Regenerative Event Management - Cohort 2

• Module 1: Friday March 31, 9:00am – 12:00pm PST; 12:00pm – 3:00pm EST
• Module 2: Wednesday April 12, 9:00am – 12:00pm PST; 12:00pm – 3:00pm EST
• Module 3: Wednesday, April 26, 9:00am – 12:00pm PST; 12:00pm – 3:00pm EST
• Module 4: Thursday May 18, 9:00am – 12:00pm PST; 12:00pm – 3:00pm EST
• Module 5: Wednesday Mar 31, 9:00am – 12:00pm PST; 12:00pm – 3:00pm EST

This course is a Masterclass for event professionals who want to rethink, reimagine, and redefine how their events are designed and delivered, and how their businesses are run.

During this dynamic and fun course we will explore case studies and learn new approaches on how to organise events that have a smaller environmental footprint and greater societal handprint regenerating communities, nature and the local economies of Canada.

We will review key concepts of sustainability, and go beyond to explore regenerative development principles, and how these can help you make your events, organisations and communities thrive and flourish.

Through a series of 5 modules, participants will:

1. Strategy: Learn key principles, and a framework for regenerative and sustainable event management
2. Tactics: Feel inspired and empowered to develop a sustainable and regenerative event Plan: Including key operational themes such as climate, food, diversity and circularity
3. Impact: Have new skills and a methodology to be able to amplify your event’s positive impacts, and measure your footprint and handprint.
4. Storytelling: Be able to improve your event’s and organisation’s sustainability communications and messages, and avoid greenwashing
5. Present: Develop and present an end of course project, receiving feedback from the faculty and your peers. (Optional module)

This course is for people who organise events or offer key services to the events industry including: convention centres and special event venues, hotel event teams, Corporate/Association/3rd party planners, DMCs/PCOs, A/V & production agencies, catering/F&B, DMO/CVB - MICE and event teams, governmental institutions and academia.

Module 1: Regenerative Business: An introduction

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound human and economic consequences on the tourism and events sector, challenging the industry’s resilience and future. The events industry is undergoing proud change and we are in a major transition. Explore and learn an approach that acts within planetary boundaries, rebuilds society, and regenerates nature. This session will take you on a journey of learning about regeneration - a strategic approach on how to set vision, purpose, and goals with regeneration in mind. Finally we will explore case studies from around the world and share our collective experiences.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about regenerative principles, living system thinking and nature based innovation
• Be able to articulate the key concepts of regenerative thinking and how it differs to sustainability
• Learn a methodology to help you redesign and implement events and organisations that reduce footprints and deliver greater positive impact 

Module 2: Implementing Regeneration and Sustainability

Description: In this Module we will unpack the theory of module one and explore tactical approaches around the concepts of circular economy, climate strategies and regenerative food for the event industry and supply chain.

• Circularity: we will provide a view of the Tsunami of change and growing demand that is happening globally around plastic, single-use materials, resource management and the circular economy.
• Food: we will explore theory and techniques behind using food as a force for good implementing food concepts that reduce environmental footprints and support the local communities
• Climate - With tourism contributing 8% to global emissions, the tourism and events sector has to pay increasing and urgent attention to what it can do to reduce them. There are many great initiatives and motivation from net zero targets, to the Paris Agreement, and the Glasgow Declaration. But what does it all mean? How do your reduce and drawdown your carbon and offset it?

Learning outcomes:

• Gain insight on tactical approaches on how to develop regenerative solutions based on circular economy and net zero principles
• Learn about regenerative food concepts based on case studies from around the world
• Be better able to align business goals and actions to deliver more regenerative events

Module 3: Footprints to Handprints: Strategy, measurement and communication of Impact

Description: Currently, only a small number of event producers and suppliers have clearly defined impact strategies for their events, using outcomes and indicators to monitor how they create value for the community beyond their event participants. In this session you will explore how you can leverage your sustainability efforts to enable you to develop a proactive approach to amplify your positive contributions to nature and society. We will look at how you can develop an impact-focused strategy allowing you to create, measure and communicate event impacts.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn basic concepts of social impact theory and principles for events
• Understand how you could be measuring and communicating your event impact
• Explore what kind of opportunities could be generated by developing an impact-focused approach for your own business

Module 4: Storytelling

Description: You have explored theory, discovered new frameworks and reviewed many great case studies. Now how do you communicate your sustainability commitment and efforts in a way that engages, inspires and empowers event attendees and your team to change behaviours and support your work?

Learning Objectives:

• Learn an 8 step approach to regenerative storytelling
• Be able to improve your event’s and organisation’s sustainability communications and messaging, and avoid greenwashing
• Get prepared for the end of course project (optional)

Module 5: Follow Up: Coaching Sessions (optional)

Description: Based on the learning from the course, participants will be invited to develop an end of course project for a real event they are organizing or a regenerative project for their organization. In this session, participants will present their project to peers and the faculty, and obtain feedback to improve its implementation.

Learning Objectives

• Present your project and get real peer and expert input to improve your plan
• Review, discuss and plan implementation
• Work through challenges and barriers