Meet the presenters

ANNA ABDELNOOR: CEO & FOUNDER AT ISLA 

Anna is the CEO & Founder of isla, a non-profit organisation focusing on a sustainable future for events. Anna is the driving force behind isla and articulates the sustainability vision with support from members, the board and specialist consultants. Having worked on large-scale events for global clients, Anna knows just how capable the industry is of delivering huge projects under pressure and believes the same collaborative attitude is integral to addressing the climate crisis within the events sector. She is also a member of The Meetings Show's Advisory Board.

ANDY KING: CO-FOUNDER AT INWARD POINT

Andy King has built his career as an experienced event producer that has spanned three decades and has helped top brands, foundations, and celebrities execute sustainable large-scale events and experiential campaigns. From catering his first wedding at age 16, he went on to become a sought-after event producer in New York City and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal as America’s first ‘corporate concierge’ for PepsiCo. Andy then co-founded Inward Point, a zero-waste event company, working with celebrity clients such as Leonardo DiCaprio and The Rolling Stones, and corporations including Disney, Goldman Sachs, Taboola, Victoria’s Secret, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. 

Meet the experts

  • MANAGING DIRECTOR, GLOBAL DESTINATION SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT

    For the last 17 years, Guy has focused on helping cities, governments, corporations and associations step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and practices.

    He is the MD of Global Destination Sustainability Movement, a collaborative platform that serves to accelerate the transformation from destination marketing at whatever cost, towards destination management and stewardship that offers shared value.

  • DIRECTOR OF CULINARY, LEVY UK & IRELAND

    Since the start of his career, James has looked at different ways of doing things; to save guests money, make the most out of ingredients and be as efficient in the kitchen as possible.

    His outlook is simple: "With the global food system accounting for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, our people always have the environment in mind – even down to everyday details, like using up cauliflower leaves for garnish or carrot peel for our sauces" - so it's easy to see why he's been referred to as the 'Circular Chef'.

  • CO-FOUNDER, CACTUS

    Most of Helen's career has been spent in corporate travel payments, but in 2019, she began to question the lack of meaningful content on conference agendas and in meeting rooms about the impact of her business sector on the planet and environment. So, she founded CACTUS, a voluntary industry collaborative group that has come together to address that very problem. It was formed in response to the growing Climate Emergency and the need for immediate efforts to cut carbon emissions.

  • CO-FOUNDER, DEPARTMENT 22

    In 2015, Thomas won the Ellen MacArthur scholarship, enabling him to explore a new narrative for how designers can bring about positive change. Having recently graduated with an MA from the Royal College of Art, he emerged with a renewed interest in design and sustainability and a fresh expertise in circular economy thinking.

    His company, Department 22, offers consultancy and training for innovation and the circular economy and aims to create a world with resilient food systems that have no waste, restore the environment and keep people healthy

  • FOUNDER, HERBLABISM

    With over a decade’s experience of working in urban crop production, regenerative agricultural farm design, and circular approaches to resource management – both in the UK and internationally – Vincent now focuses on developing and implementing food systems and products which are both sustainable and commercially viable. 

    He is the founder of HERBLABISM, a fast growing plant-based food brand which was on the official menu at COP26 in Glasgow (and more recently was served at this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championships).

  • CO-FOUNDER, PURPOSE DISRUPTORS

    With 15 years of experience in major London advertising agencies and a Masters degree in Sustainability & Responsibility, Jonathan has seen first-hand just how much the advertising industry needs to step into the responsibility of helping to address our climate and ecological emergency.

    As the co-founder of Purpose Disruptors, a growing network of advertising and marketing professionals, his goal is to create a visible, large scale, bottom up movement to ensure his industry is more purposeful and responsible in the climate crisis.