Michael Blackman

Michael Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, has significantly shaped the AV sector with his leadership at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE). He boasts over 40 years in technology publishing and events, with 20 years focused on the AV industry. Michael’s career began in marketing, followed by roles at the Financial Times and Personal Computer World. He was then headhunted to build and expand computer and technology exhibitions in Germany.

He founded his own consulting business, spending a decade advising companies on event creation across Europe. This led to an offer to create a tradeshow for the professional AV community, which became ISE. Starting with a small team in 2004 in Geneva, he expanded ISE to become the world’s largest exhibition for audiovisual and electronic systems integration. The event's growth, under Michael’s guidance, includes a thirty-fold increase in floor space, a twenty-fold increase in attendees, and eleven-fold growth in exhibitors.

Michael has spearheaded initiatives like sector conferences, Hosted Buyer programs, and business matchmaking tools to drive industry growth. He has increasingly focused on attracting AV end-users, elevating the professional AV industry's profile among business and technology sectors. Since relocating to Barcelona, he has cultivated relationships with local and regional governments, supporting ISE's ongoing development and the AV industry in Southern Europe.

Under Michael’s leadership, ISE has become a vital marketplace for innovation, new ideas, and industry deals, making the show integral to the field of AV systems integration.