This is the inaugural UK AVIXA Diversity Council event.

The event will explore and celebrate the positive benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace along with practical suggestions for increasing diversity and inclusion in the AV industry.

Attendees will be drawn from across the AV industry spectrum from end users, Tech managers, manufacturers, distributors, integrators, consultants and technicians.

Agenda

16:00 Exhibition of sponsors products/services with a focus on inclusion.

16:30 Registration - Tea/Coffee networking

17:20 Chairperson: Mike Blackman, Managing Director at Integrated Systems Events,

17:20 Introduction to AVIXA and why diversity and inclusion is so important to the AV trade association - Amanda Eberle-Boyer. Membership director, AVIXA

17:25 Introduction by Kevin McLoughlin, AV manager, Royal Society of Medicine, AVIXA Diversity Council and Director at AV User Group

17:30 Keynote 1: Disability and Inclusion - Simon MInty - Sminty Ltd. Strategies and innovations that improve the recruitment, retention, and promotion of disabled staff and deliver better services to disabled customers.

17:50 Assistive listening and inclusivity- Jakub Kolacz, Product Manager Streaming Technologies, Sennheiser. 17% of the UK population are hard of hearing, Jakub will explore the latest in assistive listening technology including demonstrating 'Mobile Connect', a multi-channel venue audio system streamed over Wifi along with case studies.

18:05 Keynote 2: Diversity. Creating Sustainable Change – Transparency and Truths - Charlotte Sweeney OBE, Charlotte Sweeney Associates Ltd

18:30 Role models and mentoring - Sadie Groom, Women in AV and Managing Director at Bubble Agency.

18:40 Where is the next generation of AV professionals coming from? - Jack Laidlaw, BSc Audiovisual Technology Programme Leader, Middlesbrough College.

18:50 Panel discussion: What action can we take now to make a change in the AV industry? Charlotte Sweeney and Simon Minty will be joined by AV industry representatives for Q & A and discussion, including Maddie Vining, Senior AV Technician, Royal Society of Medicine, Martha Zantides, Project Manager, Twisted Pair, Iffat Chaudhry, Bid Manager, CDEC and Rachel Hunt, Marketing Director, Unicol.

19:25 - closing comments

19:30 Networking drinks, canapes, exhibition and entertainment.

The exhibition will include technology, equipment and furniture designed for accessibility and inclusion.

21:00 Close of event

Event website: https://avixadiversitycounciluk.wordpress.com/blog/

Thanks to all our supporting sponsors:

AVIXA Diversity Council:

The AVIXA Diversity Council is a group of AVIXA members interested in bringing together AV and integrated experience professionals from various backgrounds and cultures to facilitate a larger dialogue around initiatives of inclusion within the industry.

All are welcome in this council, no matter one's race, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, religious affiliation, disability, national origin, or any other community affiliation.

Mission

The AVIXA Diversity Council’s mission is to encourage inclusion and promote human, cultural, and systemic diversity in all forms within the commercial audiovisual industry through the utilization of professional networking, educational opportunities, leadership development, and community awareness.

Event website: https://avixadiversitycounciluk.wordpress.com/blog/