DAM Europe 2025
First Sessions Announced
We are busy developing an exciting agenda for DAM Europe 2025 so keep your eyes peeled for details. Register for the event to be the first to hear about new sessions and speakers!
Join the DAM community as a speaker or panel member.
Do you have a story you’d like to share with the DAM community? Do you have an example of best practice in digital asset management or related topics which you’d like to showcase at one of the Henry Stewart Events’ in-person events in Los Angeles, London, New York and Sydney?
We invite senior leaders and dynamic speakers to share their experiences in the digital asset management field to get in touch as we’d be delighted to hear from you. Help us to drive the future of knowledge and innovation. Help shape the conversation.
Please contact Christine Le Couilliard at christine@clecevents.co.uk.
In the meantime, check out the first 17 sessions confirmed:
Well-Brewed: How People, Process and Technology were Blended Together
Twinings and Ovaltine are two well-known global brands dedicated to enhancing authentic consumer experience.
Context:
DAM is a new addition to the business, bringing AI, automation, and integrations. While the technology has evolved, its core purpose remains the same – to store, find, and use assets efficiently. We recognised that the technology, metadata and governance must be well aligned with our real-world processes. We also knew that adoption (buy-in) throughout the organisation was necessary.
Challenges in deploying DAM across a distributed FMCG enterprise operating in multiple key markets include:
- Local recruitment: empowering regional teams to drive adoption.
- Community of best practice: building an ongoing culture for content and DAM.
- Overcoming hurdles: governance, change management and proving ROI.
What we did and what we achieved:
- Adopted Innovative strategies that enhanced consumer engagement on a global scale.
- Used DAM to deliver a rapid response when one of the products gained unexpected momentum.
- Met the challenge of managing sudden content demands.
- Harnessed the power of DAM to quickly retrieve marketing assets.
- Created a great blend in the roles of people, process and technology.
What we plan to do next:
- More markets
- ‘Heritage’
- Product management’
- PIM and 3D
Adrian O’Meara, Global Product Manager, Digital Assets and Information, Twinings Ovaltine
Reckitt’s Heritage Archive: Digitising Assets for Better Access – A how we’re doing it case study
Reckitt, the health, hygiene and nutrition company behind brands Dettol, Durex, Harpic and many more, has a physical global heritage archive of over 83m3.
Over the past 24 months the archive has been through a huge transformation – the objectives: to save the collection and serve the business in the most effective way.
Challenge: with over 60 factories, laboratory sites and offices globally, access to a physical collection for all employees is difficult.
Solution: explaining how and why Reckitt’s collection has been digitised.
The future: describing the next steps in this mass digitisation and DAM project.
Grace Chapman, Heritage Advisor, Reckitt
Taking Full Advantage of The Macro Trends - Six Reasons Why Your DAM is Even More Important in the Age of AI
There’s much talk about AI completely disrupting technology as we know it.
DAM practitioners should see AI as an opportunity not a threat. DAM technology is well suited to helping enterprises take advantage of AI’s possibilities.
The story so far: how smart enterprises are using DAM to shape the future of digital operations, from enhancing collaboration, enabling personalized content strategies and managing omnichannel content at new scales.
What comes next: new applications of existing technology and new technologies being developed – what they will make possible.
Jarrod Gingras, Managing Director & Analyst, Real Story Group
Implementing a DAM System Helped Unify our Content Creation Pipeline - DAM as the Single Source of Truth
The Royal Armouries Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world. Throughout our history we’ve created a huge quantity of content. Now happily in the form of digital assets.
Over the past two years we procured a new DAM system to store these digital assets and be the single source of truth.
We’ve integrated the DAM system with multiple websites and databases to help achieve both commercial and non-commercial goals.
A report of how we got to where we are now, covering:
- The procurement process.
- The problems that arose during the process.
- How our new DAM system has increased efficiency and productivity.
Jacob Bishop, Senior Digitisation and IP Manager, Royal Armouries Museum
Optimising PIM and DAM Within the Content Supply Chain
It’s essential to get them working together – seamlessly.
