Events colleagues welcome counterparts from Northern Ireland

Last week, colleagues from our Event Industry Development team welcomed a delegation of event organisers to Scotland as part of Tourism Northern Ireland’s Delivering Sustainable Events learning journey.

There were representatives from organisations responsible for some of the biggest events in Northern Ireland and those that hold key roles in the delivery of events across the region. These representatives met with counterparts from across Scotland’s events industry. Over two days there was discussion on a range of sustainability impact areas, as well as share knowledge and best practice.

Among the Scottish industry representatives that the group met were Mark Currie, Operations Director for the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (Royal Highland Show) and Fiona Ellis, Business Manager for DF Concerts.

Tourism Northern Ireland’s Events Development Manager, Siobhan McGuigan, was responsible for commissioning the trip. The purpose was to help inform awareness and practice across the wider sector in Northern Ireland and create a collective industry group of sustainability advocates.

Supporting the visit were colleagues from our Event Industry Development team, who play a key role in our engagement and support for the industry.

The Scottish event industry organisations represented were:

• Festivals Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
• Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
• Edinburgh Napier University
• World Pipe Band Championships
• Celtic Connections
• Glasgow Life
• 2023 Cycling World Championships
• 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships
• DF Concerts

The Northern Ireland events industry included event organisers from:

• Stendhal
• Belfast Tradfest
• Bluegrass Festival
• Festival of Fools
• NI Science Festival

There were also representatives from local authorities and Belfast Festivals Forum. 

The visit was designed and delivered by Kathy Hayes and Lesley Maltman of The Eventor Ltd.