BEDA works with business event organisers to inspire and support creative legacy initiatives that leave a lasting impact on the city, the event organisation and the attending delegates. The Team Brisbane approach enables BEDA to help support bespoke public engagement events and delegate activities that align with the mission and vision of each event partners organisation and business event.
Event Legacy
Through legacy initiatives, the impact of a business event can go far beyond its direct economic value to the city, and its educational value to the delegate.
Event Legacy Opportunities
City Activation & Public Awareness: Depending on the size of the event, tailored activations are a great way to build awareness of industry and organisation, along with attracting new members.
Next Generation Initiatives: BEDA works with organisers to inspire and support the design of bespoke legacies developing the next generation of researchers or industry professionals.
Programs could include lectures and workshops or competitions for school students, activations or scholarship programs for university students or career hubs.
Asia Pacific Region
Brisbane is recognised as an economic and knowledge hub for the Asia Pacific region giving organisers opportunities to engage and provide conference bursaries or virtual offerings for those in developing countries.
Below are some questions for consideration and thought starters that can assist event organisers when planning a conference in Brisbane:
Consider
- What are the strategic objectives of your business event?
- Is there a key challenge you would like to address in a public forum as part of your business event?
- Would you like to highlight an issue or advancement identified or developed by your association or organisation?
Thought Starters
- Community engagement: Public awareness day/ week, community forum, expert clinic, pop-up activation, bespoke public event
- Career development hub to engage early career professionals: Mentor program, scholarships, young leaders programs
- Collaborate with the Brisbane Business Hub
- Commission a legacy artwork in a public space
- Innovation/research lab – tackle a social challenge or issue
- Corporate social responsibility
- Environmental programs and volunteering opportunities
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Increasingly, organisations and conference sponsors are interested in ways to give back to the community and support social and environmental initiatives. BEDA works with a range of likeminded and CSR conscious organisations and can connect organisers to groups that match their desired CSR outcomes.
Below are some examples of locally focused CSR initiatives:
Reef Restoration Foundation - Great Barrier Reef
Reef Restoration Foundation gives business event organisers the opportunity to support the restoration of this iconic Australian natural wonder. Through an easy tick box option during registration or promotion through conference updates and social media channels, delegates can contribute to the growth of a new coral branch or a whole coral tree.
A donation of AUD$10 per delegate, in conjunction with a donation from the conference, would see the creation of a whole coral tree which can be branded with the conference logo.
Illustrated below are the levels of funding required to adopt coral:
- a branch for AUD$500
- a whole tree of coral for AUD$10,000
Delegates can visit the reef as part of this program with the Team Brisbane partners. Regular updates on the reef’s progress are an excellent communication touchpoint with delegates to build momentum in the lead up to the event.
Tangalooma EcoMarines: Inspiring the future generation to take environmental action
The initiative is supported by Tangalooma Island Resort – a key tourism destination off the coast of Brisbane where much of the marine education is delivered. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is an official partner and supporter of Tangalooma EcoMarines.
Tangalooma EcoMarines is a Brisbane-based, not-for-profit organization, offering a unique environmental education program aimed at developing environmental leadership in students of all ages, to achieve a healthy environment for local marine and wildlife, through collaborative community action.
Orange Sky Laundry
Orange Sky Laundry is the world's first free mobile laundry service for the homeless. It began as a crazy idea in 2014 to put two washing machines and two dryers in a van and wash and dry clothes for free. Starting in the streets of Brisbane, Orange Sky has now grown to 10 services across Australia. Orange Sky Laundry now does over 6.9 tonnes of laundry every week and, most importantly, has over 1,300 hours of positive and genuine conversations every week. Delegates can donate to Orange Sky Laundry, or, as a group, the conference can sponsor a shift, a whole van or the entire fleet.
The conference can also incorporate a 90-minute Corporate Engagement Program with Orange Sky Laundry and The Good Box. Delegates work together to pack Good Boxes of essential items for people experiencing homelessness and write a personal note to be included in the box. This program is facilitated by Orange Sky Laundry in partnership with The Good Box co-founders; young, female entrepreneurs changing the way we view homelessness.