ESI Events Code of Conduct

Welcome to ESI Events! We’re excited to have you join us for a memorable experience. Our events provide a relaxed environment where people from across the esports, gaming and technology industries can have fun, focus on learning, network safely and do business. And we’d love to keep it that way! 

While we enjoy seeing you network, mingle and make new friends, we want to make sure that you do so respectfully as every attendee, speaker, volunteer and staff member deserves to have the most relaxed and beneficial time possible. 

Therefore to ensure that everyone has a safe, enjoyable, and inclusive time, we require all attendees, organisers, exhibitors and volunteers to adhere to the following Code of Conduct throughout our events. This Code of Conduct applies to the main ESI conferences, social events at off-site locations and any communications and social media interactions before, during and after the conference itself:

  1. Respect: Treat everyone with kindness, empathy, and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other characteristic. This includes having respect for event presenters. Disruption of any lectures, sessions or masterclasses will not be tolerated.
  2. Inclusivity: Embrace diversity and foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and welcomed.
  3. Harassment-Free Environment: Harassment of any kind, including but not limited to verbal or physical intimidation, abuse, discrimination, unwelcome advances, or offensive comments, will not be tolerated. Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.
  4. Personal Boundaries: Respect personal boundaries. Always ask for consent before engaging in physical contact or taking photographs. If someone indicates they are uncomfortable or feel intimidated, respect their wishes immediately.
  5. Safety: Prioritise the safety and well-being of yourself and others. Report any concerns or incidents to event staff or organisers promptly.
  6. Alcohol and Substance Use: Consume alcohol responsibly, if it is being served at the event, and refrain from using illegal substances.
  7. Compliance with Laws: Adhere to all local and national laws and regulations.
  8. COVID-19 Safety Measures: Follow any health and safety protocols provided by event organisers, including mask-wearing, social distancing, and hygiene guidelines, to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
  9. Environmental Responsibility: Help us minimise our environmental impact by properly disposing of waste and recycling materials whenever possible.
  10. Communication: All communication, including any social media posts concerning the event, should be appropriate for an audience of professionals from across the industries we serve. Please note whilst we appreciate humour, sexist, racist or exclusionary jokes of any nature are not appropriate nor welcome at ESI Events and will be met with serious action.
  11. Identification: All attendees are required to use and display their name badges at our events. 
  12. Keep it Clean: Use of sexualised language, images, or clothing is not appreciated at ESI events and this extends to presentations, slides, and speaker content.
  13. Intellectual Property and Personal Data: Recording: video or audio recording of lectures, speakers, delegates, staff, exhibitions, venue, slides, posters, breaks or any other conference spaces, materials or individuals is not permitted without prior consent of the organisers. Photographs of participants are permitted with the permission of those being prominently photographed. Photographs of slides, posters and other academic content are permitted only with the permission of the author.
  14. Feedback and Accountability: Provide constructive feedback to event organisers to help improve future events. Hold yourself and others accountable for upholding this Code of Conduct.

This is not an exhaustive list, and the organiser reserves the right to exclude or remove anyone from the event for any behaviour not consistent with this Code of Conduct, as determined at the sole discretion of the event organisers. 

By attending an ESI event, you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct. Event organisers reserve the right to take appropriate action, including issuing a warning or potential expulsion from the event (with no refund), for any behaviour that violates this code. Thank you for your cooperation in creating a positive and inclusive environment for all attendees. Enjoy the event!

How Attendees Can Report Incidents:

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. We want you to enjoy our event. You can report the incident by either:

  1. Contacting a staff member – approach a staff member, member of security or the Duty Officer; or
  2. Emailing: [email protected]

If however you feel your safety is threatened the event organisers will take the following steps, either themselves or through event security:

  1. The alleged harasser will be approached
  2. The alleged harasser will be communicated with and made aware of the report made against them
  3. They will be given the chance to tell their side of the story
  4. They will then be made aware of the actions that may be taken against them. This may include (but is not limited to): providing a warning (verbal or written), requesting that the harasser cease interacting with the victim and maintain appropriate physical distance at all times, disallowing speakers who violate the Code of Conduct to speak at future ESI events, requesting that the harasser leave immediately and do not return, expulsion from the event and/or barring from attending the future events.

This Code of Conduct was last updated 9 May 2024.