Historian of the present, Sunday Times best-selling author and internationally recognised speaker Dr Eliza Filby will take to the stage at IBTM World this November, bringing her distinctive perspective on the social, economic, technological and generational shifts transforming modern life.
Filby will open IBTM World on Tuesday 17 November at 09:00 with her keynote, ‘Now and Next: Understanding People in a Changing World’, exploring how profound disruption is changing who we are, how we connect and what we expect from the world around us.
From geopolitical and economic uncertainty to AI, demographic change and shifting generational expectations, Filby will explore where change is being felt and what today’s shifts can tell us about the audiences of tomorrow. The session will give IBTM World audiences a broader perspective on the forces influencing behaviour, connection and the audience of tomorrow.
She is the author of three books, including Inheritocracy: It’s Time to Talk About the Bank of Mum and Dad, which examines how family wealth and inheritance are reshaping opportunity and the experience of adulthood. Filby is also the founder of All Relative, through which she works with organisations around the world navigating major shifts in work, wealth and society. Her clients and collaborators have included Google, PwC, UBS, Pictet and Aviva, with her work spanning generational change, AI and the future of work, longevity, family wealth and changing consumer behaviour.
She holds a PhD in contemporary history from the University of Warwick and has taught at King’s College London and Renmin University in Beijing. She has lectured internationally, including at Harvard Law School and writes a fortnightly money column for The Times.
Claudia Hall, Exhibition Director, IBTM World, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Dr Eliza Filby to IBTM World as our opening keynote speaker. Dr Eliza has a fantastic ability to make sense of the big changes happening in society and explain what they mean for people and businesses. At a time when our industry is adapting to rapid technological change and shifting expectations, her perspective will give our audience a chance to step back and look at the bigger picture.”
Dr Filby added: “As technology becomes more embedded in our lives, the value of bringing people together will only grow. Events create something profoundly human: the chance to meet, exchange ideas, build trust and belong. I’m delighted to be opening IBTM World and exploring what human connection will mean for the generations coming next.”
Dr Filby will be joined by a strong line-up of speakers on the IBTM Main Stage. Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw LVO will draw on his experience in the planning and delivery of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, one of the most-watched events in history. His session will explore what it takes to deliver in moments where failure is not an option, and the lessons that can be applied to the world of business and events.
Megan Henshall, Head of Partnership Strategy, Workplace Experience at Google, will join Al Turner, Managing Director of Eight PR and Marketing, to explore the findings of this year’s IBTM Trends Report, Disruption to Belonging in the New World of Experience. Drawing on her work at the intersection of design, human needs and organisational performance, Henshall will explore how experiences can support people through change and create meaningful connections, as the session examines disruption spanning AI, global economies and changing populations.
Therapist and DJ Hesta Prynn will offer a more interactive perspective, exploring the role music can play in helping people feel more confident and prepared before an important moment.
More than 12,000 event professionals and 2,500 exhibitors are expected at IBTM World 2026, bringing together industry-leading global brands and senior event professionals with Event Tech & Services, creative and experiential partners, next-gen innovators and world-class hospitality for three days of meetings, knowledge sharing and business connections.
