Cybersecurity in the Windy City: After hosting several Cyber Security Summits under the IPExpo Europe event umbrella, Imago Techmedia will be creating a standalone cyber security conference in Chicago this fall. Cyber Security Chicago is expected to attract approximately 4,000 IT and security professionals to McCormick Place from 18 – 19 October.  The events will focus on six topic areas: protection, detection, mitigation, intelligence, hacking, and DevSecOps.

Vox Talks: Vox Media has announced that it will be hosting its 2nd annual Vox Conversations Unconference, taking place on 26 – 27 April in Washington, D.C. According to the conference organizers their plan is to shake up “the traditional policy conference with a mix of unconference discussions, live podcast recordings with the Vox team, networking and other surprises.” While they expect the conversations to emerge organically in the tradition of the uncoference format, some of the topic ideas they expect to cover include: The relationship between the government and the media; Trumps immigration policies; the Status of the Affordable Care Act; and The impact of new trade policies. More information can be found here.

Speaking Opportunity: Each year, “journalists, technologists, academics and others passionate about news and media” attend the Online News Association Annual Conference, which will take place from 5 – 7 October in Washington D.C. Covering a number of exciting trends in digital journalism, the conference organizers are interested in topics that are either inspirational/aspirational or that provide best practices and solutions to common issues that newsrooms could apply to their own work.  If you have a great idea to share, submit it via their online form by 13 April.

Lunchtime Learning: Last week, EmTech India brought together 400 “business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and change makers who are passionate about addressing major global issues by turning ideas into solutions.”  Mint and MIT Technology Review partnered to create this event, which covered themes such as smart cities, 3d printing, AI, connected health, the future of energy and much more. Watch speakers from Time, Inc., Trend Micro, Qualcomm, and Facebook address emerging technologies that have the greatest potential to change lives.

Coming Up Next: From 19 – 22 March , the “nextgen commerce event,” ShopTalk will bring more than 5,000 attendees to Las Vegas including featured speakers from HSN, Amazon, Target, Sephora, eBay and more! Meanwhile in Hannover, Germany, CeBit will “Explore the Digital World”– this year’s theme, which will be reflected across its three stages and on the show floor.  Topics will include artificial intelligence, cyborgs & biohacking, robots, virtual worlds, the Darknet and cybercrime.  The National After School Association Annual Convention, self-described as the premier learning, networking and professional development event for the field of afterschool, will be in Dallas next week.  The convention will welcome 2,000 afterschool professionals, more than 170 workshops, and 100+ exhibitors!