Navigator London Agenda
From navigating privacy challenges to defining publisher roles in attribution, we’re not here to recycle conversations. We’re here to break new ground. Whether it’s AI’s transformative potential, strategic collaboration, or sustainability shifts, no topic is off-limits. Curious about the full event details, requesting an invite, or becoming a sponsor? Head over to the main Navigator London page.
Tuesday, 10 June, 2025
Session Time | Session Title | Session Description |
---|---|---|
8:00 am | Breakfast | Someone said breakfast is the most important meal of the day. They’re probably sleeping in. Not you though! Get here and get ready for a big day! |
9:00 am | Welcome remarks | Kicking off Navigator but yes, it’s also the big jacket reveal. |
9:10 am | Keynote Session: The Urgency of an AI Response | At this point, AI feels as ubiquitous as electricity, and it is reshaping our industry right beneath our feet. We cannot wait to see what happens next; we need to act now. Paul Hood (Independent Consultant/AI Advisor) |
10:05 am Breakout Sessions | ||
The Big Identity Reset: Why Publishers Must Collaborate to Win | Disclaimer: This is not another boring session on IDs. Come and join us if you believe publishers deserve to be leaders — not followers — in the next era of digital advertising. The publishing industry stands at a pivotal moment. As platforms tighten their grip and third-party solutions rush to fill the void, we risk losing not just value — but our influence and our relevance. Yet together, we have the power to change the course. Join Danny and Alessandro for a rallying call to rebuild identity the right way: publisher-centric, strategic, and built to last. It’s time to reclaim control and shape a future where publishers lead with strength and purpose. Danny Spears (COO, Ozone), and Alessandro De Zanche (Founder, not just ADZ) | |
The Barometer Report | Let’s talk about the top trends for publishers based on your survey results. Duncan Arthur (COO, LongTerm CoLab) and Jon Longhurst (CEO, LongTerm CoLab) | |
Stacking your Stack to Maximize Margins | The right partner and the right strategy can result in increased revenue and lower costs. Friends, that’s called helping the bottom line. Tobias Hauschild (Head of Ad Technology & Regulatory Affairs, Kronen Zeitung) and Sherzod Rizaev (COO & CFO, Assertive Yield) | |
Sales Processes That Help Make the Sale | Don’t let the phrase “self-serve” fool you. If operational efficiency, new business, or retaining clients are in your remit, this session will bring all those topics together. We will start with Eoin McGregor, Global Head of Tripadvisor Ad Express, discussing how their sales team is structured, their links to sustainability, and the growing need for automation to drive overall organizational progress. Maarten Vrijens (VP Sales, Automation Services, DanAds) and Eoin McGregor (Head of Tripadvisor Ad Express, Tripadvisor) | |
11:15 am Breakout Sessions | ||
Short Term Revenue Strategy Table Talks | Let’s break into tables to dig deep into individual strategies and ideas for how to gather more short-term revenue. | |
Walled Gardens or Ivy-Covered Prisons? | The digital ad industry has followed a path that increasingly confines innovation and limits potential. It’s time for a breakout. Starting with curation and extending into creative, cognition, and even topics beyond the letter “C”, James Harris (VP Strategy & Planning, WPP) and Fern Potter (SVP, Growth & Strategy, Multilocal) will challenge assumptions and lead a bold discussion on what programmatic could—and should—become. | |
Maximizing Publisher Revenue with 100% Video Coverage & Contextual Recommendations | It’s no secret that video is a key revenue driver for publishers. This session—supported by a real-world case study—will explore how 100% video coverage across your site, combined with contextual video recommendations, can enhance user experience and boost revenue. Join us for a discussion on best practices and strategies to make video work for your business. Melissa Murray (Head of Campaign Operations, Carwow) and Alex Dawson-Smith (Global Business Development Director, EX.CO) | |
Surviving identity 2.0 | As identity solutions multiply and browsers push conflicting standards, the digital ecosystem is entering a late stage of identity strategy—fragmented, uncertain, and under pressure. This session will unpack the latest developments, highlight key sources of insight, and offer guidance on building a future-proof identity approach aligned to your specific needs. Adam Leslie (Director of Product, Commercial, Mail Metro Media) | |
