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.
Fiona awarded honorary doctorate
Fiona receives an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for services to sustainability within the event industry.
Fiona receives an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for services to sustainability within the event industry.
Events expert and three times Managing Director (MD) of companies Positive Impact, Sustainable Events Ltd and Organise This, Fiona Pelham, has received an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University. Fiona, who was Chair of ISO 20121, Technical Advisor for the environment for the England 2018 World Cup Bid and Chair elect for Meeting Professionals International is one of the most influential women in the events industry, in particular as a voice for sustainability.
The original video of the award conferment from 2014 was lost, and so a re-recording took place in 2024, along with an updated profile about Fiona on the University website.
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.
Celebrating 20 years of the Hannover principles
Architect William McDonough originally designed these principles for sustainable design in 1992 and reprinted them to celebrate 20 years since their creation.
Architect William McDonough originally designed these principles for sustainable design in 1992 and reprinted them to celebrate 20 years since their creation.
Event sustainability management system ISO 20121 launches
ISO 20121 event sustainability management system launches. This is one of the first sector specific sustainability standards.
ISO 20121 event sustainability management system launches. This is one of the first sector specific sustainability standards.
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.
Sustainability reporting framework GRI EOSS launches
The Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement launches as the first sustainability reporting guidelines for the event industry.
The Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement launches as the first sustainability reporting guidelines for the event industry.
Providing insights into the development of ISO 20121
In this article of Quality World, Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham talks about the benefit of ISO 20121.
In this article of Quality World, Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham talks about the benefit of ISO 20121.
ISO 20121 committee meeting in Japan
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, chaired an ISO 20121 committee meeting in Japan which involved engagement with the Japanese event sector.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, chaired an ISO 20121 committee meeting in Japan which involved engagement with the Japanese event sector.
A meeting about ISO 20121 takes place in Japan
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact, attended the meeting as Chair of ISO 20121.
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact, attended the meeting as Chair of ISO 20121.
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.
MPI hosts the first European Forum on Sustainability in the Meetings Industry (EFSMI)
The event took place in Bruges, Belgium from 27th - 28th June 2010, hosted by the Belgium chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the event about measurement standards.
The event took place in Bruges, Belgium from 27th - 28th June 2010, hosted by the Belgium chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the event about measurement standards.
Work starts on ISO 20121 and GRI EOSS
Event professionals being work on the creation of the Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement and ISO 20121.
Event professionals being work on the creation of the Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement and ISO 20121.
Copenhagen leads the way on CSR after COP15
This article looks at the ways that Copenhagen demonstrated leadership around sustainability in preparation for the COP15 event.
This article looks at the ways that Copenhagen demonstrated leadership around sustainability in preparation for the COP15 event.
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.
