Aria Restaurant, Sydney · March 2026
Democratising data in the age of AI
A note from the Innovatus Media team on what's working across ANZ this quarter, and what we'd suggest you take into Q2.
Three minutes from Matt Egan. What we've been running across ANZ, the shift in size and shape of executive engagement, and the role AI is now playing on both sides of the table.
Watch first, then read on for the longer note.
It's been a super interesting time across ANZ. A lot of campaigns, a lot of variety, and as always we've been taking a very bespoke approach to each one.
What we noticed first is the sales intelligence our partners are bringing to the table. It's richer than it was a year ago. Pipelines, outcomes, and the collaboration between sales and marketing are all sharper, and the attendance we're getting now feels right on the money.
That has changed what the events themselves look like. We're seeing a clear shift toward smaller, more targeted formats. Organisations are spending their energy where it counts, rather than putting a lot of money into big, generic moments. For C-suite engagement, that's where the value sits.
The pattern we kept seeing across forty-plus events this quarter sits on two sides of the same conversation. Here's how to think about both.
Clients are arriving with much richer intent data and a clearer view of who needs to be in the room. The result is events with tighter audiences and more honest pipeline conversations after the fact.
If you're working with your sales team or running into new markets, our advice is to think small. The shift this quarter has been toward fewer, more targeted seats rather than larger guest lists. That's where C-suite engagement is actually paying off.
Matty moderated more than forty conversations this quarter that touched AI in some shape or form. The most useful piece of advice: let the conversations come to you.
AI literacy varies hugely by organisation, by region, and by regulatory context. The best rooms put your most progressive AI executives next to the ones who are just starting to learn. That contrast is where the creativity shows up.
Let the conversation come to you. AI literacy is so different depending on where people sit, and that's exactly where the creativity is.
The biggest unlock this quarter has been the move from broad invitations to tighter, more deliberate rooms. Pick the ten people whose conversation actually matters and design around them.
Sales and marketing have more signals than they did a year ago. Bring it into the room. Audiences feel different when the invite list is built on real intent rather than a spray.
Don't pre-load the conversation with a fixed agenda on AI. Mix progressive practitioners with people earlier in the journey, set the framing, then listen. The room will go where it needs to.