Notes from a PCO : The Role of a PCO as a change agent and a sustainable leader
- Waridi Events
- Feb 27
- 3 min read
In 2020, during the uncertainty of the COVID period, we undertook local market research to understand a critical question within the event planning and event management industry in Kenya and Africa as a whole.
Why were corporate event planners in Kenya slow to embrace sustainable event practices?
At the time, sustainability was a growing global conversation in the international MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector , but locally implementation felt inconsistent and fragmented.
We spoke to 12 to 20 key industry players across the Kenyan events space to assess:
Their understanding of sustainable events management
The barriers to implementation
The structural challenges within the local market
What We Learned
The findings were revealing.Most corporate event planners understood the concept of sustainable events management. However, their understanding was largely limited to environmental initiatives such as waste reduction, recycling, and basic eco-conscious choices.
Very few viewed sustainability as a holistic event management framework encompassing:
Ethical procurement
Governance and compliance
Supplier accountability
Stakeholder education
Long term systems thinking
Beyond perception gaps, several structural barriers emerged:
Limited technical know how on implementation
Lack of localised, affordable sustainable vendor solutions
Absence of strong industry wide policy guidance
Low stakeholder awareness
Minimal client demand at the time
In short, there was awareness but not yet capability or systemic support.
Fast Forward to 2026: The Shift
The event planning landscape in Kenya and Africa has evolved.Today, we are seeing ESG aligned institutions, multinational organisations, and policy driven clients require demonstrable sustainability integration within conferences and corporate events.Sustainability is no longer optional or aesthetic.It is tied to reporting, accountability, governance, and corporate brand integrity.
We are also seeing local vendors increasingly willing to align with sustainability standards and develop structured solutions.
The question now is no longer “Should we?”
It is “How well can we?”
This is where the role of the Professional Conference Organiser becomes critical.
The Role of the Event Planner as a Sustainability Leader
1. Making a Strategic, Conscious Decision
Sustainability begins with intention.An event planner must make a deliberate strategic decision to lean toward responsible choices, not as an afterthought but as a planning principle.
This influences:
Supplier procurement
Material selection
Venue partnerships
Branding and fabrication choices
AV and technical production
Waste management approaches
These decisions shape the event’s impact long before the event takes place.A PCO has both the influence and responsibility to embed sustainability into these operational layers.
2. Building Technical Knowledge, Not Just Awareness
Awareness is insufficient without capability.At Waridi Events, sustainability is not approached superficially. We operate through a sustainable events model that informs how we advise, design, and execute conferences.
We actively:
Educate clients on practical options
Advise on trade offs and feasibility
Train industry professionals through The Events Academy, where sustainable events management is embedded within our curriculum and contextualised for the local market
Implement structured sustainability initiatives
For sustainability to scale, knowledge must move beyond theory and into operational competence.
3. Investing in Research and Market Development
Leadership requires investment.
We continue to benchmark both locally and globally, studying how international peers are embedding ESG aligned practices within conferences and institutional events.
This research does not remain internal.
We actively share insights with our vendor ecosystem to strengthen the local supply chain.
Examples include partnerships with:
Branding partners that prioritise intentional, well considered material use
AV companies such as Pneuma AV, among the first local firms to implement formal sustainability policies and align with global accountability frameworks
Sustainable events cannot exist without sustainable vendors.
A PCO must help shape the ecosystem, not just operate within it.
4. Adopting Systems and Frameworks
Sustainability cannot rely on enthusiasm.
It requires systems.
A structured sustainability model ensures:
Critical impact areas are identified early
Risks are assessed
Responsible decisions are embedded in planning workflows
Measurement and reporting are possible
Without a framework, sustainability remains fragmented and inconsistent. With systems, it becomes embedded into project management discipline and event delivery acuity.
A long road, but measurable progress
We recognise that full industry wide compliance and appreciation of sustainable events management is still evolving.
However, the progress over the past six years is significant ;
Client expectations are rising.
Vendor capabilities are strengthening.
Accountability is increasing.
At Waridi Events, we made a conscious decision early to move in this direction and we continue refining our approach as the landscape matures.
Sustainability is not a campaign.
It is a commitment embedded in how we plan, advise, and execute conferences.
Want to Explore the Research?
For a deeper look into our 2020 market findings and how the space has evolved, download our research summary below.
