Belfast’s ICC will host the third Big Marketing Meet Up (BMMU) on 14 November, drawing industry professionals together for a day of networking, insights, and development. Known for its stellar speaker line-up and thought-provoking discussions, this year’s event is expected to attract an audience eager to learn about the latest trends and challenges in marketing. With a nostalgia-themed focus, this year’s event features a high-profile roster of speakers, including several notable marketing figures with strong connections to the industry’s most influential voices.
Leading the line-up is Abigail Dixon, an award-winning marketer, author, and consultant, whose career spans more than 20 years. Dixon, the founder of The Whole Marketer and a columnist for Marketing Week, will bring her insights on personal and brand growth to BMMU, focusing on the dynamic role of marketing in modern business. She highlights the shift in marketing’s role, moving from a supportive function to a driving force in long-term business strategy. Her speech will discuss the skills required to stay competitive in an evolving industry. Dixon says, “Marketing has evolved in the last decade from a support function to one leading the long-term commercial agenda of the organisation. For marketers to stand in our power, we need to develop a holistic set of skills to grow the brands and businesses of tomorrow.”
Also joining the panel is social media strategist David Levin, known for his behind-the-scenes work with celebrity brands and sports icons. Levin will deliver an engaging presentation on the unique challenges and rewards of managing social media for high-profile personalities, including the unexpected lessons from the sports world on authenticity and community engagement. Levin says, “Having spent most of this year managing the socials for a legendary sportsperson, I’ll make my BMMU debut with a deep dive into the insights we can draw from sports social media. I’ll look at how stars like Cristiano Ronaldo amassed a billion followers, how Northern Irish Olympians went viral, and how surreal it feels to post as a sports legend while standing in the cheese aisle at Sainsbury’s.”
Social media expert Samantha Kelly, also known as the “Twitter Magic” author and boasting over 70,000 followers, will share her expertise on building dedicated online communities. Kelly’s session will offer businesses practical advice on leveraging social media to engage audiences in an increasingly saturated digital landscape.
Adding a nostalgic element to the event is Hollywood actress Alison Arngrim, best known for her role as Nellie Olesen on Little House on the Prairie. Celebrating the show’s 50th anniversary, Arngrim will join Samantha Kelly to discuss how nostalgia plays a powerful role in social media marketing. Commenting on her participation, Arngrim says, “This is the craziest thing in the world! I’m Irish and coming for a visit home, if you’ll have me, to tell you all about playing the evil Nellie Olesen in Little House.”
The BMMU event promises a mix of high-impact talks and light-hearted exchanges, with attendees keen to learn from some of the sector’s brightest minds. The one-day event offers a unique chance for industry networking, insight-sharing, and professional development, giving attendees practical takeaways on engaging modern audiences and adapting to the fast-evolving world of marketing. To find out more about the programme and to secure earlybird tickets, go to bmmubelfast.com
