In the dark of a Lisbon evening, a group of increasingly agitated media and speakers wait for a security guard to allow them to pass.  It is a short pause until a blacked-out Mercedes drives by but it becomes a point of tension in this small huddle.  Conferences live and die on their organisational merits; a slight hiccup, a glitch, and the event’s integrity can seem to shake even momentarily.  One person questions how people paying to attend the conference would feel about being told to wait; they’ve paid for their flights, their tickets, and the accommodation.  It is a…

Want to read the full story?

Unlock this article – and everything else on The Currency – with an annual membership and receive a free Samsonite Upscape suitcase, retailing at €235, delivered to your door.

Subscribe

Cancel at any time.

Are you already a member? .