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.
Writing to Prince Charles about Positive Impact’s work
In 2016, the Positive Impact team wrote to Prince (now King) Charles and received a response from his office, highlighting his work around sustainability.
In 2016, the Positive Impact team wrote to Prince (now King) Charles and received a response from his office, highlighting his work around sustainability.
Sharing best practice examples of sustainability in action at events becomes a resource for implementing SDGs at events
Positive Impact Events gather the industry’s best practice sharing into a small library of practical actions to take to further the SDGs at your event.
Positive Impact Events gather the industry’s best practice sharing into a small library of practical actions to take to further the SDGs at your event.
Addressing the role of sustainability at the Sustainable Events Summit
In this Exhibition News article, Fiona Pelham talks about the Sustainable Events Summit (co-founded by Positive Impact) and the progress that the even industry has made.
In this Exhibition News article, Fiona Pelham talks about the Sustainable Events Summit (co-founded by Positive Impact) and the progress that the even industry has made.
Listing accessible ways to improve sustainability in Exhibition World magazine
Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham writes about easy ways to start taking action around sustainability and explains the role of grassroots movements in changing the industry.
Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham writes about easy ways to start taking action around sustainability and explains the role of grassroots movements in changing the industry.
Encouraging the event industry to share examples of best practice
Positive Impact Events begin an initiative to use social media to capture best practice examples of sustainability from events through our Share a Positive Impact campaign.
Positive Impact Events begin an initiative to use social media to capture best practice examples of sustainability from events through our Share a Positive Impact campaign.
We also provided a PDF with information for supporters to contribute to the growth of the campaign.
In our What We Do video, we talked about why the campaign was created and how to start taking action.
Explaining what we do (and why)
In 2014, Positive Impact created a video to explain our mission to create a sustainable industry. It included opportunities to take action through our Share a Positive Impact campaign, education materials and workshops.
In 2014, Positive Impact created a video to explain our mission to create a sustainable industry. It included opportunities to take action through our Share a Positive Impact campaign, education materials and workshops.
Delving deeper into sustainability strategies at the Sustainable Events Summit
Conference News magazine highlights plans for the Sustainable Events Summit, co-founded by Positive Impact.
Conference News magazine highlights plans for the Sustainable Events Summit, co-founded by Positive Impact.
Hosting a sustainability workshop at the Emerging Host Cities Conference
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, delivered a workshop on practical steps to implement ISO 20121 for cities and events organisers at the 2013 conference.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, delivered a workshop on practical steps to implement ISO 20121 for cities and events organisers at the 2013 conference.
Sharing ideas to make events more sustainable
Positive Impact team member Charlie Banks writes about practices to make events more sustainable, in the Hospitality & Events North magazine.
Positive Impact team member Charlie Banks writes about practices to make events more sustainable, in the Hospitality & Events North magazine.
Sharing a vision for sustainability with ISO 20121
Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham was interviewed by ISO Focus magazine about ISO 20121, and her article was translated to feature in the French edition.
Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham was interviewed by ISO Focus magazine about ISO 20121, and her article was translated to feature in the French edition.
Working on ISO 20121 initiatives
When ISO 20121 launched in 2012, Positive Impact (along with sister company Sustainable Events Ltd) worked to support its implementation, including helping Old Trafford Stadium and a number of other initiatives mentioned in these ISO Focus+ interviews.
When ISO 20121 launched in 2012, Positive Impact (along with sister company Sustainable Events Ltd) worked to support its implementation, including helping Old Trafford Stadium and a number of other initiatives mentioned in these ISO Focus+ interviews.
Showcasing the potential of ISO 20121
In this ISO Focus article, Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham talks about the development of the ISO 20121 international stardard for sustainable event management and how it could benefit the sector.
In this ISO Focus article, Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham talks about the development of the ISO 20121 international stardard for sustainable event management and how it could benefit the sector.
Speaking at the 9th World Conference on Sport and the Environment
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the event about sport as an inspiration to GRI sustainability reporting.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the event about sport as an inspiration to GRI sustainability reporting.
Showcasing our sustainability using the GRI reporting framework
In 2010 (through our sister company Sustainable Events Ltd) we published our first sustainability report using the Global Reporting Initiative reporting framework.
In 2010 (through our sister company Sustainable Events Ltd) we published our first sustainability report using the Global Reporting Initiative reporting framework.
Supporting sustainable events in Manchester
Positive Impact were included in “a guide to greening your event” from Manchester City Council, which includes tips for creating a more sustainable event.
Positive Impact were included in “a guide to greening your event” from Manchester City Council, which includes tips for creating a more sustainable event.
Sharing best practice with a BS 8901 case study
Manchester International Festival trialled implementing BS 8901 at four of their events. This case study covers their learnings.
Manchester International Festival trialled implementing BS 8901 at four of their events. This case study covers their learnings.
Understanding BS 8901 Positive Impact at Earls Court and Olympia 2009
In September 2009, Positive Impact delivered a series of workshops on BS 8901 across the UK. The event series was awarded the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Inspire Mark to demonstrate that the initiative was creating legacy.
In September 2009, Positive Impact delivered a series of workshops on BS 8901 across the UK.
The event series was awarded the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Inspire Mark to demonstrate that the initiative was creating legacy.
Event managers Organise This also measured and reported on the event impact, which was part of their 3rd party certification to BS 8901.
Winning awards for our sustainability tool
Sustainable Events Ltd (now incorporated into Positive Impact’s work) was recognised as a “hero” at the North West Business Enviroment Awards 2008 for our EventSustainability tool.
Sustainable Events Ltd (now incorporated into Positive Impact’s work) was recognised as a “hero” at the North West Business Enviroment Awards 2008 for our EventSustainability tool.
Joining England’s Northwest Climate Change Charter
In May 2007, Positive Impact’s sister company Organise This joined the Northwest Climate Change Charter, a coalition of private and public sector leaders who have agreed to address climate change within their organisations.
Empowering event professionals to create a sustainable event industry
Positive Impact Events launch a free to join Ambassador programme and commits to sending resources out throughout the year to empower event professionals to use their voices to champion the creation of a sustainable event industry.
Positive Impact Events launch a free to join Ambassador programme and commits to sending resources out throughout the year to empower event professionals to use their voices to champion the creation of a sustainable event industry.
Examples of early resources can be found here:
The Event Industry that can create a better world
Everything you need to know about Positive Impact as an Ambassador
