Following member feedback, the Association of Event Venues (AEV) has launched six new
working groups for 2025 bringing the total offering to 22.
Consisting of individuals who volunteer to share their
expertise and skills, the working groups form a part of AEV and its sister
associations, focusing on topics crucial to event professionals.
Rachel Parker, AEV director, said, “We hold a combination of
face to face and virtual meetings during which members discuss common issues,
goals and practices that are more effectively addressed and explored as a
collective. We have listened to our members and formed the new groups to
enhance and optimise key areas.”
The new AEV and cross-association working groups:
• Social value working group – to help drive the positive
impact venues can have on the communities they serve, ensuring they contribute
to social, economic and environmental wellbeing. o Chair: Natalie Sykes,
sustainability manager, Excel London
• Guest experience working group – considering the unique
perspectives of event venues, arenas and stadiums, the group aims to drive
improvements in operational efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction and
elevate the overall reputation of venues. Co-chairs Jay Bourley, head of
guest experience, The O2 and Claire Sellick, senior manager guest
experience, Excel London
• Venue sustainability working group – formalising the venue
break out from the cross association sustainability working group, this group
can focus on venue sustainability, working to help reduce the event industry’s
impact on the environment. Chair: Lauren Hudson, sustainability and safety
advisor, Manchester Central
• Future focus working group – working to stay ahead of
emerging trends, new technologies and business opportunities that drive growth
and innovation in the venue industry. Chair: TBA
• Cross association eGuide user group – to empower the wider
event community by promoting uniform working practices, especially in adoptee
venues, creating a path for understanding and opportunity to contribute to the
evolution of the Guide. Chair: Michelle Baldwin, head of events, NEC
• Cross association security and counter terrorism working
group – to enable consistency in threat intelligence dissemination, robust
security practices and a collaborative stance on evolving security legislation. Co-chairs Henry Havis, head of security strategy and resilience, Excel London and Jen Phipps, operations director, RX UK Hub. Vice chair Corina
Hedley, safety, security and operations director, Hyve Group Ltd
New WG chairs Photo Credit: AEVSix existing working groups with new
leadership for 2025:
• Marketing and
communications. Chair: Michelle Kemp, director of marketing and
communications, Excel London
• Junior Event
Managers. Vice chair: Ben Sherriff, venue manager, Co-op Live
• Cross
association HR. Chair: Jess Bridge, head of HR, Manchester Central
• Cross association electrics technical. Vice chair: James
Blackall, deputy production manager, The O2
• Cross association health and safety. Vice chair: Matthew
Jones, head of health, safety, risk, and compliance, ACC Liverpool
• Cross association diversity, equity and inclusion. Interim chair: Laura Beattie, senior operations executive, IMEX Group
Alden Arnold, head of commercial and projects, AEV, added, “Last year we held 66 meetings totalling 121 hours of collaboration
– this year looks like it’ll be even busier!
"The working groups focus on areas
of critical importance; managing 22, and the output of those groups, means we
rely on the expertise of our members and those of our sister associations and
we are immensely grateful for their continued support.”
