Digital DNA 2021...118 weeks in the making

It’s been over 2 years since Digital DNA was last in Belfast, or 118 weeks to be precise but not that I have been counting!

Digital DNA has been at the heart of the tech community in Northern Ireland since 2013. Every year, we have attracted some of the brightest minds in the tech world, to present, discuss, challenge and explore the biggest trends across the world of technology.?

At some point in time though, Digital DNA evolved into much more than a conference with a couple of speakers and a bunch of talks. People attended to meet other people, to connect with like minded individuals, reconnect with old acquaintances and to plant seeds for future business endeavours. Of course, our on stage content has always taken centre stage and that will always be the case. But it is the serendipity of those chance encounters or those thought provoking conversations that take place that make Digital DNA uniquely different.?

I have met people who attend Digital DNA with no agenda, no expectations or no goals for what they want to get out of the event. They just know that they are likely to meet someone who they either know or who they have perhaps lost contact with. They’ll stumble into a talk or discussion and leave wide eyed as they have been inspired or have heard something that will transform their thinking of what is possible.

There are also people who plan their day out, know what talks they will attend, have pre-set meetings and will soak up every minute of the event and squeeze every opportunity out of the 2-days.?

I have even watched someone organise an impromptu speed networking session during the event. Although it could have been a “meeting” to formulate a plan for a subsequent post event pub crawl. Nevertheless, I know individuals around that table have since gone on to work together and continue to help each other in their respective businesses.?

As we brought the curtain down on our last in-person event in June 2019, our biggest to date with 3,000+ people attending over 2-days, I never once thought that we would have to wait 826 days until we could open the doors again.?

As the music stopped, we knew we would have to reimagine every aspect of our business. The online experience was a necessity to keep us all connected during the darkest days of the pandemic and it has served us well. Over the past 118 weeks, we learnt new skills, re-imagined how we could deliver engaging online events for a post-covid world and we developed new ways to engage with the tech community, not just in Northern Ireland but across the world. Some of the positives we will take forward into new and existing formats as we continue to engage with our growing global community

We have delivered some amazing online experiences over the past 18 months and I am immensely proud of what the team behind DIgital DNA have been able to achieve, all while working remotely like so many others. But we knew that the online only experience of Digital DNA would not be forever. It was a technology solution to a real world situation we all lived through. It was never meant to be permanent.

This is now my 5th Digital DNA flagship event that I have had the privilege to work on and whilst the previous 4 will all hold special memories for me, this one has taken on extra importance for me. Digital DNA was one of the first events to postpone and later cancel in-person events back in March 2020. But we are now one of the first major events back in-person and it is not a responsibility we have taken lightly.

Digital DNA 2021 will be every bit as vibrant as previous years. We have worked hard to put together an event that encompasses the passion and talent of the tech industry in Northern Ireland. And with over 120 speakers featuring in more than 80 talks, I know there will be something for everyone. We have space for informal networking, areas to chill out and catch up on work emails (or take that urgent zoom call) and of course, it wouldn't be St Georges Market without some legendary local food stalls and top drawer coffee from our friends at Drop Hopper Coffee!

From talks exploring AI, Cyber security and Digital Marketing. And with the surge in online shopping, we have several talks around best practices in ecommerce including some special guests on Wednesday who will be looking at the data behind ecommerce.

But one of the most satisfying aspects of putting this years event together has been our new initiative that has created opportunities for people who wouldn't normally take part in Digital DNA, to take to the stage and share their story and ides.

One talk that has really captured the spirit of this initiative is from VIEWdigital, who will be discussing the challenges of Digital Inclusion and will feature people representing the elderly, rural and deaf community. And it is great that this session will also feature a BSL interpreter, something we are actively looking at for future events.

I know people will be looking on as we embark on a post covid recovery and take the first tentative steps on the road back to normality. Yes, Digital DNA 2021 will not have as many attendees as previous years and I am totally fine with that and yes, it will have a few more restrictions such as face masks and social distancing but I know the return of the in-person experience will be a welcome one for all those who attend.

I have no doubt that over the 2-days the serendipity will return, impromptu meetings will happen, thought provoking conversations will take place,?old acquaintances will reconnect and new ideas will be exchanged. It those very interactions that are in our DNA!