Observation one: in today's dynamic digital landscape, effectively managing and delivering content across various platforms is crucial for success.
Observation two: PIM and DAM are key components playing pivotal roles in this process.
- PIM systems focus on aggregating and managing detailed product information, ensuring consistency and data quality across channels.
- DAM systems can store and organize multimedia assets (including images and videos) facilitating efficient content distribution.
To meet the ever-evolving demands of content creation and distribution problem free interaction between these two crucial components in the content supply chain is essential.
A fully integrated approach ensures that product data and digital assets are in synch which, in turn, enhances efficiency and maintains consistency. Complete alignment of the two systems both accelerates time-to-market and improves the overall customer experience.
Covering best practices for ensuring PIM and DAM interaction is both optimized for ‘The Now’ and ‘Future-Proofed to effectively respond to changing content demands.
Elisabeth Knulst, Managing Consultant, EMM Consultancy
State of AI in DAM 2025 – the Acceleration, the Reality and the Future
It’s generally thought that AI is transforming DAM faster than ever. But in which respects and precisely how? What’s really happening on the ground?
The State of AI in DAM 2025 Report is based on insights of DAM leaders, practitioners, and leading experts worldwide. It summarises the most significant trends, the biggest challenges, and the game-changing opportunities that are shaping AI’s role in DAM.
Kristina Huddart, researcher, DAM specialist and independent consultant, presents the key findings, the emerging best practices, and the must-watch innovations. All with an eye on the year ahead.
Whatever your role, whatever your goal, these data and insights will inform the decisions you make.
Reporting:
- The most significant AI trends impacting DAM.
- Where organisations are seeing real ROI and where AI is falling short.
- Practical responses to what’s happening.
Kristina Huddart, Digital Asset Management Specialist and Independent Consultant, Huddart Consulting Ltd.
Using AI Effectively in the Content Ecosystem - Humans Remain in the Driving Seat
The new reality:
- AI enables organisations to save time and costs in many ways by automating their content workflows.
- From basic metadata enrichment offered by transcription machine learning services to video creation using Gen AI models, content professionals are spoilt for choice.
The challenge:
- Like any technology, consideration must be given to the effective use of AI to build quality outcomes so that it delivers all it promises.
What to do and what not to do:
- Using a video production project as a case study, we examine good and bad practices when using a wide range of AI tools.
- We discuss the critical role that people must play in the creative process.
- Have humans firmly in the driving seat.
Delivering a framework:
- That can be used to evaluate when, where, how and why to useAI technologies in your content workflows.
Bottom line pay-off:
- Used effectively, AI is a tool to build the ideas of humans and amplify both team productivity and creativity.
Matt Eaton, Co-Founder, Nepholve Limited
Francisco Lima, Global Head of Emerging TV Technologies, Hogarth
DAM in the Music Industry: Preserving the Past, Powering the Future
Founded in 2008, BMG is the fourth-largest music company in the world, home to iconic catalogues of works by both notable performers and songwriters. Uniquely, it combines the activities of a music publisher and record label.
BMG operates across multiple areas of the music industry, including new recordings, catalogue releases, music publishing, licensing, and production music.
What the DAM does:
As part of the supply chain, manages the digital and physical assets that supports BMG’s activities – whether it’s audio, video, artwork files for streaming platforms or the material used in manufacturing vinyl and CDs – DAM connects all assets to a vast database of songs, recordings, products and artists ensuring they are readily accessible to the teams who need them.
The challenge:
Hundreds of assets are created during the recording process – different versions, mixes, outtakes plus other elements that contribute to a final release. How these are stored, managed, found and retrieved is vitally important.
Our guiding principles:
User experience, and the ease to find assets, are at the heart of BMG’s approach.
How we deliver on our promise - it’s all made possible by:
- Metadata consistency – with a growing archive that includes historic studio takes, films, reels and printed materials – accessibility and usability for all at BMG must be smooth.
- Digitisation of physical assets alongside digital ones – DAM continuously evolves to meet new industry demands, ensuring assets remain accessible, adaptable, and future-proof.
