Our Team

At NOEA we couldn’t achieve our aspirations without the help of a large number of people. The majority of these people give their time freely for one simple reason, the betterment of the outdoor events industry.

We’re delighted to recognize them here, and please feel free to contact any of them for more information on NOEA

Council Members

Tom Clements

President of NOEA

NOEA Scotland. Specialized Security, 3 Lindsay Square, Deans, Livingston EH54 8RL. Tel: 01506 249001 / 07774 269456 Tom has been involved within the security and crowd management industry since 1990, during which time he has been involved with many major live music and sporting events, gaining a wealth of experience working at all levels of the command chain, both as deputy and lead manager. Tom was a member of the working party involved in the writing of the Event Guide and Safety at Sports Grounds Guide, produced by the Health and Safety Executive, as well as Disability at Events Guide, produced by the Disability Rights Commission. Seen by some within the industry as an expert in crowd management, Tom is also a visiting speaker at universities. Tom has a Diploma in Events Safety Management from Derby University and is currently President of the National Outdoor Events Organisation (NOEA).

Susan Tanner

CEO

National Outdoor Events Association Tel: 01749 674 531

Ian Taylor

Council Member

Beginning his career in Events Management organising events for the UK’s largest conservation charity, after which he returned to education to study for a BA (Hons.) in Events Management at the University of Derby and also later completed the University of Derby Level 5 Diploma in Event Safety Management. This has offered him fantastic opportunities, working across the industry in various roles including running event control rooms and site managing large scale outdoor events. Ian now runs his own company, Event Site Services, helping event organisers with creative site solutions from total site management, to infrastructure specification and delivery as well as a host of other services, Ian is also a NOEA Council Member, growing and building relationships between students and industry through the UK’s leading outdoor events trade association.

Alysha Sargent

Vice President

Having primarily worked at historic properties throughout my career, I am aware of how important events are within them. I am 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. 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. Tel: 07796 271 231

Stuart Roberts

Treasurer

SRD Group Ltd The Studio, Dry Hill Farm, Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, Kent. TN10 3D Tel: 01732 372920 Fax:01732 373921 As a specialist in event technical services I have for several years supported NOEA annual conventions by providing knowledge and equipment where necessary. For future events I would happily do the same, but as a council member will be more involved with the planning.

Philip Day

Solicitor, Laceys Incorporating HLF

9 Poole Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5QR Tel: 01202 755980 Solicitors and Planning Consultants specialising in the provision of Legal Advice for Outdoor Events and to all Leisure Businesses

Cris Cicirello

Co-lead, Wasserman Experiential Division, EMEA & Senior Vice President

I work as part of the wider marketing team, serving Brands and Properties (Rights Holders) across campaigns and activations. I have worked in around 50 countries over the last 23 years and really enjoyed working within different cultures. 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.

Andrew McQuillan

Vice President

Managing Director, The Traffic management Company, Crowded Space Drones, CSD Productions. In my capacity of owning a drone & video production company, I am keen to support NOEA promotional activities in this area (as we have supported the annual conference) and also reactive video content for social media etc to help NOEA exploit new trends & topics. I also would like to support NOEA in policy development areas, especially linked to my areas where I believe I am competent: Drones Health & Safety Crowd Management Traffic Management I am also happy to help support NOEA exhibition attendance, such as the Event Production Show.

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.

Brendan Herbert

2000trees Festival

I hope to give the council my input from the capacity of an event organiser with the added perspective of my experience as a licensing lawyer, and assist in the  general running of the Association including engagement with upcoming events, and coming to informed decisions in relation to issues which impact on the industry as a whole.

