Leeds to host a major global conference for Fair Trade this summer

Leeds will host the leading global conference for Fair Trade this summer, to showcase advancing research in the UK’s first Fairtrade region.

The Fair Trade International Symposium (FTIS) will land at The University of Leeds, a Fairtrade University, from 19th to 21st June 2023 and will welcome over 100 scholars, practitioners and policymakers who are working on Fair Trade.

The worldwide conference will offer an opportunity to be amongst leading and emerging researchers in Fair Trade and connect with practitioners representing the likes of the World Fair Trade Organization and Fairtrade International. Through a series of inspiring keynotes, workshops and poster exhibitions, delegates are 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.

Leeds will see the return of the first ‘in person’ Symposium following 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 many sessions being hybrid 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 commented: “We’re thrilled that the city has been chosen to host the leading global symposium for Fair Trade this summer. The city has had Fairtrade 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.”

The Fair Trade International Symposium 2023 runs from the 19th – 21st June 2023 at the University of Leeds in the UK. You can find out more about attending the conference by visiting: https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/9446/home