Twenty Five Years in Events

When I started in events, the world looked quite different. The iPhone had not yet been launched. Facebook was still in its infancy. Event invitations and delegate information were routinely printed, registration was largely manual, and the idea of an event app sounded like science fiction. Back in 2006, I was certainly not thinking about QR codes or whether a stage setup would look good on Instagram.

Over the past two decades, my work has taken me from managing high-security diplomatic visits and NATO Summits to delivering aerospace conferences and data centre summits. Technology has undoubtedly made many parts of the job easier. Online registration systems simplified delegate management, making sign-ups and daily communication far more straightforward.

However, technology also brought new challenges. Setting up these systems takes significant time. When an event app glitches, delegates notice immediately. People expect technology to work without a hitch, and they will let you know when it fails.

The pandemic provided the biggest test of our industry's assumptions about meeting in person. Events moved online overnight, and many thought they would stay there permanently. Instead, that period reinforced the true value of live gatherings.

Virtual events have a place, but they cannot replace being in the same room, having real conversations and making direct connections. With remote and hybrid working now standard, gathering in person is more important than ever.

Despite all the digital tools we now use, the core of the job remains unchanged. Whether I am running an international trade mission, a convention, or a quiet gathering at Westminster Abbey, a successful event is still about bringing people together, creating the right atmosphere, and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.