August 19, 2021 | By Bronwen Largier
Australian MC Darren Isenberg is set to be master of ceremonies at the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Canada Summit next week.
The gig came about after an appearance by Isenberg at the 2019 ICCA Global Congress in Houston in 2019 and will see him in conversation with some big names from the North American industry, including Carla Zanoni from TED conferences
“I’ve always wanted to MC an event in Canada and, whilst some might feel this won’t quite allow me to say that I have, I can tell you, with all the pre-recording of interviews I’ve been doing in the middle of the night (to fit in with Northern Hemisphere speaker schedules), I’ve definitely feeling as jet-lagged as if I’d appeared in person!” said Isenberg.
“It’s a really interesting and topical agenda, too. We will be dismantling the way we run events … looking at what each element needs do to meet our current challenges … then putting the pieces back together with some innovative and positive ideas for the future.
“I think it’s great that the Summit organisers have recognised that, since people in the industry are dealing with such significant challenges, the event was crying out for someone who could balance the serious messages with a sense of positivity, hope and humour.”
Isenberg says while the pandemic has closed off some event opportunities, it has also opened up others.
“Pre pandemic, if I was getting up at two in the morning, it wouldn’t be to do something as exciting as MC an international Congress on the other side of the world.
“It’s a real sign of how things have changed: thanks to virtual technology and the creative thinking of ICCA, I’ll have done more work this year at the wonderful Palais des Congres in Montreal than at the ICC up the road from me here in Sydney.”