EventsAir Innovation Awards

Whether it's a unique event design, a clever use of technology, or an inspiring engagement strategy, the Innovation Awards are our opportunity to showcase the incredible work being done by event planners around the world.

What are the EventsAir Innovation Awards?

The EventsAir Innovation Awards are a prestigious recognition program that celebrates outstanding achievements within the EventsAir community.

This is our chance to shine the spotlight on our incredible customers taking innovative steps towards originality and pushing the boundaries of what's possible using the EventsAir platform.

The Awards are FREE to enter and open to all customers globally.

Winners receiving EventsAir Innovation Awards trophies at a sponsor media wall

Who should enter?

The Awards are open to all EventsAir customers, regardless of event size, industry, or location.

You should consider entering if:

You’ve used EventsAir to solve a unique challenge in event planning or delivery.
You’ve created an engaging, original attendee experience through the platform.
You’ve implemented a process, feature, or integration in a way that stands out from the norm.
You’re proud of your team’s innovation and want to share your success story.
Event attendees using phones beside a gamification points panel and live poll results

What will the award winners receive?

Winning an EventsAir Innovation Award comes with more than just prestige — it opens doors to meaningful rewards that support your continued growth in the events industry.

Professional Development

Thanks to our Innovation Awards Partner, Best Use of Tech (APAC) and Innovator of the Year (APAC and EMEA) will receive a complimentary ticket to attend a major PD event in their region.
Role

Complimentary AirTime Ticket

Winners will receive a complimentary ticket to any AirTime 2027 conference location of their choice (travel and accommodation not included).
Role

AirTime Speaker Spotlight

Winners may be invited to share their journey as a featured speaker at AirTime.
Role

Submissions Open

20 July 2026
Role

Submissions Close

31 August 2026
Role

Winners Announced

At AirTime 2026
Role

2026 Innovation Award Categories

The EventsAir Innovation Awards feature multiple award categories designed to recognize a wide range of achievements and innovations. Each category highlights a different aspect of event planning and delivery, allowing participants to showcase their strengths and creativity in the areas that matter most to them.

Innovator of the Year

Awarded to an individual or team that has pushed the boundaries of event management with groundbreaking ideas and creative applications of EventsAir.
Role

Event of the Year

Event of the Year recognises an outstanding event delivered on the EventsAir platform that sets new benchmarks for innovation, execution, and impact while delivering exceptional attendee experiences and measurable success.
Role

EventsAir Rising Star

Celebrating emerging talent, this award highlights a newcomer who has demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, and adoption of EventsAir.
Role

Best Use of Tech

This category recognizes the most innovative and effective use of technology within EventsAir, demonstrating how smart solutions can elevate event success.
Role

EventsAir Hall of Fame

Honoring an individual who has made a lasting impact on their organization and the wider events industry through outstanding use and advocacy of EventsAir, inspiring others and setting the standard for excellence.
Role

View our official 2026 Innovation Awards judging criteria HERE

Meet our judging panel

Meet the experts behind the judging process. Our panel brings together industry leaders and innovators with a wealth of experience across events, technology, and creativity. All carefully selected to recognize excellence and celebrate outstanding achievements.

2026 EventsAir Innovation Awards judging panel includes:

Portrait of Justine Stewart wearing an EventsAir branded shirt

Justine Stewart

Head of Education
EventsAir

Head of Education
Portrait of Megan Crum wearing glasses and a dark blazer

Megan Crum

General Manager
PCOA

General Manager
Headshot of Charlotte Cailleaux

Charlotte Cailleaux

Global Engagement Manager
EventsAir

Head of Marketing
Portrait of Michael Lockett with a beard and glasses

Michael Lockett

Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Symbiometry

Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Portrait of Paul Trappett wearing an EventsAir branded shirt

Paul Trappett

Chief Executive Officer
EventsAir

Chief Executive Officer
Portrait of Renee Elliot wearing glasses and an EventsAir branded shirt

Renee Elliot

Vice President of Product
EventsAir

Vice President of Product
Portrait of Mehdi Khalili wearing glasses and a checked shirt

Mehdi Khalili

Chief Technology Officer
EventsAir

Chief Technology Officer
Portrait of Sharifah Yasmin Rafidah Wafa

Sharifah Yasmin Rafidah Wafa

Senior Executive
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Senior Executive

Innovation in action: Meet our past winners 🏆

The EventsAir Innovation Awards celebrate the creators behind unforgettable events – those who embrace technology, push creative boundaries, and deliver exceptional attendee experiences. These past winners show what’s possible when expertise meets innovation.

2025 HALL OF FAME AWARD RECIPIENT

Franck Grosset

With over 20 years of experience working with EventsAir, Franck Grosset is Head of PCO and Innovation Hub at Kuoni Tumlare Congress, where he has driven the delivery of hundreds of global congresses. His work has supported over 77,000 delegate registrations and enabled seamless transitions across in-person and virtual events.

A respected leader in event technology, Franck’s strengths include innovation, system integration, and process optimisation. Through the creation of an Innovation Hub, he has championed practical, scalable solutions that reduce complexity, improve efficiency, and enhance the delegate experience.

Franck is passionate about advancing the events industry through technology, continuously exploring new ways to deliver smarter, more impactful event experiences.

Kuoni Tumlare logo with photos of award winner Franck Grosset and event networking moments

2025 APAC INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Stewart Wang

With a strong focus on innovation and problem-solving, Stewart is a Junior Software Engineer at Open Law, where he has expanded the capabilities of EventsAir through advanced system integration. He developed a bi-directional sync between Supabase and EventsAir, enabling seamless, real-time data management across platforms.

A technically skilled innovator, Stewart’s strengths include data integration, automation, and platform optimisation. His work has eliminated data silos, improved accuracy, and significantly enhanced operational efficiency.

OpenLaw logo with conference audience, planning session and headshot of award winner Michael Lockett

2025 EMEA INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Michael Lockett

With extensive experience in event technology, Michael “Milo” Lockett is Founder and CTO of Symbiometry, a UK-based consultancy specialising in optimising event experiences within EventsAir. He leads the design of registration journeys, abstract systems, and evaluation platforms for large-scale congresses.

A highly skilled technical innovator, Milo’s strengths include UX design, platform optimisation, accessibility, and data quality. His work transforms complex workflows into seamless, intuitive experiences that improve engagement and efficiency.

Milo is passionate about delivering scalable, impactful solutions that elevate both delegate experience and event outcomes.

Symbiometry logo with photos of an AV technician, printed name badges and a team member

2025 APAC BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY AWARD WINNER

Sharifah Yasmin Rafidah Wafa

With a strong focus on innovation and efficiency, Sharifah is Senior Executive of Event, Conference & Visit Management at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, where she has transformed how EventsAir is used across conferences and campus-wide events.

A strategic and creative thinker, Yasmin’s strengths include process optimisation, automation, and engagement design. From cost-saving badge solutions to gamification and post-event automation, her work has improved efficiency, reduced costs, and elevated the event experience.

Yasmin is passionate about using technology to solve real-world challenges, building sustainable, high-impact systems that benefit both her institution and the wider events community.

Universiti Teknologi Petronas logo with conference registration desk, sessions and award recipient portrait

2025 EMEA BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY AWARD WINNER

Mondial Congress Project Team FELASA

The Mondial Congress Project Team FELASA has been delivering large-scale congresses and seamless attendee experiences with EventsAir since 2015, leveraging the platform’s extensive functionality to support complex registration, accommodation, workshops, networking, and onsite engagement requirements.

A highly experienced and innovative team, Project Team FELASA continually pushes the boundaries of event technology through advanced automation, OpenAPI integrations, and creative problem-solving. Their work has enabled seamless connectivity with external apps, intelligent networking features, workshop management with dynamic waitlists, and multi-layered onsite access control across live, virtual, and hybrid experiences.

By combining flexibility, technical expertise, and a strong focus on attendee experience, the team continues to deliver scalable, data-driven event solutions that enhance engagement, streamline operations, and support ongoing event innovation.

Mondial logo with FELASA congress registration desk, badge printing and badge scanning photos

2025 APAC RISING STAR AWARD WINNER

Renae Hobson

In just two years, Renae Hobson from Speech Pathology Australia has grown into a key member of her team as a Conference & Events Coordinator, using EventsAir to transform registration and delegate experiences. She approaches every build with creativity and precision, leveraging automation, conditional logic, and dynamic content to streamline complex processes.

A proactive and thoughtful rising talent, Renae’s strengths include personalisation, process improvement, and operational efficiency. She has developed reusable templates, enhanced volunteer coordination, and evolved gamification strategies to drive stronger engagement.

Renae is passionate about continuously improving how events are delivered, bringing both innovation and energy to every experience she creates.

Speech Pathology Australia logo with conference photos and headshot of award winner Renae Hobson

2025 EMEA RISING STAR AWARD WINNER

Alexandra Samara

With a strong track record of innovation in event delivery, Alexandra from Austropa Interconvention has consistently leveraged EventsAir to streamline complex processes and enhance the participant experience. She has led improvements across registration, accommodation, and invoicing, including the successful automation of badge production for large-scale events.

A proactive and solutions-focused professional, Alexandra’s strengths include process optimisation, automation, and large-scale event delivery. Her work has improved operational efficiency, reduced manual workload, and supported events with over 3,000 participants.

Alexandra is passionate about using technology to drive smarter workflows and deliver seamless, high-quality experiences for both organisers and attendees.

Austropa Interconvention logo with conference audience photos and headshot of award winner Alexandra Samara

Previous Years Winners

These winners represent outstanding achievements across all categories, showcasing innovation, expertise, and excellence in event management worldwide.
ERA Congresses and Events logo
F.A.Z. Business Media logo
Global Events logo
PNG CORE, Papua New Guinea Chamber of Resources and Energy, logo
The University of Queensland logo
Wallfly logo

See our award winners, at AirTime!

Be in the room when we announce our 2026 Innovation Award winners at one of our AirTime locations this year.