Utrecht, 31 May 2023 - The Impact Fair, the biggest event for people, companies and organisations that want to make a positive impact, is coming to Utrecht in 2024. On 4, 5 and 6 April 2024, the doors of Royal Jaarbeurs will open for everyone who is committed to a good cause or active as a social entrepreneur, for everyone who wants to start their own initiative and for all those who want to make their own organisation or company more socially relevant. Over 14,000 square metres, people can take part in more than 200 activities. Globally, there is growing awareness that we need to accelerate in order to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This translates, among other things, into new annual reporting requirements applicable to companies (ESG) from 2025. The Impact Fair wants to contribute to the acceleration, by inspiring people to take action and encouraging cooperation.
For three days, young and old can experience what charities, funds and social enterprises are doing to make the world a nicer place and how you can take action yourself. At the fair, a combination of festival, showcase fair and conference, visitors can get to know 'mission-driven organisations' in an inspiring and creative way. Visitors will also get practical tools to make a little - or a lot - of difference in their daily lives themselves. The Impact Fair is divided into 16 pavilions, with each pavilion focusing on one of the total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The fair itself focuses on Goal 17: more impact through collaboration. The fair features numerous workshops, performances by artists, innovation labs and many places where people and organisations can work out new initiatives and collaborations.
Not talking, but doing
The Impact Fair is an initiative of social entrepreneur Micha van Hoorn. Van Hoorn: "The Impact Fair answers the question: how can I myself actively contribute to a better world? Because we believe that everyone can do something, and wants to do something, whether you are a student or a multinational. It is emphatically not about more talk, but about showing what you can do or what you can join. How you can dedicate your time, money or talent to planet, humanity and society. Not agenda-setting, but showcasing. We also emphatically want to be a place where people and organisations can find each other. Our slogan is therefore: together we can accelerate the good in the world."
A fully circular fair
Jeroen van Hooff, CEO of Royal Jaarbeurs: "The Impact Fair fits seamlessly with Jaarbeurs 's ambition to be Europe's most sustainable event venue and organiser by 2030. Sustainability is an integral part of our strategy. Every year, we receive an average of 2.3 million visitors. I am convinced that by inspiring, motivating and enticing them to make sustainable choices, we can make a difference. In this respect, the Impact Fair fits Utrecht very well. Utrecht is the beating heart of the healthy society with a mission to bring about sustainable, positive change as a region. We will also do our utmost to contribute to making the Impact Fair fully circular."
Impact Conference
The first day of Impact Fair, Thursday 4 April, will host the Impact Conference, aimed at business, charities, funds, philanthropists and policymakers. Interactive meetups, workshops and inspiration sessions will cover a range of topics, including international best practices in impact making, collaboration with charities, the latest trends in fundraising and volunteer management, and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), the new guidelines that will apply to corporate annual reporting from 2025. Keynote speakers from around the world will provide inspiration and new insights.
Also on Friday and Saturday, there will be lectures, meetings, innovation labs and other substantive sessions. Van Hoorn: "We don't do that alone, we build that programme together with young people. If they are not already impact makers, they are at least the impact makers of the future. We will work with a large number of colleges, universities, ROCs and other programmes. GenZ is on the ball."
Utrecht, 31 May 2023 - The Impact Fair, the biggest event for people, companies and organisations that want to make a positive impact, is coming to Utrecht in 2024. On 4, 5 and 6 April 2024, the doors of Royal Jaarbeurs will open for everyone who is committed to a good cause or active as a social entrepreneur, for everyone who wants to start their own initiative and for all those who want to make their own organisation or company more socially relevant. Over 14,000 square metres, people can take part in more than 200 activities. Globally, there is growing awareness that we need to accelerate in order to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This translates, among other things, into new annual reporting requirements applicable to companies (ESG) from 2025. The Impact Fair wants to contribute to the acceleration, by inspiring people to take action and encouraging cooperation.
