UKEVENTS has rung the changes with a reshuffle of its executive committee.
Nick Morgan, commercial opportunities lead and chair of the
Outdoor Events Working Group, has been re-elected, while Glenn Bowdin has been
elected as vice chair and treasurer.
Meanwhile, Priya Narain, vice chair, takes over as chair of the
Diversity, Skills and Talent Working Group from Caroline Jackson, who has
stepped down from her role after serving a multi-year term on the UKEVENTS executive committee. Jackson has been a pivotal member of the umbrella
association, leading on the work to update SIC and SOC codes and well as
developing policies towards skills, diversity and inclusivity.
Bowdin is
Principal Lecturer in Events Management at the UK Centre for Events Management
(School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Leeds Beckett
University), where he has established events management degrees and masters
courses since 1996. He is co-author of the Event Management textbook, the
fourth edition of which is to be published in 2023, and is currently pursuing a
PhD to explore the potential use of quality costing as a management tool for
the events industry.
He was founding chair of the Association for Events Management
Education (AEME) where he continues to serve on the Executive Committee as
Treasurer, and has represented AEME at UKEVENTS (formerly BVEP) since 2006.
Bowdin said: “I am very pleased to be
appointed to UKEVENTS as one of the vice chairs and treasurer. UKEVENTS is an
organisation that has been increasingly active in supporting all sectors of the
events industry over recent years. I will be championing events education and
research and supporting the executive committee and partners in taking the
industry forward.
“Education plays a major role in supporting the
sustainable growth of the events industry, with further and higher education
providing some of the talent required to address immediate and future workforce
needs and research.”
Priya Narain is currently Purpose and Impact Manager at KERB, as
well as co-founder of Event First Steps and Diverse Speaker Bureau, and has
been part of the Diversity, Skills and Talent Working Group for two years.
Prior to her time at KERB, Narain was general manager at the
Event Marketing Association (EMA), where she spent most of her time engaging
with corporate event managers.
She said: “I am delighted to take on the
role of chair of the Diversity, Skills and Talent Working Group as it allows me
to contribute to the important work that the associations are doing to
support the industry.
“The industry is nothing without its people, and it is important
we set the right path for talent from all corners of society to flourish.”
On Jackson’s tenure, UKEVENTS chair Chris Skeith said:
“Caroline has been a key member of the executive committee and has selflessly
given up much of her time to pursue a fairer, better represented events
industry.
“Caroline lives and breathes the events industry, and I speak on
behalf of all partners when I thank her for all that she has done.”
On the election of Bowdin and Narain, Skeith added: “Glenn is no
stranger to the UKEVENTS team, and his experience will be vital in the months
ahead. His knowledge in the field is a result of tireless research and this
makes him a strong addition to the executive committee.
“Priya has been a central figure working on the Diversity,
Skills and Talent Working Group and her support for the work of UKEVENTS has
been invaluable. The events industry must recognise the role diversity plays in
success, and I have no doubt Priya will continue to highlight the best
practice.”
The new UKEVENTS Executive Committee is as follows:
- Chair – Chris Skeith, OBE
- Vice Chair – Glenn Bowdin, Treasurer
- Vice Chair – Nick Morgan, Commercial Opportunities lead
(Chair of the Outdoor Events Working Group)
- Vice Chair – Priya Narain, Chair of the Diversity, Skills
and Talent Working Group
- Vice Chair – Susan Tanner, Membership lead
- Advocacy & Government Relations Lead – Michael Hirst
OBE (Chair of the Advocacy & Government Relations Working Group)
- Special Advisor Communication/PR – Robert Wright
- Immediate Past Chair – Simon Hughes
