ThinkTank UK promises to address and analyse the latest challenges and changes facing the industry, focusing on how best our clients can take advantage of the latest trends, data and tools to ensure the longevity of their affiliate activities.
There will be a variety of content covering a range of topics throughout the day. Using the wealth of data available to Awin, our speakers will be using their own insights and experience from their daily contact with clients, our speakers are well equipped to ensure you get the most out the day's sessions.
Morning
09:00 - 10:30: Arrival, registration and opening session
Awin will be welcoming guests from 09:00, giving clients and staff enough time to have some breakfast, network and visit our exhibitors. At 10:00, guests will be invited into the main auditorium where they will meet the day's host, Edward Chaput de Saintonge, Product Marketing Manager at Awin.
Ed will welcome guests before introducing Ian Charlesworth, UK Country Manager at Awin, to the stage for the opening session. Presenting his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, Ian will set the tone and theme of the day; Future-proofing.
10:30 - 11:00: Guest keynote
Next up, at 10:30, our guest keynote will take to the stage. Joe Twyman, Co-Founder and Director at Deltapoll, previously Head of Political and Social Research at YouGov, will present 'Brexit: a case-study in consumer behaviour in the digital era'. Set against the backdrop of Westminster, what better way to take a deep-dive into the changing habits of consumers than to look at the increasingly differing public opinions of late.
The world of political polling has gone through substantial changes over the last fifty years. New technology has brought new opportunities as well as new challenges when it comes to better understanding the opinions, beliefs and behaviours of different people, from voters in the electorate to the buyers of a particular product of service. Using the small matter of Britain’s exit from the European Union as an example, Joe will show how political polling has adapted and the lessons that could be prove useful to anyone who wishes to understand their customers better – both now and in the future.
After Joe's session, guests will have time to grab a coffee, say hello to our sponsors and discuss the findings of the morning's two sessions before content kicks off again at 11:30.
11:30 - 12:30: Main stage sessions resume
Next up, Awin Product Manager, Mihaela Draghici will discuss 'Future-proofing your affiliate activity'. This 30 minute talk will cover some of the challenges that affiliate marketing and digital advertising currently face and how Awin is responding to them.
Following Mihaela's session, we welcome Carina Toledo, Influencer Partnerships Manager, back to the conference stage. Carina who spoke at last year's The Affiliate Code, will be joined by Kate Irvine, Commercial Contracts Manager at Awin. Together, they will question 'Authenticity as the path to longevity in influencer marketing', examining what made audiences flock to influencer marketing and how brands can sustain long-term success in this new media space.
With plenty of food for thought provided in the morning sessions, guests will break for lunch at 12:30.
Afternoon
13:45 - 14:15: Breakout Stream One
To ensure that we cater the best we can to the wide variety of advertisers and publishers in attendance, all of whom represent different sectors, the afternoon will be formed of optional breakout sessions, with guests choosing to hear what matters to them most. In the first stream, starting promptly at 13:45, the Telecoms, Retail and Travel sectors will be under the spotlight.
Returning to stage after speaking at last year's event, Alex Parmer-Yee, Account Director at Awin, will be joined by Marthe Berlin, Account Director, as the duo take a fresh approach to the Telecoms sector with their talk entitled 'You used to call me on my cell phone'. Consumers have changed the way they utilise their mobile phones and their home connections. Alex and Marthe will ask if brands have adapted to the constant beat of progress? Or if the channel is still used purely to push low prices, high speeds and data limits? This talk looks at how telecoms advertisers and publishers can ensure consumers are able to differentiate more on quality and really sell the benefits of all that “hotline bling”.
If Telecoms isn't your thing, then you will also have the choice to listen to Lee Metters and Amy Hadley, both Account Directors at Awin, for the 'Retail Reimagined' session. This session will be an analysis of the history-making challenges to and shifts within the Retail sector that have characterised this space over the last year; covering the unavoidable topics of the dying high street and increase in consumers’ growing thirst for ‘right now’ convenience. The pair will ask if convenience is killing the high street and examine how these outside trends have translated into our channel.
Lastly, the Travel sector will be explored by Awin Team Leader's Luisa Richardson and Ben Leach as they present '"Are we nearly there yet?' How data and personalisation is revolutionising the travel industry". In an age where data and personalisation is at its highest usage within the marketing space, Luisa and Ben will look into how this has changed the Travel sector, creating & shaping urgency with consumer behaviour. They take a deep-dive into the vertical, from hotels and flights to package holidays, to show examples of how brands have used data to personalise and tailor their audiences to purchase.
14:50 - 15:20: Breakout Stream Two
After a chance to say hello to our sponsors, grab another coffee and quickly change rooms, our second breakout stream will kick off at 14:50 with the penultimate sessions of the day.
Guests will have a chance to meet members of our Global team; Stephen Buxton, Head of Global Account Management, Laura Blakeborough, Account Director and returning speaker Katherine Casey, Account Director during the Globalisation session. The team will provide regional insights in 'Around the world in 30 mins; a whistle stop tour of Awin Global', which will be followed by a Q&A based on client case studies.
At the same, Global Content Analyst, Rob Davinson will be hosting an Interactive Quiz. Compete with fellow attendees at our light-hearted industry-themed quiz which will put your affiliate knowledge to the test. Using the interactive quiz platform Kahoot, players will use their smartphones to take part, with the winner taking home the grand prize. Tickets to PI LIVE and the Awin Black Tie are on offer, as well as much more.
The third session in this stream will be delivered by one of our partners. Details are to be confirmed so make sure to stay tuned for updates over the coming weeks.
15:30- 16:00: Closing chat with The Awin Board
The concluding session will feature a panel discussion between Mark Walters, CEO, Adam Ross, COO, Peter Loveday, CTO and Ian Charlesworth, UK Country Manager. The Board and Ian will address some of the most popular and prevelant issues raised throughout the day, providing their thoughts on the current state of the affiliate marketing industry and their hopes for the direction of Awin over the coming years. Audience participation is encouraged as we aim to foster a transparent and educative discussion that will benefit both our clients and the network.
16:00 - 17:00: Networking Drinks
As ThinkTank UK draws to a close, guests will have a chance to grab a drink and consider the day's findings in a relaxed atmosphere.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the event on Thursday 13th June. If you haven't already registered you can do so now for free here.
Keep updated on the event by following #ThinkTankUK across our social channels.
Thank you to our sponsors Soreto, Performance IN / PI LIVE, Affiliate Summit Europe and RevLifter. For sponsorship enquiries please contact our Events Team.
