Event organisers must place diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at the heart of event planning to deliver experiences that are not only impactful and engaging, but also relevant to today’s diverse audiences.
“Truly inclusive events don’t happen by chance. They are the product of intentional choices made in how programmes are curated and how the overall attendee experience is shaped,” stated Mala Dorasamy, CEO, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
“By embedding inclusion into every stage of planning organisers can foster a sense of belonging and increase participation from underrepresented groups,” she added.
Key to inclusive event planning is making intentional decisions. For instance, curating a speaker lineup that reflects a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints, ensuring venue layouts and content delivery methods are accessible, and creating safe spaces for open and respectful dialogue.
Dorasamy was the moderator for a session entitled: Embracing diversity & inclusion in business events at the recently-concluded Malaysia Business Events Week 2025.
Nazirah Hasnan, director of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and immediate past president of the Malaysian Association of Rehabilitation Physicians, added that business events hold the potential to be powerful platforms for raising awareness and driving inclusion for people with disabilities.
“Event organisers shouldn’t just include people with disabilities as participants; they should be involved as vendors, speakers, and contributors across the entire event. That way, we normalise disability and make inclusion a natural part of every event experience,” she elaborated.
Building on this, Florence Chua, managing director APAC with PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), highlighted often-overlooked aspects of inclusivity in the digital space. For example, online event platforms and digital content frequently fail to consider users with visual impairments.
“A visually attractive website filled with images is of no use if screen readers, speech recognition tools or audio-to-text software cannot interpret the content. Images should be accompanied by captions and alternative text. It’s a simple step that can make a significant difference for users who depend on assistive technology.”
Chua also emphasised the importance of accommodating neurodivergent attendees, who may require access to quiet spaces during events.
She also encouraged business events venues to train their staff to recognise and support attendees that have diverse needs with empathy.
“Training is essential. Staff should be equipped with the awareness and skills to proactively assist, creating an environment where everyone feels respected and supported.”
