ORGANISERS of the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) have revealed the 2026 Knowledge Monday theme along with members of the updated Advisory Committee tasked with shaping the event’s learning platform.
Knowledge Monday’s theme of Expertise Matters spotlights the credibility and strategic importance of the business events industry, according to a spokesperson for AIME.
The theme champions professionals who use their expertise to recognise patterns before problems arise. This way they are able to navigate complexity with composure with the purpose of uniting people.
Building on the success of 2025’s We Matter! theme, which focused on self-acknowledgement and self-leadership, Expertise Matters continues the conversation by elevating the role of industry expertise in driving progress, creating impact, and transforming how people connect and grow.
Curated by BEAMexperience founder El Kwang, Knowledge Monday is being planned AIME’s opening day on February 9, featuring keynote speakers, thought leaders and industry innovators ready to inspire more than 1,500 global event professionals.
More… AIME opens 2026 hosted-buyer spots
Kwang said the new theme was a “natural evolution of the journey begun in 2025”.
“The success of ‘We Matter!’ in 2025 laid the essential groundwork. With ‘Expertise Matters!’ we evolve the conversation because, in the age of AI, being deeply human has never been more relevant. What sets our industry apart is not just what we know, but how we express and apply that expertise,” Kwang said.
Guiding the development of the topics and speaker line-up is the Knowledge Monday Advisory Committee, made up of eight leaders from across the Asia Pacific business events industry. The committee works together to ensure the programme sparks interest, stirs debate and engages all areas of the sector.
The 2026 Advisory Committee comprises:
– Anna Patterson, founder, Sight Agency– Ashleigh Cooper, events manager, Charter Hall
– Maggie Diasinos, account director, MCI Australia
– Max Jantasuwan, founder and CEO, Events Travel Asia Group
– Ronald Lim, business events strategist, Think Event by Think Tank Productions
– Sarah Markey-Hamm, CEO, ICMS
– Denise Sorrell, director of events, Australian Dental Industry Association
– Felicity Zadro, founder and managing director, Zadro
AIME show director Silke Calder said the theme underscored the vital role of expertise in shaping the industry’s future.
“At AIME, our mission is to provide a platform that reflects the credibility and confidence of our industry, bringing together the best minds, the most innovative ideas, and the leaders who are redefining what’s possible,” Calder said.
“With the guidance of El Kwang and BEAMexperience, and the dedication of our esteemed Advisory Committee, we are able to shape a Knowledge Monday programme that truly reflects the strength and insight of our industry. ‘Expertise Matters!’ highlights the knowledge and insight that drive meaningful outcomes for businesses and communities worldwide.
“Knowledge Monday in 2026 will empower our attendees to step forward as leaders, confident in the impact they create.”
Backgrounder… Meet AIMEbassador El Kwang
Knowledge Monday will be attended by hosted buyers, hosted media and exhibitors, while visitor buyers may purchase a ticket upgrade to attend.
AIME 2026 is scheduled to take place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, February 9-11, 2026.
Talk2Media & Events, which manages AIME on behalf of owners Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Bureau, said the 2026 edition would be the show’s biggest edition yet delivered by Calder and her team. Talk2 Media said AIME 2026 would span 11 bays and host more than 700 exhibitors, 700 hosted buyers, and over 20,000 pre-scheduled appointments.
The trade show floor, open on days two and three, is where business happens, featuring pre-scheduled appointments, networking opportunities and experiential showcases from across the global events sector.
Main picture… Knowledge Monday curator El Kwang, left with Silke Calder of AIME event managers Talk2 Media & Events
