I got into the event industry because 13 years ago I was working in advertising and had very little events or sales experience. I saw a job advertised in The Guardian for an event sales executive, which was based in Nice and applied. I got through four rounds of interviews before getting the job.
I have worked here since 2011.
I was attracted to this particular role because I love the challenge of working for a small but ambitious and fast growing agency. Paragon gives me the opportunity to lead the events team in a dynamic way and to seek out opportunities for running many different types of events. It's a very creative, client-facing and sales driven role, which I am passionate about.
Not many people know that my managing director is agent to Phil Tufnell, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and many other sporting personalities. Events is just one part of what Paragon does.
My worst experience at an event was when I had a private aircraft chartered from Biggin Hill and on the morning of departure all the VIP guests were ready and waiting in the lounge but the fog was so thick that the aircraft couldn't take off. I was so worried we'd miss our slot but the fog cleared with just minutes to spare so the group could depart.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it's to always keep learning. The minute you get bored and stop learning it's time to do something else.
The best event I’ve been involved was... there are so many but one of my favourites is the brand activation work we did for QBE who are the headline sponsor of the Autumn Internationals. It was a hugely challenging piece of work to deliver unique match day hospitality to more than 2,000 guests and we recently won an award for the event which makes it all the more special from a personal perspective.
If I could do it all over again I'd be a chef. I love the pressure and creativity of cooking.
The one thing I can’t stand is bigotry.
Outside of work I spend my time cooking, eating out with friends and watching terrible reality TV.
If money were no object I would put an end to poverty.
The one thing I can’t do my job without is my memory. I have an encyclopedic mind for names and faces which stands me in good stead in this job.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be... in my next life I would love to teach an event management degree course. One element of the job which I love is mentoring our interns and I'm really interested in their courses. I'm proud to say we've offered two event interns at Paragon the opportunity to come back and work for us full-time. I come from a family of lecturers, professors and teachers, so I suppose it must run in my veins.
If I ruled the event industry I would take early retirement and teach.
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