our people

you've just landed on our hottest commodity: our people

our people

you've just landed on our hottest commodity: our people

intro

you've just
landed on our
hottest
commodity:
our people.

They are not rocket scientists but they are stars in their own right. As such, nothing phases them and impossible is nothing in their minds. These are the people who help your event take off. They design it, fuel it and drive it to its maximum potential. Meet the Activate dream team.

They are assisted on a project basis by a skilled pool of specialists and project management experts. We call them shooting stars.

you've just landed on our
hottest
commodity:
our people.

They are not rocket scientists but they are stars in their own right. As such, nothing phases them and impossible is nothing in their minds. These are the people who help your event take off. They design it, fuel it and drive it to its maximum potential. Meet the Activate dream team.

They are assisted on a project basis by a skilled pool of specialists and project management experts. We call them shooting stars.

people

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608755

E-mail me: ken@activateevents.com

Formerly head of travel & events with a major global pharmaceutical company, Ken has over 20 years event management experience during which he has personally produced a wide range of events involving as many as 1500 delegates around the globe. Ken’s particular expertise lies in event strategy, content development and delegate engagement, helping clients to identify exactly how their events can communicate creatively and effectively with their audience so that they feel valued, inspired and enthused.

Ken thinks that “we really should be called master blenders! We’re always aiming for the perfect blend: a great venue, in a great location, with great content which makes our delegates go ‘Wow! I didn’t expect that!’” And at Activate we’re always perfecting the recipes for total event success.

Ken Carter

Client services director

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608751

E-mail me: paul@activateevents.com

Paul has been in the events industry for 25 years as an owner and director of both his own business and as a managing director of a mid sized PLC. Activate is a return to roots for Paul.

In 2011 he brought together the core of a terrific live events team and injected it with a purposeful direction. The past few years have seen the Activate team grow significantly into a successful business with an excellent track record in delivering seamless, meticulously organized events, with flair, versatility and a creative edge.

“Activate has flourished as a business because its service levels are second to none and because the entire Activate team are motivated, enthusiastic professionals with the experience and drive required to deliver live events at a the highest level.”

Paul Bowie

Managing director

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: louisa.ritchie@activateevents.com

In Louisa, we have the face of client relationships in our team and a calm, extremely experienced and talented event professional who has supported client businesses and organisations in a client services capacity at global level, during a career spanning 20 years.

Louisa is a joy to be around as, in her own words, she is “empathetic, self-motivated and passionate about building relationships.” A true collaborator and communicator at heart, Louisa thrives working with teams to help them achieve their business results.

At Activate, Louisa enjoys flying the team colours at various industry events, supporting our business development work and helping nurture a growth mindset across the team.

Louisa Ritchie

Client Relationship Manager

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: ioana@activateevents.com

Ioana is a growth marketing and personal branding specialist, with a 20-year career which started in Tokyo and continued in Bucharest, London and Frankfurt.

Through her work, Ioana supports international businesses and professionals with their brand identity, body of work, and growth strategies. Ioana is PMP and CIM-certified, a contributor to the think tank ‘Japan Creative Enterprise’, a speaker and panellist at University of Warwick, and a speaker and member of the Project Management Institute, UK.

Ioana’s partnership with Activate goes back to our earliest days when the business was founded in 2012 and it continues to evolve through support across our social media and marketing communications, creative design and joint public speaking engagements with the Activate Leadership Team.

Ioana Jago

Marketing specialist

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608753

E-mail me: liz@activateevents.com

Liz is a driven and passionate Account Director who will get the job done for you. Having worked in Medical Communications for the Pharmaceutical Industry, Liz has the compliance knowledge to ensure your event will tick all the required boxes. With experience of the rules, but with her flare for creativity and knowing how to engage an audience, Liz is the person you need managing your event.

Being professional and personable enables her to work closely with the client, strengthening relationships and giving the confidence and reassurance the team will deliver an exceptional event.

Liz Pim

Account Director

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608754

E-mail me: amanda@activateevents.com

Amanda has over 13 years of event management experience, encompassing a wide variety of event types around the world, for as many as 10,000 delegates.

With extensive experience in all aspects of event creation to support our client’s events, whether that is a high-end sales incentive on board a yacht in Monaco during F1 Grand Prix, an international pharma conference or investigator meeting or the coordination of an international football tournament, Amanda has the project management skills to deliver all events to the highest standard.

A fluent French speaker, Amanda has worked for event agencies in Belgium where her role included the organisation of global events for the European Commission. Amanda has obtained the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner qualification in Project Management in 2015. She now brings her expertise and enthusiasm for quality experiences to Activate.

