I got into the events industry after training to be a chef at Tante Marie in Woking. I used to cook for families and then freelanced for parties and dinner parties. I wanted to get in to the events world as I loved it the way events came together and I think I enjoyed the stress and pressure.
I have worked at Absolute Taste since I started the company in 1997.
I was attracted to this particular role because I wanted my own catering company and started Absolute Taste in 1997 with Ron Dennis and McLaren as my partners.
My worst experience at an event was forgetting some vital ingredients for an event at Silverstone and having to hire a helicopter to bring the missing items that had been left in the freezer.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s you have to be organised – having as much prepared in advance and careful planning of every detail makes an event a much less stressful place.
The best event I’ve been involved in was there have been a few – Millennium night in Courcheval, the Beckham’s World Cup party, Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday party – so many.
If I could do it all over again I would still be a chef in the kitchen.
The one thing I can’t stand is lazy and moody staff at an event – if you don’t like it don’t do it.
Outside of work I spend my time I hardly ever have time, but when I do I go to Cornwall and just relax with my husband Otis, our dog Truffle, and our baby Joshua.
If money were no object I would buy a massive house by the sea in Cornwall and commute to London by helicopter.
The recession has meant that we have had to be hungrier for events and need to be competitive.
The next 12 months will be hard but we have lots of exciting times ahead as we are opening a operation in Geneva in September so very exciting times for us.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be no one, I love what I do.
If I ruled the event industry I would make sure that the best events each year would be shared around, and that the guys who are in for a fast buck and go bust and reform their businesses don’t get the work. Ensure you look after the staff and make sure that they have fun.
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