Reimagining How Humanitarian Leaders Gather
EVENT: HUMANITARIAN INNOVATION FORUM 2025
CLIENT: ELHRA
VENUE: TRADEMARK HOTEL I SHAMBA EVENTS
DATES: 11TH -13TH FEBRUARY 2025
The Moment
The Humanitarian Innovation Forum 2025 brought together innovators, decision makers and funders to confront some of the most foundational questions in humanitarian action.
This was not designed as a traditional conference. The intention was to move beyond presentation and towards participation. Over three days, diverse actors developed shared ambitions, made actionable commitments and formed connections designed to endure long after the Forum closed.
Waridi partnered with Elrha to translate this ambition into a physical environment that felt open, thoughtful and intentionally different.
Designing an Unconventional Forum
From the outset, the brief called for a setting that broke away from hotel formality. Shamba Events provided the ideal backdrop. Its open grounds, rustic barns and converted stables allowed the Forum to feel grounded and reflective rather than corporate.
Breakout sessions were hosted in barn spaces and fashioned as fishbowls, encouraging fluid dialogue rather than rigid panels. Workshop discussions, brainstorms and key takeaways were written directly onto makeshift pinboards that utilised the walls, reinforcing the sense of intimacy and shared ownership. Collaborative murals evolved across the days, visually capturing collective thinking.
Conversation menus were introduced to support effortless networking, removing the awkwardness often associated with formal introductions. The outdoor setting encouraged natural movement and informal exchange, creating a relaxed yet purposeful atmosphere.
Intentional Design and Minimal Waste
A strong emphasis was placed on intentionality and sustainability.
Branding was deliberately restrained. Instead of excessive printed materials or oversized installations, we used simple signage and subtle visual cues to guide participants through the space. The aesthetic leaned into warm, woody tones through furniture and stage design, ensuring the environment felt cohesive and intimate.
The stage itself was fully accessible, reflecting inclusive design principles from the outset rather than as an afterthought. Locally sourced elements were incorporated wherever possible, including beaded lanyards produced through a community led social impact initiative, aligning with the Forum’s values.
The result was a setting that felt thoughtful without being over produced, aligned with purpose rather than spectacle.
While the scale was intentionally smaller at 120 participants, the Forum required careful orchestration. The unconference format demanded flexibility in room layout, fluid session transitions and responsive facilitation support.
Waridi managed venue coordination, spatial planning, vendor oversight and onsite flow to ensure the experience remained seamless. The intimacy of the setting required precision. When scale reduces, detail becomes more visible.
Over three days, participants engaged in candid discussions, collaborative problem solving and forward thinking commitments in an environment that supported openness rather than hierarchy.
The Humanitarian Innovation Forum 2025 demonstrated what is possible when event design aligns fully with purpose. It also showcased how organisations can rethink traditional conference structures to make dialogue more accessible, human and impactful.
