Business Analysis Conferences: what and why?
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business environment, professionals need to stay on the edge of the latest trends. Business analysis conferences serve as a crucial nexus for this pursuit in our knowledge area. They offer a unique amalgamation of learning, networking, and growth opportunities. Such events bring together experts from across the globe, providing a platform to share helpful knowledge and insights.
But why attend a business analysis conference? The reasons are manifold. Firstly, these conferences present an unparalleled opportunity to learn. Conferences are visited by thought leaders and innovators who are at the forefront of the field. Through workshops, keynote speeches, and breakout sessions, attendees get access to cutting-edge information and case studies. Moreover, conferences offer a chance to network with industry leaders, fostering relationships that can lead to future collaboration. In a world where the only constant is change, attending business analysis conferences is a strategic investment in professional development.
Key Business Analysis Conferences in 2024
April
Building Business Capability (BBC) 2024
Tickets: from $2,295 to $3,395; from 3 to 5 days; offline (US); #bbccon
Set to take place on April 15-19, 2024, in Orlando, United States. This conference focuses on enhancing abilities across various domains, such as People, Products, Data, and Knowledge. It aims to build core leadership skills, create customer-centric organizations, and deliver digital transformation. The conference covered topics such as business analysis, business architecture, business processes, and many more. It offers sessions across different tracks and trails suitable for Business Analysts, Business/Enterprise Architects, Product Managers, or Data Professionals
Brave New World Professional Development Days
Tickets: from $200 to $700; two days; offline
Get ready for an unforgettable gathering that brings together our industry’s brightest minds and hearts of business analysis in Minneapolis on the 23rd of April! This event is your golden ticket to dive into exhilarating discussions, gain insider knowledge from leading experts, and rub shoulders with like-minded professionals. It’s more than a conference; it’s a community coming alive, ready to welcome you with open arms. Don’t miss out on this journey of learning, inspiration, and camaraderie!
BA Life 2024
Tickets: from $250 to $350; single-day event; online; #balife
Scheduled for 25 April 2024, this virtual conference is designed as a one-day festival by BAs for BAs. It focuses on bringing together business analysis professionals from various industries to share knowledge, network, and explore the latest trends. The format aims to provide a comprehensive learning experience in a compact, accessible format. A unique distinguishing feature of this event is that they do not invite speakers to submit proposals. What they do is carefully tailor who to speak and what to speak about. Hosts mostly choose from people they know and have had positive experiences with. A pretty homey touch, I would say!
May-June
5th European Business Analysis Day
Tickets: from $160 to $280; single-day event; online; #EuropeanBADayConference
This premier single-day event aims to bring together a diverse group of professionals passionate about business analysis. This conference is designed to serve as a melting pot for innovative ideas, strategies, and practices. Attendees can expect to engage in a rich program that includes insightful keynote speeches from industry leaders. Numerous networking opportunities with peers and experts are available, too!
This year, your humble editor is a part of this event as a business analysis conference media partner and a speaker! I will speak on the topic of “How I am still having trust issues and learning to love the AI as a BA.” Despite the topic’s streaming sound, I promise there will not be any tin foil hat-like experience! Or will it? By the way, there is a way for you to participate in my speech! Click the link, find a 5-minute survey, and share your ideas on the topic. I will share the results in my speech. Let’s make it even more personal together!
9th BA Istanbul / 10th UX Istanbul
Tickets: from $90 to $180; a 3-day event; online; #baistanbul
This conference stands as a landmark gathering in the vibrant city of Istanbul. This event is a focal point for IT professionals involved in the process of business change and project delivery. BA Istanbul is set to continue the tradition of providing a dynamic platform for learning, sharing, and networking among professionals. This 3-day event will be full of excellent speakers, so do not miss it!
7th BA&Beyond
Tickets: price to be announced (TBA); 4 cities, 5 days; offline; #BABeyond24
BA&Beyond is a conference that connects core BA competencies with related disciplines. The event will occur in Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, expanding beyond its traditional locations. It focuses on enabling change in organizations by bridging analysis with strategy, architecture, agile, product management, and innovation. The conference creates a context for sharing experiences and learning from peers, turning insights into tangible actions. Topics cover a broad mix of BA-related domains, and the event welcomes experienced and new speakers.
Business Analysis Impact
Tickets: price TBA; 3 cities, 3 days; hybrid (India)
Business Analysis Impact 2024 is gearing up to inspire and innovate, and it is now calling for session proposals for hybrid-type events. Themed “Upskill. Network. Advance.,” the conference aims to foster professional growth, networking, and advancement in the field of business analysis. More details are yet to be revealed.
September
BA Brazil
Tickets: price TBA; 3 days; format TBD
BA Brazil is a non-profit event organized by the Brazilian chapter of the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®), with support from IIBA® International and Latin American chapters (Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico). It aims to spread knowledge about Business Analysis as a discipline that deeply understands organizational issues and needs, collaborating with various stakeholders to deliver valuable solutions. The event features lectures, courses, and open discussions led by experts from academia and the industry. This year, the event will be held on the 4th-6th of September. Important: conference language is Potrugese.
16th Business Analysis Conference Europe
Tickets: price TBA, around $1,500-2,500; 1 city, 3 days; offline (UK); #BA2024
Its meticulously curated sessions, led by industry veterans and thought leaders, are at the heart of the conference. The agenda typically spans a wide range of topics, from the core fundamentals of business analysis to the latest in digital innovation, agile methodologies, data analytics, and beyond. Each session aims to equip attendees with actionable knowledge and skills one can immediately apply to enhance their professional practice. Usually, the 1st day of the conference is a workshop day; the other 2 days are talks, panel discussions, and a lot of networking.
