Volunteer strategy delivery and workforce operations leadership at a global exhibition
The Challenge
The host city was staging a six-month global exhibition with participation from countries around the world. The organisers needed a dedicated volunteer strategy and the organising committee capability to mobilise a workforce at very large scale – later complicated by the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic
They wanted a volunteer function with lasting national impact. That meant building it from strategy to execution, establishing structure, governance and recruitment frameworks in a new organisation, upskilling a predominantly national team, and restructuring workforce models during COVID while keeping the event on track.
Our Role
AcuityX’s leadership team was brought in to operationalise the volunteer strategy and build the organising committee’s capability. As the pandemic created new challenges, the remit expanded to broader workforce oversight across staff, contractors and volunteers.
We designed the volunteer team structure, led large-scale recruitment and selection, and embedded capability transfer and leadership development for local team members.
We integrated volunteer operations into wider workforce planning and command-centre governance, and reshaped workforce models during COVID to protect delivery timelines.
The Outcome
By the close of the event, the team had mobilised one of the largest volunteer programmes in the history of global exhibitions.
A strong national leadership capability was established, workforce integration ran seamlessly during the event, and delivery stayed resilient through the pandemic. The organisers were left with a scalable workforce model and legacy for future major events in the region.
Frequently asked questions
Can AcuityX deliver a volunteer programme at mega-event scale?
Yes. Our partners have led volunteer strategy, recruitment and operations for one of the largest volunteer programmes ever run at a global exhibition.
How did the programme adapt to COVID-19?
We reshaped workforce models across staff, contractors and volunteers and folded volunteer operations into command-centre governance to protect delivery timelines.
What legacy does AcuityX leave behind on major events?
A trained national leadership team, documented structures and governance, and a scalable workforce model the client can reuse for future events.
