[Source: EventScotland] VisitScotland Events Directorate has today announced the appointment of Rebecca Edser as Head of EventScotland.  

Edser, who will start in September, joins Scotland’s national event organisation from her current role as Senior Major Events Consultant at UK Sport, the national high-performance sport agency which supports Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the staging of major sporting events.

With over 13 years’ experience at UK Sport, Edser brings with her a wealth of event experience both at national and international level, including bidding and supporting the staging of major events, as well as managing strategic partnerships across a range of organisations.  

Highlights across her career include the governments Event Research Programme in 2021.  As Head of Delivery, Edser was responsible for teams working with Wembley Stadium, the Brit Awards, Royal Ascot and the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix, the programme not only provided scientific evidence on the transmission of Covid-19 but enabled testing of the covid certification to support the restart and recovery of the sector. 

More recently, Edser has fulfilled a secondment to the Greater London Authority, leading London’s major sports events team, including the management of existing commitments, and the identification and securing of new events and properties.  This has included key strategic work on the submission for UK and Ireland UEFA EURO 2028 bid, and UEFA Champions League Final 2024. 

Prior to her role at UK Sport, Rebecca held roles at London 2012, Scottish Rugby Union and EventScotland as an Event Manager working on a wide-ranging portfolio of sport and cultural events including Piping Live and Glasgow International.

In her new role as Head of EventScotland, Rebecca will be responsible for leading Scotland’s national major event organisation to attract and secure major sporting and cultural events, continue to raise Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage and support the recovery and growth of a flourishing and competitive events industry.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events said:

“I would like to congratulate Rebecca Edser on her appointment as the new Head of EventScotland. Rebecca brings a passion for both sporting and cultural events, along with a wealth of experience across a range of areas including working with national governing bodies and international federations on the feasibility, bidding and staging of events to ensure they are delivered to a world leading level.

Having worked with Rebecca in the lead up to 2023 UCI World Cycling Championships, I know she will be a valuable addition not only to EventScotland, but to the wider events sector, and our key strategic relationships. Having started her career at EventScotland, we are excited to welcome Rebecca back to the fold in this senior role and I look forward to working with her as we continue to lead, shape and secure events for Scotland, as well as move forward with the refresh of Scotland’s National Events Strategy.”

Rebecca Edser said:

"I am thrilled to have been appointed as the Head of EventScotland. Scotland has an international reputation as an ambitious and innovative host of sporting and cultural events and while the last few years have been challenging for the sector, I believe that there is much to look forward to demonstrated by this summer’s exciting programme of events that includes, the Tall Ships in Lerwick and the inaugural staging of the UCI Cycling World Championships that will take place across Scotland. 

It is an exciting time to re-join the organisation as we look to review and refresh Scotland’s National Events Strategy ‘Scotland the Perfect Stage’, and I very much look forward to establishing partnerships and relationships across Scotland, not only to deliver the new strategy but to ensure that this is a sector that continues to thrive."

Rebecca succeeds current post holder Robbie Clyde who will take up a new role as Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Golf.

What are young people focused on and why does the sports industry need to attract them?

David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer, Centre for Sports and Human Rights: “What we do in sport is sell the dream of the lifestyle of the athlete. What we fail to do, and what is most needed, is sell life purpose.

“As for how we launch this into the future and are able to attract the hearts and minds of young people: my kids have taught me so much about identity, and their sense of what they want to belong to physically, mentally, spiritually and virtually. Their fluidity in terms of their knowledge, scale and skills and experiences at 17-18 years is much wider – and they are much more likely to offer sincerity and authenticity.”

Mayi Cruz Blanco, MD, Sports Practice & Partnerships, Adecco Group: “One issue that is ringing out is public trust. This is influencing the way sponsorship is done. The human rights movement, women in sports and geopolitics are shaping sports like never before.

“By 2025, 50% of the world population will need upskilling, in terms of data and digital literacy. We need to bring sports organisations to that future.”

Bill Powell, MD, Black Lab Sports: “There is a ‘give first’ mentality of Gen Z. A lot of sport is totally underestimating the change in how people from 8-25 are going to consume sport. They might look at their favourite team for only 15 minutes. You need to give first and get their attention.”

What can athletes bring to the professional sphere?

Mayi Cruz Blanco, MD, Sports Practice & Partnerships, Adecco Group: “The sports industry needs to think more about how they bring athletes back. Athletes are positive disruptors. They can bring a business mindset and creative thinking.”

Jeroen Straathof, Tournament Director, European Para Championships 2023: “We use the voice of athletes in the perspective of our event; we let athletes to tell their story. We advise all organisations to get the voice of athletes in their company. We need more athletes on boards.”

Rowena Samarasinhe, Founder, GENsport: “Now athletes have a much stronger voice through social media. It’s taken until now to put athletes first, or at least up there.”

