Jonathan Harvey
Programme Leader (BA (Hons) Events / Marketing / Tourism Degrees) at University of Suffolk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipswicheventsjayharvey/

As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.

Jonathan has worked for many years planning and organising a variety of different events ranging from community firework displays, to vintage and food markets, to classical concerts, to coordinating the Ipswich Maritime Festival.  In 2011, he decided to develop his event experience further by becoming a student at University Campus Suffolk and where he graduated with a First Class Honours Event and Tourism degree in 2013, before adding to this a Master’s in Business in 2014.  Whilst studying he began guest lecturing and later employed as a lecturer, before progressing to senior lecturer and later programme leader for the newly established University of Suffolk.  Jonathan has been heavily involved in revalidating the courses to include more industry content, engaging event business with the programmes, ensuring students are undertaking placements in the industry (#reallifeexperiences) and supporting their awareness of what is happening in the industry (#WeMakeEvents etc). Jonathan also teaches the Personal Licence industry award to students as well as local businesses, enjoys volunteering at events, and has been nominated/shortlisted for the university Most Inspiring Lecturer / Best Personal Tutor awards for the past 4 years.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A There is no dispute that the event sector employs huge numbers of staff and contributes significantly to the UK (and worldwide) economy. Yet despite this, and the huge number of creative, logistic and operational, strategic (and more) highly skilled personnel, it appears to many a disparate industry rather a Profession. There is a real need for the way this is viewed to be professionalised, headed by a professional body that both recognises and accredits qualifications and experience and ‘shouts’ and represents Events Management.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A Covid-19 has highlighted that whilst there are many different membership organisations representing different segments, there is no one body to speak for Event Management. At the University of Suffolk, we have taught Event Management for many years, we saw this opportunity to support the development of IEM, and help champion professionalism in the event sector together. Having our event tourism marketing management degree programmes co-accredited means that our students leave with not only a University of Suffolk degree, but also a professional qualification which will give them a head-start in their event career.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years time?
A As the recognised professional body which represents the Event Management Profession, and which supports members, and helps develop their skills and provides recognised good practice guidance.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A There is no one event I can pinpoint to as so many have different memories. Greenbelt was the first festival I stayed at and 35 years ago facilities were very basic! Wandering along the beach at the Isle of Wight a few years ago I remember coming across a Pirate Festival which was simple and everyone was having such a lot of fun. Volunteering at an event in Trafalgar Square (in the pouring rain) was another experience I will not forget! Coordinating a community engagement event along the Waterfront in Ipswich, led several years later to a local authority organised Maritime Festival, and the year I coordinated it had an attendance over the weekend of 60k. I enjoy attending ‘sizzle’ type events where the attendance is hundreds rather than thousands, and especially events where our present and Alumni students are involved.

Candice Kass
Founding Fellow of IEM
https://www.linkedin.com/in/candice-kass/

As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.

Candice has worked in the events and marketing industry for over 14 years, with varying roles and responsibilities during this time, and is currently Event Manager at the Institute of School Business Leadership.  Her present role means she is required to keep on top of current event, venue and sector trends (more so during the COVID-19 pandemic) and sharing this within her own network and teams, to drive participation and inspire confidence.  She has has overall responsibility for the successful delivery of all large conferences, awards, and UK regional events, so collaboration and thought leadership is important to ensure content is relevant.  She also ensures that every member of the project team is kept informed, engaged and understands their role to ensure successful delivery of the event.  Candice is also an active member of the Association of Professional Conference Organisers and the Association of Association Event Organisers and regularly engages with the Meetings Industry Association.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A The UK events industry is one of the biggest success stories, we create communities and bring people together from all walks of life, to network, engage and get to know each other and I am proud to be part of that.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A Working in events has afforded me with opportunities to meet some amazing people from all over the world, organise incredible events on a variety of subjects and has been the driving force behind my own personal development and passion for the industry.  I want to be able to mentor those interested in and just starting out in their careers – as they say, you can only learn by doing and having a strong network behind you.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years time?
A I hope to see the IEM as an organisation that supports the development of event management professionals and is the over arching body where all other associations, membership organisations are linked to ensure consistency and collaboration.  To support members in applying their expertise and experience to make an influential contribution to the ever-changing field of the profession and where employers recognise the institute as a professional organisation that encourages development and skills at all levels.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A As an event organiser the memory that sticks with me most is being an integral part of managing the awards for another professional institute. The award recognised individuals for their input into the profession, which included individuals and companies from all over the world. We had one individual who had travelled from another country solely as they had been advised they had been shortlisted for one of the award categories and had no idea they had won. When they got up on stage to receive the trophy and certificate, they professed to say it was the best moment of their life and one they would never forget. To be part of that individuals experience and to be able to share that with them is ultimately why I love working in the events sector as you become part of that individuals story.

