ICCA/BestCities 2022 Incredible Impacts winners announced

The Incredible Impacts Programme – a joint initiative by the International Congress & Conference Association (ICCA) and BestCities Global Alliance – is celebrating three outstanding associations which, they have judged, “have set the industry standard in the last 12 months and driven real change through passion, education, creativity, and fun”. The awards were launched six years and this year’s winners will be speaking about their initiatives at the ICCA 61st Congress in Krakow, 6-9 November 2022. From protecting our most precious natural resource to delving deep into the human brain, to using the beautiful game to improve health and well-being, the winners provided three excellent examples of public engagement merit widespread recognition. The 2022 Incredible Impact Programme winners are: International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism Great effort was made in Glasgow this summer to bring the mystery and the intricacies of the human brain to life via a series of interactive city-wide events bringing together experts, artists, students, and the general public. Delegates were encouraged to explore brain installations with Glaswegians empowered to become advocates for brain health and lead healthier, smarter lives. Dr Lorraine M. Work, Reader, School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, College of Medical, Life & Veterinary Sciences, University of Glasgow, said: “In bidding for the BRAIN & BRAIN PET 2022 conference we wanted to leave an impact from the meeting for the people of the host city. Through support from the ISCBFM, charity (Brain Health Scotland, Alzheimer’s Research UK, British Heart Foundation) and an army of volunteers from the Universities of Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Strathclyde, we were able to achieve this legacy. The school ‘build-a-brain’ workshop reached 600 primary school pupils, and our Brain Health Awareness Day allowed around 1,500 people to learn more about their brain and how to keep it healthy. Feedback on the events was overwhelmingly positive and recognition of our achievements through an ICCA/BestCities Incredible Impacts Awards allows us to look forward to future meetings to ensure a strong public engagement focus while also enabling us to build on the successes of our school workshops more widely.” International Water Resources Association (IWRA) With water under threat, IWRA’s innovative World Water Envoys Programme sought out five global ambassadors to represent their local communities operating on the front line of water security issues. From sanitation and homebuilding in the Dominican Republic to the safe access to surface and groundwater in New Delhi and Nepal, and from water access rights in Zimbabwe to agrochemical pollution on The West Bank, five bold youth voices came to the fore, sharing their stories during IWRA’s World Water Congress. Ignacio Deregibus, deputy executive director said the award was “a unique, special recognition for the efforts of those that contributed to the World Water Envoys Programme. Particularly, early career and young water professionals from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, as ambassadors of their local communities – during IWRA’s World Water Congresses. These voices and their actions require constant support, equal opportunities, and more prominence in discussions for the efficient and effective use and management of the world’s most precious resource.” The University of the Faroe Islands- Football is Medicine The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic – where 10% of the population is a registered footballer – is the perfect place to host an event showcasing the many benefits of playing soccer. Experts from all aspects of sports medicine, nutrition, and training delivered a compelling programme there detailing how football can be used to enhance and enrich the lives of people everywhere. Magni Mohr, professor, University of the Faroe Islands and University of Southern Denmark, said: “The Football is Medicine initiative has grown into a large international platform solidly supported by scientific research and with several strong sport concepts targeting children, adults, the elderly and various patient groups. The FIM-20 conference in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands had an immense impact on Faroese society, but we truly believe that the FIM-concept can have global impact on health promotion and well-being. We have now joined forces with the World Health Organisation and hosting the next FIM event in Doha, Qatar in October, is an initiative that arose from the Faroese conference.”

An ICCA statement added: “Our winners showcase how insight and imagination, cleverness and creativity can really make a difference to events of all sizes. We are delighted to award each association US$7,500 for future projects. We hope their case studies – and their presence in Krakow at Congress – will inspire other associations to really push their ideas as far as possible so they can make a truly lasting impression on our global communities.” Lesley Williams, managing director, BestCities Global Alliance, said: “We are truly inspired by the winners of this year’s Incredible Impacts Programme, all of whom have demonstrated leadership in advancing positive societal impact. These associations are united by a commitment to transformation and making a difference to peoples’ lives. Their work is an important reminder that meetings have the power to spark dialogue, shift perspectives and achieve systemic change.” Senthil Gopinath, CEO at ICCA added: “Each year the Incredible Impacts winners surprise, delight, inspire. This year has been an exceptional year, especially as the associations industry has moved out of pandemic mode and taken our first steps to being together as a collective community in a physical sense. The sheer scope of ambition, integrity and creativity displayed by our winners shows how hard one has to work to cut through and engage effectively with an audience. Our winners certainly cut through and the legacy of what they bring to their own communities and us as a wider audience, will resonate for a very long time.”