ADVISORS behind AIME’s Knowledge Monday have told the event’s content curators that though AI, automation and digital tools are rapidly reshaping operations, the most critical differentiator for 2026 remains human expertise.
Knowledge Monday opens the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, February 9-11, with organisers expecting thousands of global business events and incentives professionals to attend three days of business, learning and industry-wide collaboration.
The day of conferences and seminars is curated by AIME in conjunction with BEAMexperience founder El Kwang. This year the program centres on the theme “Expertise Matters” setting the tone for discussions on how and where Asia Pacific’s event professionals can create the most impact.
Event Director Silke Calder says the 2026 edition builds on AIME’s role as a platform where insight meets real-world application. The Knowledge Monday Advisory Committee – comprising eight senior leaders from across the region – has shaped a program designed to equip planners and suppliers with practical guidance amid accelerating industry change.
More… Why Monday Matters at AIME 2026
The committee has found a common view emerging: while AI, automation and digital tools often dominate discussions on progress, the most critical differentiator for 2026 is still human insight.
MCI Australia’s Maggie Diasinos sees purpose as the defining driver of the year ahead.
“Audiences are looking for more than just content, they want events that feel meaningful and create genuine, lasting connections,” she says.
“With so much technology at our fingertips, it is easy to forget that events are, at their core, about people. The ability to curate experiences that are purpose-driven, inclusive and spark different ways of thinking will really set us apart.”
Business Events Strategist at Think Event by Think Tank Productions Ronald Lim expects the next year to bring growing demand for strategic guidance. Clients will increasingly seek event practitioners who can translate complexity into confidence.
True expertise goes beyond creativity. It is about foresight, the ability to anticipate challenges before they surface, and design solutions that are both strategic and sustainable”
– Ronald Lim
Max Boontawee Jantasuwan, founder of Events Travel Asia Group, says cultural intelligence and commercial insight will be central to next year’s focus as clients scrutinise business outcomes more closely and seek professionals who can seamlessly combine creativity with strategy.
“It matters now more than ever because clients need partners who can help them navigate complexity, manage risk and still deliver creativity and impact,” Jantasuwan says.
The Knowledge Monday committee agrees that emerging forms of agentic AI will change the pace of event planning, but not its essence. Technology may speed up workflows and ideation, but the people behind the tools ultimately determine the impact.
Founder and Chief Amazement Officer of Sight Agency, Anna Patterson, adds: “Only human imagination can truly create emotive moments in experiences”.
Committee members are aligned on how AI should be used. They say AI tools hold the most value when they complement human expertise, freeing professionals to focus on creativity, collaboration and relationship building.
“These tools are only as good as the prompts we feed them or the data we provide,” Diasinos says. “AI should free us up to collaborate, build relationships and use that extra time to spark creative ideas that help us innovate and elevate our events.”
“AI can enhance decision making through insights and predictive analytics, but the final judgment of what resonates with an audience or aligns with a brand will always depend on human understanding,” Jantasuwan adds.
AIME organisers say this human-led approach also underpins the Melbourne show’s wider purpose. The event continues to serve as a meeting ground for ideas, a catalyst for cross-border collaboration and a space where the industry sets direction for the year ahead.
The AIME 2026 Knowledge Monday program brings together AIME Hosted Buyers and Exhibitors, while Visitor Buyers can upgrade their tickets to attend. For more information, visit aime.com.au.
