Convince Your Boss
Testimonials
Amber Robinson
Beauty Haven
“Expert keynotes, networking opportunities and grounded insights make Swarm the premium event for experienced community managers to stay on top of their game.”
Anonymous
“The best conference for Community Managers of owned platforms. Highly qualified speakers, attendees and organizers.”
Anonymous
“Such an amazing space to immerse yourself with like-minded folk with a passion for collaboration and a superpower that lies in community, anywhere and everywhere.”
Ben Leong
Envato
“Swarm consistently delivers value for people working on any aspect of online community building: whether that’s from seeing under the hood of global industry-leading communities, or encountering new perspectives that you can use to examine and improve your own work. I’m already looking forward to seeing the lineup for next time!”
Claire Embregts
The Mathematical Association of Victoria
“As a seasoned attendee, Swarm is my yearly recharge for community management inspiration. It’s more than simply an event; it’s a way of thinking, a network, and a celebration of our common passion. I can confidently say it’s not just about the sessions; it’s about finding your tribe.”
Jade Tonkin
“I enjoy that Swarm covers a range of topics so it doesn’t matter where in the lifecycle your community is, there is something for everyone to takeaway. I also enjoy that there is always a focus on mental health and safety. A person who works within communities can never be too informed on these topics and its important to be kept up to date to keep team members and community members safe. I have noticed at Swarm there are quite a few people who attend that work in a very small team or on their own.”
Jason Hill
“Many community managers work solo or in small teams. Swarm provides the important opportunity to get ideas, inspiration and best practices from other community professionals so we can all keep growing inclusive and valuable communities for all.”
John Coate
The WELL
“Without a doubt Swarm is the best community gathering I have attended, and I’ve attended a lot in my 30yr career. Every detail is designed to facilitate relationship building – and it’s wildly successful. I urge everyone to go. ”
Matthew Cox
Envato
“Swarm has a signal-to-noise ratio that puts other conferences to shame. It has a stunning track record of delivering the goods. Just register!”
Sarah Hawk
Discourse
“Leaving Swarm is like going home after school camp – you feel like you’ve been separated from your people. The atmosphere is nurturing, challenging and inspirational. If you work in the community space you’d be crazy to miss it.”
Sophie Potter
SANE
“You can’t put a price on the value of connecting with community managers from different sectors. As a community for mental health and suicide prevention with specific needs and risks, we learn from everyone and see what fits for us. Swarm is an awesome opportunity to meet others and hear from the best.”
Convince Your Boss
Swarm Conference is APAC’s flagship gathering for online community professionals. Founded in 2011, it’s the longest running community management conference in the world. Hear from the best of the best.
Every year, working community professionals who live and breathe their strategies and techniques take to the stage to share their learnings with us. They have war stories, case studies, peer reviewed research and practical examples for you to learn from and take back to your workplace.
Swarm consistently delivers value for people working on any aspect of online community building: whether that’s from seeing under the hood of global industry-leading communities, or encountering new perspectives that you can use to examine and improve your own work.
– Ben Leong
We understand that not all community managers face the same issues worldwide. For example, online governance, liabilities, and legal issues all have different practices here in Australia than in the U.S. or Europe.
Through years of empowering leadership and forging connections, Swarm has been able to bring these thought leaders together and develop online governance practices that are in line with our attendees needs.
Hearing about the use of AI/ChatGPT and having 2 speakers with opposing views was really interesting. This is a topic that keeps raising its head and we are learning how to incorporate it in our community in a healthy and helpful way, so its good to understand the positive and negative effects.
– Jade Tonkin
Swarm puts diversity first. Diversity of people, experience, content and opinion. We recognise community management is not a monolith, and work towards breaking down silos and echo chambers, encouraging respectful interdisciplinary conversations and pushing for new voices to be heard.
We understand that a sociologist has as much to offer a community manager as a digital marketing expert, and we believe everyone benefits when we get exposed to new methods and ideas.
Many community managers work solo or in small teams. Swarm provides the important opportunity to get ideas, inspiration and best practices from other community professions so we can all keep growing inclusive and valuable communities for all.
– Jason Hill
As community managers, we understand that the conversations ‘in the margins’ are the most important. It’s where relationships are forged, collaborative opportunities ignite and ideas spark. But conferences often leave no time for true getting to know one another.
In addition to formal networking, Swarm offers relaxed social time, where attendees and contributors can mingle, connect, break out or do their own thing.
“Swarm is more than a conference; it’s a homecoming for community managers. The wealth of knowledge, the supportive network, and the sense of belonging make it indispensable. Swarm is where we recharge, learn and reaffirm our commitment to building supportive and thriving communities.”
– Claire Embregts
Other benefits include:
- Reducing churn or burn out in an industry associated with these issues, by connecting your community manager to a rich peer support network
- Hands on workshops where problems and scenarios can be worked through collaboratively
- Expose your community manager to case-studies and relevant research to better inform your organisation
- Help your community manager formalise a community strategy and move away from simply putting out fires!
Swarm is looking for sponsors for our 2024 event
If you're interested in learning more, please reach out by completing the following enquiry form: