Festa’s 2024 year began with a powerful January Conference, which focused on the courage of leaders to take the lead in sustainability issues and the importance of showing resilience in the face of long-term goals. Nationally renowned individuals took the stage in a successful new program called Trúnó and openly discussed how to accelerate the sustainability journey of Icelandic society. In addition, the social aspect of sustainability was focused on, and this was to be a definite theme in Festa’s focus for the year.

A diverse range of new member associations were added during the year, which clearly shows how far-reaching the threads of sustainability are. Among them were ÖBÍ and the Directorate of Labour, and these two member associations held a joint Networking Meeting where, among other things, the UNNDIS accreditation project was introduced. Festa's project work emphasized raising all three pillars of sustainability, and to this end, collaboration was initiated with the Directorate of Health on organizing a Social Sustainability Assembly to be held in June 2024. In collaboration with a strong working group from Festa's member associations, work was also initiated on creating a roadmap for social sustainability.

In order to achieve success for future generations and nature, it is important that sustainability work is not isolated in silos, whether within companies, governments or sectors. Festa therefore emphasized expanding its sphere of influence and opening up dialogue with more parties in our member associations. Special events were held exclusively for boards and executive boards, which shed light on new demands placed on boards, but also on the countless opportunities that boards can seize to benefit the future of their companies. At the Deiglu meeting on culture and strategy, the focus was on how to mobilize broader groups within member associations to participate in the sustainability journey, where the expertise of each professional field within companies is utilized to its fullest. In collaboration with the Open University at RU, the Sustainability School was established, which offered a prestigious management course on all three pillars of sustainability, presented by a national team of sustainability experts from both academia and industry. The target group was primarily experts within companies that do not work formally or directly on sustainability issues.

Tengslanetið er eitt sterkasta tól Festu til að leysa hámarks kraft úr læðingi meðal aðildarfélaga. Tengslafundir Festu bera því gott vitni því þegar þátttakendur leyfa sér að tala af einlægni og hreinskilni næst fram einstakt andrúmsloft lærdóms og samstarfs. 

This year, the Climate Leaders project was given a boost, where CEOs of key companies in climate issues can utilize the magic of networking and learn about the state of climate issues that will shape their environment in the coming years.

Often the best conversations happen in informal settings, and Festa introduced Nature Nutrition this year, where Fest members meet for education, chatting and hiking in nature, and then return to the office recharged.

Það veitir virkilega innblástur að verða vitni að þeirri djúpu þekkinguog einlæga áhuga sem leynist meðal aðildarfélaga. Það er hlutverk Festu að leysa þennan kraft úr læðingi fyrir atvinnulíf, náttúru og samfélagið í heild. Það gerist aðeins með því frumkvæði, hugviti og einstöku hugarfari grósku sem aðildarfélögin koma með inn í samtökin. Við viljum þakka öllum okkar aðildarfélögum, starfsfólki, stjórn og öðrum samstarfsaðilum kærlega fyrir árangursríkt samstarf. Vegferðin er rétt að byrja og möguleikarnir eru endalausir. Eins og heiti Janúarráðstefnunnar 2024 benti á – Við skrifum mannkynssöguna!