From major events to venues, destinations and sporting organisations, there’s an increasing and much-needed trend towards the implementation of sustainable practices globally. Pioneering this push for sustainability is The Bulb – a sustainability consultancy that was founded in 2015 but first came for TPiMEA’s attention for its groundbreaking work on COP28 as well as the 52nd UAE Union Day in 2023. Since those projects, The Bulb has gone from strength to strength, creating sustainability strategies for a range of high-profile projects and organisations all over the world, and late last year, the company reached another significant milestone, as it was acquired by global multidisciplinary advisory agency, Trivandi.
Specialising in strategy, design, delivery and operations across multiple disciplines, Trivandi was formed in 2013 by the leadership team that planned, delivered and operated the 120-plus venues of the London 2012 Olympic Games. From the start, the company has strived to embed sustainability in everything it does, and, according to Co-founder and CEO of Trivandi, James Bulley, the acquisition of The Bulb will only serve to strengthen that resolve.
“Sustainability is a key part of what Trivandi does, and by bringing on board The Bulb, we are able not only to add their expertise, but also enhance our offering of sustainability, integrating it with all of our other business services – strategy, design, delivery, and operations – so that it’s embedded in all our projects from start to finish,” she commented.
With the company working across major events, venues, destinations, and sporting organisations, it aims to “create better experiences for the audience, alongside improving the sustainability and the legacy” of its projects. Bulley added: “Particularly here in the Middle East, major events are part of the national vision of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, so that makes it even more important to ensure that they deliver that legacy, and their events are aligned with a greater purpose.”
Co-founder and CEO of The Bulb Selina Donald now assumes the role of Trivandi’s Director of Sustainability and takes a seat on the company’s Executive Committee. “Having built The Bulb organically for the past decade, I’m excited for the next phase of our growth as part of the Trivandi Group. I founded The Bulb to tackle climate change issues and make a real difference to the communities and environment where major events are held,” she stated. “My role on Trivandi’s Executive Committee is a strong signal of the importance that the company places on sustainability throughout the industry.”
The acquisition came about following a successful collaboration between The Bulb and Trivandi on COP28. “We were on the ground working together and everything just clicked,” Donald recalled. “It’s not very often that you come across another company that has such similar values, ambitions and passions as yours. Both companies were launched off the back of London 2012, so there was that shared DNA from the outset.”
As well as the synergies between the two companies, the acquisition also appealed to Donald as it enables her the space to grow professionally. “For us to be able to have the security and the infrastructure of Trivandi to give us a bigger presence is incredibly beneficial,” she commented. “For me, professionally, it’s enabling me the space to grow, which you simply don’t have when you’re running a small company.”
A further benefit will be the support that The Bulb can offer to the Trivandi Academy – an initiative launched in May last year to support the professionalisation of the industry. “There’s a real gap, particularly in the major events industry, in the training and the transfer of knowledge and how we’re innovating in events,” Bulley explained. “Trivandi launched the Academy to bridge that gap, and we rolled out its first training course, Major Events 101, in October last year.” This year the Trivandi Academy is set to run a module on sustainability, which will be led by The Bulb.
This industry piece was another important element for Donald. “The fact that we’re taking everything that we’re doing, sharing it with the industry and giving those insights away to help others grow is incredibly appealing to me,” she shared. “For me, it’s the unique selling point of Trivandi. We’re not just another big corporate organisation that is only concerned with targets and growth. Being able to do great work, give back to the industry and achieve our ambitions are just as important.”
With offices in Dubai, Riyadh and London, and staff levels more than doubling in the past year alone, it’s clear that Trivandi is on an upward trajectory. James Bulley, had the final word. “We are thrilled to welcome The Bulb to the Trivandi Group. Sustainability has always been core to our vision to create a meaningful impact in our sector and protect our planet. This partnership elevates our ability to take action in the fight against climate change by ensuring every project we work on reduces its carbon footprint through the advice we give and interventions we make,” he stated.
“By uniting The Bulb’s award-winning ESG model with Trivandi’s proven strategy, design and delivery expertise, we will raise the bar for sustainability standards across the events, venues, destinations and organisations we serve. This also enables us to continue our mission of improving the industry, applying our learnings from each project to the next, while sharing knowledge and best practice.”
Photos: Trivandi
