Social Marketplace Forum Cancelled
22 July 2014 at 10:18 am
Financial constraints in the Not for Profit sector have resulted in the cancellation of the Social Marketplace 2014 – a forum which brings together leaders in social business.
Organisers say the event, which attracted international guests, was due to be held in Melbourne in August, and has been cancelled due to a lack of ticket sales.
Last year’s Social Marketplace forum, run by the Centre for Social Impact, attracted 150 delegates in Sydney. Organisers said they hoped to attract similar numbers to this year’s Melbourne event.
“Whilst we’re very disappointed to cancel the event, the concept of the Social Marketplace requires a critical mass for it to operate as we had intended to achieve the intended learning objectives,” Corinne Kemp, Director Engagement and Events, said.
"I think the content was absolutely current, but bigger forces were in play. What we are seeing is the sector is more financially constrained to be attending such a forum.
"The issues are relevant … the sector has the desire to learn more, however there is more of a juggle in terms of workload and other pressures.”
Kemp said the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) was planning to develop future programs to share ideas that were of relevance to the sector.
She also said that Filippo Addaril, the Director of International Strategy and Head of EuropeLab at The Young Foundation (UK) and senior research associate at the Global Climate Forum, the Berlin-based research centre for sustainable development, would still be coming to Australia and that CSI were exploring its options to make the most of his visit.
She said details on that visit would be shared on the CSI website.
CSI said it would offer all Social Marketplace ticket-holders a full refund on the conference ticket price or the option to transfer their ticket to one of its future conferences in 2014.
CSI said it would also extend an offer to registered delegates to cover the cost of travel and accommodation cancellation fees.
For more information, visit http://thesocialmarketplace.net/
