Conference Session Moderator Instructions

Conference Agenda and Session Details

Review the CASQA 2024 Conference – Session Details & Contact Information spreadsheet (updated ##/##/2025) for the complete session details for each session you are moderating. Any changes after the file date are not reflected in the spreadsheet.

NOTE – Upon checking in at the conference moderators will be given a print out of the complete session details for each of their sessions (in large font size for readability at the podium) as well as the session announcements.

The spreadsheet has 4 tabs:

Tab 1 – CASQA 2025 Conference Agenda (as of date pending) – LINK PENDING

Note – Supporting speakers for technical presentations are not listed in the Conference Program agenda (only the primary speakers).

Tab 2 – Technical Program Session Details

All sessions are 55 minutes. A session consists of either 2 technical presentations (1 row for each presentation), 1 panel, or 1 training workshop (note: 2-hour training workshops have two 55-minute sessions).  Each row of the session, includes:

• Moderator
• Presentation / Session Type
• Presentation / Panel / Workshop Length
• Day, Start Time, and End Time
• Meeting Room, Session Number, Track
• Track Sponsor Organization (if applicable)
• Title of Presentation, Panel, or Training Workshop
• Primary Speaker – Technical Presentation (Name, Job Title, Organization)
• Supporting Speaker – Technical Presentation (Name, Job Title, Organization)
• Panelists (Name, Job Title, Organization)
• Workshop Speakers (Name, Job Title, Organization)

Tab 3 – Speaker and Panelist Contact Information

• For use only to contact the speakers or panelists in your session(s) as needed; not for marketing purposes.
• Moderators of Technical Presentation Sessions: In advance of the conference you may want to email the speakers in the session(s) you are moderating, to introduce yourself as the Session Moderator.

Tab 4 – Moderator Contact Information

Your mobile number is included in case we need to contact you during the conference. If your number is missing, or is different than shown, please provide it to Amy Porter.

Speaker Instructions

Following speaker confirmations all Primary Speakers, Supporting Speakers, and Panelists were sent the URL to the Speaker and Panelist Instructions. Moderators may want to familiarize themselves with the instructions.

All speaker or panelist questions should be relayed to CASQA Events Manager Amy Porter, or Nick Grimmond.

Speakers’ final PowerPoint presentations are required to be submitted in advance of the conference and by the deadline – Monday, Sep 8, 2025.

Their presentations will be pre-loaded into the CASQA-provided laptop for the assigned meeting room before the start of the conference.

For back-up purposes only – Speakers have been instructed to ensure they have access to their final presentation (e.g., on a flash drive, on their laptop, etc.).

1. Arrive to the assigned meeting room no later than 10 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin.
2. Select a seat for yourself in the front row, so that you are visible to the speakers and for easy access to the stage.
3. Introduce yourself as the Session Moderator to the CASQA Production Team technician in the room. They will assist and guide you as needed throughout the session.
4. Room Temperature:
   1. It’s difficult to achieve the ideal room temperature for all attendees. If you get a general consensus that the room is too hot or too cold, contact Amy Porter or Nick Grimmond at CASQA Conference Services (text or call), who will contact the facility. Be aware that a temperature change is not immediate in large meeting rooms.
5. Greet speakers as they arrive:
   1. Confirm their speaking order per the conference agenda and the pronunciation of their name and organization,
   2. Ask speakers to sit in the front row.
   3. No Shows:
      1. The moderator should immediately contact the CASQA Events Manager.
      2. If the speaker of the first technical presentation is a no-show the session will be postponed until the designated start time of the next presentation within the session (presentations will not be moved up in the agenda).
      3. If all speakers of a session are no-shows, the session will be cancelled.

General Instructions

• Begin and end the session on time (neither early nor late) per the conference agenda session time slot. It is critical to stay on schedule!
• Technical Presentations:
  • 20 minutes + a 5-minute Q&A (25 minutes total), based on the time slot in the conference agenda; not from when the speaker starts speaking.
  • There are 5 minutes between the two technical presentations in a session to allow time to introduce the next presentation.
  • If a speaker for a session is a no-show, do not move the next presentation up into the empty time slot. Each presentation must be given at the assigned time slot in the agenda.
• Panels:
  • Should be a discussion; ensure there is no less than 5 minutes for Q&A.
• Use the 5 minutes and 1-minute remaining warning cards (provided at the podium) to keep speakers on time per the agenda and to not compress the time allotted for the next presentation.
• Q&A Time Gaps:
  • Moderators should come prepared with back-up questions to fill time gaps before the scheduled time slot for the next presentation.
  • Incorporate compliments (from the moderator and the audience).
  • Engage the audience (tag a friend or colleague).
• Create a Positive Space:
  • Help to create a positive, welcoming, inclusive environment.
  • How to handle negatives:
    • Disarm with humor
    • Thank and compliment the speaker
    • Remind everyone to uphold CASQA’s core values
  • If something goes south (e.g., boos):
    • Report it to Conference Services

Start the Session

> Use the printed Session Information and Announcements as provided in your moderator packet upon check-in.

