Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, each year, the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) brings together world leaders from the public, private and social sectors seeking solutions to achieving education, equity and employment for all. Over two days 2,000 delegates share, debate and shape new ways for education to transform our world. George & Burnell has handled end-to-end event management for the forum since the event’s inception in 2015.

In the largest edition of the forum to date, the Global Education Skills & Forum in 2018 asked the question: “How Do We Prepare Young People for the World of 2030 and Beyond?” across a number of diverse and dynamic formats that showcased leading voices and looked to the future of the changing landscape of education.

The broader scope of work included project planning along with budget submissions and overall end-to-end event management, to include sourcing of venues, concept designs and 3D renderings, schematic designs, production installations inclusive of all the décor, furnishings and fit-outs.

A separate travel co-ordination team was responsible for all functions related to registration of delegates, media, organizers and event crew, along with travel management for international Speakers, Media and VIP celebrity Guests. Their functions included flight bookings, meet and greet, visas, hotel accommodation and airport transfers.

The technical production and management featured video content, animations, event flow, show run and stage sequencing. Technical aspects also included management of audience response systems, live streaming from the event and live satellite links. The agency was further responsible for photography and videography throughout the event to include camera crews for relay and event highlights. In addition, arrangements were made for live simultaneous translations and social media walls.

To ensure seamless delivery of certain aspects specific conference facility provisions were made for speaker-ready rooms, media centre, digital media and edit suites.

The team was also responsible for working with creative teams to have all the event collateral designed. Collateral design and production included venue branding, interactive and experiential collateral, way-finding and signage.

From a food and beverage planning and event catering perspective everything was managed by the agency in liaison with Atlantis including the coordination of guest services staff and hostess management.

Feature events over the course of the conference including the welcome reception and closing cocktail gala were conceptualized, executed and managed through dedicated teams.

Upon successful delivery of the event our teams provided detailed post-event reports and surveys giving access to data and input required to enhance future editions of the conference.