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Sustainability Award

Recognising Leadership and Innovation in Sustainable Event Management

In its inaugural year, the 2026 IAPCO Sustainability Award recognises and celebrates a business industry event organised or project initiated by an IAPCO member that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to sustainability. 

The award honours initiatives that: 

  • Embrace innovative approaches

  • Go above and beyond to educate and raise awareness 

  • Demonstrate positive impact 

  • Build a lasting legacy 

  • Protect our planet 

  • Contribute to a more sustainable future 

This award forms part of our Advocacy programme and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Nominate / Apply here

Nominations are open until 19 January 2026 for events that took place in 2025. 

Winner announcement: 26 February 2026, at the IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly in Athens

Supported by Business Events Australia 

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Criteria/ Rules of Entry 

Criteria/ Rules of Entry 
Projects eligible for the award must: 

  1. Be a business industry event organised or project initiated or organised with a significant impact on sustainability 

  2. Be from any sector within the business events industry, provided sustainability is a core component 

  3. Be organised or planned by an IAPCO member 

Submission 
Your submission should include: 

  • 50 words – introductory information about the nominated event or project 

  • 50 words – biographical details of the PCO Member 

  • Up to 200-250 words per abstract covering: 

    • Environmental Stewardship 

    • Sustainable Innovation 

    • Community Engagement 

    • Impact and Legacy 

    • Corporate Sustainability and Governance 

Judging 
A panel of global meetings and events industry leaders along with leaders from the world of sustainable events will judge the entries, based on: 

  • The written submission 

  • The degree and complexity of the challenge 

  • The outcomes achieved through innovative approaches 

Judging Panel of Global Industry Leaders

We are honoured to have 9 leaders from across the global business events industry as our judges for this important award.  Having their knowledge, expertise and input demonstrates both the willingness to collaborate across our associations for the greater good, and the power that comes from sharing a unified voice for sustainable practices.   Our thanks to each of them for their contribution and support!

 

Evaluation Criteria and Score % 

  1. Environmental Impact and measurable benefits – 30%  
    Please describe the event / project’s strategy and activities that contributed to the considerable sustainability outcomes and measurable achievements, aligning with your goals. Please make sure to include qualitative and quantitative results. What was unique in this strategy? 

  2. Innovation and creativity – 25% 
    What was innovative and unique in the event / project sustainable strategy implementation? The innovation and creativity in your submission should go beyond basic or known already sustainable practices and should involve new creative and high impact approaches. 

  3. Positive impact on community and Legacy – 20%  
    Was a positive impact or legacy programme incorporated into the event or project’s sustainability strategy? What was the goal and the measurable outcome? Please give the assessment for both short-term and long-term effects it had or might have. 

  4. Stakeholders involvement and collaboration – 15%  
    Who are or were the stakeholders you collaborated with to implement the described sustainability strategy? Please outline any challenges faced during the collaboration and describe the outcomes achieved. 

  5. Potential for wider implementation and education – 10% 
    Do you plan to further implement the similar sustainability strategy and how? How do you share the innovative successes and assist educating your stakeholders? Please include reports, media publications, case studies, etc. 

The Award Winner 
The winner will receive: 

  • Presentation of the Sustainability Award to the event or project on behalf of their company at the IAPCO 2027 Annual Meeting and General Assembly in Mumbai, India. 

  • Complimentary registration for the winning individual to attend the IAPCO AM&GA Mumbai 2027. (Please note: this does not include accommodation or travel.) 

  • Use of the Sustainability Award logo on email signatures, stationery, and biographical details/CV. 

Nominate / Apply here

 

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IAPCO EDGE Auckland 2026, taking place from 16–19 March 2026, marks 10 years of IAPCO EDGE and returns to the city where the EDGE journey began.

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