own event.
The session is interactive, with questions and answers throughout the hour rather than saved for the end. Bring the conference you're planning now, or the one you'd like to run next, and leave with a clearer and more practical way to approach it.
Four areas every successful conference gets right
The webinar works through a practical framework across four areas. Each one is illustrated with real-life examples, so you can see how the decisions play out at an actual conference and what they mean for yours.
01
Event design
The decisions that shape your conference and the experience your attendees have, from the program to the moments they remember.
02
Marketing
How a conference reaches the right audience and gives people a clear reason to register, attend and get involved.
03
Operations
The planning behind a smooth delivery, so the day runs the way you intended and your team can focus on your attendees.
04
Risk
Identifying what could go wrong and planning for it early, before it affects your event, your people or your attendees.
What you'll walk away with
This is a practical hour, designed so you leave with actions & ideas you can put to work on your own conference straight away.
A practical framework
An understanding of a practical framework you can use to plan your own conference, whatever its size or stage.
A clearer picture of what to consider
A better sense of what you need to think about across event design, marketing, operations and risk, and how the four areas connect.
Practical do's and don'ts
Straightforward do's and don'ts drawn from real conferences, so you can repeat what works and steer clear of what doesn't.
Included with your registration
Your takeaway worksheet
Learning is most useful when you can act on it, so the webinar comes with a takeaway worksheet to help you apply what you learn to your own conference. Use it to work through event design, marketing, operations and risk for the event you're planning, and turn the ideas from the session into your next steps.
Register for freeWho this webinar is for
This webinar welcomes anyone involved in planning, promoting or delivering a conference, whatever your level of experience. It's especially useful for
- PCOs & Event planners who want to sharpen how they design and deliver conferences
- Business owners who run, or are thinking about running, their own conference
- Marketing teams responsible for promoting an event and filling the room
- Associations planning conferences for their members and their industry
If you're new to conferences, you'll come away with a clear framework to plan with and a good sense of what to look out for. If you've been running events for years, you'll have the chance to test your approach against real examples and pick up practical ideas for your next conference.
Your presenter
Hi, I'm Sally Porteous
I'm the founder and director of Red Lanyard, a Brisbane-based event production, management and education business. I've been producing events professionally since 2007, when a local government role made me the event organiser for promoting public transport, and in 2011 I graduated with a degree in production and arts management.
Since then I've delivered more than 190 events across corporate, government and community sectors, from festivals and conferences to cocktail parties and fundraisers. I also run the Event Managers Network, which now brings together more than 2,000 people, host The Event Show podcast, and teach event planning through Event Planners Workshop.
In this webinar I'm sharing what I've learned from conferences I've produced and conferences I've attended, so you can take those lessons straight into your own planning.
Register for your free place
Join us online for one practical, interactive hour on what makes a successful conference.
Date
Wednesday 21 October 2026
Time
11am to 12pm Brisbane time (AEST, UTC+10)
Location
Online via Zoom
Cost
Free
Your Zoom joining link will be emailed to you closer to the webinar, and you'll receive the recording afterwards.
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