Updated May 1st 2026.
Conferences are events where people come together to talk, listen, learn, and confer around a shared interest. In the world of software testing and quality engineering, there are many events that occur annually. A great starting point is the MoTaCon, the MoTaverse’s flagship conference, as well as MoT Chapter events happening all over the world.
There are many different conference types, some focusing on themes like:
- AI in testing and quality engineering
- Test automation
- Quality coaching and leadership
- Exploratory and context-driven testing
- Accessibility and security testing
And some run in different formats:
- Single-track, full-day events, focused and immersive
- Multi-track, multi-day events, where several talks run simultaneously and you choose your path
- Peer conferences, intimate, conversational, deep dives into specific topics
- Workshop-based events, hands-on, practical learning throughout
Take some time to research which format and focus area appeals most to you and your team’s current goals.
Attending conferences promotes learning & innovation
In our domain of tech and quality engineering, formal study options remain limited. Universities and colleges rarely offer quality engineering as a dedicated curriculum, and self-study can be challenging without proper guidance, especially with so much conflicting information online.
However, our industry has a huge, thriving community of practitioners to learn from. The MoTaverse global community is a great example of this. At conferences, many of the most experienced voices and quality engineering leaders in our field attend, share their work, and engage with the broader community.
In my own experience, attending conferences has helped me:
- Come back with new ideas and approaches I could apply immediately at work
- Build confidence talking about testing and quality, helping me influence how my organisation thinks about quality engineering
- Grow my ability to coach and mentor others by sharing what I’ve learned
- Expand my professional network and make lasting connections across the MoTaverse community
Writing A Great Business Case
Writing a business case might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what to include:
Conference Details
Put the important information first. Your manager needs the headline facts upfront. Cover:
- The name of the conference
- Where it’s held
- The dates
- The theme and format (find all of this on the conference website)
Conference Ticket Costs
List the conference access price clearly in its own section. Note any discounts. Getting this information in front of your manager early can save the company money.
Anticipated Travel Costs
Whether it’s a flight, train, or other transport, estimate the cost and include links to the travel booking research you’ve done. Be specific and accurate.
Anticipated Accommodation Costs
Many conferences are multi-day. Research suitable options, note your intended check-in and check-out dates, and detail the costs clearly.
Reasons for Attending
This is the heart of your business case. Do thorough research on the conference:
- Which talks or workshops are directly relevant to your work and your team’s challenges?
- Who are the speakers you most want to learn from, and why? Showing genuine interest in the programme signals that you’re serious and engaged with the wider community.
- Are there networking or social events? Most conferences include evening meet-ups. These are genuinely valuable. List this as a concrete benefit.
Crucially, relate all benefits back to your company, your team, and the specific work you’re doing. The more concrete you can be, the better.
Sharing the Learning Within the Company
This section can be the difference between a yes and a no. Your manager wants to know the benefits won’t stop with you. Think about how you’ll transfer knowledge back to the team. Some practical ideas:
- Host a brown bag session (lunchtime learning) on talks or workshops you attended
- Present key takeaways at an all-hands or team meeting
- Write an article for your company’s internal blog, or contribute it to the MoTaverse
- Post a Moment on the MoTaverse to share your experiences with the wider community
- Run 1:1 sessions with team members to share lessons relevant to their work
- Create a short newsletter or summary with your opinions on key topics covered
Commit to a few of these in your business case. It shows the whole team benefits from your attendance, not just you.
Example Business Case Email
Here’s an example email, adapt it to your own context:
Hi [Manager’s Name],
I’m really interested in attending this year’s MoTaCon (previously named TestBash, MoTaverse's flagship conference). It’s one of the most respected tech and quality engineering events in the world, and I think it would be hugely valuable for me and the team. I’m putting together this business case to seek approval for budget to cover the ticket, travel, and accommodation.
Conference Details:
MoTaCon, [date], [location].
A one-day conference with social events the evening before and in the evening of the conference.
