Exhibition News April 2019 | Page 9

News £1.4m record profits recorded by Edinburgh International Conference Centre for 2018 €49m International Women’s Day celebrated across the industry Venues, organisers and suppliers from across the exhibition industry celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March. A collection of celebrity guests gathered at Central Hall Westminster for CARE International’s March4Women event, which welcomed Sue Perkins, Helena Bonham Carter, David Tennant and Annie Lennox among others. Proceedings were led by women’s rights activist and international campaigner Dr Helen Pankhurst, great- granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst. Elsewhere, IMEX released the details of its upcoming IMEX Frankfurt show, with a programme focusing heavily on equality and diversity. ‘EduMonday’, taking place the day before the exhibition starts, will feature the She Means Business conference, celebrating the role of women in the events industry. A session at the Inspiration Hub will also explore best practice and communication models needed to become an inclusive leader. This will show planners how to uncover unconscious bias, and discover practical ways to embrace diversity and inclusion. Organiser dmg events also signed the UN’s Women Empowerment Principles, to help bring gender equality to the field of construction. dmg is behind flagship construction exhibition The Big 5, and recently launched its Women in Construction Seminar & Awards series in Dubai. Geoff Dickinson, CEO of dmg events, commented: “A gender-balanced workplace is a business issue and essential for a thriving business and economy. We are honoured to make this commitment of pushing for gender equality within our company and the industries we operate in.” In Qatar, in the wake of International Women’s Day, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to bringing ‘the widest possible range of perspectives to crucial issues and challenges’ by announcing a pledge that will see women make up at least half the panel speakers at all its conferences and events, locally and internationally. She commented: “It is my belief, and that of Qatar Foundation, that neither gender nor any other consideration should present a barrier to a person’s development, their pursuit of opportunity, and their voice being heard in global conversations about topics, themes, and challenges that affect all of society.” cost of renovation to The Netherlands’ MECC Maastricht, set to begin in June floorspace to be taken up by ITT Hub 2020 at Farnborough International 15,000sqm £896m in cash and Euromoney shares to be returned by Daily Mail and General Trust projected turnover for 2018/19 at the QEII Centre in Westminster £15.67m growth in visitor numbers to Spring Knitting and Stitching Show in the last two years 11% “I very much look forward to working with industry colleagues and DCMS and DIT Michael Hirst OBE on his officials to develop the role of the Board, and appointment to chair of the Events Industry Board ensure that events play their full part in growing the economy and the profile of Britain.” April — 09