Washington, D.C. (July 28, 2026) – Government Marketing University – an innovative learning platform that applies a collaborative, community-based approach toward knowledge sharing and skills development for the public sector market and subsidiary brand of GovExec – announced that it will welcome Tamsen Webster, messaging expert, author, and researcher, as the keynote speaker for the 10th annual GAIN Conference, taking place on October 15, 2026 at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA.

Renowned for hosting conversations at the forefront of B2G marketing, Government Marketing University’s 2026 GAIN (Grow, Accelerate, Innovate, Network) Conference brings together a wide range of the field’s public and private sector leaders to examine the challenges, innovations, and strategies driving day-to-day and future tactics and initiatives.

This year, the conference will focus specifically on “The B2G Balancing Act,” addressing the speed, scrutiny, trust, and growth defining today’s high-pressure market.

Anchoring the event’s agenda will be the keynote address delivered by Tamsen Webster. Webster is a go-to consultant for organizations such as Fidelity Investments and Databox, with more than 25 years studying and developing the practice of persuasive message design. Alongside consulting, Webster has worked with Harvard Medical School, designed curriculum for Elemental Impact, a leading investor in more than 150 startups dedicated to climate impact and regional economic development, and serves as a judge and mentor for the Harvard Innovation Labs as well as a professional advisor at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Webster is also the author of two best-selling books, “Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible” and “Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change," which was named one of 6 Books to Transform How You Lead and Communicate by Forbes.

"GAIN has always been about giving public sector marketers practical ideas they can put into action. Tamsen Webster brings a unique blend of research, strategy, and real-world experience that will help attendees think differently about messaging, influence, and leadership. Her perspective is a perfect fit for this year's focus on balancing innovation, trust, and growth,” said Anna Pettyjohn, Executive Vice President of Product & Strategy at GovExec.

Webster helps leaders quickly craft their case for long-lasting changes in thinking and behavior. "People trust what makes sense to them,” said Webster, “and an idea only makes sense when it fits what someone already believes. That's the part of marketing you can't analyze your way to, and in a market this fast and this skeptical, it's what earns the trust that lasts.”

In addition to Webster’s keynote on message design and belief change, GAIN will feature sessions covering timely topics including AI implementation, balancing automation with human insight, maintaining creativity within budget constraints, and more.

For more information on the conference, visit the GAIN website. For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to solutions@govexec.com.

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About Government Marketing University:
Government Marketing University, part of the GovExec network of companies, is an innovative learning platform that applies a collaborative, community-based approach toward knowledge sharing and skills development in the field of public sector marketing. Experts from all corners of the U.S. public sector marketplace — marketers, thought leaders, government, media, and sales — are contributing their knowledge to this unique, content-rich platform. Government Marketing University offers training, research, certifications, mentoring, and community resources, all in one place.

Media Contact: 
Liz Stein
lstein@govexec.com