IBTM World Puts Social Responsibility Front and Centre

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain’s greatest Paralympic athlete, six-time London Wheelchair Marathon winner and crossbench peer in the House of Lords, has been revealed as the opening keynote speaker at IBTM World in Barcelona. Putting social responsibility in the events industry front and centre, she will open the main stage on day one of the show at Fira Barcelona on November 19–21.

Acknowledged as one of her generation’s most gifted and courageous sportswomen, Tanni Grey-Thomson has competed in five Paralympic Games, winning 11 gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal. In 2005, she was made a ‘Dame’ for her services to sport and, in 2010, she was elevated to the House of Lords as a crossbench peer. Once there, she used her expertise to focus on sports, disability, health, welfare, and youth development, and she has made significant contributions to debates on welfare reform, assisted dying, and sports governance.

Her session, People Potential: A Conversation with Baroness and Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, will showcase the limitless possibilities that emerge when we empower people, nurture team spirit, and champion inclusivity. In this conversation, she will share her journey, revealing how fostering a culture that embraces diversity and celebrates human potential can transform events and lives. Drawing on personal experience, she will explore how perseverance and a shared vision can unleash greatness in every individual, create experiences beyond success, and inspire lasting change.

Leading change  An integral component of IBTM World’s #-PeoplePowered campaign, the social responsibility track of its curated conference programme puts into practice the message at the heart of this year’s show: the belief that what people need to succeed is other people.

With a focus on addressing some of the industry’s, and the world’s, foremost challenges and opportunities, speakers include Shani Dhanda, from Innovating Inclusion, recognised as the United Kingdom’s most influential disabled person and the BBC’s 100 Women Laureate of 2020. Her thought-provoking session on the first day will feature a deep dive into the evolving laws that impact workforce equality. Titled The Changing Face of Accessibility, Equity and Inclusion in Meetings and Events, Shani Dhanda will draw on lived experience to discuss how the business events industry can stay ahead of these changes and illuminate where it currently stands.

As a leading global expert in biodiversity, forest design and regenerative farming, Dr Vincent Walsh, Head of Innovation at Regen Farm Co, will lead a session on The living earth (and why we should give a sh*t). Sharing his wisdom, Vincent Walsh will explore the transformative changes in the food production sector, influencing how event catering is delivered and what it might mean for future meetings and events.

Janthea Brigden, CEO and Director of Childcare at Nipperbout, and Sammy Connell, Head of Events at NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, provides tangible, take-home solutions in the Workplace Revolution. Their interactive session titled Family-friendly Events: Embracing Inclusivity and Best Practices for Welcoming Children delves into the benefits of including children at events from a corporate and association event organiser’s standpoint. Offering valuable perspectives on making events more inclusive by accommodating families, Janthea Brigden and Sammy Connell will share practical advice on setting up a crèche and creating a family-friendly environment.

Building solutions  The first day of IBTM World, Martin Fullard, Director at The Business of Events, and Eloisa Urrutia, Head of Sustainability at Amex GBT Meetings and Events, will take to the Impact Stage to address the challenges of over-tourism in the session Overtourism: a strategic solution. This stimulating discussion will focus on balancing economic benefits with preserving local cultures and environments by exploring the potential of business events as a strategic solution for ensuring sustainable tourism growth.

In one session titled Workshop: how to incorporate DEI into your event RFP? Monica Molina, DEI, Accessibility and Sustainability Consultant at DEI Consultoria, will share practical advice in Workplace Revolution for infusing diversity, equity and inclusion into every aspect of event planning. From setting clear DEI goals to selecting the right event organiser, this interactive session will teach attendees how to make a powerful impact through their events and create events which genuinely reflect their organisation’s values.

Taking a deep dive into how technology and nature can coexist to create a thriving, sustainable world is Connor Bryant, Co-Founder and CEO of Rubbish Ideas. His session, titled A Solar Punk Future: thriving in Harmony with Nature, will take place in the Workplace Revolution and shift the focus from the challenges ahead to the positive future that can be built. Aiming to help attendees flourish in a world where businesses and consumers benefit from Harmony with the environment, Connor Bryant will explore how the business events industry can lead this transformation by embracing a circular economy and leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and IoT.

Claudia Hall, Exhibition Director at IBTM World: “Tanni Grey-Thomson is a powerhouse who has dedicated her life to creating a fairer and more just society. She has always used her platform to strive for change and has made phenomenal progress in this endeavour. We know her session will be just the start of a fascinating stream of content focused on social responsibility.

“With important sessions in this track around sustainability, accessibility, DEI, and wellbeing, as well as driving a positive social impact, we don’t shy away from asking big and difficult questions of our industry.”