I got into the event industry because I started out working as a casual for various bars, restaurants and an outdoor party caterer to earn money at university, while training to be an occupational therapist. When I left college in 2000 I was lucky enough be offered a position working in the HR department of Sodexho Australia, based at the Olympic Park for the Sydney Olympics. I fell in love with the event industry straight away and that was that.
I have worked here since 2008 for Managed Events, but I have been with the NEC Group since 2004.
I was attracted to this particular role because it meant I could continue working for the NEC Group, but it would give me the development and experience I wanted to further my career. Although my role is business development manager, our team is quite small so I get the opportunity to work across other disciplines such as operations and sales. No day is ever the same, which is exactly how I like it.
Not many people know that I used to be a member of the British Bungee Jump display team.
My worst experience at an event was when I was working as a circuit manager for an event catering company. I was looking after one of the hospitality areas at a racecourse and during the staff briefing I told them that the first job was to put the champagne (Bollinger) on ice, ready for the reception. I came back ten minutes later to check on them, only to find that they had opened all four cases and actually poured it into the ice buckets.
If there's one thing I've learnt it's always check that instructions/briefs have been fully understood.
The best event I've been involved in was the 100th Rotary International Convention here at the NEC in 2009. It's the one I feel the proudest of, although I have been lucky enough to have worked on a real wealth of wonderful events, including The Sydney Olympics, Ryder Cup and Cheltenham Festival. It was the first major event that I worked on in my new position with Managed Events, and there was such a fantastic team of people.
If I could do it all over again I would not have gained my qualification in occupational therapy, but would certainly have gone to Oxford Brookes University.
The one thing I can't stand is people not taking responsibility for their own actions.
Outside of work I spend my time with my husband, my friends and family, running with my dog and trying to get our 1974 VW camper van back on the road.
If money were no object I would take a couple of years out and go travelling again.
The one event I will never miss is my colleague Jenny's wedding. I would get shot.
The recession has meant that we have had to say goodbye to friends and colleagues throughout the industry. It has been really tough all round, but the general resilience and spirit of those people affected has amazed me. I think it shows the strength of the industry in general.
The next 12 months will be really exciting, hopefully. We are now working on some great projects and continuing to build on the success of our existing shows, such as Optrafair, which is returning for 2011.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be my counter part in Australia, if pushed for an answer, although I'm quite happy where I am at the moment.
If I ruled the event industry I would ban paper-based promotional material and manuals. We are such a wasteful industry it is disgusting when you see the volume of waste left after an event.