During my school holidays, I used to accompany my dad to work which mostly involved him flying to Europe or the US, speaking at events, meeting business partners and striking deals. I had no idea what a formative experience this would be – being immersed in different cultures, travelling to extraordinary places and meeting inclusive, talented people was all in a day’s ‘work’.

Years later, when I’d graduated from Oxford University and was fantasising about a career as a ski coach, dad invited me into the family business, a local coffee shop chain - GoodBean. This was a rare break from the global events industry for him. Within a few years he was back launching a new tradeshow called IMEX Frankfurt and invited me in as Marketing and Operations Director.

Twenty years later I’m CEO of the IMEX Group, having been appointed in 2009 following an expansion into the US with IMEX America. I’ve had two sons, perfected my fitness and bouldering skills (encouraged by my husband) and taken on many industry positions. I also focus on being Chair of Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation and founder of the Brighton & Hove Homelessness Fund. 

The unusual thing about IMEX is that we’re renowned internationally (and have won dozens of industry awards) but we don’t do any business in Brighton or the UK – you could say we’re a bit of a secret success story!  

Looking back at recent challenges, the global events industry was devastated during the pandemic. Any event where people gathered face to face became a frightening prospect and our sector, which is effectively business hospitality, was shut down with thousands furloughed or laid off. It was a tough time, but IMEX was lucky having invested in insurance. Come 2020, that meant we not only protected staff livelihoods but were also able to double down on supporting our industry and on business transformation, creating 15 new jobs in two years.  

We’re now at 80+ staff and one of my proudest moments has been achieving the Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award 2024. It’s testament to our clear mission and values and our brilliant culture, which we’ve intentionally crafted and invested in.  

Brighton is a hotbed of events industry talent. I only wish more people knew how many great events agencies are based here and how important the industry is for attracting investment and creating a positive economic impact.  

www.imexevents.com