The Glasgow Convention Bureau unveiled its latest initiative, the Glasgow Conference Impact Network, in partnership with the Glasgow Science Festival during an inspiring launch event attended by a diverse array of local stakeholders.
Held with the aim of fostering collaboration and understanding among stakeholders invested in the city’s conference landscape, the event provided a platform for attendees to explore avenues for supporting impactful conference events within Glasgow.
With a commitment to enhancing the city’s standing as a leading destination for academic association meetings, the Glasgow Convention Bureau’s newest endeavour promises to catalyse innovation and growth within the conference sector.
Aileen Crawford, Head of Glasgow Convention Bureau said: “Taking the subject matter of the conference outside the walls of the convention centre and into the community is hugely important to our association conference clients. The launch of the Glasgow Conference Impact Network brings Team Glasgow together to maximise the positive long-term impacts of academic conferences taking place in the city.
The event was delivered and moderated by Glasgow Science Festival’s Dr Deborah McNeil, Engagement Manager at the University of Glasgow’s College of Medicine, Veterinary & Life Sciences. Attendees included representatives from across the academic community, charities, and conference venues, all keen to find out how they can support conference impact and legacy activities linked to academic meetings taking place in Glasgow.
Dr Deborah McNeill said: “The launch of the Glasgow Impact Network is an exciting first step. We are bringing together a wide variety of diverse ideas and approaches from this incredible range of organisations. We are here to ensure that community needs are at the heart of these developments.”
The group of over 30 engaged stakeholders from across the charity and Higher Education sectors heard from Dr Lorraine Work from the University of Glasgow who shared her award-winning case study on the engagement activity surrounding Brain Health, as part of the Glasgow BRAIN conference. Dr Work shared the lasting impacts the activity her team delivered has had on the city.
Dr Lorraine Work said: “We took over Glasgow for the day prior to our conference for the public to learn about brain health. Our US based international society were so impressed by what we did in Glasgow, they have now embedded public engagement into future requests for proposals from host cities.”
The Glasgow Conference Impact Network look forward to working together on future conferences to leave a lasting impact in our city.