IBC announces headline speakers and provides Schiphol update

Speakers at last year’s IBC conference

IBC has announced its first headline speakers for this year’s show, with content at the Amsterdam event divided into three ‘pillars’: Transformative Tech, Shifting Business Models and People and Purpose.

During a press briefing today (5 July), IBC chief executive Michael Crimp gave an update on the conference and exhibition and spoke about last year’s travel chaos at Schiphol Airport – and what IBC is doing to try to avoid a repeat this year.

Crimp said: “We are actively listening to our community on what they want out of a modern trade show. Among the things they are telling us they want are new topics and new ways of learning – and our content pillars give us the scope to provide these. They form a compelling thread that runs through the talks, presentations and panels going on at the conference and at show-floor venues across the RAI.

“They create a clear focus for an exciting slate of visionary speakers to address the most pressing trends, issues, opportunities and challenges in media and entertainment today.”

Content programme
The IBC Conference will run on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 September and will be a paid-for event that will focus on ‘Transformative Tech’ and ‘Shifting Business Models’.

IBC said the conference will explore core trends and technologies shaping the future of media and entertainment. It will open with an address by ‘Media Universe Cartographer’ Evan Shapiro, an industry commentator and producer who maps media and entertainment trends and future developments. Shapiro will lead a session entitled ‘Plotting the effects of disruption: Charting the new media ecosystem’.

Other confirmed headline IBC Conference speakers include:

• Aditi Pandey, Head of Vendor Management & Partnerships at NRK
• Allu Venkatesh (Allu Bobby), Actor, Film Producer and Entrepreneur at aha, Just Tickets
• Anthony Guarino, Executive Vice President, Global Production & Studio Technology at Paramount
• Bill Baggelaar, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, Technology Development at Sony Pictures Entertainment
• Kishore AK, President Technology and Chief Technology Officer at Zee
• Leah Hooper Rosa, Senior Vice President, EMEA Streaming and Global Integration Lead at Warner Bros. Discovery
• Michael Wise, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Universal Pictures
• Natalya Tatarchuk, Distinguished Technical Fellow and Chief Architect, Vice President, Wētā Tools at Unity Technologies
• Phil Wiser, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Paramount Global
• Richard Berger, Chief Executive Officer at MovieLabs
• Ralph Lee, Chief Executive Officer at BBC Studios Productions
• Valerio Motti, Vice President FAST Channels at Fremantle

The free IBC Changemakers Programme, which will take place on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 September, will provide a platform for “trailblazing organisations, individuals and initiatives that are changing the industry culture and pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology”.

They will address topics such as gender equality in broadcasting, advancing sustainability, and inclusive tech. Groups involved in Changemakers include RISE, Soho Media Club, Women in Immersive Tech, and Albert. The IBC Social Impact Awards will also be part of the Changemakers Programme.

Akwasi Ansah, Founder and Creative Director, Omroep ZWART – the first inclusive TV broadcasting station in The Netherlands – will give the keynote for the Changemakers sessions, sharing his personal story and vision for a digital-first landscape that is equitable, inclusive and accessible. Other Changemakers speakers include:

• Alexandra Hussenot, Chief Executive Officer, Immersionn, and UK Lead at Women in Immersive Technologies
• Jabbar Sardar, Global HR Director at BBC Studios
• Paul Pastor, Chief Business Officer and Co-Founderat Quickplay
• Sasha Scott, Head of Transformation Services at EBU

IBC head of content Jaisica Lapsiwala said: “At IBC2023, we want to play our role in driving positive change across the media, entertainment and technology community.

“The Changemakers sessions enable the IBC community to learn from people who are pioneering best practice in these areas. Through all the content running across IBC 2023, we aim to deliver insights and energise the market – sparking conversations, shifting perceptions and changing expectations.”

In addition, show-floor venues around the exhibition halls will include the Showcase Theatre in Hall 12, the Innovation Stage in Hall in Hall 3 and two theatres in the Content Everywhere area in Hall 5.

Showcase Theatre sponsors include Accenture, AWS, Google, Microsoft, and Zixi, while LTN and Tencent are each sponsoring one of the Content Everywhere theatres. As well as hosting thought leadership sessions, the Innovation Stage will showcase the results of the IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme, which brings together pioneering media companies and leading-edge technology partners as they collaborate to solve real-world challenges and drive advances across a range of areas.

Schiphol update
In a bid to ease concerns about a repeat of the chaos endured by many who departed Amsterdam via Schiphol last year, Crimp said IBC had been in talks with the airport.

Crimp described the lengthy queues through security and cancelled flights in 2022 as “basically a meltdown on the worst possible day for us”.

“To put it into context, IBC went to Amsterdam in 1992 because of the incredible hub that Schiphol was for many years. Post-pandemic, it seems they took their eye off the ball, let a lot of skilled staff go and didn’t replace them, along with labour relation issues which we’ve seen elsewhere.

“We’re having conversations with them and asking them to make a statement with some reassurances. They have made some investments and there has been an inquiry to look at the situation, because clearly it wasn’t just those attending IBC who were affected, it was holidaymakers too.

“[Schiphol] seems to be back on its feet and it looks like it should be ok – we are waiting for them to tell us that. From our point of view, we are pushing them hard because it’s a great airport and very accessible to the venue. It was pretty terrible last year, but they have confidence that the changes they have made – including a new CEO – have put them back on their feet. When they make a statement, we will share it with you so we know where we are. We can’t give any guarantees, but we think they are heading in the right direction.”

IBC 2023 will take place at the RAI, Amsterdam Friday 15 to Monday 18 September. To register, click here.