Back in 2019, in the pre-Covid days, an event manager from
PraxisAuril, an association for knowledge exchange practitioners, wandered through
The Meetings Show in its old home of London Olympia.
She chatted to Lucinda on
the VisitBrighton stand about potentially holding their annual conference in
Brighton.
After a heady mix of familiarisation trips, a pandemic,
multiple date changes, various site visits, meetings, phone calls, emails and
sheer determination – the three-day event was confirmed at the Brighton Centre
for June 2022.
Covid meant that PraxisAuril’s first in-person event for
years would be in 2022, which also happened to be its 20th anniversary. When the
event was confirmed, Maxine Ficarra, CEO of PraxisAuril said: “We were
delighted to finally be bringing our PraxisAuril conference to Brighton. The pent-up
demand from our knowledge exchange network - the professionals who help ensure university
research results benefit society, think vaccines - for an in-person event meant
that this was our biggest conference ever. We brought more than 450 delegates
to the city-by-the-sea this year.”
That meant big celebrations and there was a lot to be happy
about. But ‘throw away’ those visions of balloon-drops, confetti, and party
blowers – we’re talking thoughtful, sustainable celebrations.
The conference took place at the Brighton Centre. The venue
is accredited for the Soil Association’s ‘Food for life served here’ bronze
award and is dedicated to constantly improving its sustainability credentials. These
actions include:
- Beef is Banned and ‘Meat-free Mondays’
introduced
- Water in cans – not plastic. Delegates are
encouraged to bring their own bottles and use the water fountains throughout
the venue
- Offering Bento Boxes to reduce waste
- LED lighting and renewable energy
- Provide clients with a sustainable supplier list
- Staff organise beach cleans with the
VisitBrighton team twice a year
Brighton Centre business and sales manager, Emma Thurlow
said, “As a council-owned venue, I believe that community and sustainability
should be at the heart of everything we do at The Brighton Centre. Having spent
seven years with VisitBrighton prior to this role, I am fully aware of the huge
multiplier effects that large conferences like PraxisAuril have on our economy
and, in turn, the community.
“I am also very conscious that we are not just playing lip
service to an idea of sustainability or greenwashing and that it simply becomes
part of our business culture.”
Associate Director of the Knowledge Exchange at the University
of Brighton and conference committee chair, Dr Shona Campbell, added: “Brighton,
an acknowledged hub of the knowledge economy, with its vibrant SME community,
was an ideal setting for PraxisAuril to bring together its membership of
Knowledge Exchange professionals. I was delighted to chair the conference on
behalf of the University of Brighton, and for colleagues to share some of the
innovative ways the University shares knowledge with businesses and community
groups in our region.”
PraxisAuril wanted to ensure the conference has a legacy impact
in Brighton, so instead of spending money on welcome bags, the organisers
redirected the money to social and charitable causes. positively impact Brighton
PraxisAuril donated to Brighton & Hove Food Partnership
- a non-profit organisation helping people learn to cook, eat a healthy diet,
grow their own food and waste less food. The organisation also teaches cookery skills
to people living with disabilities and those on low incomes.
Brighton & Hove Food Partnership senior manager, Jess Crocker
said: “The funding helps towards improvements like higher raised beds or
wheelchair matting to improve accessibility for our users.”
Brighton & Hove City Council head of tourism and venues,
Howard Barden, added: “VisitBrighton Convention Bureau plays a vital role by
supporting associations in bringing their conferences to the city. It is not
just the venue finding for the conference and social events, or the accommodation,
or even providing images & city maps. It is all about connecting people and
businesses–demonstrated here by the introduction to Brighton & Hove Food
Partnership which benefits us, the entire city.”
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
