Event Management, Learn from the Best

Hannah is a PA at Malcolm Hollis in Manchester, supporting the Europe Partner Jamie O’Brien. She has an extensive background of working in the property and financial services sectors and is passionate about diversity within the secretarial profession, believing that everyone has something valuable to contribute. Hannah was on the Executive Committee for this years’ NW PA Awards, and is an active member of the PA Network.

As Co-Chief Executive of pro-manchester, Nicola leads on commercial performance and the ongoing development of the organisation as Greater Manchester’s growth network.

With a strong commercial focus, Nicola is responsible for driving efficiency, improving how the organisation works and identifying opportunities that support sustainable business growth. She plays a key role in turning strategy into action, helping pro-manchester respond to the pace and ambition of its members with clarity and purpose.

Together with co-CEO Sam Booth, Nicola represents a modern, collaborative approach to leadership. Their partnership challenges the traditional idea of leadership at the top being held by one person alone, replacing it with a model built on shared responsibility, mutual support and complementary strengths. It is an approach that reflects both pro-manchester’s values and the spirit of Greater Manchester: ambitious, connected and stronger together.

Nicola has a strong background in event and project management, having led departments both within agencies and in-house at Travel Counsellors. She has been part of pro-manchester for over 15 years and has played an important role in its continued growth. Well established within the Manchester business community, Nicola is passionate about bringing businesses together across the city region.

I started with a passion for theatre lighting back when I was in high school and went on to a B-TEC national diploma in Performing arts majoring in technical theatre, my first role in the events industry came back in 2001 when I start as junior technician.

I then went on to go freelance where I worked for Various Local AV companies as well as venturing into the rock and roll world going on tour with various artists around the uk as part of the lighting team as well as Special FX on some of the UK’s largest Music festival stages for some of the worlds biggest bands and DJ’s.

I then returned to full time work in the AV industry in 2005 as project manager for Savilles, i move to branch manager of Manchester for Savilles before moving on to MCL in 2008 as a Project manager.

In 2011 I along with Lisa set up a branch in Manchester for Sound and Vision an Edinburgh based company, in 2013 we separated from Sound and vision (now vision event UK LTD) and founded VE-M (vision events Manchester LTD). Over the 5 years, we have grown in staff and equipment to now holding an equipment stock of over £1 million and continuing to invest in not only the latest technology, but also the basic equipment to allow us to support the our venues on a day to day basis.

I have been the Executive Assistant to the European President of Guenther Bakeries Europe for 3 ½ years now. No two days are ever the same and it is extremely fast paced. We are open as a business 24/7 shutting only for Christmas Day.

I am responsible for any events that we hold, private dinners, conferences, parties etc. I am extremely passionate about this side of my job. I am a strong believer that everyone who attends an event should come away feeling that they have had a fantastic time and that they have been looked after to the highest degree.