The
Meetings Show has unveiled the 10 future leaders who have wowed
judges in this year’s Tomorrow’s Talent programme.
Championed for their
drive, ambition, ability to face challenges, and engagement with the wider
industry, 2026’s Tomorrow's Talent winners are:
Connie
Arnold, project manager, DRPG
Louise
Balderson, project manage
Oscar
Easton, events director, Blank Canvas Entertainmen
Katie
Gallagher, sales executive, Crowne Plaza Newcastle
Lewis
Hine, founder, A World with Friends
Kimberley
Knight, senior project manager, TTA
Annabelle
Lynch, project manager, DRPG
Katie
Percival, events officer, Climate Grou
Lily
Shackleford, senior sales and events coordinator, Foxhills Club &
Resort
Olivia
Wilkie, senior project executive, asembl.
Having opened the doors
for 70 industry trailblazers since the programme began in 2019, Tomorrow’s
Talent, run in partnership with M&IT, is an invaluable opportunity for
emerging event professionals to gain exposure, build connections, and enhance
their careers.
For this year’s worthy
winners, that means raising their profile and influence through invitations to
leading industry events, as well as networking, mentoring, and profiling
opportunities, which are just a few of the exclusive benefits on offer.
Winners will also receive VIP access to The Meetings Show and will take part in a four-week Confidence in Communicating
training programme, delivered by The Attendee Experience Company. Those completing the programme will earn the
opportunity to emcee the education stages at The Meetings Show and be able to co-create and design their own engaging education session.
One rising star will also receive mentorship from a senior manager within the exhibitions industry through a partnership with Women in Exhibitions as part of a six-month programme to supercharge career growth and development.
Samme Allen, knowledge director at The Meetings Show, said: “The next generation of event
professionals are overflowing with ideas, ambition and enthusiasm. Their voices
and energy are crucial to future-proofing the power and potential of this
amazing industry, which is why we want to give them not just the chance to
shine, but the tools to do so brightly.
“Whether for training,
support, opportunities, confidence-building or anything and everything
in-between, programmes like this make a real difference for a generation hungry
to make their mark and contribute to an industry they love. I want to extend my
heartfelt congratulations to 2026’s 10 deserving winners. I can’t wait to see
where the next year takes you - and where you take our industry from there.”
The Tomorrow’s Talent
programme is open to UK-based event planners and buyers who are aged 30 or
under or who have less than three years’ experience in the industry. Judges include M&IT editor Paul
Harvey, Leigh Cowlishaw, managing partner at Black Box
Partnerships, and Priya Narain, co-founder of Event First Steps.
The Meetings Show takes
place 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London and is co-located with Business
Travel Show Europe and TravelTech
Show.