NOON | Lunch time! | Network and fuel up for the afternoon. |
1:10 pm | Keynote Session: The Power of Diversity: Unlocking Revenue Through Inclusion | Diversity is about how we connect as humans, and as publishers look internally diversity within the workforce will equal greater success. Diversity will also drive revenue as they learn to connect with diverse audiences in new ways. Nikki Sehgal (General Manager, Media For All) |
1:40 pm | A Higher Quality Internet Won’t Just Happen | Building on her years of experience on the buy side, Iesha will share her perspective on why, despite all their efforts, publisher signals just aren’t being received. She’ll outline how to go from pointing fingers to making real change. Iesha White (Director of Intelligence, Check My Ads Institute) |
2:20 pm Breakout Sessions | ||
Reducing the Ad Tech Tax | TBD Terry Hornsby (Group Digital & Innovation Director, Reach PLC & EVP, Mantis) and Fiona Salmon (Managing Director, Mantis) | |
Helping Buyers Manage Signal Loss | Despite the non-deprecation of Cookies on Google’s side of the advertising ecosystem, signal loss is still a big challenge for buyers, both in terms of targeting & attribution. In this session Simon Harris will outline how DPG is helping buyers bridge the gap and recognize the value that their media delivers. Simon Harris (Director of Ad Strategy, DPG Media) | |
Sustainability Sells | Our industry has a real opportunity to make necessary changes to how we operate. Let’s mark our progress. James Florence (Head of Advertising Technology, Immediate Media) and Tom Bowman (Partner, CoLab Media Consulting Ltd.) | |
Threading the Needle: The Publisher Plan Forward | Rob Beeler has some thoughts, and he’s going to have a guest or two to bring their perspective. James Rosewell (Co-Founder & CEO, 51Degrees) and Rob Beeler (Founder & CEO, Beeler.Tech) | |
3:30 pm Breakout Sessions | ||
Pick a Side: Is YouTube TV? | In a presidential debate format, two people will try to convince you of their position on the matter of YouTube being TV or not. On the line is the future of CTV. That’s all. Rachel Smith (Co-Founder & CEO, ExchangeWire), Pippa Scaife (Director of Digital Advertising, Sky Media) and Caroline Fenner (Chief Revenue Officer, PinkNews) | |
Flooring Efficiently | There is dynamic flooring but there is also the dynamics of flooring. Let’s discuss together what goes into making the most with our programmatic inventory. | |
Data Portability: The Future of Monetization and Compliance | It is easier to attract bees with honey than with vinegar, and the same can be said for consenting users: we need to provide them with proper incentives in exchange for their consent and data, rather than trying to force it from them. The solution might lie in the concept of data portability and a standardized metadata protocol that puts the power back in the hands of those who have obtained the user’s consent. Isabella De Michelis di Slonghello (Founder & CEO, ErnieApp Ltd.) | |
In Search Of: Direct Sold Opportunity & Innovation | For many publishers, direct sold revenue is everything, but it is the perfect time for more publishers to step into this opportunity. Let’s discuss everything from self-serve to product development to workflow automation to better understand where to put our energy to grow our profitability. Samara Hocihara (Director of Campaign Planning & Operations, Telegraph Media Group) and Anya Libova (Senior Director, Publisher Development, DoubleVerify) | |
4:30 pm | Keynote Session: Innovation Upon Innovation | Let’s acknowledge that there is no single playbook for publishers, nor a definitive finish line. Publishing will continue to evolve in response to the changing behaviours of advertisers and consumers. The key is to identify opportunities within those evolving needs and adapt accordingly. Hannah Blake (Managing Director, Eliza) will share her insights on how she set up a new creator-led social business within DMG. From introducing new business models to blending editorial and commercial teams and ultimately being a change agent to drive innovation from within. |
5:00 pm | Let’s Wrap This Sucker Up | The day is done. The impact, however, will continue. |
End of Day | Drinks & Nibbles | Your last chance to meet that one person who will help catapult your career! |