ICON Conference 2026: Uncharted

Challenge conventional thinking and explore new paths to growth at our ICON Conference series, Uncharted.

As client expectations shift, pressure builds and AI reshapes the way firms operate, this year’s program will bring together BD, marketing and communications professionals for practical discussions about what’s changing, what matters most and how firms can adapt. Expect real-world case studies, fresh ideas and strategies you can apply immediately within your firm and teams.

Morning Program

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Connection Time

Doors open. Coffee flows. Conversations start.

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Opening Remarks

Welcome and opening remarks from the ICON President.

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM | Keynote: Uncharted Growth: Next Horizon Thinking

Incremental thinking won't cut it anymore. This keynote brings a disruptor's lens to the professional services landscape, exploring how client expectations, economic pressures, and technology have fundamentally shifted the growth playbook. Discover why the next opportunity won't be found in familiar places and where to look instead.

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM | Tea. Talk. Tactics.

Morning tea and networking.

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | Session 1: Client Experience that Drives Growth, from Programme to Revenue Lever

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Session 2: Marketing in an AI Environment, From Experimentation to Impact

As content becomes easier to produce, the challenge shifts from creating more to creating something worth noticing and easy to find. This has direct implications for how firms are seen externally, including whether they are visible, credible and selected by clients, journalists and the market more broadly.

Midday

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Bites & Banter Break

Lunch and casual networking.

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | Session 3: Pass the Mic – Real Stories. Real Wins. Real Misses.

Small group discussions. Real-world BDMC stories. No slides, just peer-led conversation and lightbulb moments.

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM | Session 4: Client Panel The Questions You Can't Ask (But Should)

This session opens an honest dialogue with senior clients about how decisions are really made. Explore what clients value, what shapes their choices, and how expectations shift across sectors and market conditions—while uncovering where firms succeed, and where they miss the mark in winning and growing work.

Afternoon Program

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Refresh & Recharge

Afternoon tea and final networking boost.

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Session 5: Working Commercially, Where to Focus and Why

4:15 PM – 5:00 PM | Session 6: Earning Attention, Media, Profile and Reputation

In a world where content is easy to produce but attention is hard to earn, standing out matters more than ever. Building on the earlier AI and marketing discussion, this session examines why some firms and individuals are consistently visible and sought out while others go unnoticed—and how BDMC teams at every level can help partners become the go-to choice for clients, journalists and the broader market

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM | Closing Remarks

Key takeaways and thank you from the ICON President.

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Unwind. Connect. No Slides Required.

Canapés and networking drinks to close out the day.