Planning a panel discussion

I have been thinking about a panel discussion I am facilitating for a conference one of my clients is hosting next month. I came up with the idea of having three or four subject matter specialists present their annual updates in the form of a panel discussion instead of the usual serial monologues. Attendees in previous years have given the feedback that they want to know what's been happening during the year, and to have an opportunity to ask questions. Problem is, in said previous years, virtually no one has put their hand up when the speaker has asked the conversation-killer "does anyone have any questions?" So, how to deliver the update and then stimulate a real conversation? I'm hoping that by asking the panelists questions as if they came from the floor (Peter Mansbridge style, absent the fabulous suit and tie) that I can establish the appropriate atmosphere. Before we start, I'll invite attendees to jot down questions that come to mind during the panel discussion, and then have them discuss these with their table-mates and choose a couple of questions that they would all like to get answered.

I have been thinking about the ORID format for structured conversations, and pondering whether or not to structure my "floor" questions using this flow. I could start by asking a panelist to give us a run-down of some of the events of the past year (Observation). Then ask a question to get them to Reflect on the response to the events. Next I can focus a question or two to get their Interpretation of the meaning to the conference attendees, and finally I could call out the Decisions made or actions taken. As long as its not too formulaic, it could give a nice rise and fall flow to each dialogue.

Boy, I love doing this! More on this later.