Also see https://iem.institute/founding-fellow-candice-kass/

Clare Mackay
Senior Lecturer in Events Management and Programme Leader for Msc Events Management
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-mackay-58292933

As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.

Clare Mackay graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a First-Class Honours degree in Entertainment and Events Management.  As a student, she worked for Culture and Sport Glasgow delivering the city’s major cultural and sporting events such as the World Pipe Band Championships, the Glasgow Mela, and the Great Scottish Run.  Clare also worked as a steward at conferences and exhibitions, football stadiums, and outdoor events then spent two years working on the 80s music festival Retrofest.  In 2010, Clare returned to GCU to complete an MSc in Social Research with a focus on Business and Management then worked as a Research Assistant to Prof. Gayle McPherson and Prof. David McGillivray on research on the volunteers who travelled from Scotland to Delhi to take part in a mass cast at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.  In 2013, Clare joined the University of Northampton as a Teaching Research Assistant and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2017.  In 2018, Clare joined UWE Bristol as a Lecturer in Events Management and became an Assessor for A Greener Festival.  In 2019, she graduated from the University of Northampton with a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice and was promoted to her current role as a Senior Lecturer at UWE Bristol.  Having led UWE’s MSc Marketing Communications programme from 2018 – 2020, Clare has recently taken over the leadership of UWE’s MSc Events Management programme.  Clare’s research interests include the mediatisation of events and sports event volunteering, and her current research focuses on event design and pro-environmental behaviour in the context of Boomtown Fair.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A Despite the expert knowledge and skills required to design, organise and manage events, the specialism is not recognised as a profession.  Likewise, despite employing over 700,000 people and generating an economic impact of £70billion (BVEP, 2020), the sectors responsible for producing events are not recognised as an ‘industry’.  One over-arching professional body to represent events specialists would help to lobby for professional recognition for events management.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A Now, more than ever, there is a need for a unified voice for events specialists. As a Founding Partner, we are looking forward to helping the IEM further the professionalisation of events management for the benefit of our graduates, the economy, communities and the environment.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years time?
A I hope that in 20 years, the IEM: is the leading professional body for events management having successfully lobbied for events management to be recognised as a profession; that it is continuing to liaise with Higher Education institutions to marry events management theory and practice; and that it is recognised for its contribution to the industry and for being a force for good having embedded the importance of equality and diversity, ethics, sustainability, and wellbeing within its accreditation.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A This is a hard question! My favourite events that I’ve ever worked on were the World Pipe Band Championships and the 80s music festival Retrofest.  Meeting Boy George at Retrofest was pretty cool as he has a real celebrity aura.  It’s not a ‘favourite’ memory, but a memory that we laugh about now was rolling beer barrels in to a van in the rain at crazy o’clock post-festival then getting back to our hotel in the early hours of the morning and having to ask the night porter to get the Daddy Long Legs out of our room as housekeeping had left our window open.  The atmosphere at the Worlds and Retrofest was also great, and I loved the atmosphere at the UEFA Cup Final Fan Zones in Glasgow in 2007, and when it was announced that Glasgow won at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid Announcement – that’s a nice memory to have.

Also see https://iem.institute/founding-partner-uwe-bristol/