The Conference Collective Podcast Series 5
Welcome to the ‘The Conference Collective’ Podcast, celebrating the best in innovation and leadership from those who are creating a positive change in the business events industry. A podcast brought to you by the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc. and hosted by Libbie Ray from Connected Event Group. This podcast provides listeners with behind the scenes access to some of the key innovators in our industry as they share their honest and raw insights. It highlights how collaboration, innovation and resilience are at the core of the events industry and the reasons we have managed to survive through the most challenging time our industry has faced. Get ready to learn more about the brave new world of the business events industry.
This season of ‘The Conference Collective’ Podcast was primarily recorded live at the PCOA25 conference, in Connected Event Group’s portable recording studio. We will be back recording new episodes at PCOA26, so please reach out to The PCOA if you are interested in starring as a guest for next season!
Episode 2
How The Creator Economy Is Reshaping Events with Brooke Howard-Smith
Together they explore how AI, the creator economy and changing audience behaviour are transforming the business events industry. Brooke shares why conferences should think like media companies, how empowering delegate-creators can outperform traditional production models, and why “always-on” content is becoming essential for event growth.
The conversation moves from big-picture tech shifts to practical actions event organisers can take now, from lowering barriers to content creation to building advocacy and trust in an attention-scarce world. Expect equal parts optimism, realism and actionable insight for anyone navigating rapid change in events, marketing or business.
About Brooke Howard-Smith
Brooke Howard-Smith is a futurist and entrepreneur with a decade leading ventures in AI, extended reality, and the creator economy. A former X Games medallist and TV presenter, he co-founded global brand Senate, talent agency WeAreTENZING, and Non Fungible Labs/Futureverse, the first Māori-founded tech unicorn. He has led major New Zealand fundraisers, including work that helped find a cure for Batten’s disease, and now fronts projects like NZCreatorCon and NZRenoTok, following his appearance on The Traitors in 2023.
Brooke’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookehowardsmith/
NZCreatorCon: https://nzcreatorcon.com/
Thank you to our webinar and podcast partner for 2026 – Connected Event Group