- Repurposing the role of DAM – DAM is already well beyond ‘just storage’; DAM manages our ever-increasing volume and complexity of assets.
Paul Jackson, Senior Director of Asset Management, BMG
Keywording Creative Content: Developing a Workable Strategy for Keywording Creative Imagery
Context:
You've got your DAM, you've got your content, now all you need to do is add your metadata to make everything accessible.
The Task:
Unfortunately, easy as this may sound, DAM systems don't come with a keywording manual. It's up to you to decide what keywords to add and why.
The Challenge:
Keywording can feel like a major challenge, especially for those managing large growing collections or when specialist content does not fit neatly into predefined categories.
The ability for end users to find relevant content quickly and easily depends on a robust keyword strategy, and without one, a lot of time and money is wasted.
Doing what needs to be done:
This session focuses on the key learning steps needed to develop a workable strategy for keywording creative imagery.
It is packed with real life examples and insights.
For everyone looking to achieve relevant, accurate and consistent search results for their DAM end users.
Clemency Wright, Founder and Director, Clemency Wright Consulting
Content Enriched Media - What’s Next in Managing Assets When the World is Moving at Such a Pace
The question:
With the rise of AI-driven automation, immersive media, and ever-expanding content ecosystems, how can organisations stay ahead?
Some answers:
This panel discusses the future of asset management in a fast-paced world, focusing on the role of content-enriched media in streamlining workflows, enhancing discoverability, and maximising asset value.
The panel will share insights on emerging technologies, best practices for metadata enrichment, and strategies to ensure scalability in an evolving digital landscape. Discussion will include topics such as the approaches to managing data, asset management using non-traditional databases, and commodity storage with the cloud.
A forward-thinking discussion on future-proofing your asset management strategy in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.
Moderator: Jarrod Gingras, Managing Director & Analyst, Real Story Group
Brendan Mallon, Head of Products & Services, Archives Technology & Services, BBC
Selecting the Right DAM to Get You to DAM 4.0
Enterprises must ensure their DAM system is future-ready.
DAM 4.0 promises AI-driven automation, enhanced metadata capabilities, and seamless integrations. Selecting the right platform is more critical than ever.
This session guides you through the key considerations when choosing a DAM that aligns with your business needs, scales with emerging technologies, and supports the next generation of digital asset workflows.
Covering:
- How to assess vendors.
- Evaluating core and advanced functionalities.
- How to future-proof your DAM strategy (as much as possible).
- Recruiting leadership on your side as you navigate evidencing the real ROI.
- Keeping DAM visible and ‘in focus’ with leadership.
Whether you're implementing a DAM for the first time or upgrading an existing system, this session provides actionable insights that help you navigate the path to DAM 4.0 with confidence.
Jarrod Gingras, Managing Director & Analyst, Real Story Group
‘Top Ten’ Things to Know About Metadata – YOUR Content and YOUR DAM Strategy Depend on them
Metadata matters because it gives structure and meaning to data associated with all that we do in our business and personal transactions. It records:
- Where your content came from.
- To whom the content belongs.
- Where your content is going.
- How the content may be used.
Metadata is the foundation supporting your content – without it, your digital assets might be inaccessible, and your DAM useless.
Oft forgotten truth:
The path to good DAM design begins with the realisation that digital assets must be identified, organised, and made available for discovery. Otherwise, they won’t be relevant in your business - they will certainly not serve your customers well.
Covering both the ‘Top Ten’ matters that constitutes best practice and the critical issues in metadata: management for YOUR DAM and YOUR business.
They include:
- Accessibility – what it means and why it matters for metadata.
- AI – its use and how it can be extremely valuable.
- Governance & Accountability – two vital ingredients in today’s digital content world.
- People, Process, & Technology – the importance of how they interrelate.
- ROI – how to measure it.
- Quality vs Quantity vs Accuracy.
