Abbie Venables

Experience

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  World Merit

  Jan 2016 - Sept 2016

  • Supported in the planning of World Merit’s 2016 USA conference, Merit360, including a day at the United Nations HQ in New York.• Tasked with engaging the World Merit community to increase social presence and investment.• Content manager for World Merit’s online platform.

  • Community Engagement Manager

    Jun 2016 - Sept 2016

  • Merit360 Delegate

    Jan 2016 - Sept 2016
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  Skoll Foundation

  Feb 2017 - Apr 2017

  VIP Steward

  • VIP speaker coordination; managing travel and accommodation, liasing with the VIP’s team, onsite troubleshooting and general event logistics for the 2017 conference.

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  One Young World

  Jun 2017 - Oct 2017

  Scholarship Administrator

  • Held administrative and support roles for +200 scholarship holders from all 196 countries for the 2017 conference, including visa arrangements, flight bookings and accommodation reservations.• Built and managed relationships with scholarship funders including large corporate donors and government organisations.

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  The Nerve Network

  Dec 2017 - Apr 2019

  Events and Programmes Manager

  • Managed international conference logistics surrounding F&B, receptions, speaker liaison, delegate transport, accommodation, registration, space design etc.• Liaised with third party contractors and suppliers for the above areas and negotiated budgets and timings.• Provided communications support and ensured a flawless participant experience.• Content Manager and designer for Nerve's website (www.wegotnerve.com).• Managed the communications strategy across all social media accounts for Nerve and Nerve’s clients.• Supported in the design and coordination of programme delivery with Uganda Partner Organisations, such as MADIPHA and SNUPA. This role encompassed partner engagement, workshop delivery, filmmaking/media support and distribution, and monitoring/evaluating programme impact.• Day-to-day liaison with Uganda partners, including visits to work with partners on the ground.• Refining partner contracts including deliverables, budgets, expectations and project outcomes. Show less

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  CMSPI

  Apr 2019 - Jul 2022

  • Responsible for all areas of end-to-end event management of CMSPI’s in-person and virtual events (conferences, workshops, webinars, virtual events and exhibitions) across offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. • Built and managed a ‘masterplan and milestones’ document to map each event task against a strict timeline, ensuring that external contractors and internal staff are adhering to the event timeline, as well as ensuring my own accountability.• Traveled globally to undertake site visits, managing and negotiating contracts on all required services and ensuring that all safety requirements are met.• Coordinated event marketing across CMSPI’s social platforms including writing email campaigns and social media posts.• Built and managed the event registration process, working with the marketing team to analyse the response from our target demographic.• Event budget forecasting and monitoring / reporting on ROI• In line with event objectives & KPIs, I oversaw the development of event agendas, session planning and resource development.• Built and managed internal relationships, including marketing, design, research, CRM, sales and project delivery, including director and C-Suite level.• Managed relationships with external contractors, clients, speakers, VIPs, sponsors, media team, venues, partners, etc.• Acted as the main point of contact on-site at all company events; managing the space build, representing the business at networking events and sales meetings, and troubleshooting where necessary.• Designed and implemented effective operational processes and data management to ensure efficient reporting and communication of KPIs to all levels of the business.• Managed CMSPI’s Events Administrator; overseeing their responsibilities and development.• Oversaw the company’s transition from in-person to virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic and acted as technical producer and coordinator of all virtual events and meetings. Show less

  • Global Events Manager

    Jan 2022 - Jul 2022

  • Events Manager

    Feb 2020 - Jan 2022

  • Events and Marketing Coordinator

    Apr 2019 - Feb 2020
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  Manchester Pride

  Jun 2023 - now

  • Managing the Manchester Pride Parade Application Process, building and designing the form and data management systems• Liaising with the Health and Safety advisor on all Parade entries to ensure compliance• Supporting the Parade Scheduling Manager to design the Parade order and communicate all instructions and expectations with all approved parade entries• Organising and overseeing Parade Load In Times/Arrival Times with the Parade Scheduling Manager, communicating this to Parade Participants in advance• Responding to parade related enquiries from all applicants/participants• Managing all necessary Parade equipment needed for Parade Day• Defining volunteer positions and shifts for Parade Build-up and Parade Day• Manager of the Parade team• Create all parade documentation Show less • Project Management of the Manchester Pride Festival with lead responsibility for the Candlelit Vigil and Human Rights Forum • Act as key liaison between the event operations delivery partner for the Gay Village Party and Manchester Pride, managing elements such as accessibility, VIP, sponsorship etc• Act as key liaison between the event operations delivery partner for the Parade and Manchester Pride, considering accessibility, sponsorship, protest management etc• Support on Festival programming, working with artists who support the modern Pride movement• Key budget-holder, responsible for delivering targeted income and expenditure, and identifying commercial opportunities to maximise revenue• Primary contact for all Festival freelancers• Collaborate with marketing to develop and execute a comprehensive promotional strategy• Conduct a thorough evaluation of the festival's success Show less

  • Parade Project Manager

    Jan 2025 - now

  • Festival Project Manager

    Dec 2023 - Dec 2024

  • Event Manager

    Jun 2023 - Dec 2023
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  Low Fat Productions

  May 2024 - now

  Executive Producer

  Low Fat Productions is a live production company, dedicated to producing new musicals that celebrate the best of British humour. As Executive Producer, my role covers:• Finance: Managing the budget, securing funding, and ensuring bills and taxes are paid on time • Creative: Working with the artistic director to realize the creative vision, hiring the creative team, and collaborating with artists • Production: Organising and managing technical, stage management, and workshop functions, creating a production timeline, and booking the venue • Marketing: Overseeing ticket sales and owning the marketing strategy and social media platforms• Contracts: Negotiating and issuing contracts with companies, venues, and creative appointments • Post-production: Conducting evaluations after the production Show less

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  Mighty Hoopla Festival

  Jun 2024 - Jun 2024

  Artist Liaison
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  Fever

  Dec 2024 - now

  Lead City Coordinator

  • Coordinating the operations and logistics of each Candlelight event in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Cumbria• Liaising with artists and suppliers, negotiating the best rate for multiple bookings• Creating schedules and advancing key documents to all suppliers and venues staff• Booking and training staff for all events through our agency staffing partner• Managing scheduled event timings as the main POC onsite

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  Emota

  Feb 2025 - now

  Project Coordinator