Getting to know Lucy Ladbrooke

Meet Lucy Ladbrooke. Currently the Conference & Events Manager for Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), she manages a large team of event professionals that organise Australasian events that connect, train and represent over 25,000 Physicians and trainee Physicians in Australia and New Zealand. Lucy dreams of organising an event in Grand Central Station, NY and is happy to eat pizza at any time of day. She also loves an espresso martini. So join us as we get to know another fabulous event pro…

Give us a snap shot of your career to date.

I started my career working in the hotel industry, experiencing several departments and finally landing in Events. After 10 years in hotels, I moved to Medical communications, progressing on to becoming a PCO, working across multiple industries. Upon moving to Sydney 4 years ago, I worked in a corporate position as Director of Events for a financial research company for three years and currently I am privileged to run a team of 10 event professionals at the RACP.

Los Angeles    |    New York    |    Atlanta

What is the most memorable event you have worked on and why?

A standout for me was my first event working as a PCO, it was an International Association Congress in Perth, and it had a large 20+ committee with 800+ people and seven concurrent sessions. I had never worked on something of this size and complexity before and I inherited this congress with only 8 months left to deliver and the budget was not in a good position. Lucky for me, I worked with a great bunch of people and we worked tirelessly to pull the event together. It ended up being really successful, not only financially but from a delegate experience too and I formed great relationships from that event. I learnt so much in such a short space of time that set me up for my future endeavours.

What did you ‘learn the hard way’ when planning an event?

How to manage budgets and labour on big events, that was a steep learning curve for me but a vitally important one and I was fortunate enough to have a good mentor to help me along the way.

What are three personality traits that you think are required to succeed in the events industry?

Adaptability, drive and a customer centric attitude

If you could share one piece of advice to those starting out in the industry what would it be?

Place the customer at the heart of everything you do, without them we cannot survive as an industry

What song always gets you on the dance floor?

Anything by Beyoncé always puts me in the mood for a boogie

If you could plan an event anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

Grand Central Station, NY because it cinematically beautiful

(*Here at Event Birdie we LOVE this idea)

Grand Central Station

Favourite type of food?

Pizza at any time of the day

Describe yourself in two words?

Passionate
Loyal

How do you unwind after a big event?

Walking on beach, taking in as much fresh air and daylight as I can…Or Watching Netflix (in bed with pizza)

Words to live by?

‘A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everybody else’

Where do you go for creative inspiration?

Social Media, blogs and my talented colleagues

Favourite restaurant?

For a Treat: Vue de monde, Melbourne (best experience ever!)
For Casual: The Grounds of Alexandria, Sydney

When entertaining at home what do you cook?

I love Ottolenghi recipes, so probably something from his repertoire.

Best event you’ve been to as a guest?

Last year I attended a Famil to Auckland and it was the most well organised, most fun famil I have ever attended. The Auckland Convention’s team nailed every aspect from arrival to the closing party, it was a perfect combination of experience, food and fun.

What is your ideal holiday destination?

Walt Disney World Resort Orlando! I am a big kid at heart plus I am guaranteed great service, which is huge bonus for me as this allows me to relax more

What’s your drink of choice at an event?

Espresso Martini or Champagne

It’s event day – heels or flats?

Always both, heels give me more confidence, but flats save my back! I tend to slip between about 4 pairs of shoes per day