Point of View: Lou Kiwanuka

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Lou Kiwanuka
The Shaper Group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/loukiwanuka1/

As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.

Lou Kiwanuka is the owner and founder of The Shaper Group, focused on delivering exceptional people and events in the Exhibition and Conference sector.   With over 20 years in the industry as an Organiser, Show Owner, Contractor and Venue Manager, Lou has overseen some of the largest and most technically challenging events.  Always wanting to ensure her team and company are at the heart of industry discussions and developments, coupled with her broad knowledge and experience, led Lou to become Chair of ESSA – The Event Supplier and Services Association and subsequently Chair of the EIA. Her role within ESSA has allowed Lou to become increasing involved in driving efficiencies and change, in order to create a more dynamic but calmer, safer and more sustainable working environment within the Events Industry.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A Professionalising our industry has been a passion for years which manifested itself in launching OpsShaper in 2019. OpsShaper focuses on enabling brilliance by delivering at source knowledge from industry experts to our operations professionals. Joining IEM is an extension of that dream, to be part of driving an industry that we can be proud of and create recognition within our sector. Recognition of individuals is essential in attracting the best talent as well as putting our best foot forward to represent our industry in line with other professions.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A As we come out of this pandemic, we have a duty to learn from the lessons we have endured and put ourselves in a better position for the future. Whilst I am fundamentally an exhibitions gal at heart, our skill sets cross boundaries across the events landscape. IEMs focus on recognising the skills needed to create exceptional events is something that enables a common thread. I personally believe that in finding our common threads we will also find benefit.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A At the forefront of developing brilliant professionals in a dynamic and creative industry.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A I feel privileged to have been part of the closing events at Earls Court, both the staff and ‘friends of’ events but also to sit in the audience at the final concert. It was desperately sad to see the doors closed on the old girl but wonderful to remember everything I had been part of within that building – the conversations, the relationships formed, the special memories created. It was the place the I started, paused and then reignited my love of events.

 

Point of View: Kathryn Jones

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Kathryn Jones
Events Officer at University of Central Lancashire
www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynannjones

As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.

Kathryn has worked in her current role of Events Officer for just over two years.  Prior to that, she completed an MA in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management while working at the University of Cumbria organising careers events for students.  She also has experience in the corporate sector organising networking events, dinners and exhibitions for Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.

Key events in Kathryn’s current role at the University of Central Lancashire include: Student Recruitment Events, Conferences, VIP Events, a Royal Visit, Building Launches, Business Events, annual Degree Show, annual Science Festival and University Graduation Events.  The university’s science festival welcomes around 15,000 people over three days and Graduation events 30,000 over two weeks.

Kathryn has experience in event operations and safety management, with a focus on creating Event Safety Management plans, Event Control Centre processes and Crowd Safety Management plans for our large on-campus festivals and events.  Leading on operations management and crowd safety management on the ground at events is something she particularly enjoys and she is developing her skills in this area on the University of Cumbria’s Event Operations and Safety Management advanced diploma course.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A A chance to network, work on my development and meet other event professionals. I also think it’s important to have a professional body that represents the events sector. The work we do is specialised, and is not covered by the majority of other professional bodies.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A I’ve been looking for a professional body to join for a while now.  However, I did not feel that the others available fully represented the work I do.  Some look at conferences, others at marketing and I work on a wide variety of events and in a range of different areas of events so  I want the opportunity to connect with others that do the same.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A Members from across the events sector (those working on different types of events and in different areas of events), offering regular relevant CPD programmes, an annual IEM conference (or similar) and regular networking opportunities.  Supporting the development of new Events Professionals, offering mentorship at different levels, e.g. for those at different points in their career.  Offering a professional voice on relevant government policy and industry developments.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A It’s tricky to choose just one, but our first on-campus graduation event comes to mind.  In summer 2019, Preston Guild Hall, traditionally the venue for our graduation events, closed unexpectedly.  This left us six weeks to rearrange the event and no venue to do it in.  On top of that, we were about to begin the build for Lancashire Science Festival, a large three day event held on-campus at the end of June.  There were no other suitable venues in the city, so we decided to host the event ourselves.  We transformed our sports centre into a graduation hall, hired in a large marquee for the post-event celebration and repurposed surrounding buildings to make space for gowning and photography.  One of my key areas of focus at the time was Event Safety Management, including the coordination of our Event Control Centre.  Having done both for Lancashire Science Festival, I was asked to transfer this work to Graduation, making sure we had sufficient safety management and command structures in place.  We were only successful because we worked collaboratively with teams across the university.  Particularly the Health and Safety, Emergency and Security Management and Estates Teams.  We came together as an extended team, putting all we could into making the event happen.  The first on-campus graduation event has left a legacy.  We continue to use our Preston campus for the summer and winter graduation events.  It also improved our relationship with teams across the university, enabling us to continue to host successful large events on campus.  I look forward to getting back to our large physical events once we are able.  My favourite memory from the above? Having a drink with the graduation team once the final ceremony was done.  We all deserved it I think!

 

Headline: Repurposing the Business of Events

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Creating – Engaging – Informing – Learning – Promoting – Transforming

This paper is the first in a series being prepared by Susan Spibey, IEM Executive Board Chair, on Repurposing the Business of Events to support the Events Sector worldwide. It formed her presentation on 28 January 2021 at the Virtual #BuildBackBetter Round Table organised by Positive Impact towards UNFCCC COP-26 Climate Change Conference Glasgow November 2021.

