I got into the event industry because I thought it would lead to travelling the world and meeting famous people. I moved to London 14 years ago and am still here, dreaming about beaches with palm trees and a constant supply of sunshine. Meeting the Queen and the Queen Mother made up for the shortfall of sunshine in London.
I have worked here since October 2012.
I was attracted to this particular role because I felt I could really bring something to the RIBA and everybody was so welcoming when I joined that I felt part of the family straight away. Quite honestly, I can’t imagine working anywhere else in London.
Not many people know that I was a national accredited hockey player in my heyday at school in Munich and I was given a hockey medal by the Pope.
My worst experience at an event was when a woman called the office to request not to sit next to her husband at a gala dinner as she had "to put up with him all day long". We moved her down on the table plan, but on the night that table’s sponsor decided to reshuffle the place cards and she ended up sitting opposite her husband. She spent the evening moving to places where guests had left their seat to use the toilet, which upset quite a number of them. My team was only made aware of this situation after the event when she complained to us.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s not to take it personally but concentrate on the solution or task ahead. I learnt this very early on in my career, on my first day of work to be precise, when a client shouted at me at the top of his voice complaining about some service issue - the real reason was his lack of sleep due to his flight being delayed all night.
The best event I’ve been involved in was the TV launch of the 're-framing disability' exhibition to reduce the cultural invisibility of disabled people. It opened a fascinating debate about the role of the media and corporate responsibility in increasing cultural awareness.
If I could do it all over again I would... I would… I would.
The one thing I can’t stand is when people assume. Even with years of experience, my mind reading skills are not perfect as yet… I am still working on it.
Outside of work I spend my time socialising, organising dinners and parties with friends, eating fine food and drinking even finer wine… just an extension of my work really.
If money were no object I would build the perfect venue in the perfect location - the moon. Dinner with the world at your feet, anyone?
The one thing I can’t do my job without is my team. I have such great respect for them and am proud to work with them. They are professional and really passionate about their jobs, which is contagious.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be British hotelier David Levin, who has a career history of being the trend setter of the industry, by opening Britain's first gastro pub and creating one of the world's top boutique hotel groups.
If I ruled the event industry I would implement a rating system for venues, a little like the hotel star rating, to distinguish the different level of service one receives at the vast amount of venues in the UK. This would allow bookers to easily choose the right standard of venue, for the right type of event, at the right price.
If you'd like to be featured in a future My Event World, email associate editor Rachel Bull.
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