What are the considerations for athletes planning a career in sports?

Jeroen Staathof, Tournament Director, European Para Championships 2023 and former athletes commission chair: “Athletes need to be aware that they are people who can do things really well – but out there are also guitar players who play really well, so you’re not special!”

Xu Lijia OLY, Olympic gold medallist: “When I was training in the 90s I didn’t know English. I was like a frog in a well! Learning English helped me a lot, to access the most advanced information and knowledge. And it helped my second career in sports media. By mastering both Chinese and English I could quickly switch between the two. A multinational experience really helped me to survive well in the western world – and perhaps people here can learn more about China.

“There are lots of courses, online and offline, from IOC other organisations, to help us to experience this difficult transition. As athletes we have many transferable skills – time management with a clear role.”

“But I did feel quite low when I realised I couldn’t compete any more, and I wouldn’t feel as high again.”

David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer, Centre for Sports and Human Rights: “You need a trauma informed approach. It’s traumatic to reidentify our life purpose.”

Why is it important to have a diverse workforce?

Bill Powell, MD, Black Lab Sports: “Some of the most culturally diverse teams are the ones grabbing onto exponentially growing technology.”

Mayi Cruz Blanco, MD, Sports Practice & Partnerships, Adecco Group: “Diversity is not just about numbers. It’s about making a huge difference in the world. Candidates are declining organisations that are not inclusive enough. You need to bring different groups into the sports industry.”

Rowena Samarasinhe, Founder, GENsport: “We are a global industry, but if you look at federations it’s very much a western ideology. We need to represent the entire world. Its 60 years since Martin Luther King gave his ‘I have a dream’ speech, but we’re in the same situation now, still talking about diversity.

“We have also had a spate of female leaders getting vilified. We’ve got to ride that wave, but get through it. A big part is supporting that next generation and helping them to be our future leaders.”

Source: EventScotland] Applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships close at midnight this Friday (24 January).
 
The successful candidate will have overall executive responsibility for the Championships by leading a world-class team in the planning and delivery of the event. The role requires strong leadership experience, a multi-disciplinary track record of overseeing mega sporting events, outstanding stakeholder relationships, an understanding of operating within public sector organisations, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
 
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, said: “This is an exciting next step in the setting up of the organisation that will organise and deliver the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships here in Glasgow and Scotland. The Championships will be the biggest cycling event ever to take place, combining 13 existing individual cycling world championships into one mega event for the first time and needs a world-class leadership team to deliver our vision and ambition for the event. So, if you think you have what it takes to be part of the biggest cycling event in history then we want to hear from you before this Friday's deadline.”

Apply here

[Source: EventScotland] Recruitment is underway for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships along with four Independent Board Members.
 
The CEO will have overall executive responsibility for the Championships by leading a world-class team in the planning and delivery of the event. The role will require strong leadership experience, a multi-disciplinary track record of overseeing mega sporting events, outstanding stakeholder relationships, an understanding of operating within public sector organisations, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Four independent board members, including one to fulfil the role of Audit and Risk Committee Chair, are also being recruited to join the board alongside the nominated members of the event’s partner organisations. The successful candidates will ensure the highest level of governance and will support strategic decisions whilst also being part of this historic and innovative event.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, said: “This is an exciting next step in the setting up of the organisation that will organise and deliver the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships here in Glasgow and Scotland. The Championships will be the biggest cycling event ever to take place, combining 13 existing individual cycling world championships into one mega event for the first time and needs a world-class leadership team to delivery our vision and ambition for the event. So, if you think you have what it takes to be part of the biggest cycling event in history then we want to hear from you.”

How long has the Adecco Group been involved with the IPC/the Paralympics and in what capacity?
“The Adecco Group has been working with the IPC since 2007 through our co-operation on the IPC Athlete Career Programme (IPC ACP) which helps Paralympic athletes achieve life-long success both on and off the field of play. The main goals of the Programme are to support para-athletes during and post their sport careers with careers advice and training, as well as job placement support. In addition, the Programme aims to make the labour market and companies more inclusive for para-athletes and all people with different abilities. The focus on everyone’s abilities will allow companies to access the best employees. The IPC ACP prepares and exposes talented individuals to the world of work, making them thrive on another field of play.”

Why did the Adecco Group want to become a Partner of the IPC Academy Campus’ Inclusion Summit?
“The Adecco Group chose to be a partner to support the success of the IPC Inclusion Summit and increase awareness on the benefits of an inclusive workforce as an extension of our contribution to the IPC ACP. The event will provide a unique platform for the Adecco Group, business leaders, governments, sports and other organisations including members of the Paralympic Movement to discuss inclusion and accessibility during the Paralympic Games – the world’s largest and most inspiring sporting event. The Paralympic Games have great power to drive societal change as we saw with the London Paralympic Games. The special time and setting of the Summit - allowing main stakeholders to meet in Rio - will provide a learning and sharing experience like no other, looking at government policies, workplace standards, social awareness, inclusive best practices and testimonials from Paralympic athletes about their challenges and ability to contribute to an inclusive society.”

