ProveIt! Conference Code of Conduct

Effective August 2026. Supersedes all prior versions.

1. Scope and Applicability

By registering for, attending, speaking at, exhibiting at, sponsoring, organizing, or otherwise participating in the ProveIt! Conference (in person, hybrid, or virtual), you agree to comply with this Code of Conduct (“Code”). This Code applies to all Participants, including attendees, speakers, panelists, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, contractors, volunteers, staff, guests, advisory board members, and the organizers and leadership of the ProveIt! Association. No role is exempt.

This Code applies at all official Conference venues and events, at Conference-affiliated social events, on the Conference’s virtual platforms and event app, and in public communications about the Conference, including social media and online forums, where a Participant is identifiable as a speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, organizer, or representative of the Conference, or is addressing another Participant regarding the Conference.

2. Purpose

ProveIt! exists to advance the industry through open demonstration, direct technical scrutiny, and honest disagreement. The Conference is designed to be a respectful, inclusive, safe, and productive environment where every Participant can learn, challenge, and be challenged. This Code ensures Participants can engage fully without harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior.

3. Ideas and People

Rigorous disagreement about technology, architecture, vendors, practices, and the state of the industry is not only permitted at ProveIt!, it is the point. Participants are encouraged to question claims, demand evidence, and speak plainly about ideas they believe are wrong. Strong language directed at ideas, products, or practices is not a violation of this Code.

The line this Code draws is between ideas and people. Conduct that demeans, dismisses, harasses, or targets a person or group, rather than the substance of their work or argument, is prohibited regardless of the intensity of the underlying technical debate.

4. Expected Behavior

Participants must:

• Treat others with professionalism, courtesy, and respect, regardless of their role, title, discipline, employer, seniority, or experience level.
• Refrain from harassment, intimidation, or discrimination based on protected characteristics, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, and veteran status.
• Extend the same respect to all conference personnel, including booth staff, marketing and sales representatives, volunteers, venue employees, and non-technical attendees, as to technical peers.
• Behave appropriately in all Conference settings, including social events and online.
• Follow reasonable instructions from event organizers and venue personnel.
• Use event spaces safely, lawfully, and without interfering with others.

5. Prohibited Behavior

The following conduct is prohibited:

• Harassment, sexual misconduct, intimidation, threats, or unwanted attention.
• Abusive, demeaning, or discriminatory language or imagery directed at a person or group, including remarks that belittle a Participant on the basis of a protected characteristic or their role at the Conference.
• Disruption of sessions, exhibits, presentations, or networking activities.
• Publicly identifying, disparaging, or pressuring any person who has raised a concern under this Code, or demanding that they defend or substantiate their report in public.
• Unauthorized recording or broadcasting of sessions or of other Participants without consent.
• Damage to property.
• Aggressive solicitation or conduct inconsistent with sponsor and exhibitor rules.
• Interference with another Participant’s booth, demonstration, or staff.
• Retaliation of any kind against a person for reporting a concern or participating in a review.

6. Speakers and Presenters

Speakers and panelists represent the Conference while on stage and in official recordings. In addition to all other provisions of this Code, speakers must:

• Direct criticism at technologies, practices, companies, and ideas, not at individuals in the audience or industry.
• Address the audience inclusively. Language that excludes or diminishes any part of the audience is not appropriate from the stage.
• Refrain from remarks that demean any group or that single out an individual Participant without their consent.
• Comply with the moderator and with reasonable requests from organizers regarding time, format, and content.

Speaker slots, panel seats, and recordings may be withdrawn for violations of this section.

7. Sponsor and Exhibitor Obligations

Sponsors and Exhibitors must ensure that their employees, contractors, and booth personnel comply with this Code, and are responsible for the conduct of their representatives at the Conference and in Conference-related public communications.

8. Organizers and Leadership

The organizers and leadership of the ProveIt! Association are bound by this Code in full. Any report concerning an organizer, leader, or advisory board member is handled exclusively by the Independent Conduct Contact described in Section 9 and is not reviewed by the person concerned or by anyone who reports to them.

9. Reporting

Concerns may be raised through any of the following channels:

• Independent Conduct Contact. An independent third party engaged by the Conference and outside its leadership. Available before, during, and after the event. ombudsman@proveitconference.com
• Event Help Desk. During the Conference, for immediate on-site concerns. helpdesk@proveitconference.com
• Conference email. contact@proveitconference.com

Reports are accepted whether or not the reporter can supply documentation or witnesses. A report is not a finding, and a lack of evidence is not a reason for a report to be dismissed without review. Anonymous reports are accepted, with the understanding that anonymity may limit the actions available.

10. Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation

The Conference will keep the identity of reporters and the substance of reports confidential to the extent possible consistent with conducting a fair review and taking appropriate action. The Conference will not publicly identify a reporter, publicly characterize the merits of a report, or require a reporter to substantiate their concern in any public forum.

Retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith, or who participates in a review, is itself a violation of this Code and will be treated as a serious offense regardless of the outcome of the original report.

11. Review Process

Reports are reviewed promptly by the Independent Conduct Contact or, where appropriate, by designated event staff. The person who is the subject of a report will be informed of the concern in general terms and given an opportunity to respond before any Level III or higher sanction is applied, except where immediate action is required for safety. Decisions are made by the Independent Conduct Contact in consultation with leadership, except that leadership is excluded from decisions in which they are the subject or have a conflict of interest.

12. Sanctions for Violations

Sanctions are proportionate to the conduct and may be applied at any level without progressing through lower levels. Prior conduct, including conduct at previous ProveIt! events, may be considered.

1. Level I — Warnings and Corrective Actions
2. Verbal or written warning
3. Required modification of behavior
4. Temporary pause in participation
5. Level II — Participation Restrictions
6. Removal from sessions or areas
7. Suspension of access to networking rooms, VIP sections, or the exhibit hall
8. Limitation of event-app or virtual-platform features

• Level III — Removal from the Event

1. Immediate expulsion without refund
2. Badge deactivation and loss of re-entry privileges
3. Level IV — Speaker, Sponsor, and Exhibitor Consequences
4. Withdrawal of speaking slots, panel seats, or recordings
5. Revocation of booth space or demonstration privileges
6. Removal of brand visibility
7. Deactivation of lead-generation tools
8. Cancellation of sponsored talks or presentations
9. Level V — Organizer and Leadership Consequences
10. Removal from the advisory board or organizing role
11. Removal from Conference leadership
12. Level VI — Post-Event Restrictions
13. Suspension or permanent ban from future events
14. Ineligibility for future sponsorship or speaking
15. Referral to security or law enforcement

• Level VII — Financial Liability

1. Liability for damages or emergency response costs
2. Reimbursement of expenses
3. Forfeiture of fees
4. General

The ProveIt! Association may modify this Code at any time. The current version is published at proveitconference.com/code-of-conduct, and material changes will be announced to registered Participants and sponsors.

© 2026 ProveIt! Association