I have worked in the events industry all my life, starting out as a theatre and venue technician for Hounslow Council.  I have been an Events Manager since 1997, planning and operating outdoor events including BBC Music Live, BBC Proms in the Park and the Summer Pops – and orchestra season under canvas in Liverpool as well as touring with artists as Promoter Rep.  I started at the AO Arena in 2006 as Events Manager ending up as Director of Operations until 2025. 

Having worked on events as diverse as the Urban Farm Show to World Championship Boxing, my hands on experience of events, event management and crowd behaviour is extensive.  I am a people-centred manager and events professional, focusing on the individuals who work across the industry and, ultimately, who will respond in a major incident, while remembering that people work and play in the events industry for the joy it brings.

I have shared my experience from the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 with a range of groups ranging from the Football Safety Officers Association, the Protective Security departments of the UK Government, the Security Institute and even the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.  The message is the same, no matter who the audience – it will be people who respond when something bad happens.  This must be in the mind of anyone planning events; incident response planning, writing processes and procedures.  People are not theoretical, and people are amazing.