The Affiliate Leaders Summit 2026 will tackle rising advertising regulation, emerging market opportunities and the future of the affiliate model through its dedicated Future of Affiliate Strategy track.
Taking place on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the track will bring together affiliate executives, operators, media leaders and performance marketing specialists to examine how regulation, technology, changing audience behaviour and international expansion are reshaping affiliate strategy.
As affiliates face an increasingly complex operating environment, discussions will focus on the key forces transforming customer acquisition, content creation, compliance and business growth.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, shared: “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. The Affiliate Leaders Summit, and this track especially, is about looking ahead, helping affiliates arrive prepared and ready to make the most of these changes.”
Navigating Advertising Restrictions and Compliance Challenges
The track will open with “Ad Crackdowns = Affiliate Minefield”, examining how affiliates can maintain conversion as advertising restrictions and platform enforcement become increasingly difficult to navigate.
Featuring Vadim Aidlin (CEO, Mamuta Media), Laila Bertagnolli (CEO, Deal Machines), Rene Gabriel (Sales Director, Livesport) and Leanne Muleba (Chief Operations Officer, Matching Visions), the panel will explore which traffic sources remain viable, how affiliates can keep content compliant as regulations evolve and the commercial consequences of falling behind new advertising requirements.
Testing the Future of the Affiliate Model
Attention will then turn to the longer-term sustainability of affiliate businesses during “Future Shock: The Predictions Affiliates Don’t Want to Hear.”
The session will feature Pierre Cadena (COO, Catena Media), Stephen Clibbon (Head of Affiliates, VL Partners), Jenny Gonzalez (Co-Founder and CEO, Rocahead), Elena Granishevskaia (Head of Affiliate Marketing, M88 Mansion), Milorad Matejic (COO, Gentoo) and Yonit Shvinkelstain (Co-Founder, Leverage).
With AI, regulation and increasing platform control continuing to reshape customer acquisition, the panel will challenge assumptions about which affiliate models, markets and traffic sources can still deliver sustainable returns. Discussion topics will include the future of SEO, attribution and CPA models, as well as how affiliates can prepare as traditional acquisition strategies become less effective.
Identifying the Next Billion-Dollar Opportunity
Another key discussion, “The Future of Affiliation: Where Is the Next Billion Dollar Opportunity?”, will explore how affiliates can adapt to a changing landscape and build businesses with long-term value.
The panel will feature Chris Duncan (COO, Spotlight Sports Group), Karina Ferraioli (Founder & CMO, Master Affiliates Network), Elaine Gardiner (Managing Director, TAG Media) and Esko Rissanen (Director of Revenue, Gentoo).
Speakers will assess how affiliates can optimise opportunities across prediction markets, sweepstakes, AI search, creator economies and emerging performance models, helping delegates identify where future growth potential may lie.
Adapting to Changing Audience Behaviour
Content strategy will also take centre stage during “Content That Still Cuts Through: What Audiences Actually Engage With Now.”
Featuring James Connelley (Chief International Officer, LiveScore Group), Jamil Qanai (Director of Commercial, LiveScore Group), Greg Lacan (Co-Founder, UniK SEO), Javier Rodríguez (Head of Affiliation & Digital Marketing Manager, Afiliapub), Rui Costa (Head of Content, Gentoo) and Sue Dawson (Operations Director, FTD Digital), the session will examine how affiliates can adapt as long-form reviews compete with short-form video, live streams, creators and online communities for attention.
The discussion will focus on which content formats are driving repeat engagement and where affiliate content strategies need to evolve to remain competitive.
Exploring New Markets and Growth Opportunities
Beyond the headline panels, the track will explore how affiliates can balance growth and compliance across multiple jurisdictions, identify emerging opportunities in LatAm, Africa and Asia, and reach new audiences through developing verticals.
Attendees will also gain insights from a special presentation focused on attracting a new generation of bettors to horse racing.
The Future of Affiliate Strategy track is available exclusively to attendees holding an Affiliate Leaders Summit VIP Pass, while affiliates and regulators may be eligible for complimentary access. The track is designed to provide delegates with practical insights into the trends, technologies and market developments shaping the next generation of affiliate growth.