Ticket Cost:
£349.99
Travel & Accommodation:
Travel = £[estimate]
Accommodation = £[estimate, with check-in/out dates]
Reasons for Attending:
Several sessions are directly relevant to our team’s current work, including talks on exploratory testing, AI-assisted testing, accessibility, and quality engineering. There are also evening gatherings where I’d get to interact with speakers and members from across the MoTaverse community. This is a great opportunity to bring real challenges we’re facing and get input from others who’ve navigated similar situations.
Sharing the Knowledge:
I commit to: writing an article summarising key talks and takeaways; running a lunchtime brown bag session for the team; and sharing a one-page summary of what I learned and how we can apply it. I’ll coordinate with my project team in advance to ensure full cover during my absence.
Thanks,
Diana Dromey
You can also use AI to help you put together a pitch
Here's an example conference budget request prompt. Of course, review the output, adapt as necessary. This is meant to help you get going, instead of starting from scratch.
I am a [Quality Engineer].
I'd like to convince my manager to go to MoTaCon. It’s a really great conference, with a supportive community that would enable me to practice learning like how we work, in continuous small iterations.
The person who approves the budget is typically busy and needs a tl;dr at the top. Keep it tight at around 300 to 500 words maximum. When creating a numbered list or unordered list, use no more than five per list.
Write a budget approval letter for me based on my need to upskill and become knowledgeable with AI, quality engineering, engineering management and security.
Include a list of 10 learning outcomes that align with my current role.
I will need [two nights' hotel], at a cost of about £125 each night.
I will need to travel to Brighton by [train/plane] from [my location]. It’s under an hour from London, so it’s very accessible.
The price is super competitive compared to any other offerings: £349.99 per person. Team discounts are available for teams of 5 or more. The MoTaverse operates differently; access to MoTaCon comes with community access all year round. There are also Unlimited Membership options for £1,099, which include access to all the certifications in Essentials, Automation and Quality Engineering.
In addition to this, the MoTaverse is an independent organisation that truly cares about the future of tech. It is the place to be.
This is the event: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/motacon
Because MoTaCon is part of a Professional membership, also consider MoTaverse Memberships benefits: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/membership
Secondary Options & Ideas For Attending Conferences
Submit your business case as early as possible and make early bird deadlines visible to your manager. Ask how long they’ll need to reach a decision, and flag if a lower price is time-sensitive.
If your case doesn’t go your way, don’t immediately accept the outcome. Ask your manager if there’s anything you could address to change the decision, it sometimes comes down to something easily resolved.
If your company genuinely can’t support attendance right now, here are some alternatives:
- Apply to speak - Most conferences will supply speakers with a free conference ticket, and many conferences will also pay for your travel and accommodation costs if you are a speaker too.
- Offer to volunteer - Conferences don’t run themselves. It takes a large concerted effort from the organisers and the volunteers to pull off a great conference, from setting up the rooms, meeting and greeting people, being a mic runner for questions, operating a swag table, or anything else in between. So if you’re looking to attend on a free ticket and are happy to help out with some of this stuff, contact the conference organisers to see if they have any spaces left for volunteers.
- Look for a scholarship - Some conferences offer some people the opportunity to obtain a ticket through scholarships or competitions. It’s worth watching the conference website and keeping your eyes on the testing community and social media channels for opportunities like this to arise. Check out the MoTaverse's scholarship program.
- Paying for your own ticket - If you do pay for yourself, then be sure to ask your work if you can take the days off as training days, so that you don’t need to use annual leave to attend.
Planning Ahead Never Hurts
Conferences happen every year. If you’re excited about one but can’t attend this time, start planting the seed now. Let your manager know you’re keen to go next year, and begin building your business case ahead of the next budget cycle.
If you do get the green light, prepare well. Review the schedule, pick your sessions, and read up on the topics in advance. Keep your knowledge-sharing commitments front of mind while you’re there. Your notes will thank you later.
I hope these tips are useful. If you use the template, I’d love to hear how it goes.
Share your experience as a Moment on the MoTaverse!
