The conference has six themes:

Global perspective: a close look at how marketing and communications are evolving in the world’s biggest economies and population centres: US, China and now also India.

“Supply-side growth”: what agencies can do to improve their management skills, to better use their resources and drive profitable revenue

“Demand-side growth”: how agencies can use their creative talents, allied to modern technology, to create more compelling experiences for their clients’ end customers

The human dimension of AI: inspirational examples and evidence-based analytics showing how – far from reducing the importance of human talent – the best agencies and using AI to maximise its value and its contribution to both clients’ and agency’s business success.

Practical counsel from world-class contemporary experts on how to integrate the capabilities offered by AI, into their existing systems and processes – to meet their clients’ need for speed, flexibility, responsiveness and credible success metrics

“Try before you buy”: How successful independent agencies are improving and enhancing their strategic, creative and technical capabilities through partnerships and alliances, rather than the more traditional, less flexible route of mergers and acquisitions

The Indie Summit traditionally begins with an evening cocktail – this year on Sunday evening, March 15th. You don’t need to be there, but it’s highly recommended, and included in your ticket price.

This year it will be in the spectacular State Room on the 67th floor (yes, you read that right) of the Lebua hotel, with the Chaophraya river and the amazing, vibrant city of Bangkok spread out beneath you.

It’s what our Thai hosts call a “heavy cocktail” – finger food and bowl food, enough that you will not need a dinner afterwards (though no-one will stop you, if you want one), but not a large formal meal that goes on for hours. We want everyone bright and fresh in the morning.

Speaker sessions will include

Morning Session 1: A Brave New World?

• Julian Boulding, thenetworkone, London: Why the HoldCo’s failed
• Jules Love, Author of “Shift – AI for Agencies”, London: What Indie Agencies NEED to know and do, right now.

Morning Session 2: How to make Money in the age of AI

• Kathryn Williams, Founder, KMint, Sydney: How to Value and Price your Services
• Dan Egerton, Founder, Actus Consulting, London: From Selling Time to Selling Value – at last, a strategy for Monetising Intellectual Property.

Afternoon Session 1: People First, then Technology 

• Kimberly Afonso, Founder, KA Consulting, USA: Brand Yourself, then Brand your Agency
• Viviana Zorz, Employer Branding Expert, Ljubljana, Slovenia: Your people are your differentiating advantage. But are you on the same side?
• Sarah Clay, London, UK, Author of “Employee Advocacy on Linked In”: your employees speak for you. What are they saying, and who’s listening?

Roundtable discussions in groups of ten: What have we learned? What are we going to do?

Afternoon Session 2: Channels and Partnerships: the new face of agency networks

• Tomas Rodriguez, Barcelona with Diego Fabrigas, Montevideo: The Brave new World of Out of Home advertising
• New solutions for Old Media Problems: a panel discussion with media experts from around the world

Followed by the Indie Summit’s legendary “Curated Dinners”: groups of ten, in fashionable local restaurants.

Speakers are listed in good faith but may need to be changed due to circumstances beyond our control. More speakers are still being added: watch this space for updates.

Speaker sessions will include

Morning Session 1: The New World Order

• Nicky Wang, Co-Founder and CEO, WE Red Bridge, Shanghai: the new communications ecosystem
• Ben Condit, Former CEO Mindshare China, Shanghai: Media and Technology, an update from China
• Pragati Tiwari, Strategy Partner, Astrum, Bangalore India: How AI is transforming India

Morning Session 2: Clients and Customers 

• Bolor Narantsatsralt, Chief Marketing Officer, Pizza Hut Mongolia: “Pizzas to Mongolia,” or how to manage culture in a world that only wants growth
• Alicia Beachley, Founder, April 5 Activations, Sydney, Australia: Promotional Marketing, or Customer Experience?
• Calvin Innes, Fandom Expert, London and Berlin: Communities and Fandoms

Roundtable discussions in groups of ten: What have we learned? What are we going to do?

Afternoon Session 1: Creativity in the age of AI

• Guan Hin Tay, Former Creative Chairman, BBDO Singapore and Author, “Collide”: Embracing Conflict to Boost Creativity
• Ted Lim, Former ECD, Dentsu APAC, Kuala Lumpur
• Ravid Kuperberg, Partner, Mindscapes, Tel Aviv

Afternoon Session 2: Because You are Worth It?

• Speakers to be confirmed: How to prove the case for your agency’s value

Informal evening programme. Optional transfer will be arranged on Wednesday morning, to Adfest in Pattaya, with discounted tickets available to Indie Summit attendees. Contact maddie.pluck@thenetworkone.com for details.