The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has announced the formation of a Development Board, with the aim of ensuring that the AEO delivers value to all members.
The board will also make sure that the association uses the best resources available to implement this value and focus on supporting the deliver of AEO Events, FaceTime and talent initiatives.
AEO chairman Paul Byrom spoke to EN for the December magazine about the formation of the board and the opportunities it will provide for the industry.
During the board’s first meeting, Duncan Reid of Clarion Events was voted chair and Emma Barrett of Broadway Events was elected vice chair.
Reid commented: “The AEO does a fantastic job at representing a very diverse group of organisations and strives to deliver value through every level of its members’ businesses. The Development Board will focus on making sure AEO initiatives continue to support the very heart of the organisations the association serves, the event teams, marketers, operations and sales professionals involved in staging events.
“It’s a really worthwhile group and a great opportunity to pull together and turn ideas into action that will make a real difference.”
Chris Skeith, chief executive of AEO added: “The AEO is an ambitious association working on behalf of some of the most commercial, creative and dynamic teams there are in UK business.
“Cross-functional event teams have to be good at everything and, as their representative, the association needs to be able to support them. The DB is made up of a group of people who understand the daily opportunities and challenges of running large scale events and so can very quickly identify the key areas to focus resource on.”
Below is the full list of members of the Development Board:
o Chair - Duncan Reid, event director, Clarion Events
o Vice chair - Emma Barrett, MD, Broadway Events
o Helen Curl, event director, Clarion Events
o Dan Dixon, sales director, exhibitions, William Reed Business Media
o Sarah Farrell, FESPA head of marketing
o Soraya Gadelrab, event director, Fresh Montgomery
o Gemma Huddleston, marketing director, Brand Events
o Annick Ireland, marketing director, Ascential Exhibitions
o David McAllister, director, f2f events
o Simon Mills, group director, UBM
o Hannah Redfern, event manager MWL Centaur
o Dan Sewell, director, Upper Street Events
o Chloe Skilton, head of marketing Professional Beauty
o Jo Tyler, marketing director, Quartz Business Media
