Trade Show News Network is excited to share our ‘Trade Show Talk’ podcast which features two episodes each month focusing on hot-button topics. Each episode kicks off with a news round up before host Danica Tormohlen leads discussions with trade show and events industry leaders. If you'd like to be a guest or you have a topic to suggest that we cover, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. If you would like to sponsor a podcast series, please contact [email protected] 

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Listen to all previous podcast episodes HERE. 

Navigating the Future: A Conversation with UFI CEO & Managing Director Chris Skeith 

In this episode of Trade Show Talk, host Danica Tormohlen interviews Chris Skeith, CEO and Managing Director of UFI, the Global Association of Exhibition Industry, at the SISO CEO Summit in Austin.  

Skeith shares insights about his extensive career in the events industry, detailing his roles in various UK-based event organizations and his journey to leading UFI. They discuss the challenges and priorities in his first 100 days as CEO, emphasizing his focus on understanding and supporting UFI's 900 members across 90 countries. Skeith highlights global trends in the trade show industry, such as the evolving talent pool, sustainability initiatives, and the burgeoning role of AI.  

The conversation also touches on UFI's centenary celebrations, upcoming events, and the importance of advocacy in demonstrating the economic and societal value of face-to-face events. To conclude, Skeith shares personal anecdotes and preferences, offering a glimpse into his personality and experiences in the industry. 

Plus, in our Policy & Politics segment, we got an update from Tommy Goodwin with the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) about recent developments in tariff policies and their impact on the sector. We discussed the various executive orders involving tariffs, including those on Chinese imports and reciprocal tariffs, and the current 90-day pause on many of these tariffs.  

Goodwin explained ECA’s strong anti-tariff stance, emphasizing the cost implications for organizers, exhibitors, and attendees, particularly small businesses. The conversation covers ECA’s advocacy efforts with the Trump administration, Capitol Hill, and broader coalitions like Americans for Free Trade. Resources available on ECA’s website, such as a Tariff Resource Center, are highlighted.  

Finally, we discussed the upcoming Legislative Action Day on May 29 and its agenda, which includes discussions on tariffs, tax reform, and talent in the future workforce. The episode concludes with reminders for listeners on how they can take action for their concerns through ECA’s online platforms. 

Our Guest: Chris Skeith OBE, Managing Director & CEO for UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry 

Chris Skeith, who has served in the exhibition industry for more than 30 years, is Managing Director & CEO of UFI, The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, which represents more than 900 organizations in more than 90 countries who build, maintain, and support the world’s market places: trade show organisers, venue owners and operators, service providers, and national, as well as international associations, of our industry. 

Skeith has built a career in the not-for-profit sector, starting his exhibition career in media auditing at the Audit Bureau of Circulations, where he later led on the development of their auditing products for the event sector. 

In 2006, Skeith started working in the associations sector in the UK, merging two event associations in the service supplier sector to form ESSA (Event Supplier & Services Association). In 2010, he also became Director of ESSA’s sister association, AEV (Association of Event Venues). In 2014, he took the role of CEO of their sister association, AEO (Association of Event Organisers), which represents UK-based organisers who operate worldwide. 

During this time, AEO created groups and events which connected the community which grew to over 100 members via special interest groups, and class leading events. He also held several voluntary positions to help raise the profile of the sector to Government and regulators, including Chair of the UK Government’s Events Industry Board for the Department of Culture Media and Sport, member of the Department for Business and Trades Professional Business Services Committee, and Chair of UKEVENTS a partnership of all leading associations in the UK event industry. He has previously served as an UFI Board Member and chair of their associations committee. 

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021, he was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen, for services to the Events Industry. 

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Our Guest: Tommy Goodwin, Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

Tommy Goodwin is Executive Vice President for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the advocacy association for the business and professional events industry. In this role, he leads ECA’s work on behalf of the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, event and meeting organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the global business and professional events landscape.

Prior to joining ECA, Tommy spent more than 20 years leading social impact, member value, public affairs, and international engagement efforts for several globally recognized associations and corporations, including Oracle, AARP, and the Project Management Institute (PMI). Additionally, he was a research fellow at Harvard Business School focused on the international political and legal environment in which businesses and social enterprises operate.

Tommy has a B.B.A. from The George Washington University, an M.B.A. from Auburn University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in European Union Law from King’s College London. He also holds several certifications including a Project Management Professional from PMI, a Certified Meeting Planner from the Events Industry Council, and a Certified Association Executive from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Recognized by The Hill in its list of association "Top Lobbyists" every year since 2020, Tommy was also named a "Leading Association Lobbyist" by CEO Update/Association TRENDS in 2023. He has also been elected as a Fellow by ASAE (2022), named an "Association Innovation Leader" by DCA Live (2022), received the "Industry Support Award" from TSNN (2022), and recognized as an events industry "Changemaker" by MeetingsNet (2022).

Tommy is currently Chair of ASAE's Executive Management Professionals Advisory Council, the leading group of association CEOs and senior executives, and serves on the advisory boards of Factum Global and The Iceberg. He is also a past president of the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and a past chair of ASAE’s Advocacy Council.

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen

An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Group Content, Meetings, Sports, Travel for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News, BizBash and Connect's portfolio of in-person events. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event, association meeting, experiential marketing and exhibition industries. 

Tormohlen currently serves as president of the Women in Exhibitions Network North America chapter. She has been a speaker and moderator at major industry events, including the TSNN Awards, IMEX, IAEE, SISO, UFI, ESCA, DI and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few. 

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