Manager, Marketing and Communications
ELX
Hannah Elston is co-host of The Eventualists, a Meetings Today podcast exploring the people, ideas, and conversations shaping the future of the meetings and events industry.
Through the podcast, she brings a curious, people-focused perspective to discussions around leadership, career development, industry change, and what it takes to build a meaningful career in events.
Alongside The Eventualists, Hannah is Senior Manager of Partnerships, Marketing & Communications at Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), where she works closely with senior corporate event leaders and industry partners across Europe and North America. Her role gives her a front-row view of the challenges, priorities, and shifts influencing the events industry at its highest levels.
Hannah is also an experienced moderator, emcee, and speaker, having contributed to events including The Meetings Show, IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America, and International Confex.
Her contribution to the industry has been recognized through a number of emerging leadership honors. She was named a Tomorrow’s Talent 2025 winner, included in Courtney Stanley’s Women to Watch 2025, and selected as a finalist for the Chris Peacock Rising Star of the Year Award at the 2025 M&IT Awards.
Date

Starting a career in events is exciting—but it can also be confusing and full of unexpected lessons.
Explore what it really takes to build a career in events, from navigating early expectations and finding mentorship to managing ambition, burnout and professional identity.
Learning outcomes:
Gain honest insights into the realities of starting a career in the business events industry
Understand what emerging professionals value most in workplace culture, mentorship and career development
Learn practical ways to better support the next generation of event professionals