Auditor Requirements

To ensure the integrity of our audit process, we require Auditors to have experience, skills and competencies in event sustainability.  This process is independently reviewed through the Sustainable Event Alliance Accredited Professionals program.

In summary Auditors must:

  • Have a minimum of 24 months demonstrated sustainability-in-event-management practice, which includes planning and delivery, and onsite operations.
  • Have held a senior role with an event or event organisation to ensure they have management practice and operational experience in the event industry.
  • Understand sustainable development principles and as they relate to event production and the industry at large.
  • Have an understanding of the administrative, technical and regulatory requirements that are applicable to event management where it crosses into sustainability concerns, in the region/country in which they are auditing.
  • Have an understanding of management system implementation within the event industry and sustainability sector.
  • Have gained the above through practical delivery and/or formal sustainability qualifications or training (but not limited to education only).

Additionally:

  • Have an understanding of audit documentation requirements for ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems.
  • Have an understanding of the audit process for ISO 20121

Personnel assigned to the audit shall not have a conflict of interest. A person is considered to have a conflict of interest with an event/organisation if:

  • he/she is, or has (within the past three years) been, employed by or contracted to the event/organisation in an event production capacity; or
  • he/she has a current financial interest in the event/organisation; or
  • he/she is currently employed by, or contracted to, an organisation with a financial interest in the event/organisation.
  • he/she is currently employed by, or contracted to, an organisation in a direct commercial competitive position with the event/organisation or its sustainability consultants.
  • he/she is a family member or relative to anyone involved with the organization/event.

Responsibilities

The Auditor responsibilities include:

  • informing SES of the (planned) audit schedule.
  • monitoring the use, and controlling and reporting the misuse, of all associated logos and text claims of conformity
  • notifying SES without delay, of matters that may affect the capability of the event/organization to continue to fulfill the requirements of the conformity assessment.

GSP responsibilities include:

  • issuing, suspending and withdrawing of ISO 20121 conformity assessment.
  • immediately advising Auditors on every occasion that an SES conformity assessment is suspended or withdrawn.
  • ensuring that Audit reports have been received and licenses issued.
  • technical advice as requested by an Auditor.
  • maintaining a register of Auditors undertaking audits with specific events/organizations.

Audit Allocation

Those Auditors that are also part of our Active Affiliate network will have the audits they have ‘sold’ automatically allocated to them in the first instance.

If there is a conflict (as per above) then they will receive a credit and be allocated an audit from another location if they are available. SES will endeavor to ensure an equitable number of audits are attributed to Active Affiliates however they are not bound to do so.

In the case of a conflict with the Active Affiliate and client event to be audited, another Auditor will be allocated the Audit in this case. This replacement Auditor must of course also not be in a position of conflict with the client event to be audited.

Those Auditors that are not also Active Affiliates, will be allocated Audits when they become available in their sector or region.

Audit Process

Auditors will be contacted via email or phone in the first instance to confirm if they can take on an audit and to confirm there is no conflict with the client event.

GSP will prescribe the amount of hours for the audit, based on our negotiation with the client. These hours will then be allocated to the Auditor, and it is expected that the Auditor will complete the job in the prescribed hours. It is at the Auditor’s discretion if they wish to do more hours, however these are not paid for.

Once an Auditor is confirmed and allocated to the client’s event, they will be ‘set up’ within SEMS and have access to the Audit Interface. Auditors will be given training in using the SEMS Audit interface and training on how to audit to the requirements of ISO 20121.

Auditor Remuneration

Auditors will be paid based on a negotiated rate. This will be either

  • $X per hour up to a maximum number of predetermined time or
  • A set fee based on a number of predetermined hours