When the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) was charged with
hosting the Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation following a successful first
event in 2019, they turned to previous collaborator, brand experience agency
Owl Live, to ensure it would be an event that would engage, challenge and
motivate.
Co-organised by EDF, EPRI, the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) the event was held from 17 to 19 July 2022 at
IET London: Savoy Place.
The main aim of the forum was to accelerate the cultural and
behavioural transformation that is necessary for the nuclear industry to help
tackle the global climate crisis, something that was brought into sharp relief
by the event taking place on the two hottest days since records began in the
UK.
Owl Live’s brief was to create an immersive two-day event
that would drive change by focusing on the forum’s four key behaviours: Being a
Challenger, Embracing Diversity, Being a Role Model and Having Courage. The
agency had already assisted the steering committee in identifying these
behaviours during the programme’s initial research and consultancy phase,
before testing them with the audience through a pre-comms survey.
From the moment BBC presenter Fran Scott introduced the proceedings,
followed by a rap by academic, author and performer Jon Chase that vividly and
powerfully highlighted the impact of climate change, the audience realised this
was to be no ordinary conference. Nowhere was this more evident than in the
quartet of immersive and interactive breakout workshops that spearheaded this
first day’s proceedings.
Each of these sessions was based around one of the four
behaviours: Inspiring participants to think how their behaviour is a key
enabler of effective innovation, Being a Challenger saw them tasked with
building a car using a short list of materials including paper, cards and
confectionary before putting their model to a speed and cost test, and
ultimately challenging the audience to do more than simply create a better
version of what already exists.
To demonstrate Embracing Diversity, attendees were asked to
wear thinking hats (as a homage to that ‘guru’ of lateral thinking Dr Edward De
Bono) as a means of exploring the value of diversity of thought in achieving
effective outcomes. Ensuring guests got to taste the ingredients of Being a
Role Model, they were asked to create smoothies, with each foodstuff
representing a particular character strength. After all, you can’t be what you
can’t see!
The session was with Dr Rahul Mandal, a research scientist
at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) better
known as the winner of the Great British Bake Off 2018. Finally, to switch the
focus to Having Courage, Owl Live recreated TV’s Million Pound Drop, complete
with contestants and very vocal audience participation, where delegates
explored the relationship between risk and reward.
The following day attendees had to adapt these behaviours in
a series of Grand Challenge Workshops, which focussed on such key themes as
scarcity of talent in the industry, innovation in a regulated environment, and
the nuclear industry’s role beyond electricity generation in tackling climate
change.
Sessions were hosted by subject-matter experts, who outlined
the challenge and then invited attendees to come up with ideas they could take
back and implement in their spheres of influence. Throughout the two days,
delegates also enjoyed keynote addresses from such prominent figures as Ming
Tang, chief data and analytics officer at NHS England, and Sama Bilbao y Leon, director
general of the World Nuclear Association.
The reaction from organisers and delegates alike
demonstrated that Owl Live had not simply fulfilled their brief but exceeded
it. Attendees left exhilarated and motivated to build a mutual vision for the
nuclear industry’s future. Commented Dr Rob Whittleston, director for international
engagement, security & non-proliferation at National Nuclear Laboratory,
"Owl Live went above and beyond to create a hugely impactful event and we
should not lose sight that this was something never before seen in the sector.
“The design and the delivery of every session was executed perfectly and
resonated strongly with 180 delegates from 22 countries – not easy when
perspectives, cultures, and indeed the culture, vary so considerably.
Most importantly it has given them inspiration to think
differently, and something to talk about – which they certainly are doing!”
Added Lauren Mucklow, joint managing partner of Owl Live. “NNL put their
complete trust in us, allowing us to steer them towards a more strategic,
creative and immersive path. We knew we were pushing our delegates out of their
comfort zone but from the moment they bravely engaged with our rapper, we knew
all would be well! The fact that delegates left the event empowered to put the
forum’s behaviours to use in a practical setting, was the ultimate validation.”
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.
