There's much more to a good conference than what happens in the meeting room.

Think back to the conferences you've attended over the years. Chances are, you've forgotten most of the slides, but you still remember the people you met, the conversations over dinner and the experiences you shared. Some of those encounters may even have turned into lasting friendships.

Our community has never been just about the conference programme, and this weekend in Cambridge has been a wonderful reminder. Ahead of our fifth Cambridge Summit, I've been catching up with friends, watching football, enjoying films and discovering new corners of the city.

Football, films and familiar faces

Congrats to Man of the Match Zak Bradshaw

On Saturday, I joined Ben Lee to watch Cambridge United take on Plymouth. It was wet and windy. A true British experience.

The home team lost, but we had a great afternoon together. I've always had a soft spot for lower-league football. There's a genuine passion for the game, tickets are still affordable, and it's a wonderful way to meet people outside your usual circles.

As a friend of the Cambridge Film Festival, I also managed to fit in two remarkable films, Rocket Girl and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Simon Jones, who chairs the Cambridge Film Trust, has been a great guide to the festival and will be our host on Tuesday evening for another screening.

There's something special about bringing people together around experiences that have nothing to do with their day jobs. It gives us different things to talk about and different ways to get to know each other.

Simon Jones gave a brief introduction to the Festival ahead of Portrait of a Lady on Fire

A city worth exploring

On Sunday, I visited Kettle's Yard for the first time, the former home of art collector Jim Ede and his wife Helen. An extraordinary collection of modern art is displayed among furniture, books and everyday objects. Four old cottages transformed into one unique space.

I came away genuinely impressed.

Kettle's Yard is worth a visit. Make sure to book a time ahead, so that you can go inside the house - the main attraction.

Cambridge has so much to offer beyond its famous university. The combination of history, culture and people makes it a wonderful setting for bringing our international community together.

Perhaps it's time I finally started that travel blog...

More than a conference programme

This weekend has been a special privilege.

Over the years, I've come to appreciate how much these experiences matter. We bring people together to exchange perspectives on technology, design, leadership and the changes shaping our world. Those conversations are important, but so are the relationships that develop around them.

This year, we're back at The Old Schools, with Barney Brown as our host. Our fifth Cambridge Summit brings together people with different backgrounds and perspectives, and we also make time to enjoy the city together.

The friendships and shared experiences are part of what makes returning to Cambridge so rewarding. The same is true in the many other cities where our community comes together. Different places, different people, but the relationships continue to grow over time.

And perhaps that's what stays with us longest. Years later, we may have forgotten the presentations, but we remember the people, the conversations and the experiences we shared.