Matt Phelan, co-founder of The Happiness Index, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 beam and Meetings Industry Association (MIA) ESG Summit at BMA House, London, on 14 September.
Centred on the theme of People, Planet and Profit, the one-day summit will help meetings and events professionals turn ESG ambitions into practical, measurable action.
Phelan’s keynote will explore the link between employee happiness, engagement and organisational performance, demonstrating why people and workplace culture are integral to responsible and resilient businesses.
The event marks the second collaboration between beam and the MIA, following the success of their inaugural joint ESG Summit at Warwick Conferences in 2025.
Louisa Watson, ESG Director at beam, said: “ESG can feel broad and complex, so this summit is about making it practical and achievable. Matt will bring an important people-focused perspective, while the wider programme will give delegates the insights and confidence to identify meaningful next steps for their organisations.”
Shonali Devereaux, Chief Executive of the MIA, added: “Last year’s summit demonstrated the value of bringing our communities together to share experiences and identify practical ways forward. This year, we want to build on that momentum and show how embedding ESG with purpose can strengthen culture, trust and long-term business performance.”
The programme will feature expert panels, live benchmarking and specialist breakout sessions covering legislation, supply chain governance, carbon measurement, social value and sustainability certifications. A Basic, Better, Best framework will help delegates assess their current ESG maturity, with each attendee encouraged to leave with three actions to implement.
The beam and MIA ESG Summit takes place from 9am to 5pm on Monday 14 September 2026 at BMA House, London.
Further information and registration are available via the beam website.