Who is speaking on Adecco Group’s behalf during the Inclusion Summit at the Campus and what will they be speaking about?
“Shanthi Flynn, the Adecco Group’s Chief HR Officer, will attend and speak at the IPC Academy Campus’ Inclusion Summit on the topic ‘Testimony of Change’.  She will talk about the importance of workplace inclusion for everyone and how a programme such as the IPC ACP can drive and promote needed societal and mind-set change. She will also touch upon the long-standing experience the Adecco Group has in markets such as France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the US  –  when it comes to providing everyone who has the will and passion to work with an opportunity to contribute. Inclusiveness is not about charity but about supporting companies be more innovative, creative, productive and attractive for employees. It is about changing perceptions, understanding unconscious bias and stereotypes that are the main barriers currently with regards to labour market inclusion.”

How important is the subject of inclusivity to the Adecco Group from your internal perspective (i.e. within the context of how you recruit and engage with your own employees?)
“Being an inclusive workplace for all has been an important topic for the Adecco Group for many years. Not only has legislation driven progress in many countries, it often can be a critical parameter for change. Personal experience on what it means to have people from all different backgrounds and abilities has been a very enriching experience for us. Moreover, knowing that 1 billion or 15% of the world’s population have some kind of a physical impairment means that someone in your family, a friend, or a friend of a friend could be looking for a career and would want an equal chance to contribute and to get a job. For companies considering all possible candidates, without prejudice but a focus on skills and abilities is the way to go in finding the best candidate for a position. So for every organisation, it is important to be involved and contribute to an inclusive environment.”

What trends are you seeing globally from a HR perspective regarding inclusivity in the workplace? Do you think employers are getting better at embracing inclusivity generally? Is the sports industry better at being inclusive than other industry sectors in your opinion?
“With generations Y and Z entering the workforce, we know that their experiences have made them more socially tolerant, environmentally aware with a focus on businesses’ commitment to sustainability - core criteria in deciding what to buy, who to buy from and of course whom to work for. Therefore, these generations will definitely help to build a more inclusive labour market for everyone. I don’t think we can say that any sector is doing better in terms of inclusiveness. It rather boils down to companies’ leadership, their focus on reputation and their vision about a long-term versus a short-term business strategy, which adds value to society. It is about the creation of shared value for employees, clients, shareholders and any other stakeholders.”

What would be your advice to organisations in any industry looking to improve their inclusivity policies and procedures?
“First and foremost, workplace inclusion has to be endorsed by senior leadership. They must be role models for the company with regular communication to all employees on the importance of an inclusive workforce. In addition, educational measures on the value of an inclusive workforce are key to drive cultural change. Finally, change does not happen overnight, it takes time and needs a plan with a strategic objective and contributions by all.  To achieve this objective, measurements and reward systems should be implemented and tracked in the same way as other corporate metrics are.”

This interview was conducted by the World Academy of Sport (WAoS). 

About IPC Academy Campus
The IPC Academy Campus will take place in Rio de Janeiro between 6-17 September 2016, giving stakeholders of major sports events the chance to learn from their peers during the Paralympic Games. Delivered by the IPC Academy - the educational division created in 2009 as a partnership between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) – the 2016 IPC Academy Campus is a unique event-based learning initiative that will include an Observers’ Programme, Games Experience Programme, Inclusion Summit and Closing Cocktail Reception. 
The IPC Academy Campus will take place in Rio de Janeiro between 6-17 September 2016. 
Its Event Partners include the Adecco Group and the UK’s Department for International Trade. Its Media Partners are Sportcal (Intelligence Partner), Major Events International (Digest Partner), Around the Rings (Online Partner), Host City (Magazine Partner) and AXS Chat (Social Media Partner).
Adecco Group is the world's leading workforce solution provider. With more than 32,000 employees and around 5,100 branches, in over 60 countries and territories around the world, the organisation offers a wide variety of HR services, connecting around 700,000 associates with its clients every day. The services the Adecco Group offers fall into the broad categories of temporary staffing, permanent placement, career transition and talent development, as well as outsourcing and consulting. The Adecco Group is based in Zurich-Glattbrugg, Switzerland and is a Fortune Global 500 company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
For further information about the the IPC Academy Campus, please visit www.ipcacademycampus.com or contact Claire Bennett, Project Coordinator, World Academy of Sport cbennett@worldacademysport.com