Last year, I participated in this conference as a media partner. I plan to extend the warm invitation this year by applying to be a speaker! And, of course, try to be more helpful in terms of sharing awareness about this business analysis conference. Part of my last year’s impact is available on my YouTube channel in the form of interviews I took from speakers. Check them out to learn more!
By the way, IRM UK (the company behind the event) also hosts other BA-related conferences:
- Mar 11-14, Data Governance & Master Data Management Conference Europe, co-located
- Apr 23-24, Business Change & Transformation Conference 2024, AI Transformation Conference 2024, and Service Design Conference 2024, co-located
- Jun 3-6, Enterprise Architecture & BPM Conference 2024, co-located
- Oct 14-17, Data & AI Conference Europe 2024 and Business Intelligence & Analytics Conference 2024, co-located
October
Balkan Business Analysis (BBA)
Tickets: price TBA; single-day event; offline (Croatia); #BBA2024
The Balkan Business Analysis Conference is a key gathering tailored for business analysis professionals within the Balkan region and further afield, blending regional insights with global best practices. This event is perfect for business analysts, project managers, and IT professionals eager to expand their knowledge, skills, and professional network. It features insightful keynotes, hands-on workshops, and real-world case studies, covering topics from agile methodologies to digital transformation and data analytics. Attendees will benefit from unparalleled networking opportunities, connecting with a vibrant community committed to advancing the field of business analysis.
Last year, I was a part of this business analysis conference as a speaker with a topic related to skills business analysts possess to help build trust with stakeholders. I plan to apply this year and visit the beautiful Zagreb, as IIBA Croatia hosts the event, so I hope to see you there! See you Oct 10-11!
Festival of Business Analysis
Tickets: price TBA; 7 cities, 5 days; hybrid (Australia); #FestivalOfBusinessAnalysis
Hosted by IIBA Australia, this event is scheduled for 14-18 October 2024 across several cities in Australia and New Zealand, including Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Wellington, as well as online. The theme “Innovate, Inspire, Ignite” reflects its focus on next-gen strategies, inspirational insights, and fostering excellence in business analysis. Every city has a one-day event, while the online format spans the whole period.
November
BA Summit Southern Africa
Tickets: price TBA; 3-day event; offline (South Africa); #BASummitSA
The Business Analysis Summit is a pivotal event for business analysts and leading organizations. It is designed to explore the role’s impact on delivering business value and facilitating strategic change. This year, it will be due from 4 to 6 of November. Topic is yet to be announced. happen Celebrating its tenth year, last year’s conference in Johannesburg focused exclusively on the profession of business analysis. Following the previous year’s success with over 250 attendees, the summit presented a unique opportunity for organizations to highlight their commitment to Business Analysis, offering a collaborative space for professionals to engage, share insights, and network.
IIBA Poland Summit
Tickets: price TBA; 2-day event; offline (Poland)
The IIBA Poland Summit 2023 marked a significant event for business analysis professionals in Poland, celebrating the intersection of technology, innovation, and leadership within the field. Hosted by the IIBA Poland Chapter, this inaugural summit coincided with the 20th anniversary of the IIBA, offering a unique opportunity for learning, sharing, and networking within the BA community. This summit was the first conference organized by the IIBA Poland chapter, and they are planning to repeat their success this year! Mark the date and meet your peers from 7th to 8th November!
Romanian BA Conference
Tickets: price TBA; single-day event; offline (Romania); #RBAC2024
RBAC#10 was a one-day hybrid community event aiming to share best practices and lessons learned, innovative ideas, and leadership insights. This annual conference brings local business analysis experts together to promote thought leadership and experience sharing.
RBAC#11 will be even better! Mark the date – November 22 – to visit one of the mist iconic business analysis conferences in Europe!
Multiple occasions
Business Analyst World
Tickets: from $1,050 to $3,200; 3-4 day events; offline (US, Canada); #BAWorld
ProjectWorld*BusinessAnalystWorld is North America’s premier event for Project Managers and Business Analysts, featuring a global lineup of expert speakers from every industry sector. The conference promises continuous learning from start to finish, with the goal of leaving attendees motivated and equipped with new skills, tools, and techniques ready for immediate application in their professional lives. It emphasizes the importance of community building, offering numerous opportunities for attendees to connect and expand their professional network.
This year, we should expect the following business analysis conferences:
- Mar 25-28, Toronto
- Apr 22-24, Orlando
- May 6-8, Washington
- Oct 21-24, Boston
- Nov 4-7, Vancouver
- Dec 2-4, Chicago
- If we are lucky, there might be an online format announced later, as it was in 2023
Business Analysis Conferences, hopefully, to be announced in 2024
BAMF
Tickets: invitation only, nominal price; single-day event; offline (UK); #BAMF
Since its inception in 2009, the BA Manager Forum has been a platform for business analysis managers to connect, share strategic insights, and advance the profession. As the BA Manager role became more common, the Forum’s membership expanded, now including over 150 heads of BA practice. Additionally, it supports ongoing engagement through summaries, digital resources, and publications. Notably, the Forum has contributed to the profession’s growth by initiating the Expert BA Award and a BA apprenticeship scheme, with plans to further its impact based on member support.
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