Main Stage Panel Discussion
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There's real opportunity sitting inside every venue. The data a building already captures - how people move through the space, where they gather, when and where they connect - can help organisers grow attendance and revenue and give visitors a noticeably better day on the floor.
This session is about how venues and organisers can put that data to work together. Rich Harris is joined on stage by IT leads from the wider Olympia estate and Legends Global, to look at what's already possible and where it heads next. We'll use Olympia and its mixed-use setup - events, entertainment, business and hospitality under one roof - as a live example, and you'll come away with practical ways to turn your venue relationship into show growth.
Speakers
Rich has 20 years’ experience in video streaming and event production. He is the Managing Director of the multi-award-winning filming and streaming partner, First Sight Media. The company specialises in virtual, hybrid and live events and have become one of the most successful technical production providers within the UK’s event industry.
Excellent at implementing the right technology to create the perfect solution, Rich is always ahead of the game when it comes to the latest tech innovations. As an experienced production specialist, he has a proven track record of drawing out a client’s vision and delivering beyond expectations.
Ambassador for SpecialEffect, a charity that's helping everyone with disabilities to enjoy video games for fun, inclusion and rehabilitation.
Richard Harris is the Technology Director at Olympia Events, the team responsible for managing the historic event venues at Olympia, alongside the new International Convention Centre and The Addison premium lounge.
Richard leads the technology strategy for Olympia Events, ensuring that technology is directly aligned with business goals and KPIs, and acts as a key enabler for growth across sales, operations and customer experience.
His remit spans IT operations, large-scale digital transformation, cybersecurity, digital marketing, data systems and the integration of technology across customer, organiser and operational touchpoints. He brings extensive experience in senior technology leadership roles within complex, customer-facing and live environments, where reliability, scalability and performance are critical.
Prior to joining Olympia Events, Richard held senior roles across events, marketing, ticketing and sport. He was Director of Client Services at Two Circles, where he played a central role in driving significant revenue growth and helping establish the business as one of the fastest-growing sports agencies globally. Prior to this, he was Head of Ticketing, Membership and New Events at Rugby Football Union, and was part of the organising committee for the Rugby World Cup 2015. He also contributed to the London 2012 Olympic Games as Ticketing Technology Manager.
At Olympia Events, Richard is focused on delivering robust, future-ready digital infrastructure that supports world-class exhibitions, conferences and live experiences, while underpinning the venue’s ongoing evolution into a global destination for culture, entertainment and events. His work enables seamless event delivery and supports enhanced digital capabilities for organisers and visitors alike.