From the BestCities Global Forum, hosted in January by Melbourne, its Convention Bureau Chief Executive, Julia Swanson, reflects on the values alignment now being demanded by future members of professional societies and associations. Cultural alignment, a sense of purpose, and creating long lasting community impacts are top of mind for the next generation, she says.
The sweet spot is when we get to net zero with optimized impact, says Swanson.
Swanson cites the International AIDS Society which held its conference in her city in 2014 as just such an organisation, citing how it measured its event activities in an effort, alongside the Victorian State Government, to eradicate new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortality via the Melbourne Declaration and AIDS 2014 Legacy Statement which created strong health policies in a drive to end to HIV infection by 2020.
