'The buzz of making things work is what I love most about my job...'

Tell us about you

I've clocked up 28 years in the events world, which means I've survived more last minute panics, dietary requirement dramas, and 'can we just change everything the day before?' moments than I can remember!

I started Mosaic 23 years ago with one mission: great events, no nonsense, and always with a smile (even when someone's asking for the impossible). These days I split my time between running conferences, managing Mosaic, mentoring future event managers and raising standards across the industry which includes being a previous co-chair of ABPCO

Are you an early riser or a night owl?

Early riser, I'm that annoying person who's already done a full morning's work before most people have had their first coffee. I love the peace of early mornings there's something brilliant about getting everything organised before the emails start flooding in.

Describe your perfect day at work

My perfect workday is all about balance a good mix of people time and focused admin. I'd start the morning ticking off those detailed tasks that need concentration: budgets, timelines, making sure every little thing is lined up perfectly (because in events, it's the tiny details that can make or break it).

Then I'd love to attend either a client meeting, or be on-site at an event as that's where the magic happens. There's nothing quite like the energy of being around people, solving problems, and seeing everything come together. That buzz of making things work is what I love most about my job.

How do you stay motivated?

I don't really struggle with motivation, to be honest, I think I'm just wired that way! My focus is always on the end result: delivering an event that works and makes everyone happy. When things get hectic - which in events, let's face it, is a lot - I just think about what we're working towards and crack on.

Are you a meticulous planner or or a spontaneous creative?

I think everything you've read so far answers this one. I'm a meticulous planner all the way.

Spontaneous creativity is wonderful, but not when you've got 700 delegates expecting things to run smoothly. I absolutely thrive on the logistics side of events the planning, attention to detail and making sure every element is organised. There's genuine joy in a well-structured timeline or a perfectly balanced budget. Yes, I know how that sounds.

What are you grabbing for lunch?

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE food it's one of the perks of this job, honestly! I'm always genuinely excited to see what's being served for lunch when we're delivering events and slightly disappointed when it's just another boring sandwich platter.

My perfect lunch? A large salad bar with loads of options, some lovely fresh fish, and those delicious picky bits you know, the olives, hummus and fancy cheeses. I'm basically living my best life when there's variety and quality on offer. It's one of the reasons I take catering so seriously for our events. Good food makes people happy.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote or mantra?

I've always lived by the rule: "treat people the way you want to be treated". It's not fancy, but it works.

In events, you're constantly working with venues, suppliers, clients, delegates all sorts of people with different perspectives and pressures. Taking the time to respect where they're coming from and understand their challenges makes everything run more smoothly.

You’re off to a desert island to work and can only take three things – what are they?

Phone, planner, and my two Westie dogs. The phone's a given, and my planner because I genuinely can't function without having everything written down and organised. But my Westies? They're non-negotiable. They might not help with spreadsheets or client meetings, but they keep me grounded, make me laugh, and remind me there's life outside of events. Plus, they'd love a desert island, think of all that beach time!

How do you unwind?

I'm a big fan of wild swimming and cold-water therapy. There's something brilliant about plunging into freezing water that just clears your head completely. I also love long walks with my two Westies, they're excellent at forcing me to switch off and get outside, rain or shine.

And of course, I love meeting up with friends over good food. A lovely meal with great company is pretty much my perfect way to unwind.

What would be your dream event ?

If time and money were no object? A massive international association congress right here in the UK, we're talking thousands of delegates, a huge exhibition floor, multiple conference streams, and all the complex logistics that come with it. I know that sounds like most people's nightmare, but honestly, I would love it! The bigger and more complicated, the better.

I love the challenge of coordinating something on that scale; the intricate planning, the moving parts, the international element, making sure thousands of people have an incredible experience. It's logistics heaven. I'd want cutting-edge venues, world-class speakers, flawless technology, and that buzz you only get when you bring together brilliant minds from around the globe.