Exploring the event sustainability standard ISO 20121 on the future of events and gender equality

On 8th March 2023, to celebrate International Women’s Day, Positive Impact hosted a webinar with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the UN Global Compact Network UK.

The webinar explored:

• The role of standards in advancing gender equality

• How ISO 20121 could impact the future of events and gender equality

Why is gender equality important?

Watch this animated video to understand the importance of UN SDG 5 for sustainable event strategy:

Additional resources

• ISO/IEC Guidance on gender responsive standards

• Gender at ISO

• Data on women participation in ISO

Exploring the role of gender equality in creating a net zero carbon future and what this means for your event strategy

To #breakthebias in line with International Women’s Day, corporate event planners were invited to an exclusive salon* on 22nd March 2022, exploring the role of gender equality in supporting their event strategy to advance sustainability commitment and the UN SDGs.

The salon was delivered in collaboration with the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat.

This animated video outlines the importance of UN SDG 5 for sustainable event strategy.

*A salon is a creative, open, honest, confidential conversation. In other words, an excuse to be curious and contribute to the creation of a sustainable event sector.

Breaking the bias on International Women’s Day

The global event sector is a majority female employee sector, yet this year’s International Women’s Day theme of #breakthebias is still one which we have to tackle, as our CEO discoved.

To celebrate International Womens Day 2022 and to empower you to use your voice to #breakthebias in the event sector, Positive Impact created a basic toolkit.

Corporate event planners were also invited to join Positive Impact and the UN Climate Change Secretariat to explore the role of gender equality in creating a net zero carbon future, and what this could mean for their event strategy.

Breaking the bias will advance the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 Gender Equality and if you are inspired to learn and take further action on how events can be used to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, join our global Positive Impact Ambassador community.

Exploring the role of women in achieving carbon targets

Positive Impact and UNFCCC Secretariat celebrated International Women’s Day 2021 with a unique exploration into the role of women in achieving carbon targets.

International Women’s Day Roundtable

• Does our gender impact our carbon emissions?

• Is there a specific role for women in achieving carbon targets? 

These are huge and equally interesting questions and the International Women Day Roundtable with Positive Impact & UNFCCC started in March 2021 with an exploration into these questions and what they could mean for the future of the global event sector. 

Today humanity is facing crises of health, economy, inequality and climate. Events, which have a predominantly female workforce, have a vital role to play in addressing these challenges, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and enabling human interaction. 

At this roundtable we discussed the above and how at the upcoming COP 26 conference, it could be announced that the UK event sector has developed a carbon target and reduction framework.

With COP26 on the horizon, a noticeable increase in corporate commitments to reduce carbon emissions, and an event sector ready to build back better after the devastating effects of Covid, now is the perfect time to get curious about the role of women in achieving carbon targets. 

The global event sector is a majority female workplace (A 2017 paper by R Thomas from Leeds Beckett University states women comprise 75% of the events workplace but there is a promotion + pay gap that favours men). So, if there is a correlation between gender and carbon emissions the event sector would be a sector of interest.

Another interesting question is whether it is being the action of a women or a man that causes differing emissions or the use of feminine and masculine traits. For example, are traits such as inclusion, collaboration, care going to cause less emissions than assertiveness, independence are leadership? In other words, will the traits we choose to use (no matter or gender) impact or carbon emissions?

These questions may seem “airy fairy” and of no relevance to the event sector until you consider that the traits we use can directly influence the type of event we have. Put simply, a meeting for independent business leaders is more likely to have meeting logistics including travel, venue, food than a meeting open to all with the purpose of enabling collaboration which is likely to use meeting logistics for an online meeting. 

There is a gap which exists for the event sector to be able to move from being curious about these questions to actually shaping the future of the sector. The gap is having a sector target for carbon emissions and a reduction plan which means the sector is measuring and learning from data. 

It could be that the future of the event sector is one where feminine traits are used with the results of providing jobs for a workforce most significantly impacted by Covid - delivering impactful events with legacy beyond memories of a ‘good meeting’. 

However, until we start measuring, learning from measurement and reducing our emissions this isn’t a conversation the event sector can advance.

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At the roundtable, participants gained:

• The ability to talk to their CEO in strategic and impactful terms.

• Understanding and experience of contributing to UN policies which will impact future strategy of global governments and business.

There was a £15 (approx €17/ $20) registration fee to join, used to fund the creation of the Climate Action framework.  The funding was received and administered by Positive Impact. No funding was allocated to the UNFCCC.

