Clocktower Advisors Sponsors All Things in Moderation 2025
I couldn’t believe it when Venessa told me she spent years interviewing trolls in virtual reality—yes, trolls in VR 😳 —just to understand what makes online communities tick. That unexpected nugget set the tone for our conversation about All Things in Moderation 2025, and it’s why I’m thrilled Clocktower Advisors is sponsoring this year’s event.
Here’s why you’ll want to pull up a virtual campfire and stay a while:
Why Venessa Paech Built a Moderation Conference
Venessa Paech has been in the trenches of online community stewardship for over three decades. After co-founding Australia’s peak body for community managers and running its national conference, she realized moderation was getting the short end of the stick—seen as a necessary evil or, worse, a bureaucratic afterthought.
“Moderation isn’t just reactive policing,” Venessa reminded me. “It’s proactive, preemptive, the relational work that truly shapes thriving digital spaces.”
She wanted to give moderation “its flowers,” so she launched All Things in Moderation. Now in its third year, the conference shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes keeping our third spaces safe and vibrant.
This Year’s Theme: Restoring Third Spaces
We all know third spaces—your favorite coffee shop, the local library, your team’s Slack channel. But in a world fractured by misinformation and division, our online communities have become crucial meeting grounds for connection and collaboration.
Venessa chose “Restoring Third Spaces” because:
It’s hopeful. After two years tackling crises head-on, this iteration balances hard truths with inspiring case studies.
It’s practical. You’ll walk away with frameworks for designing psychologically safe environments that welcome conflict rather than suppress it.
It’s global. Sessions run 24 hours to accommodate every time zone, so wherever you log in, you’re part of the conversation.
Speakers Who Will Blow Your Mind
Venessa deliberately scouted voices you rarely see on the main stage—scholars and practitioners from the Global South, frontline moderators, trauma-informed governance experts. A few highlights:
Dr. Ruth Diaz – A psychologist turned community builder who spent years studying trolls in VR. Her “conflict resiliency” workshop reframes conflict as a signal of community health.
Youth Safety Panel – How do you welcome under-18 members into adult-oriented communities? I’ll be moderating this one, and I am stoked to share tactics that keep young people both included and protected.
Global Case Studies – Real-world examples of online third spaces that have weathered political upheaval, climate anxiety, and everything in between.
Who Should Attend
Whether you’re a community manager, trust & safety pro, technologist, nonprofit leader, or an “accidental moderator,” you’ll find actionable insights here. Even if you’re not on the moderation beat every day, you’ll learn how to:
Move from bystander to upstander in your digital spaces
Measure the impact of your safety practices
Craft governance that scales without sacrificing humanity
How to Join the Conversation
All Things in Moderation runs May 14–16, virtually. Catch live sessions, then replay anything you missed for up to a month afterward. Early-bird tickets are still available (student discounts included), and Venessa has kept prices low so everyone can take part. Head to allthingsinmoderation.org or grab tickets via bit.ly/atim2025.
Why I’m Excited
As a sponsor, I’m genuinely in awe of the craft Venessa and her team have honed. Moderation is the backbone of every healthy online community, and this event is our chance to celebrate the practitioners who make it happen. I can’t wait to learn, share, and—most importantly—bring those insights back to Clocktower Advisors’ own community work.
Pull up a seat, bring your questions, and let’s restore our third spaces together. See you there!
Discussion with Founder, Venessa Paech
Todd Nilson is joined by Venessa Paech, an internationally recognised online communities expert and educator, with a three decade history in the field, as well as founder of All Things in Moderation.
0:00 Intro
2:38 Event Origin Story
9:24 Third Spaces
13:24 Speakers and Topics
17:42 Attending the Event
Beyond the Feed: Moderating Safe Digital Havens for Young People
Facilitator:
Todd Nilson
Clocktower Advisors
Panelists:
Lori Fahey
Livewire
Dan De Sousa
Quiip
Megan Jacobs
The Truth Initiative
Mainstream social media often fails young people - but around the world, community stewards are building something better.
In this global panel, hear from moderation and community professionals stewarding therapeutic third spaces for youth and vulnerable users - from communities for chronically ill young people, to smoking cessation networks, to safe spaces across diverse contexts.
They’ll share how they design for safety, navigate multi-generational audiences, and moderate with intention and care. Expect practical tips, hard-won lessons, and inspiring examples to help you build healthier, more resilient communities for the next generation, across social media and beyond.
About Clocktower Advisors
Established in 2015, Clocktower Advisors has become a trusted name in developing dynamic online community and digital workplace solutions for a global clientele.
As the digital landscape evolves with emerging technologies like AI, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things, the need for secure, innovative, and collaborative digital platforms becomes ever more critical. Clocktower Advisors stands at the forefront of this transformation, offering expert insights, thought leadership, and best practices to cultivate trust and safety in digital environments.
We've worked with a diverse range of organizations—from nascent startups to Fortune 100 giants—assisting them through the planning, initiation, and management of their online communities and digital workplaces.
About All Things in Moderation
All Things in Moderation (ATIM) is the global gathering for humans who moderate and everyone who cares about building better, safer digital futures.
Designed for those shaping the future of online spaces - community builders, strategists, trust and safety leaders, and digital decision-makers - ATIM dives deep into the latest in moderation best practice, governance, decentralised futures, AI in community management, and protecting vulnerable groups online. Whether you're leading a nonprofit, building resilient digital communities, or driving strategy in business or government, ATIM offers practical insights, world-class experts, and actionable ideas at an outrageously accessible price.
Join us to future-proof your work, sharpen your leadership, and connect with the people reimagining what healthier digital ecosystems can be.
ATIM runs May 15-16th, online and on-demand.
