Matt Phelan, co-founder of The Happiness Index, is set to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 beam and Meetings Industry Association (MIA) ESG Summit, taking place on 14 September 2026 at BMA House in London.
The one-day beam and MIA ESG Summit 2026 will bring together meetings and events professionals to explore how organisations can turn environmental, social and governance (ESG) ambitions into practical, measurable action.
Under the theme “People, Planet and Profit,” the summit will focus on the connection between responsible business practices, workplace culture, sustainability and long-term organisational performance.
Matt Phelan to Focus on Employee Happiness and Business Performance
Matt Phelan’s keynote will examine the relationship between employee happiness, engagement and organisational performance.
As co-founder of The Happiness Index, Phelan will explore why people and workplace culture should be considered central components of responsible and resilient businesses.
His session will highlight the role of employee experience in building stronger organisations and demonstrate how people-focused strategies can contribute to long-term business performance.
The keynote is expected to provide meetings and events professionals with practical perspectives on how employee engagement can form part of a broader ESG strategy.
ESG Summit Builds on 2025 Collaboration
The 2026 beam and MIA ESG Summit marks the second collaboration between beam and the Meetings Industry Association, following the success of their inaugural joint ESG Summit at Warwick Conferences in 2025.
The latest edition aims to build on the momentum generated by the first event by providing delegates with practical tools, expert insights and actionable approaches to ESG.
Louisa Watson, ESG Director at beam, said the summit is designed to make ESG more practical and achievable for meetings and events professionals.
She highlighted the importance of bringing a people-focused perspective to ESG while giving delegates the knowledge and confidence to identify meaningful next steps for their organisations.
People, Planet and Profit at the Centre of the 2026 Summit
The theme “People, Planet and Profit” will guide discussions throughout the summit.
Rather than focusing solely on environmental sustainability, the programme will explore ESG as a broader business strategy encompassing people, responsible supply chains, social value, governance and environmental performance.
The organisers aim to help delegates understand how ESG can be embedded into everyday decision-making and business operations.
The summit will also explore how organisations can balance sustainability objectives with commercial performance while strengthening workplace culture and stakeholder trust.
Practical ESG Sessions for Meetings and Events Professionals
The beam and MIA ESG Summit 2026 will feature a programme of expert panels, live benchmarking exercises and specialist breakout sessions.
Key areas of discussion will include ESG legislation, supply chain governance, carbon measurement, social value and sustainability certifications.
These sessions are designed to help delegates understand the practical implications of ESG requirements and identify realistic actions that can be implemented within their own organisations.
The programme will move beyond high-level discussions to focus on measurable progress and practical implementation.
Basic, Better, Best Framework to Help Organisations Assess ESG Progress
A key feature of the summit will be the Basic, Better, Best framework, which will help attendees assess their organisation’s current ESG maturity.
The framework is intended to provide delegates with a straightforward way to understand where their organisation currently stands and identify opportunities for improvement.
Each attendee will also be encouraged to leave the summit with three specific actions to implement within their organisation.
This practical approach is designed to turn ESG conversations into measurable progress and help businesses move from ambition to implementation.
ESG, Culture and Long-Term Business Performance
Shonali Devereaux, Chief Executive of the MIA, said the previous summit demonstrated the value of bringing the meetings and events community together to share experiences and identify practical ways forward.
She highlighted the importance of building on the 2025 event and demonstrating how purposeful ESG strategies can strengthen culture, trust and long-term business performance.
The focus reflects a wider shift within the meetings and events industry, where ESG is increasingly being considered as part of organisational resilience, procurement, employee engagement and business strategy.
Second Joint ESG Summit from beam and MIA
The 2026 event represents the latest collaboration between beam and the Meetings Industry Association, two organisations working with professionals across the meetings, events and business travel sectors.
Following the inaugural joint ESG Summit in 2025, the partnership aims to provide the industry with a platform for sharing knowledge, benchmarking progress and developing practical approaches to sustainability and responsible business.
The 2026 edition is expected to bring together professionals seeking to better understand the evolving ESG landscape and develop strategies that can deliver tangible results.
beam and MIA ESG Summit 2026: Date and Venue
The beam and MIA ESG Summit 2026 will take place on Monday, 14 September 2026, from 9am to 5pm.
The event will be hosted at BMA House, London, bringing meetings and events professionals together for a full day of keynote presentations, expert discussions, benchmarking and practical workshops.
With its focus on People, Planet and Profit, the summit aims to equip delegates with practical knowledge and actionable strategies to strengthen ESG performance and build more responsible, resilient and successful organisations.
The beam and MIA ESG Summit 2026 will therefore provide an important opportunity for the UK meetings and events community to move ESG from ambition to action while exploring how sustainability, people and profitability can work together to support long-term business growth.
