More Sessions & Speakers Announced for GEI12 Conference

Just over 1 month for GEI and we are thrilled to welcome the passion and knowledge of more speakers to the stage of GEI12 Conference in March. AGF look forward to seeing you there too! For further information regarding #GEI12 click here.

PANEL: A GREENER TOUR - ROUND 2!

More new speaker announcements for GEI 12! Coralie Bereal is Venue Manager at the Forest National Arena since 2010, a legendary venue in the heart of Brussels. AGF announce confirmation of Coralie's involvement in the GEI 12 conference.  The advocate for sustainability education will share her experience and expertise with our audience. Covering pressing issues including, implementation of sustainability practices for the events industry.Forest National is a member of the EAA (European Arenas Association) with a capacity of up to 8.000. This legendary concert hall built in 1970, is part of the Sportpaleis Group, more recently, part of the Live Nation family, which consists of a further 3 arenas (Sportpaleis, Lotto Arena Antwerp & Ethias Arena Hasselt) and 3 theatres (Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen, Capitole Ghent & Ethias Theater).Coralie graduated as an MSc in Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security (Belgium) in 1994. Delivering a Masters thesis about the effects of climate change on Mediterranean desertification and land use. Initially, the findings were part of the European Medalus project and eventually, built up strong foundations for weaving environmental concern on a professional level. During her career within operations, building & facilities management and online corporate communication, Coralie has made it her mission to encourage sustainable projects across the Sportpaleis Group.

"The entertainment industry still represents a major challenge on the green front, though we strongly believe that by ‘leading-by-example’, implementing and improving processes at venues and festivals, the influence of the music industry can truly reach much further down the line.Coralie Bereal, Venue Manager Forest National Arena

A year on since the lively session at GEI11, in which Paradigm (formerly Coda) and AGF launched the Green Artist Rider. Now not a week passes where this topic doesn't reach headlines. Coldplay pause touring over eco-concerns, Massive Attack to analyse the impact of their tours, Billie Eilish makes moves to eliminate plastic from gigs. Working groups have been convened across all parts of the Live industry to tackle green issues. Live Nations "Green Nation" and AEG 1Earth are in full swing.In "A Greener Tour - Round 2" we explore what artists, agents, promoters, venues, tour managers, production and logistics companies are doing to reduce emissions, reduce waste, address fundamental changes, and strive for positive impacts. Tom Chauncey is Senior Agent, CEO and Founder at Partisan Arts. With a career spanning nearly 40 years, Tom has a 360 perspective of the music industry. Initially, excelling as a musician, producer, promoter, and manager before eventually finding his calling as an agent.In the mid-80s Tom booked tours and helped develop the careers of legendary artists including John Lee Hooker, Los Lobos, Robert Cray, JJ Cale, The Neville Brothers and Ben Harper.In 2001, he founded his own agency, Partisan Arts. Today, one of the most successful independent boutique agencies representing household names such as:Jack Johnson, Ben Howard, Angelique Kidjo, Manu Chao, Nahko And Medicine For The People, Femi Kuti, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Grace Potter, Greensky Bluegrass, Galactic, Bombino, The Disco Biscuits, Connan Mockasin, Big Head Todd And The Monsters, Donavon Frankenreiter and Mary Chapin Carpenter.For the past 18 years, Tom has represented Jack Johnson worldwide, serving as the industry entry point to implement sustainability. Initiated in 2003, greening measures were focused on offsetting the tour's carbon footprint.  Later tours expanded efforts to reduce and recycle waste and plastics, and encourage venue greening backstage. On subsequent tours, front-of-house fan and concessions integration were added to develop recycling measures and measures to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics during artist tours.AGF welcome Tom and this wealth of experience and knowledge to be brought to our Greener Tour table during #GEI12. Hear what Tom has to say at the GEI 12, hosted by Gordon Masson from IQ Magazine.PANEL: ACCESSIBILITY ALL AREAS?Adrian Bossey of Falmouth University investigates UK live music industry perceptions of current practice regarding accessibility for music festival and event attendees who are Deaf or disabled.This session considers the current state of, and existing best practice in, accessibility at UK music festivals. Firstly, a discussion regarding the potential for ICT to improve accessibility for people who are Deaf or disabled. Additionally, ICT developments enhancing design, marketing, operations and finally, performances. All topic considered and investigated across all phases of music festival delivery.Adrian Bossey is a Head of Subject at Falmouth University and a former artist manager. His clients have included: Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Chumbawumba, Drugstore, My Life Story and The Senseless Things.Working on 15 UK top forty albums, managing the main stage headline act at Glastonbury Festival and contributing to The Routledge Handbook of Festivals (2018). Additionally, work in academia has led to a range of successful bids including the RELAYS Cultural Olympiad Project alongside, acting as Chair of the South West Music Industry Forum. As something of a serial entrepreneur, Adrian has set up or run 22 businesses in the UK and an additional 2 in the USA. Bossey has a glut of invaluable professional experience, of which he shares by mentoring over 100 student start-up businesses including Ider and Cheap Date Dance Company!Speakers announced previously:

PANEL: SAVING THE WORLD BEGINS AT BREAKFAST

Around a quarter of all GHG’s globally are generated by the food sector, this poses both an opportunity and a significant threat. If we can change our habits, we can have a major impact on climate change. We are fast approaching the point of no return – but is change happening?Saving the world begins at breakfast, based loosely on the book by Jonathan Safran Foer, will look at what decisions are within our power, why we are all responsible for our decisions and bringing about the change we want to see. Discussing the best high impact / low-cost practical changes that should be implemented at your events immediately and what structural problems within the food sector might take time and pressure. We can’t afford to be afraid of bold action. 

• Understanding the global issue of food
• Understand composting and waste
• Reducing packaging and plastics
• Working with traders, caterers and suppliers
• Amplifying your message

This session is supported by NCASS

PANEL: SUSTAINABLE SPONSORSHIP, BRANDS AND THE PR GREENWASH WOBBLIES!

There are many wasteful "norms" in the behaviour of our industry that need to be addressed. How often do we see items manufactured and disposed of after a few days or even hours use due to branding and activations for event sponsorship? As the world wakes up to our responsibilities and the visible marks of our consumption footprint on the world, it has never been more essential for brands to really walk the talk, or brace for the accusations of greenwash.Alongside leading brands, Award-winning PR Specialist and Author, Sangeeta Waldron, and brand activations expert Gary Pitt (Alive Activation, UK) lift the lid on what impacts brands are having, who is pushing boundaries, what is the best practice, and where we go from here. Sponsorship and brand activations often have many wasteful practices that need to be tackled to help our industry be greener, cleaner and smarter.A Greener Festival has teamed up with Alive Activation to build a platform that helps brands, agencies and events put sustainability at the forefront of these operations in order to reduce their environmental impact.To set the right standards we are asking our friends in the event industry to contribute by completing this 3-minute questionnaire: https://lnkd.in/dBchKTMThe launch of the platform will happen at GEI 12 supported by the release of insightful data.Stay tuned, there's more to be announced!