How to make hybrid conferences work?

The situation and brief

The University of Leeds School of Law hosted “Behind Closed Books,” a hybrid conference examining AML risks and practices in the insolvency sector. Convenors Ilaria Zavoli and Oriana Casasola asked Treehouse to design and facilitate two afternoon roundtables (2.5 hrs total; c. 20–30 hybrid participants) to codevelop stakeholder priorities feeding a post-event policy paper. The conference formed part of an ESRC IAA project delivered in partnership with the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA). 

Why this mattered: The UK’s 2020 National Risk Assessment explicitly flags insolvency as a target for money laundering, and in February 2024 the Insolvency Service launched an AML Intelligence Cell. Against that backdrop—and an NCA estimate that money laundering costs the UK over £ 100 billion annually—the convenors sought a practical, action-oriented conversation among IPs, professional bodies, regulators, and academics. 

The Treehouse solution and activity

We delivered a hybrid facilitation model designed to engage the in-person and online audiences:

• Two facilitator setup: One facilitator in the room; one facilitator online to steward conversations and ensure equitable participation. 

• We ran two roundtable discussions, one after each external speaker, and posed powerful questions that the conveners want to address in their policy paper.

• There were scribes taking notes in each group and online, we used the chat function to capture key take outs and the roundtables built directly on morning panels and the keynote by Neil Freebury (Head of Intelligence, Insolvency Service), so participants could turn insights into clear priorities rather than restating problems. 

The outcome or impact

Client feedback:

“Your support, professionalism, and guidance played a key role in making the event a success… your calm and thoughtful approach ensured that the discussions were engaging and productive.” — Ilaria Zavoli & Oriana Casasola (18 July 2025) 

Policy linkage: The outputs have fed into the convenors’ coproduced policy paper, aligning with the Insolvency Service’s expanded intelligence and enforcement focus (including the AML Intelligence Cell) and broader government priorities on economic crime. 

Why Treehouse

• Hybrid mastery that guarantees parity between in-room and remote contributors. 

• Structured, agenda-aligned flow that turns expert input into prioritised actions. 

• Proven client experience reflected in immediate, positive feedback.