Women in Events | Driven by Passion

Every year, around the time of International Women’s Day, we like to take the time to highlight a handful of hard-working women in events. This year we caught up with three fabulous ladies who consider working in the events industry much more than “just a job”.

From starting passion projects on the side, to starting businesses led by their passion to help others in the industry, they all have brilliant stories to share about the career paths that led them to where they are today. Are they at their end destination? Hell no! Watch this space to see these women spread their passion for events far and wide.

Join us now as we get a deeper understanding of what drives these three females to build a career driven by a passion for events….

Cathy Bell | Event Scene Blogger

Cathy Bell | Event Scene Blogger

Los Angeles    |    New York    |    Atlanta

Give us a brief overview of your career path to date?
I completed a Certificate III in Events through OTEN, from there went on to complete a Diploma of Events. At first, I struggled to find work in events, but by luck, I was asked to cover an office for the day through someone I went to school with, which happened to be a corporate events agency. From there I was offered an internship which started as one day a week to then 2 days a week. It initially was supposed to be for a few months, but after two months I was offered a full-time role there as an Event Assistant. I was also fortunate enough to complete an Advanced Diploma in Venue and Events through MEA. It was in this role that my passion for the industry really grew. It was then that I decided to start my Instagram account, Event Scene Blogger and haven’t stopped since. After an interstate move, I worked for another corporate events agency, a not-for-profit, an exhibitions organiser – over the span of 4.5 years. Now I am back in Sydney working for a corporate events agency.

What is it that you love about the events industry?
I love the impact that events have on people and how it has the power to change the community for better.

Tell us about your current events role (your day-to-day job).
By day (and sometimes night) I am an Event Manager for corporate events agency that specialises in IT events. My free time I spend dedicated to keeping up with the Australian events industry and general global lifestyle events through Event Scene Blogger.

What is your passion project?
For the past nearly 6 years I started an Instagram account called Event Scene Blogger to dedicate my love for the industry.

Why did you start Event Scene Blogger?
At the time I noticed there were a lot of Instagram/blog accounts for fashion and beauty but nothing in the space of events. Sure, there are well-established publications but there wasn’t anything that was raw and I guess a bit off the cuff from the point of view of someone working in the industry.

What do you get out of it (personally and professionally)?
Personally, I am pretty proud that I have taken steps into combining my day time job with something more creative for me. Plus, I look forward to what the future holds for Event Scene Blogger.Professionally, I love the fact that I can promote events that I am working on or have attended with other industry colleagues. I love that I can share updates that I hear about the latest with their business and help put out the good word.

What do you see for its future?
I see myself attending more events and writing about then. Down the track, I hope to rebrand to launch a website.

How can others get involved?
I am open to the opportunity to attend other events, advertising opportunities for events, goods and services as well as other people wanting to be a guest blogger.

What do you say to others who want to start a passion project in our industry?

Go for it, don’t wait or hold back. I look forward to supporting those along the way.

Cathy Bell founder of @eventsceneblogger [Instagram]

Natalie Young | Key Society

Natalie Young | Key Society

Give us a brief overview of your career path to date?
I have always been a part of the travel, tourism, events or hospitality industry. I’m a people-person so there has never been a time where I wasn’t involved with bringing people together and making them happy.

After finishing High School, I studied Hospitality and Tourism Management and I started my career in hotel reservations at a 5-star property in Sydney. This led to a role in the inbound tourism industry, representing Accor in market. I then moved to ATEC, Australia’s peak tourism industry association and had fantastic 5 years within the membership department. I loved working with such truly inspiring people and travelling to some amazing destinations across Australia. My introduction to the corporate events industry started with Business Events Sydney, I loved the diversity the role brought in bringing major events to Sydney. From there I moved onto the Australian Turf Club, which was a career highlight. I secured some incredible events for Royal Randwick, attended some of the most spectacular race days whilst working with some wonderful colleagues, clients and suppliers; it was very rewarding. After leaving the ATC, I founded Key Society in 2019 and whilst still in the early stages, it really is the job of a lifetime.

What is it that you love about the events industry?
It’s fun… even when it’s not fun! Events and travel are always really interesting and it’s so inspiring to see such an array of truly amazing and innovative events the people in our industry create. I consider myself lucky to have attended some amazing events, to be able to travel to unforgettable destinations, experience incredible food and wine and meet so many dedicated likeminded people!

What is your business in events?
Life is about people and connections. Key Society gives me the opportunity to connect people in celebration and seeing people enjoy themselves is immensely satisfying.
I do this by offering customers unique experiences from finding the right venue that suits what their searching for and then by working with great vendors to cater, theme and manage the event from conception to delivery. Being relatively small and agile, we can provide a very personalised approach that I believe sets Key Society apart.

