CMW spoke with Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney (pictured below), about the organisation’s ‘Change Starts Here’ programme.
How does SXSW Sydney uniquely bring together the tech and innovation sectors?
This year’s conference saw conversations between some of the greatest minds in industry across all SXSW Sydney pillars of Tech and Innovation, Gaming, Music, Screen, and Culture within a future-focused programme, with over 400 sessions and more than 700 speakers from around the world. SXSW’s reputation as a leading space for innovation has continued in Sydney, with attendees able to see what the future may be with innovative products and services from established companies to emerging startups. This was an opportunity for attendees to engage with new technology, discover innovative solutions, and explore exciting developments on the horizon. The Tech & Innovation Expo provided opportunities for entrepreneurs to network with potential investors and collaborators, helping them take their ideas to the next level. Further information can be found here.
What is the idea behind the ‘Change Starts Here’ programme and could you elaborate on the goals and initiatives of the programme?
BESydney is determined that its work is not just being about contributing dollars to the visitor economy but leaving behind a legacy of good – socially, culturally and the type of global change that can impact lives – medical cures, accessible clean energy, legislation for equality. As part of our ongoing CSR programme we have been working with #MEET4IMPACT over the past 12 months to support BESydney in formalising a methodology and a framework for managing and measuring the social legacy and the impacts of business events held by associations in their destination. The objective of the project is to lead the way in planning for, delivering, and reporting on social impacts from business events and secondly to be able to add value for organisers by being able to negotiate and offer up front legacy measurements for their events that are meaningful for the association, not just the destination. A social impact programme is designed to leverage business events to generate and measure positive, long-term social, economic, and environmental impacts at the host destination. Having been leaders in legacy research for the past decade, BESydney is taking the next step in formalising processes, education, and tools to define and measure these legacies and impacts now more accountably.
In what ways has the ‘Change Starts Here’ programme influenced made a notable impact in the community?
The Sydney WorldPride Human Rights conference was an incredible business event that made notable impacts for the LGBTQI community. Please see our video and written case study here which details the outcomes.
Can you elaborate on what makes Sydney an attractive destination for events, especially in key economic sectors?
Our major venue, the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) and our entire innovation ecosystem, including academic campuses and industry hubs, are not only geographically close but also aligned on a collective vision. Sydney has several broad industry strengths, and they reflect the DNA of the city’s strengths. There are three main precincts that have an industry sector concentration – Tech Central (Tech & Innovation), Westmead Health & Innovation District (Health & Life Sciences) and Barangaroo (Finance & Professional Services). These concentrated districts are drawcards for event tours and unprecedented collaboration between business, education, government, and research which leads to commercialisation and manufacturing. In terms of broader change, reiterating our innovation districts including:
- Barangaroo for Finance & Professional services which is ground-breaking in its approach to sustainable practice and leads the way in innovation especially around fintech and regtech.
- More on sustainability can be found at Barangaroo here.
- Tech Central from a shift in cultural change to create a tech precinct that is inclusive, welcoming, creative, and sustainable from the outset and is dedicated, through investment in start-ups, to lifting people up.
- Westmead Health and Innovation district which is changing the world’s approach to medicine through collaboration and out of the box thinking that could provide solutions that will impact health solutions around the globe.
What is the lasting legacy of hosting events in these particular sectors?
We see the opportunity to attract global business events in our key industry sectors has having a huge influence on social legacy. A quote from Sally-Ann Williams, BESydney Ambassador and CEO of Cicada Innovations at Tech Central, said, “If we want to solve the really wicked problems facing the world, they are solved by people. They’re not solved by technology alone. They’re solved by people doing business together, working together, researching together, procuring together, investing together. Ultimately, people are what drives innovation and drives transformative change, both in Sydney, in Australia, and globally.” Sydney successfully attracts global business events namely for our connectivity and collaboration which flows on to the delegate experience. This in turn contributes to the beyond tourism benefits that are derived from business events, of knowledge transfer, talent attraction, innovation, collaboration and sector development. These particular sectors have the potential to change lives particularly in Health and Life Sciences and Tech & Innovation where collaboration often leads to major breakthroughs everything from medical breakthroughs, sustainable clean energy solutions or social change for the better to name a few.
Sustainability is a growing concern globally. How is Business Events Sydney incorporating sustainable practices in helping event planners minimise their carbon footprint?
