Point of View: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones
Events Officer at Teesside University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-jones-29021631

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

Rachel is a Microbiology graduate, but science and she parted ways in the final year of her  studies when she was elected as a Students’ Union officer. Following this, Rachel joined Teesside University’s Student Recruitment Team and part of the job was to deliver small events, where she discovered that was what she loved to do.  Rachel was keen to do a postgraduate course and her manager suggested an Events Management Master’s, which she completed in 2014 with Leeds Beckett University, and then secured a role as the Events Officer in 2017 delivering the University’s corporate events calendar with the support of a small team.

Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A I’ve been involved in professional bodies in the past; they provide a great network full of ideas, support, and inspiration. They were invaluable to me early on in my career and I’ve been privileged to give back by delivering training sessions to newer members. This is what the IEM means to me – a start for those new to the sector, helping established event professionals improve, and being a supportive network for all.

Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A I completed my Master’s degree in 2014 and have been in a dedicated events post since 2017. I’m at a stage of my career where I’d like to branch out my network in order to develop myself and the IEM is a perfect opportunity for this. As an in-house event professional, it’s important to get out there and work with others in order to improve what I do, and give something back to the industry I’m part of.

Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A We’re in such a diverse industry but we often share a similar set of challenges. I see the IEM as offering a network of contacts, shared resources and experience, but above all I see the IEM as being a voice of the industry.

Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A This is cliché but it really is hard to choose, so I’ll have to give some highlights: I was lucky enough to get to go to the Radio 1 Big Weekend in 2019 when it was a few miles away from my home. To see some of my favourite artists so close to my home was great and took me back to the days when the Roadshow would come to the very same location when I was younger. I was lucky enough to go to a gig at Lust Glaze Beach in Cornwall a few years ago – it’s a truly unique setting and added so much to the event. As an organiser, it would be the first set of Summer graduation ceremonies after I joined our events team. It was the culmination of months of planning, was my biggest event since taking up my post, and there was such a lovely atmosphere.