Emily Gilhooley

Experience

• 

  University of Salford

  Jan 2007 - Sept 2012

  Whilst work in the Conference and Events team at the University of Salford, I assisted in the organisation and management of commercial conferences. This involved taking initial enquiries, meeting with potential clients to sell the universities venues and facilities, creating booking contracts, preparing detailed quotes and invoices using the Kinetics software package. I liaised with customers, as well as internal and external departments to organise all aspects of events including accommodation, catering, audio visual equipment, travel, entertainment and exhibition materials. I assisted with the development of marketing materials and produced a series of e-brochures publicising facilities and rates, I developed and managed social network accounts in order to build on web presence, and worked with the In-house Marketing team to provide content and design for the Conference Office website. Show less In my role as Executive Officer for the ‘Making Research Count’ project, I was responsible for the planning and co-ordination of external seminar and conference events for health and social care agencies. This involved the management of delegate lists, booking venues, ordering catering and preparing event literature whilst working within a fixed annual budget.My day to day duties included developing communication links with event sponsors, project members and external health and social care partner agencies. I provided PA services to the project’s management team by managing diaries, making travel and accommodation arrangements, taking minutes during meetings and preparing information for annual reports and strategic plans. Show less

  • Conference Assistant

    Dec 2008 - Sept 2012

  • Executive Officer

    Jan 2007 - Dec 2008
• 

  The Manchester Metropolitan University

  Sept 2012 - May 2023

  In my current role as Conference and Events Officer, I work as part of a team of six people to attract and convert high value business to the University by effectively converting enquiries to maximise profit and ensuring business targets for revenue, occupancy and profit are achieved.I work with the Head of Conference Services and fellow Conference and Events Officer to identify and develop sales strategies that are in line with our department’s objectives, whilst also improving our customers’ experience. I prospect for potential new customers and develop business relationships to support departmental goals. I manage key accounts and build relationships with individuals and organisations that could be strategically important in the development of attracting events to and raising the profile of MMU. I manage a high volume of events; building strong client relationships to deliver a customer focused professional event management service from concept to completion. I provide effective and efficient administrative and operational support in the planning and organisation of events, including working with conference organisers and external providers to formulate bids to attract events to the University. I liaise with internal and external providers to ensure the delivery of conference and events consistently meet customer expectation, working to agreed quality standards, whilst maximising return.I oversee the financial management of events such as preparation of quotations, working to and setting budgets, negotiating discounts with external providers, recording all transactions and ensuring payments are made as laid out in the Terms and Conditions for the event.I deputise for the Head of Conference Services during any absence and provide guidance and operational supervision to Conference & Events Coordinators. I also assist in the recruitment, direction and training of Conference & Events staff. Show less

  • Academic Collaboration Officer

    Sept 2019 - May 2023

  • Education Services Officer

    Sept 2019 - May 2023

  • Conference and Events Officer

    Jul 2014 - May 2023

  • Conference and Events Coordinator

    Sept 2012 - Jun 2014
• 

  University of Liverpool

  Apr 2023 - now

  Project Support Officer

  Reporting to Project/Programme Managers, and in partnership with senior colleagues across the University, I support the delivery and effective governance of nominated strategic change projects/programmes. I am responsible for ensuring successful co-ordination of project/programme activity including the production, maintenance and dissemination of key information and delivery of communications and stakeholder engagement. Duties: •Supporting management of scope, ensuring change control processes are followed and all decisions are logged. •Supporting effective project/programme governance by preparing accurate and timely minutes, maintaining action and decision logs, chasing actions and ensuring project plans and project materials are up-to-date. •Supporting information gathering to inform project scoping and preparation of key project documentation. •Supporting the development and delivery of stakeholder engagement and communication plans including the production of communication materials and maintenance of project webpages. •Supporting the production of materials on behalf of the project/programme team members’ e.g. PowerPoint slides, guidance notes and process maps, etc. •Supporting the project/programme planning activity and maintaining the schedule once published.•Provision of administrative support for the project/programme team and associated meetings. •Organisation and facilitation of collaborative workshops and events. •Supporting the risk identification, analysis and implementation of mitigation plans.•Supporting the identification of and ongoing monitoring of benefits.•Ensuring effective information management is established and maintained for the project/programme.•Actively supporting the team with latest information and data sets to inform reporting and adherence to the methodology. Show less