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) is focused on supporting sustainable events in order to protect the environment for future generations. We work with local and international Associations, Corporate and Incentive event planners from bidding through to delivery by providing local connections to ensure that hosting an event in Sydney meets sustainability goals. Here are some tips to create a sustainable, diverse and inclusive business meeting, conference or incentive. BESydney works closely with local partners to make Sydney a more sustainable business events destination. BESydney provides connections to its network of stakeholders, service providers, venues and operators to support events to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure positive sustainable outcomes for the city. To make it easy, BESydney has added a green leaf symbol to the supplier list to highlight operators that have committed to sustainability policies.
Can you highlight specific green initiatives or partnerships that Business Events Sydney has undertaken to promote sustainability within the business events industry?
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) is committed to the sustainable goals for Sydney, New South Wales and Australia. Our focus on sustainability is evident through our memberships and partnerships, our key stakeholders in federal, state, and local government and connections to local suppliers who can support the execution of sustainably managed global events in Sydney. Sustainable Destination Partnership BESydney is an associate member of this collaboration of hotels, cultural institutions, venues and industry influencers working together to make Sydney a sustainable destination for visitors and events. The “Making Sydney a Sustainable Destination Plan” (SDP) steps out actions to hold the sector accountable for improving its environmental performance of the city’s accommodation, entertainment and business event providers. Climate Active Network BESydney is a certified member of the Climate Active Network, an ongoing partnership between the Australian Government and Australian businesses to drive voluntary climate action. Our certification confirms that we have reduced our carbon emissions as much as possible, which are effectively net zero or neutral. To achieve this certification, we have developed an Emissions Reduction strategy and have committed to reducing our organisation’s emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Investing in emission projects, BESydney has also purchased 100 per cent of our offsets through the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation Company for The Karlantijpa North Savanna Burning Project, which benefits the environment and brings benefits to traditional owners including training, income, access to country, cultural sustainability, and project ownership. BESydney is a supporter of the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s global Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge launched at COP 26 in Glasgow, to support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, with an interim target in line with the Paris Agreement’s requirement to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.
How is Business Events Sydney incorporating and acknowledging the rich indigenous culture of Australia in its events, and what benefits does this bring to the overall experience?
Sharing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history, customs and knowledge raises awareness and understanding of the rich experiences and traditions that have existed in Sydney and Australia for millennia and safeguards their continuation for future generations. Connecting the ancient with the modern, sharing First Nations perspectives can be a deeply moving experience for delegates visiting Sydney. Please see attached fact sheet on how BESydney suggests incorporating First Nations culture into Business Events. We believe it is important from a cultural sustainability perspective that First Nations culture is intertwined in all we do from Welcome to County to inclusive events and featuring First Nations speakers and content. https://www.besydney.com.au/news-insights/sharing-australia-s-first-nations-perspectives-and-cultures-at-a-business-event-in-sydney/
What are the most recent and notable developments or infrastructure improvements in Sydney that enhance its appeal as a destination for business events?
Sydney has an everchanging skyline and landscape. Some highlights include:
- The redevelopment of Darling Harbour – it will be be a big one for delegates especially with the newly opened W Hotel Sydney on the foreshore and ICC Sydney being so centrally located.
- The precinct development is massive for associations particularly the development of Tech Central, Westmead Health and Innovation District and Barangaroo’s expansion.
- From a C&I perspective, the new Fish Markets which will be opening in 2024 and linked to Darling Harbour will be a huge drawcard.
- Finally the new Western Sydney International Airport will be a gamechanger operating 24 hours a day.
See full details here https://www.besydney.com.au/news-insights/sydney-the-future-city-now/
Could you provide insights into the economic impact that events in finance, health, life sciences, technology, and innovation have on Sydney and its businesses?
For FY 22/23 BESydney reported
- 57 global and national meetings held
- which attracted 41,000 delegates
- generating an estimated $155 million in direct expenditure for the state.
- 54 new business events secured
- expected to attract 56,000 delegates
- generating an estimated $210 million in direct expenditure
And by the end of the financial year, the team had secured a pipeline to 2030 that includes:
- 55 business events
- expected to attract 85,000 delegates
- to generate $364 million in direct expenditure.
From a Health and Life Sciences specifically as an example, in H2 2023 alone, events secured by BESydney brought in around:
- 2400 digital health leaders and practitioners, World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (MedInfo), July
- 4000 dentists (FDI World Dental Congress), September
- 3000 GPs (World Conference on Family Doctors), October
- 2000 work health and safety practitioners (World Congress on Safety and Health at Work), November
- 1300 forensic scientists and professionals (World Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Science), November
And still to come:
- World Congress on Endometriosis set for 2025
- International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO) in 2026
- International Congress of the Transplantation Society locked in for 2026.