> See the ‘Session Scripts by Type’ section below for examples.

1. Welcome and announce the Session Number, Room Name, and Track Name
2. Announce the Track Sponsor organization (if applicable)
3. Introduce yourself as the Session Moderator – name, job title, organization (no bio)
4. Read the “Start-of-Session” announcements specific to your session (provided in your moderator packet upon check-in)
5. State at the beginning of the session that there will be a Q&A period following each technical presentation. Note: For panels and training workshops, questions may be taken throughout the session.
6. State the title of the technical presentation, panel, or training workshop and introduce the speakers or panelists (name, job title, organization – no bio)
7. Speakers will speak from the podium and panelists from the panelist table (panelists may need to share microphones)

Time Remaining Warning

For Technical Presentation Sessions

To account for the 5-minute Q&A time at the end of each technical presentation:

1. Stand and hold up the 5 minutes remaining warning card when there are 10 minutes left in the presentation’s agenda time slot.
2. Stand and hold up the 1-minute remaining warning card when there are 6 minutes left in in the presentation’s agenda time slot, so the speaker knows to begin wrapping up.
3. If the speaker does not finish within 1 minute, stand and walk toward the front of the room to signal that the 5-minute Q&A period is starting.

For Panel or Training Workshop Sessions

Pay attention to when there are 5 minutes remaining in the session to let your panelists/speakers know to begin wrapping up.

End the Session

Moderators must remain in the room throughout the session.

1. End the session on time per the conference agenda.
2. Thank the speakers and/or panelists for their participation, and the audience for coming.
3. Read the “End-of-Session” announcements specific to your session.

Remember to leave the 5 minutes and 1-minute remaining speaker warning cards at the podium when your session is done, so they are available for the next session.

Example Script – Technical Presentation Session

At the Start of the Session State the Following:

“Welcome to [Session #] in [Room Name]. The track is [Track Name]. (If applicable) This track is being sponsored by [Track Sponsor Organization]. I am [Name] with [Organization] and am the moderator for this session.

“Before we start, there are a few announcements. [read the Start-of-Session announcements].”

“There will be a 5-minute Q&A period following each presentation, so please save your questions until then.”

At the Start of Each Technical Presentation State the Following:

“This presentation is titled [Title]. The speaker(s) is(are) [Name, Job Title, Organization] and …” (state all speakers at once if more than one for the presentation)

At the End of the Session State the Following:

“Thank you for attending this session and to the speakers for your participation.”

[Read the End-of-Session announcements]

Example Script – Panel Session

At the Start of the Session State the Following:

“Welcome to [Session #] in [Room Name]. The track is [Track Name]. (If applicable) This track is being sponsored by [Track Sponsor Organization]. I am [Name] with [Organization] and am the moderator for this session.

“Before we start, there are a few announcements. [read the Start-of-Session announcements].”

“This panel is titled [Title].”

“The panelists are [Name, Job Title, Organization], … ” (state all panelists at once)

At the End of the Session State the Following:

“Thank you for attending this panel and to the panelists for your participation.”

[Read the End-of-Session announcements]

Example Script – Training Workshop Session

Note: Some Training Workshops span 2 sessions. As there may be newcomers, you will make the same introduction in each session, but will change the session number to reflect the current session, and read the announcements specific to each session.

At the Start of the Session State the Following:

“Welcome to [Session #] in [Room Name]. The track is [Track Name]. (If applicable) This track is being sponsored by [Track SponsorOrganization]. I am [Name] with [Organization] and am the moderator for this session.

“Before we start, there are a few announcements. [read the Start-of-Session announcements].”

“This training workshop is titled [Title].”

“The speakers are [Name, Job Title, Organization], … ” (state all speakers at once)

At the End of the Session State the Following:

If the training workshop will continue to the next session:

“Thank you for attending and to the speakers for your participation. This training workshop will continue in [Session #].”

[Read the End-of-Session announcements]

If the training workshop has ended:

“Thank you for attending this training workshop and to the speakers for your participation.”

[Read the End-of-Session announcements]