Marie Townshend
Conferences and Operations Manager at British Occupational Hygiene Society
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-townshend-a7408b31/

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

Marie Townshend I was 21 and studying for a part time law degree while working full time. She was given a series of roadshows to plan and manage and BOOM, that was it, her love and passion for event management was born and she hasn’t looked back!

From Gala Bingo re-branding, taking the marketing team around the country walking club managers through the new look and advertising, to the HMV training centre, booking and planning management training and teambuilding events, then from introducing a Farmers Market into Nottingham Old Market Square, and securing deals with Fortnum and Mason at food shows in London for small local East Midlands food businesses, to launching new conferences in the environmental services industry.  Now 25 years later, Marie  works for a chartered society tasked with worker health protection and dealing with the move to virtual events throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to provide guidance and support reducing ill health at work.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A It’s a place to have our industry recognised and provide a benchmark for standards of professionalism.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A I work for a Chartered Society and I see how passionate our members are and how proud they are to have their achievements, knowledge and experience recognised by working through their chartership journey, so when I saw that my industry had a body to join I didn’t hesitate!

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A The go to organisation for all event management professionals, the recognised institute to prove a level of competence and experience.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A In 2019 I persuaded our board to go ahead with Brighton as the location for our annual conference. As part of this I planned pre-dinner drinks on the British Airways i360 and managed to get 200 people from the hotel, through security, drinks in hand enjoying beautiful sunset views of the sea gliding up to the top and back down then back across the road in time for dinner. I don’t usually blow my own trumpet but that was good!

 

Jhoanna Marie L. Abad
Event Project Manager
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhoanna-marie-abad

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

Jhanna Marie Abad’s passion for doing an event started when she was in college, when she joined the student council which opened her eyes to events. As the department college student council president; Jhoanna had an opportunity to conduct student engagement events such as Seminars, Training, University pageant, and school Marketing trade events with sponsors. She had no formal Event Management education but managed to land a job under different event agencies after university. Starting as production staff, event coordinator and then being promoted as brand account champion /project manager for a below-the-line promotion and events agencies. Jhoanna had several roles and projects over the past 8 years and is now an Event Project Manager. This includes overseeing all aspects of events from the initiation, conceptualization, pitch, planning, budgeting and organizing, up to implementation, and the evaluation. Jhoanna has planned and executed fashion shows, pageants, charity events, product launches and corporate events, brand activations, milestones and various events ranging from small to large-scale in the Philippines.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A I am deeply passionate about what I do – I continuously want to be better and do my best to succeed. With my experiences, I am in search of bringing my career to the next level. The IEM program offered is specifically in line with my professional goals. Also joining IEM will allow me to connect with a diverse Global Network of like-minded professionals and share event-related work standards, best practices and inspire one another.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A It has long been my dream to have a formal education in Event Management, execute a world-class event and be recognised as an event professional. I believe that through IEM I will achieve my professional goal of gaining professional recognition whilst taking advantage of the opportunities for learning and development on an international scale.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years?
A I hope to see IEM be one of the distinguished event recognizing bodies globally. And, that IEM will continue to support and provide resources, quality learning and development programmes that are available, accessible and affordable for newcomers, aspirant and professionals in the event industry regardless of culture and background.  Offer networking opportunities, Mentorship programs, Scholarship for regular CPD related programs, IEM supported Initiative project from the members.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A I most enjoy planning and executing fashion events. It is often seen as very glamourous and cutting edge but in reality, putting up a fashion event involves a lot of hard work and pressure behind the scenes that is unrecognized.  I oversee all aspect of the event from working with the fashion designers and creative director on the concept looking at their inspiration board, styling – putting the collection together, and program flow, managing talents such as models and celebrities from casting making sure designers aesthetic and vision are being considered to actual bookings, negotiating rates. Then schedule fittings and final line up for the show and come up with the looks (Hair and Makeup) in collaboration with the designer and stylist(s). For the stage and technical requirements, I make sure I guide the design and layout of the show. After that, I work with the director on model timings, choreography, music, and lighting, and schedule rehearsals sort of run of the show that makes sense for our concept. Come show day, check models line up and HMU to make sure they have all had beauty done. Then it’s first looks, line up, and the show begins!

My most favourite events are:

• Red Charity Gala with Top 10 Internationally-renowned, Filipino fashion designers.
  October 12, 2019 – one of the premier fashion and philanthropic event in the Philippines. The Red Charity Gala is an “annual benefit charity fashion event which highlights the creativity and craftsmanship of Filipino fashion designers. For the past years, the Red Charity Gala was made for the benefit of the Philippine Red Cross, a health and humanitarian organization, and also for Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation and various charities throughout the country. Marking its 11^th year, Red Charity Gala gathered 10 world-class Filipino designers.
  https://lifestyleasia.onemega.com/the-2019-red-charity-gala-charity-fashion-event/
• Ballet Philippines 50^th Anniversary Swan Lake with Internationally-renowned, Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco.
  https://filipinotimes.net/entertainment/2019/09/30/look-michael-cincos-swan-lake-creations-come-life-ballet-philippines-50th-anniversary/

 

Lou Kiwanuka
The Shaper Group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/loukiwanuka1/

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

Lou Kiwanuka is the owner and founder of The Shaper Group, focused on delivering exceptional people and events in the Exhibition and Conference sector.   With over 20 years in the industry as an Organiser, Show Owner, Contractor and Venue Manager, Lou has overseen some of the largest and most technically challenging events.  Always wanting to ensure her team and company are at the heart of industry discussions and developments, coupled with her broad knowledge and experience, led Lou to become Chair of ESSA – The Event Supplier and Services Association and subsequently Chair of the EIA. Her role within ESSA has allowed Lou to become increasing involved in driving efficiencies and change, in order to create a more dynamic but calmer, safer and more sustainable working environment within the Events Industry.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A Professionalising our industry has been a passion for years which manifested itself in launching OpsShaper in 2019. OpsShaper focuses on enabling brilliance by delivering at source knowledge from industry experts to our operations professionals. Joining IEM is an extension of that dream, to be part of driving an industry that we can be proud of and create recognition within our sector. Recognition of individuals is essential in attracting the best talent as well as putting our best foot forward to represent our industry in line with other professions.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A As we come out of this pandemic, we have a duty to learn from the lessons we have endured and put ourselves in a better position for the future. Whilst I am fundamentally an exhibitions gal at heart, our skill sets cross boundaries across the events landscape. IEMs focus on recognising the skills needed to create exceptional events is something that enables a common thread. I personally believe that in finding our common threads we will also find benefit.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A At the forefront of developing brilliant professionals in a dynamic and creative industry.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A I feel privileged to have been part of the closing events at Earls Court, both the staff and ‘friends of’ events but also to sit in the audience at the final concert. It was desperately sad to see the doors closed on the old girl but wonderful to remember everything I had been part of within that building – the conversations, the relationships formed, the special memories created. It was the place the I started, paused and then reignited my love of events.