Cisco Networkers 2007 - 'A Greener Shade of Conference'
21 Dec 2007

Event Profile
Networkers is Cisco’s annual industry conference, an event where networking professionals access updates on trends and innovative developments in technology. The objective – to increase the competitive edge for users through a format of knowledge based training sessions.

Overview
For the 2007 conference, held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in September, 1700 delegates from Australia and New Zealand attended the four-day event, the program for which included techtorials, workshops, keynote sessions and significant trade exhibition component.
While the conference theme, ‘Ignite Innovation’ related directly to the business and technology components of the conference, there was a parallel theme of sustainability, which provoked substantial interest and participation from delegates.

Environmental Strategy
Cisco adopted a strategy to reduce its environmental impact and reducing the carbon footprint of the Networkers event was a key component of that strategy.
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Management collaborated with Cisco in developing sustainable event management processes and implementing initiatives to make Networkers 2007 a greener event, establishing new benchmark for the industry.
This involved the Centre’s Management Team working with the Cisco Team, Professional Conference Organisers Veritas and PDK Corporate Events and the Centre’s suppliers.
Delegates were engaged from the very start of the conference during the welcome address of Cisco Managing Director, Les Williamson and reinforced via signage, placement of recycle bins and ‘Green Tips’ for delegates issued with pre conference material.

Challenges
The overriding challenge here was not to overstate the expectations of the outcomes and to manage the desirability for definitive measurement.  The main agenda was to set benchmarks for measurement when the event returns to the Centre in 2008.
Other challenges experienced by the team were related to cost, labour and time. Most of these challenges were effectively met by research, preplanning and preparation.  
 
Introduction of sustainable initiatives
The partnership between Cisco and Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre proved extremely successful, and will be repeated when the event returns to the Centre in 2008.
Initiatives introduced for the event:

• Making the change to renewable energy by investing in 100% Australia Green Power for the duration of the event
• Use of low energy lighting in exhibition halls
• Use of reusable material for exhibition stands
• Reduced use of air conditioning at non peak periods
• Changes to Menu selection with all menus centred around fresh, seasonal, local produce
  
• Choice of service styles to ensure portion control and reduction of waste
  
• Unused food distributed to local charities via Foodbank organisation
  
• Effective and sustainable measures to dispose of food waste
  
• Establishment of full waste streaming for the conference and exhibition components of the event.
  
• Choice for delegates to receive written conference materials or conference papers via memory stick 
  
• Bus transportation arranged for delegates to and from the airport and from the Convention Centre to their hotels

Positive Outcomes

• 52% of conference delegates opted for electronic information resulting in 45% reduction in paper usage for the event
• Reduction of 4185 KWH energy savings equivalent to 4.31 tonnes of Co2 emissions
  
• Saving of 207.7 tonnes of Co2 emissions as a direct result of using Green Power
  
• 70% of waste recycled
  
• The partnership with Cisco provided the Centre with the opportunity to build on its already significant sustainability track record which includes:
  
• Being a member of the Greenhouse Challenge since June 2003.
  
• Introducing water saving initiatives, which have reduced water consumption by 17.35% over the last year.
  
• Developing additional significant energy saving initiatives

Summation
Cisco organisers were extremely happy with the overall event as were the delegates The event scored 4.24 out of 5 which organisers were very pleased with and said reflected the collaboration and relationship between Cisco and Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Cisco’s aspirational goal for the 2007 event was to work with partners to decrease the environmental impact of the event – the results speak for themselves.
“Clearly there is an imperative for business such as Cisco to take the environmental impact into account whenever we hold events. The work we are doing with the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on this Australian leading environmental activity reflects Cisco’s wider drive to embrace business and the environment. We believe networking technologies can play a critical role in reducing the impact of business on the environment.”
Cisco Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Les Williamson.
“Centre Management has always aimed at putting sustainability at the core of the way we do business and we welcomed the opportunity to work more closely with Cisco on developing initiatives and implementing systems to make Networkers 2007 a greener conference.
“The investment by both parties in this event will be enhanced by Cisco’s commitment to return the event to the Centre in 2008, further expanding the already positive environmental value of the exercise.”
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre General Manager, Robert O’Keeffe.

Enquiries: 
Gail Sawyer, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Ph 07 3308 3023 Mob 0417762337
Email gails@bcec.com.au