The world has changed, every human on the planet has been impacted by the Covid-19 virus and there is no going back.

BUT we as Event Professionals now have a great opportunity in 2021 to take the lead to help in the process of ‘#buildingbackbetter’ through repurposing the business of events.

This year the UK hosts the UN Conference on Climate Change COP-26. Yes it is an ‘event’ and the whole country has the opportunity to make its mark on this timely and momentous occasion in the race to Zero Carbon. A paradigm shift is required for the UK Events Sector to position itself as the world leader in responding to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Institute of Event Management is now in the process of redeveloping its national occupational standards into a suite of professional standards which will include the common thread of sustainability at all levels of event management from creation through to delivery, evaluation and legacy. We now have the opportunity to further embed innovation into our everyday actions of organising events sustainably.

IEM ACTION
The way forward is redevelopment of the professional standards for event management ensuring sustainability is embedded as a common thread throughout.  The Institute of Event Management (IEM) is a professional body based on the standard UK model which will aspire to become chartered once it fulfils the necessary criteria. It will provide professional recognition to individuals and support employers in the development of skills and training towards opportunities for lifelong learning. As a professional body it will work with a Panel of Stakeholders (Employers, Trade Associations, Individual Practitioners and Specialists) on building ‘Skills for Events’ to:
• establish Skills for Events Panel, representative of the whole of the sector (see Event Sector Matrix)
• define the professional standards required for event management at every level of the sector (see Event Sector Matrix)
• review current best practice and existing standards to determine whether they remain fit for purpose
• revise existing standards or create new ones as necessary
• ensure sustainability, inclusion and diversity are embedded into the standards
• agree levels of professional recognition for individuals through three routes – accreditation, experience or ‘on the job’ learning eg the
apprenticeship model
• submit standards for approval and implementation
• agree model for accreditation

IEM INVITATION
The way forward is to become an IEM stakeholder to ensure a sustainable talent pipeline; support the review of standards; creation of new standards; and a Higher Level Apprenticeship in Sustainable Event Management, positioning the UK as world leader.  The IEM opened to members in October 2020. Our Founding Partners and Fellows include the Association of Event Management Educators, individual
Institutions, organisations, Professional Event Organisers, and individual practitioners from a range of organisations.  The first task is to transform the current framework of occupational standards into a suite of professional standards setting out core knowledge and behaviours as well as identifying key competencies and specialist knowledge requirements. The key purpose being to set the international benchmark for
the events profession, using the standards to make better decisions, act with confidence, drive change and enable career progression.
In developing the standards and pathways to professional recognition the IEM will engage with all those who recognise the importance of the role of a professional skills body for the events sector and in the benefits of professional recognition and lifelong learning opportunities.
As the accrediting body, the IEM will offer professional recognition to individuals, raise the profile of the sector worldwide, provide a body of
knowledge, and the opportunity for upskilling and lifelong learning. Its continuous professional development opportunities will mostly be offered through third party accredited suppliers and institutions.  In developing its services, the IEM will provide opportunities for global
connections, lifelong learning, peer engagement, together with a body of knowledge.

IEM INVITATION
The way forward is to join the IEM Skills for Events Panel to ensure the professional standards remain fit for purpose, promote sustainable best practice, innovation, opportunities for upskilling and professional recognition.  In its response to planning for the UN Conference on Climate Change COP-26, the IEM is planning to:
(a) Produce the new Professional Map for Sustainable Event Management Standards in collaboration with the UK and wider events sector, including all who have to organise events for many different reasons.
(b) Produce the accreditation framework and process for courses delivered by Institutions and Organisations.
(c) Create the IEM Qualification Framework to define membership levels of: Associate [AIEM], Member [MIEM] and Fellow [FIEM]
(d) Campaign for a Higher Level Apprenticeship in Sustainable Event Management with specialist modules for exhibitions, meetings, outdoor events and festivals.
(e) Campaign to move the ONS Standard Occupational Codes [SOC] to the Professional level and include events in the Standard Industrial Code (SIC).
(f) Promote the Profession’s sustainability goals worldwide and encourage supply chain businesses and partners to join the campaign.
(g) Ensure the development of ISO20121 Sustainable Event Management planned for 2022 and being led by the UK British Standards Institution [BSI] meets the needs of IEM’s Sustainable Event Management Standards and the Profession globally.
(h) Enable UK Event Professionals to connect with the Global Community of Event Professionals to work collaboratively and sustainably in sharing business opportunities as well as building knowledge and skills.
(i) Establish a strong pipeline to maintain creative, innovative and sustainable solutions in event management to ensure continuity and
long-term sustainable development of the profession.

The way forward is to recognise the value which a professional body for the events sector can bring to UK Event Professionals and Event Professionals worldwide post-pandemic and post-Brexit. The IEM is working with the Office for National Statistics and BVEP Vice Chair
to further develop the SIC and SOC Codes to ensure they are fully understood by employers and all event professionals.
The IEM has already engaged with Government Departments BEIS, Cabinet Office, DCMS and DIT together with Nations and Regions, the APPG for Events and leading public, professional and trade bodies to promote the benefits of a professional body for the Events Sector for mutual benefit.

The IEM is also further developing engagement opportunities with international stakeholders in the events sector for mutual benefit.