“Astronomy without conferences would mean a bunch of little people working on things without understanding what everyone else in the world was working on, so they are absolutely core to what we all do.” This quote from Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Brian Schmidt, featured in “The Power of Conferences: Stories of Serendipity, Innovation and Driving Social Change,” demonstrates that the importance of meetings and events goes beyond financial ROI. The book includes ten stories of impactful gatherings, such as how the serendipitous encounter of two researchers at a conference led to the development of an important vaccine. Others demonstrate how meetings have helped advance Indigenous rights or supported Schmidt in proving the universe was speeding up.
Meeting professionals recognise how important intentional impact creation is in the current global climate. This calls for the industry to become more deliberate in its design, moving beyond financial impact and a tick-box approach to a profound sense of purpose. This shift can translate to meetings that create measurable positive impact and legacy, redefining what it means to meet.
In this report, we explore the concept of impact and how to set attainable goals for meaningful outcomes that transform events into catalysts for change. With insights from industry experts, strategies, and relevant case studies, meeting professionals can play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s and broader society’s future. The guide presents a starting point for more impactful, purposeful meetings and events.
“Astronomy without conferences would mean a bunch of little people working on things without understanding what everyone else in the world was working on, so they are absolutely core to what we all do.” This quote from Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Brian Schmidt, featured in “The Power of Conferences: Stories of Serendipity, Innovation and Driving Social Change,” demonstrates that the importance of meetings and events goes beyond financial ROI. The book includes ten stories of impactful gatherings, such as how the serendipitous encounter of two researchers at a conference led to the development of an important vaccine. Others demonstrate how meetings have helped advance Indigenous rights or supported Schmidt in proving the universe was speeding up.
Meeting professionals recognise how important intentional impact creation is in the current global climate. This calls for the industry to become more deliberate in its design, moving beyond financial impact and a tick-box approach to a profound sense of purpose. This shift can translate to meetings that create measurable positive impact and legacy, redefining what it means to meet.
In this report, we explore the concept of impact and how to set attainable goals for meaningful outcomes that transform events into catalysts for change. With insights from industry experts, strategies, and relevant case studies, meeting professionals can play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s and broader society’s future. The guide presents a starting point for more impactful, purposeful meetings and events.
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