Moderation
A panel should discuss a real question, not just pass the microphone from one speaker to the next
I prepare the speakers, find the point where they really disagree, and ask the questions that give the audience more than a set of opinions: something they can use.
What the organiser gets
A discussion that moves towards an answer
Even good experts often turn a panel into four separate talks. I study the topic and the speakers' opinions before the event, so that on stage there is a real question to argue about.
I find the real disagreement: the question where the speakers have different opinions, different experience or different interests.
I ask for a clear answer: I stop general phrases, ask for an example, and connect the answer to what another speaker has already said.
I collect the practical conclusion: what to choose, what to ask a supplier, and which decision to check again after the event.
Formats
From an industry panel to an interview with one expert
| Length | Format | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 60–90 min | Panel discussion | Three to five speakers, a real disagreement, questions from the audience, and a conclusion. |
| Depends on the programme | Hosting a conference | I connect the talks, keep the pace, and bring the audience back to the main subject. |
| 45–90 min | Interview or broadcast | Getting real answers from an expert instead of prepared marketing phrases. |
| On site / online | Vendor event | A professional discussion about the product, without turning the stage into an advertisement. |
I have moderated events for Kod Bezopasnosti, discussions for Anti-Malware and panels at PHDays. I also organise and moderate my own Network Security conference, for the third year: last time it brought together more than 1200 people from over 700 companies. I work with CISOs, engineers, vendors, integrators and owners of security companies.
Preparation
Good moderation starts before anyone goes on stage
- The goal. We agree what the audience should understand, decide or discuss after the panel.
- The panellists. I call each speaker before the event to learn their opinion, their limits, and what they cannot say in public.
- The script. A short list of key questions, with space for the real discussion, instead of a fixed order of speeches.
- The fee. I quote it after I read your brief: it depends on the number of speakers, the preparation, the length and the travel.