Conference
News has issued an apology after an “appalling incident” on stage at its annual
awards show.
The
70s-themed awards show took place at the QEII Centre in London on Friday (3
March) hosted by presenter and DJ Pat Sharp.
A
statement issued by Conference News said: “At our most recent Conference News
Agency Awards, an appalling incident took place involving our guest speaker and
a member of the audience.
“At the event the
speaker made some deplorable statements which caused well-warranted offence
from the affected party and many of those in the room.
“At the time of
writing, it’s 24 hours since the Agency Awards closed, in that time members of
the Conference News team have reached out to the affected delegate to offer our
support. We’ve also contacted the speaker’s team to voice our disgust at their
conduct on stage, and have requested a meeting to demand a formal apology from
the speaker directly to the affected party.
“These actions were
the speaker’s own, their crass attempt at a joke was unscripted and Conference
News wholeheartedly disavows the words themselves, the sentiment behind them
and the outdated mentality that they represent.
“However, we must do
better. Which is why in future we will improve our speaker recruitment process
by using trusted industry speaker bureaus, and adopt a more thorough vetting
and briefing process with our speakers to ensure this incident does not repeat
itself.
“Conference News
offers its sincerest apologies to the affected audience member, as well as
anyone else who may have been impacted by our speaker’s actions.”
Marketing
and PR professional Laura Vallis tweeted at Pat Sharp on Sunday, saying: “It
may have been a 70s themed event but your comments on stage belonged firmly
back in the ark. I’m so very disappointed in you! Be very ashamed!”
Last year trade
show International Confex, also owned by Conference News owners Mash Media, apologised after sending out an email depicting
sexual harassment.
