The event will explore the impact of regulation, artificial intelligence, emerging markets and changing audience behaviour on the affiliate model.

The Affiliate Leaders Summit will put the spotlight on the future of affiliate marketing with its Future of Affiliate Strategy track, bringing together affiliate executives, operators, media leaders and performance marketing specialists.

Taking place on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the track will address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, including tighter advertising regulation, the growing influence of artificial intelligence, increasingly complex attribution, changing audience behaviour and expansion into new markets.

According to Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, affiliates are facing a period of accelerated transformation.

“Affiliates have always been quick to adapt, but right now there’s just so much coming at them at once. AI is changing how people find brands. Regulation keeps shifting. Attribution is getting harder to pin down. Having the right knowledge has never mattered more.”

Advertising restrictions and regulatory pressure

The programme will open with “Ad Crackdowns = Affiliate Minefield”, a session focused on the impact of advertising restrictions and increasing platform enforcement.

The panel will feature Vadim Aidlin, CEO of Mamuta Media; Laila Bertagnolli, CEO of Deal Machines; Rene Gabriel, Sales Director at Livesport; and Leanne Muleba, Chief Operations Officer at Matching Visions.

The discussion will examine which traffic sources remain viable, how affiliates can keep content compliant as regulations evolve and the commercial consequences of falling behind new advertising requirements.

AI, regulation and the future of affiliate models

“Future Shock: The Predictions Affiliates Don’t Want to Hear” will examine the longer-term sustainability of traditional acquisition models.

The session will feature Pierre Cadena, COO of Catena Media; Stephen Clibbon, Head of Affiliates at VL Partners; Jenny Gonzalez, Co-Founder and CEO of Rocahead; Elena Granishevskaia, Head of Affiliate Marketing at M88 Mansion; Milorad Matejic, COO at Gentoo; and Yonit Shvinkelstain, Co-Founder of Leverage.

The panel will explore the future of SEO, CPA models and attribution, while examining how AI, regulation and growing platform control are changing traditional customer acquisition strategies.

Where will the next major opportunity emerge?

The programme will also explore new growth opportunities through “The Future of Affiliation: Where Is the Next Billion Dollar Opportunity?”

Chris Duncan, COO of Spotlight Sports Group; Karina Ferraioli, Founder & CMO of Master Affiliates Network; Elaine Gardiner, Managing Director of TAG Media; and Esko Rissanen, Director of Revenue at Gentoo, will examine opportunities across prediction markets, sweepstakes, AI search, creator economies and emerging performance models.

The session will focus on where affiliates can find the strongest growth opportunities and how they can build businesses positioned for future expansion or exit.

Content strategies are evolving

Audience behaviour will also be a key focus during “Content That Still Cuts Through: What Audiences Actually Engage With Now.”

The panel will feature James Connelley, Chief International Officer at LiveScore Group; Jamil Qanai, Director of Commercial at LiveScore Group; Greg Lacan, Co-Founder of UniK SEO; Javier Rodríguez, Head of Affiliation & Digital Marketing Manager at Afiliapub; Rui Costa, Head of Content at Gentoo; and Sue Dawson, Operations Director at FTD Digital.

The speakers will examine how traditional long-form reviews are competing with short-form video, live streams, creators and communities, while exploring which formats are driving stronger engagement and repeat audiences.

Expansion across LATAM, Africa and Asia

The track will also feature sessions focused on international expansion, examining how affiliates can balance growth and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Further discussions will explore opportunities across Latin America, Africa and Asia, alongside emerging verticals capable of reaching new audiences.

The programme will also include a special presentation focused on attracting a new generation of bettors to horse racing.

Attendance at the Future of Affiliate Strategy track is exclusively available to Affiliate Leaders Summit VIP Pass holders. Affiliates and regulators may be eligible for complimentary passes, subject to the organiser’s criteria.