Leeds, the UK’s first Fair Trade region, is set to host the Fair Trade International Symposium (FTIS) in June 2023.
The conference, being held at the University of Leeds between the 19 and 21 June 2023, will bring together researchers in Fair Trade and provide a platform for practitioners to connect with organisations such as the World Fair Trade Organization and Fairtrade International.
Through a series of keynotes, workshops and poster exhibitions, delegates will be invited to explore how business models and standards contribute to ethical trade focused on justice, equity and sustainable development, and how these can be expanded.
FTIS is returning to Leeds for the first time since the pandemic. In 2020 a fully online event was attended by 200 delegates which replaced the FTIS conference that was due to be held in Mexico. This year, the event in Leeds will benefit from multiple hybrid sessions such as keynote talks, paper presentations and a poster exhibition, and is a feature ensured by the organisers to maximise audiences and reach people unable to travel to Leeds.
Following the announcement that Leeds will be the host city for the Fair Trade International Symposium in 2023, professor Anne Tallontire, of the Sustainability Institute at The University of Leeds said: “We’re delighted the FTIS will be held at our University in Leeds this year in the UK’s first Fairtrade region. I have been engaged with Fair Trade for over 25 years and since putting the bid in to host the FTIS in 2019, it’s a dream come true.
“Our theme for FTIS 2023 is ‘Fair Trade Connections’. We aim to learn from other movements dedicated to environmental and social justice. FTIS is a hub, uniting scholars, practitioners and policymakers, where we can generate and share knowledge of Fair Trade standards and practices. Delegates will include the world’s leading and newly emerging academic researchers, along with practitioners, policymakers and campaigners. There will be opportunities to contribute to the open access Journal of Fair Trade.”
Claire Heap, head of Conference Leeds added: “We’re thrilled that the city has been chosen to host the leading global symposium for Fair Trade this summer. The city has had Fair Trade status for over ten years, which means our schools, universities, shops and cafes support Fair Trade products and the improved working conditions it stands for. As our delegates explore the city, we hope they'll visit some of our Fair Trade promoting enterprises."
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
