On Wednesday, 16 September 2026 (10am SAST / 3pm ICT), SVRI held an online briefing for session Chairs three weeks before the SVRI Forum opens in Bangkok, Thailand.

The briefing had two purposes: to take the guesswork out of chairing and to give Chairs an opportunity to meet the SVRI team and each other before arriving in Bangkok.

It covered:

• The Forum and the programme. What the Forum is and how the programme is structured across the 6-8 October abstract-driven days.
• How sessions run on the day. Room set-up, timings, technical support, and who to contact if something goes wrong.
• The practical side of chairing. Introductions, keeping to time, running a Q&A, and what to do if a speaker overruns or does not arrive.