Meet the Jury of Conventa Best Event Award 2024

Read our interviews with jury members of Conventa Best Event Award 2024

Conventa Best Event Award is among a handful of award competitions in the meetings industry where an expert jury ensures transparency, credibility and fair evaluation of all projects. We chatted with the international ensemble of industry professionals who will select the winners at this year’s Conventa Crossover festival between 9 and 10 September 2024.

We spoke to jury members who shared their thoughts on the most important event criteria, selecting winners and the role of event competitions.

Jens Oliver Mayer: “CBEA is a prestigious recognition with a European reach”

Jens Oliver Mayer defined Conventa BEA as an “award competition blending the warmth of a family reunion with the charm of one of Europe’s most beautiful locations. Despite its intimate feel, it stands as one of the most significant awards in the events industry.”

Ivo. J Franschitz: “CBEA creates public awareness of the LiveCom sector”

Ivo J. Franschitz agreed that setting the benchmark and showcasing the sector’s best practices in Europe are the main objectives of Conevnta BEA. He highlighted that the most important criterion when evaluating projects is “delivering the best fitting solution and answer to the three key questions: The Why, the How and the What.”

Patrick M. Delaney: “Event competitions provide a benchmark for the best”

Patrick M. Delaney summed up the role of European event competitions as a place for “celebrating brilliance, setting the benchmark against the best, sharing results, motivating your team, the rest of the industry and other practitioners.”

Boris Kovaček: “CBEA’s mission is to push the limit in our industry”

Boris Kovaček from Pepermint believes that the most important criterion when evaluating projects is realising the goal. “Different projects have different goals, so the criterion is to achieve set goals. Sometimes it is the profit or promotion, and other times something else. We must set up a goal for the project and evaluate it according to this.”

Aleksandra Cichecka: “Unique events are characterised by flawless execution”

Aleksandra Cichecka believes the most important part of a project is its idea and “how consistently it is presented throughout. It should engage the attendees and ensure everything fits together seamlessly.” That, combined with flawless execution, attention to detail, and high-quality production, creates event gems that Conventa BEA is looking for.

José G. Aguarod: “Event competitions are great tools to ignite talent”

Jose G. Aguarod discussed the make-or-break point. “The most important criterion is the level of achievement of the goals set at the start of the event planning process. This is a go/no-go point. If it is then done with creativity, simplicity, elegance, wit or smartness, then we start touching excellence!” The goal of the project should align with its audience, according to him.

Pigalle Tavakkoli: “Winners must wholly understand their target audience”

According to Pigalle Tavakkoli, founder of the School of Experience Design, event organisers must “demonstrate a deep understanding of their target audience.” This is the only way to “develop projects and campaigns which connect meaningfully for long-lasting impact.”

Kim Myhre: “Event competitions deliver value while inspiring others in the industry”

“The role of European event competitions is to recognize and celebrate events that are embracing change, creating innovation, and delivering value while inspiring others in the industry,” says Kim Myhre. The founder of Experience Designed follows the same principles in his professional life – inspiring new, diverse talent, embracing change and driving innovation.

Jan-Jaap in der Maur: “If you don’t know why you’re organising, don’t do it”

Jan-Jaap in der Maur underlined the importance of having a vision when it comes to organising events. “Too many meetings and events are purposeless and therefore useless.” The purpose must be, according to Jan-Jaap in der Maur, bigger than the damage the event does to the environment.

Manuela Šola: “The best ideas are usually the smart and simple ones”

Manuela Šola views event competitions as benchmarks for the best. “The role of European event competitions is to establish benchmarks and share best practices that others in the industry can aspire to. It is a good platform to recognise talents from all over Europe, foster innovation, and encourage high standards and continuous improvement within the event industry.”

Angeles Moreno: “European event competitions foster a culture of excellence”

Angeles Moreno highlights that events aren’t only innovative and unforgettable experiences. “The award seeks to acknowledge events that create a triple positive impact: environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic growth. Excellence in event management is multifaceted, encompassing creativity, impact, flawless execution, and audience engagement.”

Maarten Schram: “CBEA showcases the best (pan)European works to the world”

Maarten Schram from LiveCom Alliance views the Conventa Best Event Award as a celebration of Europe’s finest works – displaying their uniqueness and creativity on the world stage. It’s also about “showcasing the unique craftsmanship of creating effective live experiences and connecting people live.”

Anja Garbajs: “It’s about recognising the pioneers who dared to dream bigger”

Anja Garbajs believes the important events are those that “make a tangible difference in the world – events that don’t just shine for a night but set a benchmark for what’s possible in our industry’s future. Excellence in innovation, impact, and sustainability—those are the hallmarks we’re looking for.”

Inese Lukaševska: “Conventa Best Event Award can become an ambassador for creativity”

Inese Lukaševska summed up the essence of Conventa Best Event Awards. She said that they “choose special occasions, not events. It doesn’t matter if they are small, big, with impressive budgets or minimal. We choose projects that surprise us with creativity and strategic vision; projects that have achieved significant and, last but not least, demonstrable results.” She believes the competition can become the ambassador for creativity in Europe.

To learn more about Conventa Best Event Award click here.