TV Presenter, Matthew Walker presents Dunnhumby LIVE 2021.

Dunnhumby is the global leader in Customer Data Science, empowering businesses everywhere to compete and thrive in the modern data-driven economy. Their mission: to enable businesses to grow and reimagine themselves by becoming advocates and champions for their customers.

Dunnhumby LIVE has become a key fixture in the company's calendar. Bringing together 2000+ colleagues from across the globe, giving them the opportunity to hear from inspirational leaders and guest speakers, participate in team building activities and have a good time! In previous years, Dunnhumby LIVE has taken place in large event spaces, such as the prestigious Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. When the pandemic struck in the spring of 2020, management at Dunnhumby was faced with a challenge - how do we deliver Dunnhumby LIVE with the same passion, style, energy and enjoyment of previous years against the uncertain backdrop of a global pandemic? With that, Dunnhumby LIVE 2021 Televised was born!!

After a number of online meetings with the team from Dunnhumby and working with our scriptwriter, Jack to finalise the dialogue, I was excited to get started. I arrived at Dunnhumby HQ in Hammersmith, London to find a very impressive set up that rivalled most television studios. Downstairs, the main studio space boasted an impressive stage that included a virtual audience wall, multiple camera angles and enough space to fit a presenter and 4 guests comfortably. Upstairs, the garden space offered a 4 camera set up with a much more relaxed studio design. Myself and guests could sit and conduct keynote speeches, interviews with senior management and links to help piece the show together from the comfort of 2 armchairs and the vibrant greens of the garden setting.

Before any live television, there's always a camera rehearsal. It's a chance to meet the people that you'll be working with (if you haven't already of course) and to top and tail the show to make sure everyone is singing on the same hymn sheet. Our crew for Hunnhumby LIVE was equally as impressive as the studio. In the garden studio (where I spent most of my time), Mr Lynch was our floor manager. On cameras, Tom and Rich worked their magic with the new 4K Blackmagic Studio Camera. George on sound, producer Connie and in my ears, lead producer and director, Christine. Not to mention Owen and the crew running the show downstairs on the main stage.

Joining me on camera in the garden studio was interim chief executive officer for Dunnhumby, Claire Lorains. As a presenter, I have the honour of interviewing and working with many CEO's. Having spent time on set with Claire, it's easy to see why Dunnhumby attracts the very best people. Claire is passionate, driven, approachable, personable, funny and much more. She is everything that a great company wants in a CEO so I'm excited to see her career progress and hope we get the chance to work together in the future.

My guest and keynote speaker for Dunnhumby LIVE was British polar explorer Felicity Aston MBE. Felicity was unavailable for the full camera rehearsal but she is a true professional (and fascinating I might add) and used to delivering these types of speeches so after a quick run-through of my intro and outro for Felicity, we were all set.

The next morning at 3.45am, my alarm went off, it was time for DunnHumby LIVE 2021. Shower, coffee and a deserted drive around the North Circular later and we're on set ready to go. At 5.59am, Christine began the countdown in my earpiece, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....and we're live!

The show went by without a glitch. Great content, a great team and hopefully a great experience for those tuning in from around the Dunnhumby globe. It was a real honour to present Dunnhumby LIVE 2021 and whether live or televised, I hope to be part of this wonderful event for many years to come.

Special thanks to Mike, Kat, Flora, Matthew, Lara and Laura. When you know, you know. Well done team, onwards to 2022!