Daria Smith, a seasoned event leader with over 16 years of experience in the industry, embarked on her journey in events in 2007 upon relocating to London, UK. Originally commencing her career in publishing, she made a successful transition to live events and currently holds the position of Portfolio Director at The Bench, spearheading the Future Hospitality Summit series.

Having held roles with top international event organisations such as Informa Markets, Ocean Media Group, dmg events, and Hyve Group, Daria has expertly directed and steered the success of multifaceted B2B exhibitions and conferences across diverse sectors, including technology, energy, sustainability, health nutrition, design, and hospitality.

A passionate advocate for diversity and women's empowerment in the events sector, Daria serves as a Founding Director and Board Member of the Women in Exhibitions Network. Additionally, she contributes to the Association of Event Organisers Development Board, focusing on talent attraction and retention. Daria actively engages in knowledge sharing as an ambassador and mentor for Elevate Mentoring—a pioneering programme supporting career development in the events industry.

Having relocated to Dubai in 2022, Daria currently pursues an Executive MBA at Hult International Business School as a testament to her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

E: daria.smith@thebench.com

M: +971-54-7701109