Virtual Symposium Case Study

The MND Association needed to transform its international symposium into a fully virtual experience without losing the sense of connection that makes these events so valuable. Bringing together leading researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals from around the world meant managing multiple live sessions, remote presenters and audience interaction across different time zones.

The challenge wasn’t simply broadcasting presentations, it was creating an engaging online event where delegates could learn, ask questions and collaborate as naturally as they would at an in-person symposium, while ensuring every session ran reliably over three busy days.

Our Solution

Working alongside the MND Association, we built a complete virtual production workflow that brought together live studio content, remote presenters and pre-recorded videos into one seamless broadcast. Every session was carefully rehearsed in advance, with remote speaker checks, presentation testing and contingency plans to ensure the programme stayed on schedule. During the live symposium, our production team managed every aspect of the broadcast in real time, switching between cameras, presentations, remote contributors and live graphics while continuously monitoring audio, video quality and connectivity.

To deliver the symposium, we provided:

• A broadcast-quality virtual production, combining multi-camera studio filming, live vision mixing, animated graphics, presentation management and real-time technical direction to create an engaging viewing experience.
• Remote presenter integration, connecting speakers from around the world through a managed workflow that included technical rehearsals, live audio and video monitoring, presentation cueing and dedicated presenter support.
• Resilient live streaming and event management, with multiple recording paths, redundant streaming workflows, live moderation and continuous monitoring to ensure the three-day symposium ran reliably for thousands of delegates across 57 countries.

By combining robust production workflows with experienced crew and carefully planned technical systems, we created a virtual symposium that felt every bit as engaging as an in-person event. Delegates enjoyed a smooth viewing experience, presenters could focus entirely on sharing their knowledge, and the MND Association had complete confidence that every session was in safe hands.

The virtual symposium successfully brought together the global MND research community, proving that a large-scale scientific conference could be delivered online without compromising interaction or engagement.

Over the course of the three-day event, more than 16,000 delegates from 57 countries joined live sessions featuring leading researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals. Delegates were able to ask questions, take part in discussions, vote in live sessions and access digital posters throughout the programme.

“I want to express my gratitude for the outstanding service and support we received from WaveFX during our recent virtual event, streamed to delegates from over 40 countries across the world. It really could not have run more smoothly on both sides of the camera lens!

As we return to a face-to-face meeting next year, we look forward to working with you to incorporate many of the new ideas and positive experiences that you and your crew have brought to our annual meeting these past three years”

Dr Brian Dickie, Director or Research Development, MNDA

Build plenty of time into the schedule for rehearsals, keep presentations simple and allow space for genuine audience interaction rather than trying to fill every minute with content.

Most importantly, think about the experience from the delegate’s point of view. A well-paced programme with clear navigation and regular opportunities to participate will always keep people engaged for longer.

Whether you’re bringing together a handful of speakers or thousands of delegates from around the world, every virtual event starts with a conversation.

We’ll happily share ideas, talk through the options and help you find an approach that works for your audience, your presenters and your budget. Every event is different, and that’s exactly what makes them interesting.