BBL - Making events live

Knowledgabble: Confex 2011

Posted by Kate Cripps on 24/2/11

It’s that time of year again, in the post Christmas lull there has always been Confex to brighten the calendar, well for me anyway. I first went to Confex at least 15 years ago now, it was my first full time proper events job and Confex was a part of the required learning. It was a really inspirational experience that made me know that I was in the right career for me, after dabbling in Public Relations and Marketing, I knew I was home. Also for any other long term Confex visitors it was back in the days when you got £20 for showing up – to a youngster, ok even now, a free £20 is a gift horse never to be turned away!!!

As my career has progressed, I’ve gone from being a standard visitor to being privileged enough to work in the Advice Centre, offering event strategy consultancy, looking at event budgets, talking frankly about how agency’s work and what you can expect, as well has helping the next generation who are looking to break into the industry. Another high point for me has been delivery speaker sessions in the Confex Knowledge seminars, one of which was queued out the door – dizzy heights from my first trip collecting venue brochures and a copy of the Blue & Green!!!

I missed last year’s Confex, due to the birth of baby number two, so a year away has really made me keen to return and again, I am lucky enough to be in the Advice Centre with a group of brilliant industry professionals and most of all I get to feel part of the events world again, and feel that same inspiration I did all those years ago, I certainly hope so! Come and see me if you get a chance, but I don’t have any £20’s to give away, but I can offer years of event expertise and experience!