The National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) has confirmed that six of the industry’s leading profiles will join the association’s leadership team. The new members, who were ratified at today’s NOEA AGM and virtual convention, cross local authorities, sporting, festival, supply, and production event experience, and are based throughout the UK.
The new appointments are; Ian Baird, Whiskey Bravo Productions; Cris Cicirello, Wasserman; Andrew McQuillan, Crowded Space Drones; Sara Pacey, North Somerset Council; Mark Sandamas, Pennine Events; and Alysha Sargent, Barnstorm Global. In addition to the new councillors, Craig Mathie, Bournemouth 7s, has taken on the Vice President role alongside Ian Taylor from Wentworth Woodhouse, and Philip Day, Lacey’s Solicitors will re-join offering legal counsel to the members.
The new council members will join the existing NOEA Council which is now comprised of 12 industry professionals and led by President, Tom Clements, and Chief Executive Officer. Susan Tanner.
“I am absolutely delighted that in these very strange and uncertain times that so many members sought election to council this year commented Tom Clements. “Now that they have officially been appointed, I am thrilled that with the additions to the NOEA Council which is now so diverse and occupied by key members of our industry. They will assist me, and our Chief Executive, Susan Tanner, lead the National Outdoor Events Association forward into a very new era for the events industry again substantiating NOEA’s lead as the most progressive event industry association in the UK”
The NOEA AGM & Convention is taking place this week in virtual format with ‘Chatrooms’ taking place on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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Biographies
Alysha Sargent, Barnstorm Global Ltd, Event Director
Having primarily worked at historic properties throughout her career, Alysha is aware of how important events are within them. She is therefore keen to focus on these events and the development of them, in particular during the current situation. And how heritage attractions can diversify and continue to hold events to ensure audience engagement.
She comments, “I’m delighted to have been re-elected for another two years on the NOEA General Council. NOEA has worked tireless throughout the current situation we are all facing within our industry. It has kept members fully updated with the changing landscape and has been vocal at government level on the issues our industry and its people are facing. I am proud to be part of NOEA and look forward to continuing to support it.”
Andrew McQuillan, Managing Director, The Traffic management Company, Crowded Space Drones, CSD Productions
Andrew is founder and managing director of three company’s and teams, all within the event, surveillance, security and production space. His work takes him to all corners of the world and helps deliver nationally significant and critical projects. The Traffic Management Company delivers major Traffic Management schemes for Construction projects, Shopping Centres, Events and Local Authorities, while Crowded Space Drones is an established ‘go to’ name for drones in the events, construction and television sectors. Finally, CSD Productions, is a newcomer to the Outside Broadcast sector, with teams delivering a range of major events & music festivals to television and online audiences around the world.
Cris Cicirello, Co-lead, Wasserman Experiential Division, EMEA & Senior Vice President
Cris works as part of the wider marketing team, at Wasserman, serving Brands and Properties (Rights Holders) across campaigns and activations. He has worked in around 50 countries over the last 23 years and enjoyed working within different cultures. He says: “Our industry and the event specialism is always facing challenges and right now is no different. We have been members of NOEA for over ten years and are always keen to play a proactive role, improving our environment and ways of working, across areas such as safety, CSR and sustainability. I asked to join the NOEA council in order to try and help our industry as it moves towards the future and the new challenges it faces.”
Ian Baird, Whiskey Bravo Productions
Ian Baird founded Whiskey Bravo Productions in Brighton in 2016 having worked in the outdoor events and theatrical industries for over a decade. Specialising in medium scale music-based events Ian has constantly strived for better relationships with local authorities and transparency in the planning and licensing processes. In joining the NOEA Council Ian is very keen to look at how the association can appeal more widely to small and independent operators and help in creating a secure events ecosystem that cares for all staff effectively. Especially in the post-COVID era there is a real opportunity to rebuild the industry in a better shape that it was left in early 2020.
Mark Sandamas, Founder, Pennine Event Ltd
Mark is founder of Pennine Events Ltd and brings over 30 years’ experience of creating, managing, planning and delivering mass and complex events such as the delivery of the Tour de France stages, UCI World Champs and Light up Lancaster; growing the company to a highly respected agency across Sport, Culture and Corporate live events and strategy development.
Mark is also owner and managing director of Coast to Coast Packhorse, leading provider of dedicated walking, cycling and running packages, holidays and services on the world-famous Coast to Coast; he is a keen fell runner and cyclist in his spare time. “I am thrilled to utilise my insight and expertise to build on – and compliment – the work of the current leadership through these difficult times, to ensure suitable and sufficient support and a collaborative way forward for each member by building effective partnerships. I am also looking forward to playing an active role in the development and organising of the Conference and Annual Awards.”
Sara Pacey, Events Development Manager, North Somerset Council
With almost 20 years in the Industry, Sara’s career started working on the co-ordination of a large scale, international outdoor event. Currently, as the Events Development Manager for a Local Authority working on major event curation & delivery, strategic development and Placemaking initiatives, she has had the privilege to work with a wide range of organisers from Air Festivals and Motorsports to Hot Air Ballooning and Marathons.
Having volunteered on NOEA events for the past several years, she has seen the great work the association does, and is now looking forward to working with the Committee to support and engage the wider industry.