Emilia is an experienced event organiser, and has project managed events from large day long conferences with up to 400 attendees to more intimate stakeholder meetings.
She draws on her networking skills and appreciation of the bigger picture to identify who needs to be in the room, and find the people who have the most relevant detailed knowledge. In designing an event, Emilia considers the participant experience, the objectives of the workshop (e.g. listen to feedback, share information, build participant relationships), and the context (e.g. business, public sector, community).
Case study: local energy transition series with BuroHappold
Cornwall Energy Island – with BuroHappold Engineering and the Eden Project
Emilia has project managed a series of Cornwall Energy Island events for BuroHappold Engineering, in partnership with the Eden Project, starting in 2015, with a follow-up in 2017, and a climate-emergency focsued event in 2019.
In 2015 the partners created a two-day event with 130 participants, at the Eden Project. This included a mix of keynote speakers, expert infobursts, interactive learning, and action planning over the course of the two days. The approach is detailed in the Energy Island white paper available from the BuroHappold website.
“Emilia’s approach to working with communities and experts is structured but also heartfelt and engaging. Working with Emilia on the Energy Island Project was a fantastic experience from which I personally learned a great deal. The process was evidence based, informed and comprehensive, however importantly it was also fun! “
Phil Hampshire, 3Adapt, formerly BuroHappold Engineering
The 2017 event followed up and updated participants on work that had taken place in Cornwall since 2015, particularly through ERDF funded projects.
In 2019, Cornwall Council had been one of the first local governments in the UK to declare a climate emergency, and the partners convened a follow up event in September 2019 to review their plan for reaching net zero by 2030.
Emilia has also organised a parallel set of local energy transition events focused on the West of England area also hosted by BuroHappold Engineering. This included a Zero Carbon Heat event in 2019 co-hosted with Zero West.
Community Energy Sector
In addition to event and workshop creation for clients, Emilia creates events bringing together different perspectives, or sharing a framing of ideas, where she sees a need or a gap. This includes a Bristol Energy Network to devise an event connecting connecting energy democracy stories of creation and resistance across continents.
Emilia Melville 