Why did you start Key Society?
The need for more freedom and flexibility that allowed me to be more creative. Having that autonomy and creative freedom to develop my own ideas, choose what Key Society stands for, who we collaborate with led to more opportunities. This doesn’t mean the work isn’t demanding or hours aren’t long, of course, the events industry is never 9 to 5, however, having the flexibility to choose where and when you are working is extremely fulfilling. And as an added bonus, I can wear activewear and spend more time with my puppy at home!

What do you get out of it (personally and professionally)?
Building something. Turning everything that I have learnt both personally and professionally over the years into something I am really proud of.
I have a great support system and have been given some valuable advice from industry mentors and leaders that have helped turn a big idea into a successful opportunity and business.

What do you see for its future?
In the short term, further growth and development for Key Society whilst collaborating with some fantastic partners. Diversifying and expanding our revenue streams is also a goal.

The long-term goal for Key Society is to flourish and develop the business to expand our team across Australia and to build and maintain stronger and more personalised relationships with our clients and industry whilst delivering high levels of customer experience.

How can others get involved?
Key Society is always open to new opportunities and we are focused on collaborating with people within the industry to combine resources and share knowledge in order to build new and long-term relationships together and with clients.

What do you say to others who want to start a business in our industry?
1. Focus on your strengths, know your limits and embrace them. Collaborate with other people/ companies to fill your business or domain knowledge gaps, that will help you both grow your business together, to new levels.
2. Be adaptable. Things will deviate from your original strategy and opportunities always arise when you are open to new areas. Always have a “plan B” and keep positive.
3. Starting a business is hard work. It requires a lot of determination, resilience and learning. Stick with it, it’s worth it!

Monique Perera | Camera Creations

Give us a brief overview of your career path to date?
My photography career started as a teen where I first began using SLR (print) cameras and joined the local camera club. I would develop black and white prints in the darkroom until the early hours, completely losing track of time. At high school, I majored in art and then studied the craft at the Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney. After graduating, I worked as a pre-school teacher and continued my hobby, photographing children and family portraits for fundraising.

I soon realised this was my calling so I contacted every photographic studio I could find and soon landed a job working for several years photographing family portraits, training other photographers then eventually became State Manager of a National portrait business.

In 2000 I left to join a new and exciting industry, the world of meetings and events. I enjoyed working in sales management roles at various venues over the next 13 years, including the Taronga Centre, Sydney Town Hall, Randwick Racecourse and the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre.

When SCEC closed for 3 years to make way for the ICC Sydney, I decided to return to professional photography and taking a leap of faith I opened my own business, Camera Creations. My first paid job was commissioned by the SCEC’s HR Department to photograph headshots for around 200 staff and colleagues’, as they were all about to lose their jobs and the Centre was doing what it could to support the staff at this difficult (yet exciting) time of change. I feel so honoured to have helped each of them with a professional image as they embarked on a new career. Many still use this same business portrait on their LinkedIn profiles, which serves as a constant reminder of why I find what I do so rewarding.

What is it that you love about the events industry?
There are so many aspects of the industry I enjoy! The variety for one – in the events world, no two days are ever the same. The fact I get to see (and cover) some really interesting presentations and learn about different industries is also a huge benefit.

Finally, it’s a cliché I know, but the best thing by far is the people. I get to work with so many industry colleagues, clients, and friends – some new and some who I have enjoyed extensive working relationships with over many years. Without the support and the opportunities presented through these networks, I’m not sure Camera Creations would be the success it is today.

What is your business in events?
We are a team of experienced, creative photographers offering a personalised customer service approach. Camera Creations specialise in corporate, events and commercial photography for the business events industry.

Why did you start Camera Creations?
As I approached the end of my sales career in early 2013, the urge to own and manage a photography business became stronger and I soon realised it was time to return to my love of photography. My experience in this field along with my extensive background within the corporate event industry would be an excellent fit, offering my clients a unique specialised service.

What do you get out of it (personally and professionally)?
To put it simply, I truly enjoy what I do and I find it very rewarding to make my clients happy.

What do you see for its future?
CC is a team of highly skilled professionals and the need for Interstate conference photography is in high demand, therefore I can see the business expanding and domestic travel increasing. Marketing photography is also an area of growth, so we are enjoying strong partnerships working with venues, caterers and event organisers to help them promote their businesses with great imagery!

What do you say to others who want to start a business in our industry?
As they say, nothing worthwhile is ever easy. And they also say, if you do what you love, you’ll love what you do. I believe effective communication is the key to success and this industry provides many opportunities for businesses to thrive and build long-lasting connections.