From AIIP21 to AIIP22: Conference Planning In the Next Normal
By June Boyle, AIIP22 Conference Chair, and Jan Sykes, AIIP21 Conference Chair
As planning for the 2022 AIIP Annual Conference gets underway, it is a good time to reflect for a moment on AIIP21, our first virtual conference. In spite of unknowns resulting from the pandemic, the AIIP Board and Conference Committee demonstrated that we are resourceful and resilient, and can pivot to achieve desired outcomes as circumstances dictate – qualities shared by most AIIP members.
Knowledge Delivered and Connections Made
During the two-day conference, twenty people shared their knowledge and expertise on topics as diverse as information security, creative thinking in client relationships, understanding economic data, voice marketing, and many more. We learned techniques to apply to our businesses, enjoyed informal connections and conversations, and met new colleagues. Naturally, we all would have preferred even more time for networking. We can’t seem to get enough!
The Benefits of Virtual
We rose to the challenge of accessing and navigating a virtual platform across global time zones, thanks to our technology partner, Virtual Experience Design Agency. A lasting benefit of this format is that all presentations were recorded and remain available to registered attendees. It is almost guaranteed that listening to some of these presentations again or for the first time will provide fresh perspectives for client opportunities we encounter in the upcoming months.
Survey Insights
The post-conference survey provided guidance for the 2022 conference and confirmed that the 2021 conference planners achieved their goal of delivering high-value content. A more recent AIIP22 pulse survey made it clear that while members miss the live format of past conferences and are looking forward to being together in person next year, there is more interest in including an online component than expected. Indeed, respondents even want us to incorporate some type of networking session between onsite and online attendees. Obviously AIIP21 brought home the benefit of connecting with our colleagues near and far.
“The presentations were excellent. There was a nice variety of topics and speakers used the virtual platform effectively. I liked that invited speakers complemented AIIP presenters.”
AIIP22 Planning
While we can’t promise a full hybrid event, it’s time for us to get creative and see what is actually possible. We are excited to be returning to a live format, and to be staying at the beautiful Magnolia Hotel in St. Louis, MO USA April 27 – May 1, 2022. We are also in discussions with local videography and virtual platform providers to see which designs might be a good fit for our attendees, within our existing conference budget and hotel commitment.
Naturally, we are carefully monitoring Covid numbers, not only in St. Louis but also globally. We are hopeful that the pandemic will be behind us by April 2022 and our members will feel comfortable traveling. But if not, we have already shown we can pivot to provide a high value conference experience for our members, no matter what format we use.
Gratitude
We are so grateful to all who made virtual AIIP21 a success. The names are too numerous to mention here. We are thankful for the many members who are volunteering their time and expertise to the AIIP22 Conference Committee, as well as our speakers, sponsors and so many others who make our annual event a truly special experience.
We look forward to coming together next year – in person and virtually! See you at #AIIP22, and in the meantime please stay well.
June Boyle has been the owner of CeRCo Research & Consulting and a member of AIIP since 2008. Through best practices research, benchmarking, and assessment, she “brings the outside view inside” as her clients lead their businesses through major change. June served as AIIP’s President in 2015-2016, and is currently the Chair of the 2022 AIIP Conference Committee. Contact her at june.boyle@cerco-research.com or conference@aiip.org.
Jan Sykes is principal and founder of Information Management Services, Inc., an independent consultancy focused on strategic planning for information and knowledge management initiatives. She is a long-time AIIP member and served as AIIP21 Conference Chair.
