For our campaign 'Telling the Story of the Power of Events' during the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, we have conducted research with five academics from universities around the UK. The research has looked into the ways in which the events industry could help the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be met. The focus of the research has been be on Hunger (SDG 2), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Climate Action (SDG 13). This research aims to raise the profile of events and show how they can make a different to the world.
On the 11th October at 2:00 pm (BST), we are hosting a webinar in which we will talk our campaign for the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism and reveal a preview of some of the findings from our academic research piece. If you would like to attend this webinar, please fill in the information below
HOSTS
Fiona Pelham launched not for profit Positive Impact in 2005 to provide education and collaboration opportunities to create a sustainable event industry. Positive Impact shares stories of sustainability best practice with the global event industry for example the annual #CSRShareDay social media initiative reaches over 1.2 million people and in 2017 Positive Impact is leading a campaignto tell the story of the power of events during the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism.
Fiona is also CEO of Sustainable Events Ltd a global consultancy for sustainability in events whose clients range from Manchester United Old Trafford to San Francisco Giants, from Zurich Bank to VMware from Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to FormulaE. The Sustainable Events team of over 20 associates are based across the world.
Fiona was the youngest female to chair an ISO standard when, in 2012, ISO 20121 a management system for event sustainability inspired by London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was created.
In 2014 Fiona received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for services to the event industry and sustainability.
In 2017 Fiona is immediate past international chair of the board for Meeting Professionals International, a global association of over 17,000 members belonging to more than 60 chapters and clubs in 22 countries. Fiona is an award winning entrepreneur passionate about sustainability and her background in events and strategy gives her a unique perspective which she has shared at numerous presentations around the world.
Dr Thomas Fletcher is a Senior Lecturer in Events Management (sport specialism). He is particularly interested in equality and diversity, ethnic identities and migration. He has conducted research for a variety of clients, including the England and Wales Cricket Board and Sport Wales. He has published widely in academic journals and books and is the editor of Sports Events, Society and Culture (Routledge).
Dr. Andrea Collins' is a Lecturer at the School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University. Her research is focused on the ecological footprint, its role in policy making, and assessing the environmental impacts of major events and festivals
Her research on the environmental impacts of major sport events has received media coverage worldwide. Andrea was a member of the London 2012 Carbon Management Strategy Technical Advisory Group, and is a member of the British Association of Sustainability in Sport (BASiS).
Dr Kate Dashper is Senior Lecturer in Events Management at Leeds Beckett University. Her research focuses on gender and identity, and she regularly speaks about women and leadership at industry events. Her research has been published in international books and journals.