Amanda Strevens

Account Manager

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608756

E-mail me: megan@activateevents.com

Megan is a Project Manager and plays a key role in supporting the operational coordination and delivery of our events.

Megan has had nine years industry experience, with her most recent role as account manager for a telecommunications company in Portsmouth. Activate is a new and exciting challenge for Megan. She loves to work as part of a team, and prides herself on her enthusiasm to satisfy clients' needs. Her passion for organisation and meeting new people makes for a great fit to our team of Activaters!

Megan joined Activate following a 6-month South East Asian adventure where she visited Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur and 1 month on the west coast of North America.

Megan Whitty

Project Manager

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: emily@activateevents.com

"I am a people person who got hooked on the sense of achievement felt when an event comes to life, especially after all the hard work, time and attention you put into it,” confesses Emily.

With a degree in History and Sociology, Emily joins Activate with substantial experience in managing logistics, communication, exhibitions, forums and corporate networking events, having been a key player in both exhibition organiser businesses and previous Account Management roles.

With a love for travel following a solo round-the-world trip which included Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the USA and culminated with Iceland, and upskilling with the Prince 2 Foundation Course during the pandemic, Emily is ready to make herself, our clients and Activate proud. Are you ready to meet her?

Emily Everall

Project Manager

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: skye@activateevents.com

“For me the future is key and I’m for sure a forward thinker. I want to make an impact and influence others within the industry on topics close to me, such as sustainability, wellbeing, and project management efficiency, and I feel that Activate will help me in achieving that goal,” explains Skye.

Skye loves diving into a brief and working with the client to crystalise their objectives and messaging. “There is nothing more rewarding than the end result, seeing people enjoy themselves, connect and share experiences. Knowing that you put this together and made it happen, makes all the hard work worth it; this is why I love working in events. Right now, I am working on pulling together the budget for 1000 attendees and I am truly excited to be part of the team!”

Given her strong history of client success, we are delighted to have Skye on board!

Skye Marshall

Project Manager

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: bex@activateevents.com

What impresses so much about Bex is her wonderfully-rounded experience in interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds, and her positive energy!

Prior to joining Activate, Bex worked in a special care hotel, where she delivered high levels of communication and care in accordance with The Royal Blind Society standards. She also excelled in her role managing art design orders and stock with a UK manufacturer. These were administrative roles with varied stakeholders which prepared her for the demanding live events environment. Since joining our team, Bex has not only been supporting us with office administration, supplier management and project research, but she has also been invaluable onsite, most recently in Spain, for a 1000-delegate event.

Bex is a devoted Devon fan and when it comes to travel, Florida is a firm favourite, having grown up with regular holidays in Orlando.

Bex Christian

Project Executive

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: vicky@activateevents.com

Exploring the world, meeting new people, creating indelible experiences – these are the things that get Vicky excited. Her personality is that of a people-lover and problem-solver.

Having worked as British Airways cabin crew for 7 years, Vicky has had to deliver the best within a tight remit (and aircraft resources), but she has also honed her skills in client management, engagement and communication.

With her role as Project Executive at Activate, Vicky returns to her original love: events.
She will re-activate her past experience in the pharma and transport industry where she has previously delivered European meetings, award ceremonies, team building events and other large scale corporate gatherings. We are delighted to welcome her onboard!

Vicky Ungless

Project Executive

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: birgit@activateevents.com

Activate’s bookkeeper and financial administrator, Birgit (known as Bibi) ventured into the finance field of accounting, budgets and VAT after a diverse working background ranging from recruitment consultant to content writer for financial compliance conferences. Originally from Gent, Belgium Bibi decided to stay in the UK after extensive travelling and meeting her Mr Right.

Accuracy, timeliness and standardised processes do make a difference to Bibi’s work. She is also prepared to advise team members on the most efficient way to structure the event in order to ensure the end result is not hindered by financial oversights. Her eye for detail and trouble-shooting ability is worthy of her much-loved fictitious countryman, Detective Poirot!

Birgit Peelman

Finance Manager

Paul

Call me: +44 (0)1293 608750

E-mail me: rob@activateevents.com

A creative designer / art director leading design, creative development and photographic art direction for major entertainment brands and retail promotions, from packaging design, product launch advertising, wall graphics, large format outdoor displays to trade press.

An enviable list of previous clients including Warner Bros., HBO, Universal, Paramount, BBC, ITV, SKY, Electronic Art Games, Louisiana Tech (Bulldogs) Football and Kingfisher/Comet retailers.

Rob Hyde

Creative Designer