Leading UK events association elects two new Vice-Chairs

The UK’s Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP), an umbrella industry association uniting 20 niche industry associations and partners, has announced the election of Nick Morgan as Vice-Chair and the re-election of Dr Caroline Jackson (pictured) as Vice-Chair. Morgan is CEO of large-scale event and festival production and placemaking agencies, We Are The Fair and We Are Placemaking, and has more than 23 years’ experience within the events sector. As well as his new role as Vice-Chair for BVEP he is a member of the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA), Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) in the UK. Jackson, who has been a Vice-Chair of BVEP since 2016, has been an integral part of the UK’s Events Industry Board Talent Task Force (2018-19), which assessed the skills, talent and HR processes across the events industry, with the objective of helping the industry develop a sustainable, competitive, highly skilled workforce. She has also contributed to the ‘people’ content of the past and upcoming BVEP Events are GREAT reports. Morgan and Jackson will join other existing Vice-Chairs Simon Hughes and Chris Skeith and will serve two-year terms. Welcoming the re-appointments, Michael Hirst OBE, Chair, BVEP said: “Both Caroline and Nick are set make important contributions to the work of the BVEP as it embarks on implementing its new terms of reference. Caroline is already spearheading important initiatives on the skills agenda and Nick will bring a refreshing perspective on the role of outdoor events and opportunities for the ‘festivalisation’ of events”. Dr Jackson, Event Consultant and Educator said: “It is an honour to be continuing as Vice-Chair of BVEP as we pursue the opportunities and challenges facing the events industry. Within a post-Brexit environment, event skills and research will have an even greater relevance and purpose. Our partners have a wealth of experience in pursuing BVEP’s aim of supporting the sustainable growth of the UK events industry.” Morgan added: “I am delighted to become a Vice-Chair at BVEP and am keen to represent the outdoor events sector in its efforts to be better recognised at government level. My aspiration is to see the live industry embraced at all levels from authorities to key community stakeholders. Other competitor countries are leading the charge in protecting both their night time economy and live scene and they understand the huge economic contribution the outdoor events industry makes on an annualised basis.”