Over the past three months Conference News has been speaking to members of the CN 30underThirty about their careers, passions and issues that they want to champion.
In this article, we’ll be looking back over the profiles we’ve published so far to identify the common themes, trends and the best nuggets of advice.
Purpose drive impact and meaningful experiences
Nearly every memeber of the CN30 who have currently been featured, see events not just as logistics but as vehicles for purpose – whether social, environmental or personal.
They talk about:
- Making a difference in communities – For example, Owen Tonks-Lewis discusses how events have the power to develop social sustainability through community co-curation.
- Creating experiences that bring people together and leave a lasting positive impact.
- Ensuring events feel meaningful and not just transactional.
This generation of event professionals is deeply value-driven and want their work to contribute to something bigger.
Commitment to sustainability
Environmental sustainability is a universal concern across the profiles – they discuss:
- Intergrating sustainable practices into event production.
- Measuring and reducing environmental impact – for example, James Lee discusses his passion for sustainability and impact measurement of events in both environmental and social terms.
- Promoting ethical sourcing, sustainable materials and eco-friendly designs.
This shows that sustainablility is no longer just a ‘nice to have’ but a core pillar for emerging leaders in events.
Inclusivity and diversity as non negotiables
These young professionals are vocal about:
- Designing events that are inclusive for all participants, regardless of background, gender, culture, or drinking habits – for example, Gabriella Gittelmon discusses championing the idea of creating more alcohol free spaces within events.
- Championing accessibility.
- Building diverse teams and communities within the industry
Inclusion and diversity are foundational principles for the next generation of event professionals.
Personal and professional growth
All of them share:
- A hunger for learning new skills and expanding their knowledge.
- Desire to innovate and adapt to the industry’s evolving landscape.
- Stories of overcoming challenges – for example, Gemma Clarke discussed a national power grid outage that ocurred the first time she was running a live stream show.
- Commitment to mentoring others or being mentored themselves.
There’s a strong culture of continuous learning and resilience among these under-30 professionals.
Authentic leadership and human connection
From calm crisis management to embracing unique leadership styles they highlight:
- Leading teams with empathy – for example, Alice Bartram discusses the importance of leading authentically and embracing your uniqueness.
- Being true to themselves instead of fitting traditional “corporate” molds.
- Valuing personal relationships and human connection as the soul of successful events.
Authenticity and people-centered leadership define how these young professionals approach their roles.
Work life balance and wellbeing
Emerging event leaders care deeply about maintaining balance:
- They advocate for healthier boundaries in an industry notorious for long hours and high stress – for example, Eva Phelan discusses how agencies and brands can develop a culture that offers people the space to combine what they love with their work.
- Many express the importance of mental health, rest, and pursuing personal interests alongside career goals – –Jerome Vileta discusses the importance of creating a healthier work environment to avoid event professionals burning out in the early stages of their career.
- There’s a generational shift away from glorifying overwork towards sustainability—not only for the planet, but also for people – Natasha Mason echoes this, explaining that after losing her mum last year, she has had a shift in perspective about making space for life outside of work. Hannah Marshall also wants to champion workplace well-being by insisting on touch points in projects to check in with team members.
For these professionals, success isn’t just delivering flawless events—it’s achieving a fulfilling life both in and outside of work.
