In collaboration with the Cambridge Union Society, the Alliance of Independent Event Agencies are delighted to present the 4th edition of the Industry Great Debate.

This year's debate will take place on Thursday 15th January 2026 in the famous Cambridge Union Chamber. The motion before the house is ‘This house believes the integrity of familiarisation trips is being compromised.’

Tickets are FREE but we do ask you register here so we can keep an eye on numbers. The evening will start with a drinks reception before we move to the Chamber for the debate. At the end of the debate, we will 'vote with our feet' and make our way back to the bar for drinks and to await the results.

To find out more about the debate and how you can get involved, please sign up here or speak to one of the committee:

Sabine ([email protected])
Kerry ([email protected])
Emma ([email protected])
Katherine ([email protected])
Joe Burman ([email protected])

For any questions regarding the Cambridge Union Society (including how to book the venue for your next event) please speak to:
John ([email protected])
Bart ([email protected])
Ben ([email protected])

Guests are invited to attend a pre-debate drinks in the Keynes Library at 18h30. A chance to catch up and mingle before we move downstairs to take our seats in the Chamber at 19h15.

The debate will begin at 19h30. Please see information below about how we debate.

Following the debate we gather in the Orator bar for drinks and networking.

Events Agents are invited to apply for complimentary overnight accommodation kindly provided by our debate sponsors. Please indicate on your registration if you'd like to stay in Cambridge. Do note that accommodation is not guaranteed and not confirmed until you have received confirmation in writing from us as we have limited rooms available.

We also have some special rates available for guests who are not allocated or don't qualify for complimentary accommodation. Please contact us for details.

From its small beginnings as a debating society, the Cambridge Union currently has over 70,000 life members worldwide. Now the oldest debating society in the world, and the largest student society in Cambridge, the Union remains a unique forum for the free exchange of ideas and the art of public debate. In the past the Society has hosted such great figures as Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt and the current Dalai Lama, and it continues to provide Cambridge students with the opportunity to meet and question the people that shape our world, and has grown into the central forum for student discussion in Cambridge.

In every debate there is a motion: a statement, idea or policy that is disputed and framed within the prefix ‘This House’. Usually, the motion is either a policy which changes the status quo (e.g. This House Would Provide All Police Officers With Firearms) or a statement, the truth or falsehood of which is examined in the debate (e.g. This House Regrets the Decline of Marxism in Western Liberal Democracies). There are two sides to the debate: the proposition and the opposition. The proposition, supports the motion whilst the opposition opposes it. After the debate, the audience will decide with their feet, which debaters were the most persuasive.

How is the debate structured?

The debate starts with the Vice President of the Union entering the Chamber ringing the famous bell followed by the President of the Union and their side chairs and the speakers.

There are 6 speakers in total, 3 for proposition and 3 for opposition. The debate starts with a welcome from the President followed by a brief explanation of debating and how the audience can get involved.

The first speaker from the proposition begins the debate speaking for 10 minutes. After this speech is complete the President invites the first speaker from the opposition to bring their 10 minute argument. During the speeches, the audience is allowed to make ‘Points of Information’ where they can argue against the point being made. It is up to the speaker whether or not they take these points of information, they do not have to.

Following this first round of speeches, the President will ask the audience for any floor speeches, one for proposition, one for abstention and one for opposition. These should be no longer than 1-2 minutes.

After audience participation, the second speaker for the proposition is invited up for 10 minutes followed by the second speaker for the opposition. We then move back again to the audience for their thoughts.

The debate then runs back and forth between Proposition and Opposition until the end of the debate where the audience is then asked to vote with their feet. The audience is asked to vote through the exit doors which are sign posted ‘Ayes’ (left door), ‘Noes’ (right door) or ‘Abstention’ (middle door)

The Union will have officers outside the Chamber counting the audience vote as they leave.

We will announce the results of the debate in the Union bar, The Orator.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to the speakers for the 2025 debate pictured above.

Speaker details will be updated here as they are announced on social media.

Catherine Chaulet - Global DMC Partners

As President and CEO, Catherine drives the vision, growth and success of the company and its network of worldwide partners. Before joining Global DMC Partners, she was a senior executive for Fidelity Investments, where she led two subsidiaries to global success. Catherine's influence extends beyond her role at Global DMC Partners. She serves as a French Foreign Trade Advisor (CCE) and is the Vice President and board member of the Promotion for French Attractiveness Committee. In these capacities, she plays a pivotal role in promoting French economic interests on a global scale.

Chris Clarke - Purple Dog Solutions and Leadership West

Chris is a well-travelled, client-focused events and communications professional with over 30 years’ experience. In 2013, he founded Purple Dog Solutions from a converted barn in North Buckinghamshire, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional agency models. Since then, the agency has delivered global events for clients across a wide range of industries.

In 2024, Chris relocated to Cornwall and co-founded Leadership West, a hybrid concept that blends high-end event management with a portfolio of distinctive, independent properties across the South West. Designed for senior board retreats, Leadership West offers a fully integrated experience — venue, content, and delivery — all under one branded banner.

Chris is known for his creative thinking, client-first approach, and a healthy disregard for the status quo. He’s never been one to follow the rulebook.

Katie Niland - The Belfry Hotel & Resort

Katie Niland has been Commercial Director at award-winning The Belfry Hotel & Resort since 2024, following 10 incredibly successful years as its Sales Director.
 
With a proven ability to inspire excellence and drive growth, she is leading The Belfry through the next phase of its exciting £80million expansion project. With more than 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry behind her, and with vast leadership expertise including building an award-winning sales team at the resort, Katie is poised to elevate The Belfry’s commercial success even further.
 
Having held positions at some of the industry’s most recognised names, including Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Malmaison, and Village Hotels, Katie’s understanding of the industry is second-to-none, leading to a well-deserved reputation for delivering exceptional financial results and an impressive track record for securing new client business.
 
An ambassador for female equality, and an unwavering champion of the industry, Katie was awarded a place on both the prestigious miaList and the Boutique Hotelier Power List in 2022. She is a member of multiple industry-leading associations, including mia and beam, playing an active role in shaping key sector discussions, and frequently speaks on panels and at foremost industry events.

Peter Jackson - Red Blaze Trust

After 25 years Peter stepped down as Joint Managing Director of Red Blaze Limited on its conversion to an employee-owned business in April 2025 to join the Board of the Red Blaze Trust which is the entity that holds the shares of Red Blaze on behalf of its employees. With over 35 years of experience in events, both on client and agency side Peter has lived and breathed events for most of his adult life and brings a tremendous depth of knowledge of not only events but also that of a business owner.

Peter is additionally the Vice Chair of a Multi-Academy Educational Trust and maintains a huge interest in educational governance and the notion of ‘giving back’ to help develop aspiring and emerging motivated talent. He is working on several initiatives to encourage seasoned event professionals to share their knowledge and experience.

Emma Waycot - Vine Tree

With a strong hotel background and over 21 years in hospitality and MICE, Emma Waycot combines commercial acumen, sales expertise, and strategic insight to deliver measurable results.

She founded Vine Tree Connections in 2010, growing it into one of the UK’s most dynamic and established hotel representation companies in the industry.

Andrew Woods - Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland

Father to the King 
Married to a Rocket 
Sales Director at the Incredible Leonardo Hotels 
Never won an M&IT award 
Former Head Chef 
Former Advertiser and Publisher 
Scooter ,Watch ,Trainer and LEGO aficionado  
Coventrys best dancer 1997 - 2008 
Proud supporter of the AIEA 
Passionate supporter of the industry I love