Global Perspectives on AI and Digital Sustainability
As the world becomes increasingly digital, the environmental footprint of our technology grows with it. From data centres to AI, cloud tools to everyday connectivity — every click, stream, and upload carries an impact many of us never see.
Who Should Attend & Why
This session goes beyond buzzwords — offering real insight into the systems we rely on daily, and how to use them more responsibly. Whether you’re an event planner, venue, supplier, or sustainability lead, you’ll walk away with practical steps to reduce digital waste and make smarter, greener tech decisions.
Date: 12 February 2025
Time: 10:00 – 11:00AM
Where: Online
Cost: Free to attend
Programme
In this fascinating webinar, Gavin Burgess unpacks the global picture of digital sustainability and what it means for South Africa’s events industry. Drawing on decades of IT expertise, he will explore the following topics:
1. Data & the Cloud
• How data is created, stored, and moved
• The environmental cost of data centres
• What “green data” really looks like
2. The Internet
• Global vs. South African access trends
• Economies still left offline
• Risks and benefits of a “green Internet”
3. Artificial Intelligence
• The evolution of AI
• AI’s hidden resource demands
• Safer, greener ways to use AI in your work
4. Technology & Sustainability
• The benefits and hidden costs of modern tech
• Machine learning and its footprint
• Making tech choices that reduce emissions
5. Practical Guidance for Event Professionals
• Segmenting and managing event data
• Sustainable connectivity and infrastructure
• Planning for single points of failure
• Tech contingencies “when the lights go out”
Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance & qualify for CPD points from SACIA.
Meet our expert
Gavin Burgess is a specialist IT consultant with interests in Data Science, Systems Analysis, and Development. He has spent more than 20 years advising the MICE industry on IT matters and is the founder of Technology Partners, a managed services provider and ISP. Gavin is an active member of the EGF and is the technology expert on the Management Committee.
He is also a SACIA certified Event Management Associate.
View his LinkedIn profile here.
