As we kick off planning here at TSPA for our regional summits, we convene a Programme Committee of Trust & Safety practitioners to join us in collaboration to shape the event. This includes assisting with theme selection, curating sessions, and advising on regional speakers. We’ve asked a few of this year’s committee members—Aderinsola Aribaba, Nikhil Bhasin, and Ailís Daly—to join us in reflecting on the EMEA Summit 2025 theme and give some advice for those planning to attend.
Owning the Unpredictable: The Future of T&S
In discussion with our Programme Committee, this year’s theme of ‘Owning the Unpredictable: The Future of T&S’ emerged as a clear front-runner, given the current landscape of the field. With rapid technological advancements and shifting global dynamics, the need for regional collaboration has never been greater. This summit isn’t just about discussing challenges—it’s about building connections, sharing strategies, and strengthening the EMEA T&S community.
Nikhil Bhasin highlighted some of the difficulty he’s faced as a practitioner, particularly in times of uncertainty, “In T&S, disruptions are inevitable, but the real challenge wasn’t switching focus to the crisis—it was switching back to previous tasks and replenishing mental resources.”
It’s important to us that our community can have open conversations about these shifts so that, regardless of what changes come next, they can rely on each other as they navigate them. Not only is this community joined together in navigating common goals, but also in a desire to be effective in reaching those goals. Aderinsola Aribaba reflected on how this drives her ability to stay focused during unexpected changes, “for me it is to focus on the primary goal of the job to help make the internet safer. Regardless of the changes to technology or any other disruptions, with this in mind it is easier to adjust and adapt.”
In addition to the overall theme, the committee prioritised three areas of focus for the summit:
- At the Forefront of Regulation: Addressing the evolving and regionally-specific landscape of regulation impacting trust and safety practices.
- Misinformation Across Harm Types: Focused on misinformation and its effects across the spectrum of harms trust and safety teams work to prevent.
- Innovation as a Threat and a Tool: Examining the dual role of innovation in trust and safety — both as a force that introduces new risks and as a powerful tool for safeguarding users and improving workflows.
New in 2025: TSPA Member Professional Development Day
This year, not only are we offering a summit day full of discussion and information sharing, but we have also added a second day of professional development programming exclusively for TSPA members that will feature a mix of professional development and networking opportunities. Committee member Ailís Daly is co-facilitating a workshop on day two, focused on returning to T&S work following extended leave or organizational restructuring, “having been through it many times and I hope it will be a powerful and practical session that drives meaningful professional growth.”
Our aim in expanding our programming this year is to provide a space for members to connect, invest in themselves, and gain insights on navigating uncertainty with confidence (and some new skills).
What to Expect
Attendees of the 2025 EMEA Summit can anticipate an engaging lineup of sessions, including diverse panels, in-depth presentations, and workshops that spark innovation. Not only will the sessions provide attendees with key insights from the front lines of T&S, but Aderinsola Aribaba also wants attendees “to walk away feeling like they’ve gained a new perspective. Not just new information, but a shift in how they think about the challenges we face.”
Nikhil Bhasin shared his hope that this year’s attendees come away with a sense of community, “being able to meet people who ‘get it’, are interested in talking about the same things as you is one of the greatest things you can experience at this summit.”
Pro Tip: Review the agenda beforehand, select a few must-attend sessions, and stay for the reception to make the most of networking opportunities. Ailis Daly advises, “Don’t be shy about introducing yourself to the person next to you [in a session]—you might find they’re doing your exact role at another company, or they may have the answer to a challenge you’ve been grappling with. Be open, soak it all up, and enjoy the experience!”
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Interested in attending this year’s EMEA Summit in May? Learn more and register here.