John Horodyski, DAM Veteran and Metadata Expert, Digital Strategy and Thought Leader
AI-Tech Play Off 2025 - a high-energy, one-of-a-kind session designed to showcase the future of AI-driven solutions in Digital Asset Management
- This exciting event features four leading-edge AI vendors competing by demonstrating how their technology is revolutionising content and asset management.
- Live demos highlighting how AI can transform workflows, automate metadata, enhance search capabilities, streamline rights management and optimise asset distribution.
Attendees can vote for the AI solution they believe will have the most significant impact on their DAM strategy.
The Art of Getting Back on Track - What to do When Your DAM Implementation Isn’t Quite Going to Plan
Common challenges:
- Working with a DAM vendor that is not a perfect match for your industry or circumstances.
- A ‘setting up the DAM’ programme that isn’t on schedule.
- Hitting unexpected setbacks along the way to project completion.
Question one: When is it time to replace your DAM? What symptoms indicate that you need to rethink your product decision?
Question two: How do you keep working closely with all parties to ensure the DAM implementation and project deliverable stay on track?
The necessity: The success of the project requires careful planning, and everyone invested must be on the same page. Make sure you have a good vendor match. Make sure you get along with the implementation team. Make sure you select a good project manager and carefully build and prioritise your requirements, otherwise they won’t be met.
Now for some answers: The panel highlights ways to find solutions to the challenges.
The bottom-line objectives: Meet all the challenges. Satisfy all users. Deliver a DAM implementation success.
Moderator:
Timo Faber, Founder and Principal, DAM Expert and Analyst, dampioneers
Panel:
Grant Paterson, Digital Asset Manager, Digital Development, Digital Delivery, VisitScotland
Susanne Silveira, Global Digital Asset Coordinator, William Grant & Sons
Metadata Mastery: The Foundation of Successful AI in DAM
AI thrives when there is robust and comprehensive metadata.
Covering:
- The critical role of metadata in training AI systems to tag, categorise and optimise search.
- Best practices for managing metadata, including automation techniques powered by AI and machine learning.
- How AI can identify gaps in existing metadata and enhance the record using predictive analytics - massively improving asset discoverability and user experience.
- Practical tools and effective strategies for metadata governance.
- How long-term success in DAM operations is ensured in the new age of AI.
- The roles metadata and AI can play in personalisation.
- Why compliance and governance matter for mitigating bias and ensuring fairness.
Moderator:
John Horodyski, DAM Veteran and Metadata Expert, Digital Strategy and Thought Leader
Panel:
Moses Shenge, Product Manager, MarTech, Pandora
Jacqueline Yu, DAM Lead, Canon Europe Ltd
The Power of Technology to Scale up Digitisation - the Science Museum Group’s (SMG) Diverse Collection - from Watches to Trains
The context:
As the world’s leading group of science museums, we share an unparalleled collection spanning science, engineering, mathematics and medicine with a global audience. We care for over ½ million objects together with millions of archive and photography items.
The diversity of the collection ranges from small, intricate watches to large, impressive trains.
The challenge:
To digitise the collection.
The strategy:
A two-pronged approach:
- Enhanced-level digitisation for star objects on gallery and exhibitions.
- Access-level digitisation at scale for all its collections for online audiences.
Covering:
Why good digital asset management, using smart technology, must be at the heart of building efficient digitisation processes. The DAM plays a crucial part.
Mary Freeman, Group Photography Manager, Science Museum Group
Adrian Hine, Digitisation Manager, Science Museum Group
What’s Next for DAM Professionals - Navigating the New Era of DAM Careers and Unlocking New Roles, Skills and Opportunities
The expectations of DAM professionals are growing—and so are the opportunities.
- Delivering insights gathered over the last year from industry leaders, practitioners and teams navigating rapid change - from AI to new areas of strategic leadership.
- Exploring how DAM professionals are taking on new roles across organisations - from guiding digital strategy to leading innovation initiatives.
- Examining skill sets, leadership capabilities and organisational needs that are redefining what it means to be successful in DAM.
How to build influence and grow your career - whether your next move involves AI, cross-functional collaboration, or strategic planning.
Session lead: Thomas Stilling, Digital Strategy & Transformation Leader