Exploring the power of female leadership and human interaction

A 24 hour exploration for International Women’s Day

Aligned with SDG 5: Gender Equality and #choosetochallenge - the UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day 2021 , a select community of global corporate event planners joined an experiment to explore the power of female leadership and human interaction.

On Monday 8th March (International Women’s Day) over 24 hours, they took part in facilitated networking, experiments, roundtables with UN bodies and engage with on demand recorded content.

Participants in Explore #3 will gain: 

The ability to talk to their CEOs in strategic and impactful terms.

New ideas of and experiences of practices which could be used at your face to face, virtual or hybrid events to champion gender equality and facilitate human interaction.

Understanding and experience of contributing to UN policies which will impact future strategy of global governments and business.

There is a £250 (approx $320 or €275) overhead per person that we can not avoid. Therefore in addition to the requirement to be a corporate event planner to attend this event there is a minimal administration fee.

View the agenda

Your explorations can happen in 4 formats:

Networking - a chance to meet your fellow explorers and get to interact with them during facilitated networking.

Experiments - join a range of hosts who will be leading YOU through a series of 20-minute interactive experiments exploring what we could #choosetochallenge to enable equality in the event sector.

Roundtables - contribute your ideas to frameworks, policies, white papers and other documents which will be used by United Nations bodies and corporate sustainability leaders. These sessions will be facilitated by high level partners so YOUR voice will be heard.

On Demand - for the times in the 24 hours when you are not networking, exploring or contributing you have the chance to access learning materials which will translate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into practical guidance for event professionals.

Before 8th March, you will be given access to a private LinkedIn event which will guide you through the day’s experiments.

You can find examples of some of the sessions below.

#choosetochallenge sexual harassment at events with Courtney Stanley

Courtney Stanley is recognized globally as an award-winning changemaker, keynote speaker and event emcee, and acclaimed creator of the women-inspired podcast, Dare to Interrupt. Her mission to empower ambitious professionals through vulnerable, meaningful dialogue has resulted in changed behaviors and altered approaches to leadership on stages and in boardrooms throughout North America and internationally.

In this experiment, Courtney invites you to explore what could happen if we lead with empathy and empower ourselves to challenge sexual harassment and misconduct at events.

The Future of Events: The Role of Women in achieving Carbon Targets

Use YOUR voice in a 90-minute roundtable discussion with UNFCCC Secretariat as together we explore:

How at #COP26, it could be announced that the event sector has developed a Climate Action framework to establish quantitative carbon reduction targets.

What the role of women in achieving carbon targets could like.

#choosetochallenge imposter syndrome with Fiona Pelham

Fiona Pelham lives her life as an example of how it is possible to create a lifestyle that works for you and contributes to a world that works for everyone. From choosing her home city based on its action for gender equality to generating income from creating a company recognised as a global leader. 

In this experiment, Fiona invites you to explore getting comfortable with boasting about your achievements and challenging feelings of self-doubt.

Explore is an impactful event series

Don’t take our word for it, hear from previous attendees:

“At Explore, I learnt new and innovative ways of transforming myself and my organisation to connect, alongside providing input into these explorations too. I think being innovative and explorative is important to keep up with the digital pace of the event industry that is highly affected by the Covid 19 situation”

— Elena Staszak, Partner Communication & Event Lead, Microsoft

FAQ

What is the agenda? 

The agenda will continue to be updated until the day before the event and will be found in the LinkedIn event that will be launched before 8th March. You can understand more about the content of the day above. To understand what the Explore #3 agenda will be like, view the Explore #2 agenda. The Explore #3 agenda structure will be similar to this.

Why am I paying £250? 

Positive Impact is a not for profit, this means every penny spent with us is used to make a difference. Following each Explore, a report is created and shared with the wider industry. To understand the exact breakdown of how your registration fee will be spent, watch Bec’s experiment in transparency from Explore #1. 

Will this help me progress my career? 

Yes. Both the content created and how this content is delivered is done with the intention of empowering and enabling you to have a strategic conversation with your CEO so you can demonstrate the value of your role in terms they will understand.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2020 with our Girls Creating campaign

In 2020, Positive Impact celebrated International Women’s Day with our annual Girls Creating Campaign. Positive Impact facilitated a webinar, interviewed leading female CEOs and encouraged people to share stories of women in their lives who have inspired them.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2019 with our Girls Creating campaign

In 2019, Positive Impact celebrated International Women’s Day with our annual Girls Creating Campaign. Positive Impact held a webinar and created an interview series with leading women in the event industry.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2018 with our Girls Creating campaign

In 2018, Positive Impact celebrated International Women’s Day with our annual Girls Creating Campaign. Fiona wrote a blog on how the importance of women in making history.