Co-option

Bev Osborne

Partner, Training 4 Resilience LLP

Bev Osborne specialises in developing and delivering training solutions addressing the crisis management and emergency response needs of events and venues, companies and organisations in the UK and overseas. She became involved in the Resilience Sector by leading a 5-year programme to design and deliver multi-agency, simulation based, training exercises for Strategic Commanders in the Public Sector in 2007; and in 2011 launched Training 4 Resilience with her Business Partner Adrian Seward. She has designed and delivered over 150 crisis management and emergency exercises since 2007 for a wide portfolio of clients including Premiership Football and Rugby Clubs; Music Festivals and Concerts; the NATO Summit; the Tour de France and all London 2012 Olympic Venues.

Richard Bate

With more than thirty years event and sports safety management experience, Richard Bate is the Chief Safety & Sustainability Officer at the E Bike Grand Prix Series and Vice President of the Royal Chartered Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH). Richard’s early career as a Paramedic in the UK NHS was diverse, including emergency response, helicopter aircrew, training, and management. While working for the NHS he built a portfolio of skills, which via a circuitous route, including incurable volunteering, brought him into Occupational Safety & Health as a full-time profession. Richard holds a BSc in OSHEM, a Post Graduate Diploma in Events Safety Management and holds Chartered Member of IOSH, Fellowship of IIRSM and is a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

Dr Chris Howes

Managing Director of Festival Medical Services

Chris first became involved with events at Glastonbury Festival in 1979, whilst working as a GP in Somerset. He has been with FMS since its beginning over forty years ago, occupying a variety of roles. The organisation, which covers Glastonbury, Reading, WOMAD and several other events, is unusual in being a not-for-profit charity, staffed by volunteers and making grants to medical and humanitarian projects around the world. It was recently honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. In addition to event cover, FMS is a training provider and has been heavily involved in the NHS Covid vaccination programme in the West Country. Recently it has partnered with World Extreme Medicine to produce and ship bespoke boxes of trauma equipment to medical colleagues in Ukraine. Chris has considerable experience of providing medical input into SAGs and event working groups.

Team Members

Alistair Turner

Alistair Turner is Managing Director of EIGHT PR & Marketing, a specialist creative agency servicing the events industry. Alistair has over 20 years experience in the PR industry, working across some of the biggest brands in FMCG, tourism and most recently the international events industry. Over the course of his career, Al has worked with stellar brands, cutting his teeth with Haagen Daaz, Tropicana and Muller, he was also once described as ‘Bertie Bassett’s right-hand man’ when he was leading the Trebor Bassett account. He was also involved in the re-launch of Bill & Ben the Flowerpot Men when working with BBC Worldwide. Since entering the global events marketplace, Al has worked across the full range of events, from business conferences and exhibitions, through brand activations and into the sporting and festival industries. As well as influencing media and representing the events industry, he has also been involved in the influence and communication with the UK government; he was secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, and project managed the groups’ Enquiry into the international competitiveness of the UK events industry in 2013. He has also been a government advisor on the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Finally, he has been involved in ministerial briefings on the events industry at Secretary of State level and below. He was heavily involved with No.10 on its development of the ‘Britain is GREAT’ initiative, and the ‘Events are GREAT’ implementation of that campaign. He is a regular speaker on events and PR at a number of universities including Hertfordshire, MMU, Westminster, University of East London, Greenwich, Hertfordshire, and St Margret’s. He is also a regular contributor to The Events Academy educational programmes.

“… had to drop you a line to say how amazing your communications have been …”

NOEA Member

“NOEA has been absolutely fantastic in your support for all of us.”

NOEA Member

“Thank you for all your information and updates.”

NOEA Member

“I’m sure all your members are thankful for your assistance in these trying times.”

NOEA Member

“… the daily emails summarising the position, especially related to events, are very useful indeed …”

NOEA Member

“You guys are doing an amazing job of supporting the industry – you were out there first and are such a key resource!”

NOEA Member

“We have been glued to your information bulletins.”

NOEA Member

“Keep ’em coming … NOEA’s proactivity on this topic is much appreciated!”

NOEA Member

“Thank you for your time and commitment keeping us updated about the effects of the pandemic on the events industry.”

NOEA Member

“You are doing an AMAZING job supporting members”

NOEA Member