Championing EBL F

or nine years, StandOut Multimedia, the organiser of Event Buyers Live (EBL), has worked hard to deliver the best industry event it possibly can. Delegate feedback from the event’s 2022 outing rubber-stamped the event as the best one yet. Yet, the organising team could not have done it without the amazing support of its partners, sponsors, and EBL ambassadors. It’s exactly why the EBL team has asked its ambassadors to act as an extension of the organising team once more and champion the event, helping event professionals to understand what they will gain from signing up.

Following a positive experience in 2022, Clare Goodchild, director of Organise Chaos, Andrew Smith, CEO of Human Race, Gill Tee, festival director of Black Deer Festival, Sam Welply, founder of Wellpleased Events, Julia Charles-Wiginton, managing director of Julia Charles Event Management, James Fitzgerald, head of events and partnerships at GLA/Mayor of London, Waleed Jahangir, event director of MLS Events, and Ben Whur, director of Proud Events, have all pledged to return and support the event again. But that’s not all. EBL is also delighted to welcome Natasha Banjo, director of operations at News Live, News UK’s events division, as a new ambassador for 2023.

Banjo comes from a marketing and events background and has worked in the media industry for more than 20 years. She is currently director of the News UK’s events business News Live, which delivers more than 200 events a year for News UK’s portfolio of media businesses, including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, Virgin Radio, Times Radio, talkSPORT and Talk Radio.

Banjo explained: “I am incredibly honoured to have been invited to become an ambassador for Event Buyers Live 2023. I am passionate about our industry and feel that this event offers a unique opportunity in bringing together some of the best people in the business to collaborate, network, share insights, and build useful long-term relationships.”

Goodchild explained why she is returning as an ambassador: “In 2022, it was really exciting to help shape the event and the experience of the attendees, maximising what people are getting out of their visit. It was also a real privilege to be working alongside the other ambassadors, all of whom are the most well-respected people in the industry, and from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. With a year already under our belt, I am excited to see what we can develop and grow for November.”

Strong Procurement Relationships

The 2023 edition of Event Buyers Live (November 13-15) will be the event’s ninth outing and will welcome only 100 of the live event industry’s most respected organisers to Carden Park Hotel and Spa, the luxury estate near Chester. Accompanying the 100 will be just 45 event suppliers and venues for invaluable networking and pre-qualified faceto-face meetings.

Welply commented: “EBL is perfect because it’s great to have so many event professionals in one place at one time, focused on sharing conversation, learning from one another, and looking for all sorts of opportunities to do business together. I am very proud to be supporting the event once again as an ambassador and looking forward to catching up with old faces and meeting new ones.”

Event Buyers Live facilitates procurement conversations between event professionals and allows organisers to discuss their event plans with suppliers ahead of 2024.

Goodchild continued: “EBL is an absolute must in the diary if you are looking to build strong procurement relationships and seek out new suppliers. Last year, as a company, Organise Chaos did new business, met a lot of new contacts, and broadened our book of suppliers. In addition, it gave us the chance to chat with fellow organisers, keep on top of the key issues that are coming down the road, and spend some time nurturing those relationships.

“It’s a well-organised event with a wellregarded set of attendees and I can’t wait for November 13-15.”

Positive Conversations

Smith recently joined Human Race as CEO. The 2023 event will be his first in his new role. Yet his requirements are the same. He is keen to network with other event professionals and engage in positive conversations.

Smith commented: “It was a real honour when the team asked me to return as an ambassador. I’m passionate about all sectors of the event industry. I’m somewhat of an event nerd and the chance to support and encourage growth in the industry across all areas and drive positivity was easy for me to sign up to.

“The location and the atmosphere were brilliant and a testament to the whole team. I am personally looking forward to continuing the positive conversations we had around diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Smith will be joined at EBL once again by Whur, who continues to advise the organising team on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI).

Whur said: “Event Buyers Live was my event of the year in 2022. I’m excited to have been asked by the EBL team to take part again in 2023 and privileged to be joining an incredible team of industry ambassadors.

“The 2022 event hit some incredible highs. It was the most inspiring and diverse programme ever. The venue was a perfect location for building strong and enduring relationships and to do industry business.

“I’m also looking forward to working with the team on the next stage of our plans for diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Neil Fagg, co-founder of Event Buyers Live, said: “The EBL team is truly honoured to be working with such high-profile event professionals and industry legends. Their dedication to not only the industry but our event is astonishing, and it is to be celebrated.

We appreciate all their time, support, and efforts and look forward to working with them on this year’s stand out event.”

To register your interest in attending Event Buyers Live 2023, call 01795 509113 or visit www.eventbuyerslive.com