Louisa Daley , deputy editor , Conference News , explains why representation and community matters in events

y the time this edition of Conference News lands on your desks , Black History Month will have come to a close for yet another year . Throughout October , my LinkedIn feed has been full of celebrations . I ’ ve seen event professionals highlighting fellow Black professionals and / or businesses , exchanging Diversity , Equity and Inclusion ( DEI ) best practises and so much more .

But I think that celebrating Black excellence cannot and should not be confined to a single month . It should not be a tick box exercise or an afterthought for industry optics . Rather , it must be an ongoing commitment and conversation to help our industry become more diverse and inclusive .

As a Black female event professional , Black History Month has encouraged me to reflect on how my identity has impacted my

Louisa Daley

“ As a Black female event professional , Black History Month has encouraged me to reflect on how my identity has impacted my experience entering the world of events .”

experience entering the world of events .

Representation matters It ’ s widely accepted that our industry is predominately female , however , we still struggle to achieve the right representation , especially at industry events and in the boardroom , where older white men often take centre stage .

However , I remember my first time at International Confex back in 2019 , where I saw event professionals who looked like me , on stage , leading the conversations . Or in 2021 , where I had the chance to interview Black event professionals who sat at C-Suite levels .

Representation is key , because these experiences helped me forge my own career and gave me the confidence to say yes to important growth opportunities . I never would have said yes to moderating panels and roundtable discussions or even presenting videos , if I didn ’ t think it was possible . As Marian Wright Edelman says , “ you can ’ t be what you can ’ t see .”

After all , if I was looking up to those Black event professionals , surely by saying yes to these opportunties , the next generation of Black event professionals could also look up to me ?

Building blocks As I gradually began going to more industry events , such as UK Black Business Week , I forged my own ‘ eventprof ’ community .

It ’ s been through these connections ( in-person and online ), that I ’ ve found mentorship and support , which have been instrumental in my professional growth . I ’ ve had candid conversations , taking place at informal spaces , about the challenges we face as Black event professionals and how we can overcome them . I have also heard first hand the routes to success other Black event professionals have taken , inspiring me to follow in their footsteps .

Though Black History Month has come to a close , we must continue to strive towards a more diverse and inclusive industry . Throughout my journey , I ’ ve realised that representation and building a community go hand in hand . So , I urge you , take the inspiration and stories you ’ ve seen from Black History Month 2023 and think of ways to expand your network . Consider how you can provide opportunities within your organisation to foster growth and new talent – as it will only make our industry move innovative . CN