Educational Content & Presentation Guidelines for Conference Speakers

Purpose

The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that conference presentations provide educational value to attendees and support a productive exchange of ideas, experiences, and industry knowledge. While speakers are welcome to share examples from their organizations and discuss products, services, or innovations relevant to the topic, presentations should be informative rather than promotional in nature.

Speaker Expectations

Presentations should:

• Focus primarily on education, insights, best practices, research, case studies, lessons learned, or industry trends.
• Provide content that is broadly relevant and valuable to the conference audience.
• Support claims and recommendations with real-world experience, data, or practical examples where appropriate.
• Encourage discussion, learning, and professional development.

Appropriate References to Organizations and Products

Speakers may:

• Identify themselves and their organization at the beginning of the presentation.
• Reference their organization's experiences, projects, products, services, or technologies when relevant to the topic being discussed.
• Include organization logos on introductory or attribution slides.
• Share case studies or success stories that provide meaningful educational value.

Promotional Content to Avoid

Presentations should not:

• Function as a sales pitch, product demonstration, or marketing presentation.
• Consist primarily of content promoting a specific company, product, or service.
• Include pricing information, sales offers, discounts, or purchasing incentives.
• Devote substantial portions of the presentation to company marketing materials.
• Pressure attendees to purchase products or services.

Questions and Follow-Up Discussions

Speakers are welcome to answer attendee questions regarding their organization's products, services, or capabilities when relevant to the discussion. Attendees who wish to learn more about a company's offerings are encouraged to continue those conversations during networking sessions, exhibit hours, or after the presentation.

Conference Discretion

Conference organizers reserve the right to request modifications to presentation content that appears excessively promotional or inconsistent with these guidelines. The goal of any requested changes will be to maintain the educational value of the program for all attendees.

Guiding Principle

A simple rule of thumb is that attendees should leave a session with new knowledge, insights, or ideas they can apply in their work, regardless of whether they do business with the presenting organization.