NDA Foresight

Legendary networking drinks party bringing the whole industry together for catching up, networking and meaningful conversations. No agenda, no presentations.

Live podcast recording in front of a select audience featuring Sir Martin Sorrell.

Live podcast recording in front of a select audience featuring Terry Kawaja. Sponsored by RAAS LAB.

While many organisations are racing to adopt AI-driven tools, few have the operational foundations required to make them effective. This session explores why organisations must first simplify technology stacks, unify data and establish clear governance frameworks before AI can deliver meaningful growth and where AI is genuinely creating value today versus where expectations may be ahead of reality.

In turbulent times, we discuss the importance of raising the profile of a sector driving the UK economy. Topics include: how we raise the profile of the entire industry, valuing its economic worth, the role of trade bodies, and engagement with government.

As AI accelerates change across advertising, some familiar problems remain – fragmented standards, measurement, identity, data quality, transparency and accountability. The discussion asks what the industry needs to solve collectively, what role the trade bodies should play and whether they can move quickly enough to keep pace with AI.

This roundtable will discuss the biggest opportunities and challenges in online video and CTV, including the evolution of TV buying/planning, planning and measuring tools, and the role of traditional vs digital players.

As AI takes on more of the execution layer in marketing, a more urgent question is emerging: who is accountable for results? Campaigns are increasingly automated. Optimisation is handled by machines. But when performance drops, costs rise or outcomes fail to materialise, responsibility still sits with people. This session explores how brands and agencies are redefining accountability in an AI-driven ecosystem and what needs to change to ensure marketing still delivers measurable value.

Short-term performance metrics often dominate investment decisions, even when they fail to capture long-term value. At the same time, advances in data and analytics are creating new opportunities to link marketing activity to commercial outcomes but not always consistently or credibly. This session will challenge how advertising value is currently defined and explores what needs to change for marketing to be measured as a true driver of business performance.

How the role of media director is changing. Why media is becoming a strategic business function. AI's impact on planning and optimisation. Creating an in-house newsroom mentality and agile content operations. Balancing innovation with governance in a highly regulated category.

Despite advances in data and analytics, proving the true value of advertising remains inconsistent and often contested. Budgets continue to favour channels with the clearest attribution, even when that distorts long-term growth. Measurement approaches vary across platforms. And the link between media investment and business performance is still far from definitive. This panel explores why defining advertising value remains so difficult and what needs to change for marketing to be measured as a true driver of commercial success.

Consumers are no longer navigating channels; they are navigating algorithmic systems. From recommendation engines to retail media and AI-driven search, discovery and decision-making are increasingly shaped by platforms that prioritise relevance, efficiency and commercial outcomes. At the same time, these systems are becoming more influential in how consumers compare options, assess value, and make purchasing decisions. This keynote explores how, if visibility, relevance, and conversion are increasingly determined by algorithms, what brands must do to remain visible, trusted and competitive in an algorithm-driven environment.

The session centres on the idea that while technology is reshaping how brands reach people, lasting growth still depends on creating experiences, building trust and making meaningful human connections.

Consumer journeys are increasingly shaped by systems designed to curate and influence decisions. Retail media networks, creator ecosystems, AI-driven search and recommendation engines are redefining how products are discovered, evaluated, and purchased. But these systems are not neutral – they are powered by data, optimised toward specific outcomes and controlled by platforms with their own commercial priorities. This panel explores how influence is shifting in an algorithm-driven environment and what brands must do to remain visible and competitive within it.

Morning coastal walk with dogs hosted by Tripadvisor and Mars in partnership with NDA, starting at Maison New Digital Age continuing down the coast.

Discussion of the opportunities and challenges of the evolution of media planning and buying, including the impact of AI in post-cookie planning/buying and contextual targeting and AI-driven insights. In association with Nano Interactive.

A roundtable discussion examining the current boom in indie agencies. Topics include: the culture of indies, managing growth, and the impact of online ad platforms.

Opening with a fireside chat with Lucia Mastromauro, Deliveroo's VP of Advertising, followed by a panel discussion in partnership with Epsilon on the biggest opportunities for retail media in the coming year.

Morning coastal walk with dogs hosted by Tripadvisor and Mars in partnership with NDA, starting at Maison New Digital Age continuing down the coast.

A special pop-up wellness experience hosted by Jenny Okolo, founder of SASA Health & Sensory, in partnership with NewDigitalAge and Digital Women Cannes. Attendees can take home a Sensory Reset Kit.

In partnership with Tripadvisor. Travel and tourism platforms provide a safe space for consumers and brands alike. Discussion of how both endemic and non-endemic brands can reach diverse audiences to drive value.

Live podcast recording in front of a select audience featuring Brian O'Kelley, CEO and co-founder of Scope3.

A roundtable discussing how media owners can survive and thrive in a fragmented digital world.

NDA's Digital Women panel, in partnership with LG Ad Solutions and BBC Studios, discussing how far we've come since Cannes 2024 and debating how the impact of changes in the US is being managed and minimised. Followed by networking drinks.