20 Event Directors Behind UK Leadership Events Today

Last updated: August 2026.

Event directors shape the moments when a professional community gathers. They decide what deserves a room, who needs to be in it, how the conversation should move and whether the experience is useful after people leave.

This list brings together 20 current event directors and senior event leaders connected with leadership, business, professional and specialist events across the United Kingdom. The names are presented as a practical directory. Each person is included because their current public role shows a different part of the work.

The people here work in venues, universities, associations, event companies, media businesses and specialist conference brands. That mix matters because a strong event is rarely the result of one job title alone. It is the result of people making purpose, content, audience and delivery line up.

Why event directors matter

The best event directors make a complicated job feel simple to the people in the room. They create enough structure for the day to work, while leaving enough space for useful questions, honest disagreement and the unexpected connection that makes an event memorable.

They also carry a responsibility that is easy to miss. A conference is a public expression of what an organisation believes is worth discussing. The programme, speakers, venue and small details all tell people what the organisation values.

1. Helen Horton

Director of Events, Haymarket

Helen Horton is Haymarket's Director of Events. She leads the event division across the United Kingdom and global work, which gives her a role that spans portfolio thinking, production and audience value. Haymarket source

Haymarket says the division delivers more than 80 events each year. That scale makes Horton a useful person to watch because conference leadership here is not one event at a time. It is the work of keeping a portfolio coherent while making each room feel worth attending. Haymarket source

2. Orson Francescone

Managing Director, FT Live

Orson Francescone is Managing Director at FT Live. The role places Orson close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. FT Live source

FT Live runs events designed for network-building, intelligence and deal-making across business and finance communities. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. FT Live source

3. James Rees

Executive Director, ExCeL London

James Rees is Executive Director at ExCeL London. That is a venue-side leadership role with a direct connection to the quality, capacity and commercial reality of major conferences. ExCeL London source

ExCeL says it is preparing for 10 major international association congresses in 2026, with about 80,000 delegates expected. Rees represents the kind of leader who has to think beyond the stage, because a successful conference affects transport, hotels, suppliers, staff and the wider visitor economy. ExCeL London source

4. Nick Rastall

Portfolio Director, Beacon Events

Nick Rastall is Portfolio Director at Beacon Events. The role places Nick close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Beacon Events source

Beacon Events builds global events for senior executives, industry leaders and government officials, with a focus on end-to-end delivery. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Beacon Events source

5. Nigel Clear

Head of Conferences, Elsevier

Nigel Clear is Head of Conferences at Elsevier. The role places Nigel close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Elsevier source

Elsevier describes its conference team as committed to safe and inclusive events across its scientific programme. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Elsevier source

6. Elena Kovacevic

Conference Director, ecs.events OÜ

Elena Kovacevic is Conference Director at ecs.events OÜ. The role places Elena close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. ecs.events OÜ source

She is the main showrunner for the European Collaboration Summit and European Cloud Summit, two Microsoft-focused technology events. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. ecs.events OÜ source

7. Sue Elcock

Conference Director, Profile Productions

Sue Elcock is Conference Director at Profile Productions. The role places Sue close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Profile Productions source

She has spent more than 25 years managing conferences and exhibitions and has led Profile Productions for 20 years. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Profile Productions source

8. Paul Gentry

Head of Conferences and Events, Royal Statistical Society

Paul Gentry is Head of Conferences and Events at Royal Statistical Society. The role places Paul close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Royal Statistical Society source

He is leading conference work for the RSS 2026 International Conference in Bournemouth after a record-breaking year for the society. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Royal Statistical Society source

9. Emma Chapman

Conference Director, British Insurance Brokers' Association

Emma Chapman is Conference Director at British Insurance Brokers' Association. The role places Emma close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. British Insurance Brokers' Association source

She is the Conference Director for BIBA, whose 2026 conference was described as the world's largest insurance broking event with more than 9,900 professionals and 220 exhibitors. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. British Insurance Brokers' Association source

10. Jacob Alahan

CEO and Conference Director, Corporate Event Solutions and HR Leaders

Jacob Alahan is CEO and Conference Director at Corporate Event Solutions and HR Leaders. The role places Jacob close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Corporate Event Solutions and HR Leaders source

He is named as Conference Director and event moderator for HR Leaders, alongside his CEO role at Corporate Event Solutions. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Corporate Event Solutions and HR Leaders source

11. Susan Leich

Conference Director, Onshore Energy Conference

Susan Leich is Conference Director at Onshore Energy Conference. The role places Susan close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Onshore Energy Conference source

She is listed as Conference Director for the London onshore energy conference, an event with more than two decades of history. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Onshore Energy Conference source

12. Alex Stein

Conference Director, London Blockchain Conference

Alex Stein is Conference Director at London Blockchain Conference. The role places Alex close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. London Blockchain Conference source

He is named Conference Director for the London Blockchain Conference, which brings together leaders working on digital innovation. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. London Blockchain Conference source

13. Ian Stone

Partner and Managing Director, UK Industry Events

Ian Stone is Partner and Managing Director at UK Industry Events. The role places Ian close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. UK Industry Events source

He is named Conference Director for CHEMUK 2026 as well as Partner and Managing Director at UK Industry Events. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. UK Industry Events source

