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.

Katy Carlisle 03/03/2013 Katy Carlisle 03/03/2013

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.

Katy Carlisle 14/01/2013 Katy Carlisle 14/01/2013

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.

Katy Carlisle 16/11/2011 Katy Carlisle 16/11/2011

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.

Katy Carlisle 02/05/2011 Katy Carlisle 02/05/2011

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.

Katy Carlisle 05/08/2010 Katy Carlisle 05/08/2010

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.

Download the report

Katy Carlisle 01/12/2009 Katy Carlisle 01/12/2009

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.

Katy Carlisle 07/10/2009 Katy Carlisle 07/10/2009

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.

Positive Impact 09/09/2009 Positive Impact 09/09/2009

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.

Learn more

Katy Carlisle 07/10/2008 Katy Carlisle 07/10/2008

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.

Katy Carlisle 09/05/2007 Katy Carlisle 09/05/2007

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.

Katy Carlisle 07/05/2007 Katy Carlisle 07/05/2007

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.

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

Katy Carlisle 01/11/2006 Katy Carlisle 01/11/2006

Identifying opportunities for sustainability in tourism

Positive Impact CEO Fiona Pelham attended a one day conference around sustainability in English tourism. Her notes from the day highlight opportunities for destinations to benefit from incorporating sustainablity into their work.