About Us
As of February 2025, Positive Impact has a community of almost 2,000 global event professionals, over 40 corporate Head of Events, over 40 Corporate Head of Sustainability, over 160 SMEs with a Race to Zero commitment, over 5 memorandums of understanding with United Nations bodies.
For almost 20 years not for profit Positive Impact have been providing engagement, collaboration and education to create a sustainable event industry. You could describe Positive Impact as the ‘critical friend’ of the global event sector.
In 2023 we began to focus on bringing needed innovation to life by supporting two projects:
Technology to make it easier for your event to have a positive Impact
Positive Impact is the only event sector body to be a Race to Zero Accelerator, UN SDG Action mobiliser and to have education certified by the world’s largest and leading CPD accreditation working across all sectors, so our education is accessed by heads of marketing, HR and sustainability.
Our funding comes from everywhere and nowhere, and every penny, cent or yen is used to advance the event sector so every time an event happens the UN Sustainable Development Goals are advanced and events are recognised as ensuring 'participation and inclusion in decision making’ (UN SDG16).
This is a timeline of Positive Impact's journey and the creation of a sustainable event industry. It reflects initiatives from:
The United Nations
Positive Impact
CEO Fiona Pelham
Key developments in the creation of a sustainable event industry.
Positive Impact submits a Pathway for Accelerated Solution to Net Zero Activation Group
The Net Zero Activation Group requested ideas for Pathways to accelerate solutions to reach net zero. Positive Impact submitted a PAS related to ISO 20121:2024 and began to participate on the Net Zero Standards Policy group.
Participating with Olympism 365 at The Spot Conference
In May 2026, Positive Impact was invited by Olympism 365 to participate in The Spot, an event to explore the latest tech innovations in sport. Positive Impact presented Converii purposeful tech making it possible to deliver events impactfully.
Participating in Maloca at COP30
On November 10th 2025, The Pavilion for People was invited to participate in Maloca, an initiative from COP30 Presidency in Brazil and UNDP. This webinar captures the 'real life' moment, introduces how The Pavilion for People works, demonstrates the Maloca experience and explores the future for human connection alongside major events like COP.
Advancing sustainability with Event Industry Finland and ISO 20121:2024
In partnership with Event Industry Finland, Positive Impact designed and delivered a fully funded, one-year ISO 20121:2024 training programme.
Connecting stories and communities alongside COP30
The Pavilion for People is an experiment in human connection without any barriers to participation so everyone can speak, connect and collaborate. The majority of mega events are starting to understand the importance of connecting with those who can not physically be present and The Pavilion for People is proud to be inspiring this trend.
Being recognised as impact makers
The Pavilion for People’s innovative approach is being recognised, for example by the High-Level Climate Champions Impact Makers Campaign, which highlights The Pavilion for People and its CEO Fiona Pelham.
Contributing to the Tech365 manifesto for the IOC’s Olympism365 Innovation Hub
Positive Impact contributed to the Tech365 manifesto for the International Olympic Committee Olympism365 programme (which exists to strengthen the role of sport as an enabler for the UN SDGs).
Collaborating with Cerespo in the Japanese event sector
For almost 15 years, Cerespo’s partnership with Positive Impact has resulted in significant business and global event sector impact. Through sustainability education, thought leadership, and alignment with global initiatives, this collaboration has brought tangible benefits to both Cerespo and the broader Japanese event community.
Innovating to accelerate sport’s contribution to sustainable development
Positive Impact is one of a community of 25 teams of innovators from around the world, all using emerging technologies to accelerate sport’s contribution to sustainable development, who have been selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to join its new Tech365 Explore think tank.
Trialing The Pavilion for People at the World Economic Forum
The Pavilion for People opened alongside the World Economic Forum as one of a number of openings to trial the concept.
Launching The Pavilion for People alongside COP29
On 11th November 2024 we opened the doors to The Pavilion for People alongside COP29. Former BBC News Science Editor David Shukman posted on LinkedIn about his decision to not attend COP29 in person, and his positive experience with attending The Pavilion for People virtually.
Within 24 hours, the BBC published an article about how the UN climate talks were “no longer fit for purpose”.
Asking what the UN Summit means for the future of human engagement
During UN Summit for the Future and New York Climate Week (September 20th - 29th 2024) The Pavilion for People was open to explore how we can include everyone’s voices in the key conversations of our time.
Demonstrating how to advance 5th P (Persuade) Race to Zero commitments by delivering a sustainable engagement strategy
On 5th June Positive Impact celebrated World Environment Day. The Pavilion for People was open for 24 hours, and a free webinar was available for the Race to Zero community.
Enabling a sustainable event industry with ISO 20121:2024
On 22nd April, Positive Impact celebrated Earth Day with the launch webinar for the revised ISO 20121:2024. This was accompanied by a virtual engagement and exhibition area which was available for a month.
Launching an ISO 20121:2024 education course with BSI
Positive Impact and BSI have come together to produce this two-part education course. This starts with BSI’s education course on the learning requirements of ISO 20121:2024, which provides the user with an understanding of the standard. It is then followed by an implementation course for ISO 20121:2024 provided by Positive Impact.
Exploring the role of the event sector in SDG 5, target 1: Ending all forms of discrimination agains women and girls everywhere
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Positive Impact hosted a free webinar on 8th March 2024 to explore the role of the event sector in SDG 5.
Setting out our vision and manifesto for 2024
Are you ready to plan and deliver events with a positive impact in mind? Right now, there’s an opportunity for you to lead and take strategic action around sustainability. And we’re here to help.
Supporting the global event sector to participate in the revision of ISO 20121
During 2023, ISO 20121 was revised and Positive Impact provided toolkits so event professionals, national standard bodies, industry associations and other liaison bodies could give their input to the revision. This innovative approach delivered successful results and ISO 20121: 2024 revision was completed to be used at Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Offering soundscapes walks in Copenhagen
In 2022 and 2023, Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham and Service Designer Federico Di Fresco hosted regular events for people to experience a 90 minute walk around central Copenhagen and explore the role of the sound environment in how we engage with our cities, communities, and people.
Launching The Pavilion for People
At COP28, Pavilions are places for a small percentage of the world’s population to gather and share ideas, solutions and commitments. Positive Impact created this initiative which exists so that everyone’s voices and actions are recognised in the progress towards reaching the Paris Agreement.