14. Janine McEvilly

Conference Director, UKi Media and Events

Janine McEvilly is Conference Director at UKi Media and Events. The role places Janine close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. UKi Media and Events source

She is named Conference Director in the official contact information for Passenger Terminal Expo 2026. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. UKi Media and Events source

15. Rhona Greenhill

Conference Director, Multimodal

Rhona Greenhill is Conference Director at Multimodal. The role places Rhona close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Multimodal source

She is the current Conference Director for Multimodal and the founder of Alarming Events, with experience across UK and international exhibitions and conferences. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Multimodal source

16. Mia Harness

Conference Director, AMG World

Mia Harness is Conference Director at AMG World. The role places Mia close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. AMG World source

She is listed as Conference Director for AMG World in the AICON Europe 2026 programme in London. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. AMG World source

17. Mike Jeapes

Conference Director, Informa Connect

Mike Jeapes is Conference Director at Informa Connect. The role places Mike close to the practical work of shaping a useful conference experience for a defined professional community. Informa Connect source

Informa describes its climate-risk reporting events as the largest of their type in Europe, with around 400 users and preparers attending. That detail gives the role a clear point of interest. It shows that conference leadership is not only about filling a room. It is also about making the subject, audience, programme and setting work together. Informa Connect source

18. Sally Badham Lee

Head of Conferences and Events, University of Birmingham

Sally Badham Lee is Head of Conferences and Events at the University of Birmingham. She oversees operations in a university setting where academic, public and commercial events can all sit inside the same event function. University of Birmingham source

The university says her work has included the televised Prime Minister's Debate and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Those examples show the range a conference leader may need to hold, from careful planning and client service to the pressure of a highly visible live event. University of Birmingham source

19. Karina Kendrick

Head of Conferences and Events, University of Leeds

Karina Kendrick is Head of Conferences and Events at the University of Leeds. She leads the team responsible for the university's conference and event work, a role that connects the campus, its people and the visitors it welcomes. University of Leeds source

Her profile is useful because it makes the internal event function visible. Good conference leadership is often quiet work: setting standards, creating a reliable process and helping many different kinds of event feel like they belong in the same organisation. University of Leeds source

20. Rebecca Pickard

Director of Conferences and Events, Manchester City Football Club

Rebecca Pickard is Director of Conferences and Events at Manchester City Football Club. She leads the commercial strategy for non-matchday events, giving her responsibility for how the Etihad Campus works as a year-round destination. Manchester City Football Club source

Her role is a good reminder that conference leadership is often about unlocking the unused potential of a place. A stadium can be known for sport and still become a credible home for business events, community gatherings and leadership conversations when the experience is designed properly. Manchester City Football Club source

What these event leaders show us about the work.

Across these roles, the work has three layers. Someone must protect the reason for gathering, someone must shape a programme people can use, and someone must make the live experience reliable enough for attention to stay on the conversation. One person may hold several of those responsibilities, or they may sit across a wider team.

The mix also shows why event leadership is not just a logistics task. Audience trust is built through the choices people notice before, during and after the event: the relevance of the invitation, the quality of the room, the usefulness of the content and the care taken with access and delivery.

For leaders planning an event, the practical lesson is simple. Ask who owns the purpose, who owns the audience, who can change the programme and who will carry the experience through the day. Clear answers make better decisions easier.

How to use this list

Use the list as a starting point for learning, partnership research and thoughtful event planning. An event director may sit inside the organiser, the venue, the association, the media company or the production partner, so the right contact depends on what you are trying to do.

If you are planning an event, look for the decision behind the job title. Who owns the audience? Who owns the experience? Who can change the programme? The clearer those answers are, the easier it becomes to build an event people will choose to attend.

Frequently asked questions

What does an event director do?

An event director usually brings together the purpose, audience, programme, speakers, suppliers, venue and delivery plan. The exact scope changes by organisation, but the job is generally to turn a subject and a group of people into a useful live experience.

What should I look for in an event director?

Look for someone who can connect purpose, audience, programme, suppliers, venue and delivery. The exact role changes by organisation, but useful event leadership makes those moving parts feel joined up for the people in the room.

How current is the list?

The final source review was completed on 11 August 2026 using current organisation, association and event pages. Roles can change, so check the linked source before relying on a title for outreach or event planning.

Conclusion

Event directors turn a broad intention into a room people can trust. They work across content, people, timing, suppliers, technology, venue choices and the small decisions that protect the experience when the day becomes busy.

The people in this list work in different settings, so their job titles do not all describe the same kind of authority. That is useful rather than confusing. It reminds us to look past the title and ask what each person actually owns: the audience, the programme, the venue, the production, the commercial model or the wider event portfolio.

If you are planning a leadership event, use the list to sharpen your brief. Decide what the room needs to make possible, then find the person or team with the right responsibility to make that happen.

Related reading

For practical planning, read planning a leadership retreat. For team alignment, read leadership team development. For a simple way to think about team contribution, explore Working Genius in the workplace.

A practical invitation

I help leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. That work often starts with the same question a good event director asks: what would make this experience genuinely useful for the people we want to serve?

If your leadership team needs a practical session on clarity, trust, conflict or the way work moves through a team, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.