Professor
Endicott College
Dr Linda Robson is a professor at Endicott College’s Gerrish School of Business, where she shares her passion for the events industry with future professionals. Before entering academia, Linda spent more than 20 years planning events worldwide, including in New Zealand, Europe, the United States and Canada.
In 2003, she returned to school to earn a Master of Tourism Administration and a PhD, adding academic depth to her hands-on experience. This combination gives Linda a perspective that bridges practical expertise with research-driven insight.
An active member of MPI and NACE, Linda has contributed to the industry through articles, case studies and book chapters on risk management and event planning. She is a speaker at conferences including Risk 360, NACE Evolve, The Special Event, PCMA’s Annual Conference, ILEA Live, EventWorld and MPI’s WEC.
Whether in the classroom or on stage, Linda brings an applied approach to learning—equipping event professionals with strategies they can use immediately.
Date

Risk is unavoidable in live events, but panic doesn’t have to be. Start with a candid look at tragedies including the Sugarland stage collapse and the Astroworld crowd crush, exploring the warning signs, gaps and decisions that shaped what happened.
Then bring your own questions and “what if” scenarios into the conversation. Through live Q&A and small-group discussion, you’ll explore practical tools and leave with a clearer, more confident approach to risk that’s grounded in real events and shaped by real dialogue.
Learning outcomes:
Analyze the warning signs and structural gaps behind tragedies including Astroworld and Sugarland
Evaluate real-world risk scenarios to identify appropriate mitigation strategies and responses
Build a tailored, confidence-led risk management approach for live events