New World Events

When Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World, he painted a dystopian picture of a place void of personality, emotion and passion. Huxley was alerting us, back in the 1930s, to the dangers of technology takeover.

I wonder what Aldous would make of life today.

Are we slaves to technology? Or is it empowering us to live richer, faster, better lives than we would without it?

I’m 42, and when I was 12, I could not conceive of one day having a mobile device more powerful and functional than the computer we shared as a family. Dad’s mobile phone was the size of a briefcase and could only make calls, not even text messages.

When I was 22, I could not conceive of one day being able to watch unlimited movies on demand, without having to visit the video store, on any one of three devices that I now have in my home for less than the cost of purchasing one VHS video.

When I was 32, I could not conceive of one day working anywhere in the world for multiple clients in different countries and getting up from my desk and taking my entire infrastructure with me to the cafe at the end of the street.

Technology moves faster than we could ever have imagined, and I often struggle to keep up for one.

I remember reading recently about University graduates in Japan who completed their entire degree program using mobile phones, no laptops, no desktops. When I was at university, not everyone had a computer of their own, and you sometimes had to queue to use the public machines in the library when you wanted to print something out.

Is it sad that we no longer have bus conductors selling us tickets and supermarkets are fast becoming cashier-less, not just cashless environments? I don’t think so. I don’t know anyone that aspires to be a checkout person or collect tickets for a living to give their lives purpose or meaning.

Technology is our friend, well mine at least.

Every job I have had in my career has demonstrated the rapid evolution of technology improving our lives. Technology, I believe, is the great enabler, the great equaliser. Provided you have access. I will leave affordability and access for everyone for another day.

So why this homage to technology?

It’s an introduction to New World Events, founded by Michael Alf, with whom I am now working. We are creating digital experiences that take online conferences, meet-ups, trade shows, events, and anything else that causes or connects groups of people to a whole new world.

Let me give you some background.

In my most recent corporate role, I worked for GradConnection, the largest jobs board for early talent in Australia.

The short version of the story is that in March 2021, I led the project that partnered with Meetyoo technology and the New World Events team. Collectively, we delivered an online careers event with more than 10,000 visitors and 120+ employers over five days in partnership with more than half of Australia’s Universities. It was, by all standards, epic.

Fast forward to September 2021, and I find myself working alongside Michael and his Australian team to create virtual spaces for all numbers of use cases, audiences and communities.

Michael wrote the book on virtual events, The Virtual Summit Formula, back in 2015. He has clocked up hundreds of events for hundreds of thousands of visitors and delivered millions of hours of digital engagement.

Our solution is accessible for all as we operate browser-based digital events and spaces.

What does that mean?

All your participants, whether hosts, guests or presenters, speakers access the experience and participate through a device of their choosing through an internet browser. No need to download an app, install any software or keep up with the updates.

What do we create with clients?

• One-off events for 150+ participants
• Virtual workplaces, showrooms, learning hubs and shared spaces
• Every guest, visitor, employee, client, partner or community member in one shared place, no matter where they are in the world

Almost weekly, I attend another webinar or group session delivered through video conferencing technology and yawn. I long for an experience that provides visuals, walk-throughs, video, live-chat, networking, takeaways, group work and more. Everything you have to come to expect from an IRL (in-real-life) experience is just more efficiently navigated and easily accessed and without the terrible catering. The technology is here now.

I sit here with Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, shared docs and about half a dozen software-as-a-service platforms open to go about my everyday. Imagine if that were all packaged into an easy to navigate, fun to ‘be in’, branded virtual world - where employees, customers and other stakeholders could all interact. A Digital Home for your organisation to exist and thrive.

How do we do it?

• Strategic consulting to understand your use case and preferred structure?
• Absolute custom design of your branded space
• Dedicated global team across six countries with 24/7 support
• End-to-end management from pre-design to debrief or ongoing review
• Years of experience to guarantee best practice
• Live training of your hosts, speakers, facilitators and exhibitors

Virtual spaces, temporary or permanent, for events, organisations or communities are here to stay. The type of space you choose to create is up to you.

Digital feng shui is a thing.

We help maximise employee engagement for work-from-homers, create onboarding experiences for employees and customers that are genuinely remarkable, facilitate virtual relationships with clients, help inspire members and partners and give exhibitors next level interactions with global audiences.

As a politics student, I am inspired by Frédéric Bastiat, the Liberal French economist and writer in the 19th century who said ‘If goods don’t cross borders then armies will’. It was an argument for free trade.

If we do not attempt to disappear or at least minimise all barriers to trade and exchange of services and ideas between people, communities, cities, regions and countries, there will be conflict.

If we raise barriers to collaboration and freedom, we will harm. Barriers result in isolation; isolation gives rise to hatred, war, invasion, restriction, and permanent resentment.

In a world obsessed with connectivity and communication, choose to be brave.

We create espace sans frontieres, space without borders; virtual space opens an accessible and level playing field for sharing ideas and information and strengthening our communities and workforces.

To discuss your needs and for a demonstration of the technology, Book a Call.