EmpowerCymru ~ three years of bringing Wales’ industrial future together.

Net Zero Industry Wales

With the new Welsh Government looking to accelerate Wales’ net zero target from 2050 to 2040, the pressure is on to progress industrial decarbonisation while creating opportunities for economic growth.

That’s where EmpowerCymru comes in.

Over the last three years, Equinox has worked with Net Zero Industry Wales (NZIW) to concept, launch and grow EmpowerCymru into its flagship event, bringing together industry, Government, investors and innovators to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping Wales’ industrial future.

What began in 2024 as a platform to explore Wales’ decarbonisation journey evolved in 2025 to focus on industrial strategy and practical solutions, introducing more participatory formats to encourage collaboration.

For 2026, under the theme ‘Showcasing Wales’ pathway to industrial growth’, we took things a step further. Supporting NZIW’s Clean Energy Investment Prospectus for Wales, we shifted towards a more interactive, project-led event, putting Welsh innovation in the spotlight and connecting delegates with the expertise, partners and investors who could help take their projects forward.

Tactics:

Event concept and programme development ~ drawing on learnings from previous years, we evolved EmpowerCymru into a more interactive, commercially focused event. Alongside 20 speakers, including Adam Price MS, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, we introduced four distinct experiences: the Project Showcase, Empower Zone, fireside chats and Pitch Perfect. This gave delegates opportunities to discover projects, access expert support, network and participate.

Introducing paid ticketing ~ we introduced a paid registration model for the first time, managed through Eventbrite, to help offset delivery costs, strengthen delegate commitment and reduce no-shows.

Integrated communications and creative ~ we developed event branding and a targeted campaign across LinkedIn, Mailchimp and Eventbrite to drive registrations, spotlight speakers and partners, and build momentum. On the day, we worked with conference Chair, Steffan Powell, to film interviews with industry leaders and project teams, giving participating organisations a platform to showcase their work beyond the event.

Stakeholder engagement and event delivery ~ we shaped the programme narrative and developed session concepts, working closely with speakers, sponsors and partners to bring them to life. Alongside this, we managed suppliers, venue and booking logistics alongside delegate communications, overseeing delivery from planning through to the event itself.

Ben Burggraaf, CEO of Net Zero Industry Wales, said: “Over the last three years, Equinox has played an instrumental role in establishing Net Zero industry Wales and developing EmpowerCymru from an initial concept into our flagship annual conference.

“Year-on-year, the team has built on previous events working closely with NZIW, introducing fresh ideas and evolving the format to ensure the event remains relevant, engaging and valuable for our members and wider stakeholders.

“The success of EmpowerCymru 2026, with record demand and a more interactive programme, is a testament to their creativity and attention to detail.

“In addition, Equinox's proactive, collaborative approach makes delivery of an event feel seamless, taking significant pressure off NZIW and allowing us to focus on what matters most ~ supporting Welsh industry on its journey to net zero.

“Equinox has a real strength in event management, and I would recommend them to any organisation looking to deliver an event that makes a genuine impact.”