About Us
As of February 2024, 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.
We are 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.
For over 15 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.
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.
Speaking at the ISO Annual General Meeting
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact and Chair of ISO 20121, spoke during the ISO AGM on the subject of one size does not fit all: making standards that work for everyone.
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact and Chair of ISO 20121, spoke during the ISO AGM on the subject of one size does not fit all: making standards that work for everyone.
Note: to watch the video, you will need to use the LinkedIn app or be signed in to the web browser version of LinkedIn.
Sharing with every MP how the UK event sector can be #builtbackbetter
Fiona Pelham wrote an article in Conference News about the solutions to the economic, environmental, equality and health crises being faced and how the UK event sector could #buildbackbetter. This magazine was delivered to the homes of every UK MP.
Fiona Pelham wrote an article in Conference News about the solutions to the economic, environmental, equality and health crises being faced and how the UK event sector could #buildbackbetter. This magazine was delivered to the homes of every UK MP.
Talking about carbon targets with AMI magazine
Positive Impact Events CEO Fiona Pelham was a guest on the AMI magazine podcast. She talks about the changes she has seen over that time, how Covid-19 has shifted the narrative on sustainability, why event professionals need to show leadership, and why carbon targets for the meetings and events sector are needed to focus minds.
Positive Impact Events CEO Fiona Pelham was a guest on the AMI magazine podcast. She talks about the changes she has seen over that time, how Covid-19 has shifted the narrative on sustainability, why event professionals need to show leadership, and why carbon targets for the meetings and events sector are needed to focus minds.
Promoting the use of business events as a means of addressing the UN SDGs
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events, talks to The Iceberg about the opportunities available from taking action around sustainability to thrive in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events, talks to The Iceberg about the opportunities available from taking action around sustainability to thrive in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Discussing with EventIcons the business case for sharing ideas with the United Nations
Fiona Pelham was interviewed by EventIcons about the clear opportunity and the business case for sharing ideas with the United Nations by creating an Acceleration Action for the event industry.
Fiona Pelham was interviewed by EventIcons about the clear opportunity and the business case for sharing ideas with the United Nations by creating an Acceleration Action for the event industry.
Sharing stories of business leadership
Fiona Pelham started a blog to share stories from her experiences and answer the “how” questions that many are curious about. These stories aren’t “how to do it” but inspiration for “yes you can do it”.
Fiona Pelham started a blog to share stories from her experiences to answer the “how” questions that many are curious about. These stories aren’t “how to do it” but inspiration for “yes you can do it” and to create an opportunity for people to ask questions that would be useful.
Fiona Pelham becomes first European female MPI chair
Fiona Pelham, Managing Director of Positive Impact, became the first European female to chair Meeting Professionals International (the world's largest association for meeting professionals) from January 2016-17.
Fiona Pelham, Managing Director of Positive Impact, became the first European female to chair Meeting Professionals International (the world's largest association for meeting professionals) from January 2016-17.
Speaking at IME 2015 in Japan
Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham spoke at the International Meetings Expo in Japan.
Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham spoke at the International Meetings Expo in Japan.
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.
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.
Speaking at the International Meetings Expo in Japan
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the International Meetings Expo in Japan.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the International Meetings Expo in Japan.
Fiona Pelham is recognised for her work around sustainability
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact, was ranked at no. 25 out of the Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine’s Power 50 in 2008.
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact, was ranked at no. 25 out of the Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine’s Power 50 in 2008.
Speaking at the BACD conference
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the BACD conference in North Wales as part of the Ask the ‘Green’ Experts panel.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the BACD conference in North Wales as part of the Ask the ‘Green’ Experts panel.
Memberships and meetings
Positive Impact Events CEO Fiona Pelham becomes a member of the Institute of Environmental Managers and Assessors and attends the Green Meeting Industry Council annual meeting in Portland Oregon.
Positive Impact Events CEO Fiona Pelham becomes a member of the Institute of Environmental Managers and Assessors and attends the Green Meeting Industry Council annual meeting in Portland Oregon.
