Shadow Board member Amelia Bithell is currently studying Events management at Cardiff Metropolitan University. During her first year, she gained a wide range of experience from weddings and festivals to conferences and award ceremonies. Events combine all the elements that excite and inspire her. She has a passion for creativity, organisation, and collaborative teamwork in a varied and challenging environment. She can’t wait to be a voice for the next generation, shaping the future of the industry through fresh and new ideas.
We interviewed Amelia about music, the possibility for change and the power of events.
Tell us about where you are now, and what you love about your job/ course.
I have just finished my 1st year at Cardiff Met University studying Events Management. I love how my course combines theoretical and practical work, allowing us to gain industry experience while developing a deep understanding of the theory behind events.
Tell us a bit about your journey to get there.
Growing up I was constantly surrounded by music; learning the trumpet and piano led me to join multiple different bands – this is where my passion for events started. Throughout my school years, I took part in many music-related events including charity jazz nights, fundraising gigs and concerts, I loved performing and the atmosphere of a crowd at an event. Because of this, I went to university with the dream of organising music festivals, however, this very quickly changed when I began learning more about events and the type of events I enjoyed organising. Finding EVCOM was a pivotal moment in my career path, I found that I enjoyed communication, marketing and corporate events, and this has now created a focus shift in my research and consideration for future experiences.
For those readers still considering whether this industry is the right place for them, tell us what you most love about it. What appeals to you about this industry?
The breadth of this industry is very appealing to me, events occur in all aspects of life, and they can create core memories for those involved. I love how influential events can be and the power they hold when organised effectively – I enjoy immersive experiences that make attendees feel part of a different world. It is inspiring how much impact an event can have, the ability to educate thousands of people at the same time, this is even more relevant currently with the extreme evolution of technology and the use of hybrid events to reach a wider audience. The possibility for change in society is something that truly appeals to me about this industry.
Looking forwards, what do you think the future of the industry is going to look like? What changes are you excited to see?
The future of events will see new technology continue to integrate with live events and aid more effective hybrid and remote events. Alongside this, I hope to see technology leading a more sustainable future in ways such as a reduction in carbon emissions and better waste control. A new introduction of drone technology in events is something that excites me, used as a replacement for fireworks or a tool for innovative and impressive light displays – there are endless possibilities for new technology in events! I am also excited to see positive change in areas such as diversity, accessibility and inclusion and I hope to see more companies become more mindful of these topics when creating events in the future. A personal area that I am passionate about is gender in our industry and I hope to see more power positions filled by women in the future.
If you could say one thing to the wider industry right now, what would it be?
Young people are the future of events. From my experience, there is not enough awareness of the event industry’s opportunities – especially in the corporate sector. Whether it’s gaining that social media presence or going into schools, any way of spreading the message about the power of events is something that does not happen enough. Consider hiring and listening to the ideas of new event professionals, it may give you a competitive edge and boost your company to a leading force in the industry.