Session Participant Roles

What is the difference between a Submitter, Speaker, Chairperson, and Moderator?

Within Sessionboard, there are various roles that a contact can undertake based on their involvement with your event. Below, you will find more information on the various roles available to you within Sessionboard.

Session Submitter

• Role: The person who submits the session proposal or abstract.
  • The Session Submitter is created on pg 2. of the submission form.
    

• Responsibilities: Provides initial session details (title, description, format, etc.).
• Additional Notes:
  • They may or may not participate in the session itself as a speaker.
  • Admin users can create a contact and assign it as a Session Submitter to a session.
    
  • Admins can send emails to the Session Submitter from either the Sessions or Contact module.
  • Session Submitters can also be assigned additional tasks (through the portal) to complete.

Speaker(s)

• Role: A person who presents during the session.

• Responsibilities: Delivers content, talks, or panel contributions.

• Additional Notes:
  • There can be multiple speakers in one session. Speakers are created through the Session Submission Form on pg. 4.
    
  • Admin users can create a contact and assign it as a Speaker to a session.
  • Communications (emails or SMS messages) can be sent to all speakers or select individual speakers within a session.

• • Speakers can be assigned tasks (through the portal) to complete. 

Chairperson

• Role: Oversees the session from a leadership or organizational perspective.

• Responsibilities: Ensures the session runs smoothly, may coordinate speakers, or ensure tasks are being completed by session participants.

• Additional Notes:
  • Often used in academic or formal conference settings; sometimes overlaps with moderator responsibilities, depending on the event.
  • Only event admins can assign a contact as a Chairperson to a session.
  • A Chairperson can be located within the Contacts module. They will not exist within the Speakers module. 
  • Communications to a Chairperson can only be sent from the Contacts module.
  • A Chairperson can be assigned tasks (through the portal) to complete. 

Moderator

• Role: Facilitates the session (i.e., Panel Discussion).
• Responsibilities: Introduces speakers, keeps time, and manages audience Q&A or discussions.
• Additional Notes:
  • Only event admins can assign a contact as a Moderator to a session.

• • A Moderator can be located within the Contacts module. They will not exist within the Speakers module. 
  • Communications to a Moderator can only be sent from the Contacts module.
  • A Moderator can be assigned tasks (through the portal) to complete.