3 Days… 3 Advisory Boards!

Author:

Amy Fiddy, Project Manager

When people ask what a week in events looks like, the honest answer is: no two are ever the same. But every now and then, you get a run of back-to-back events that perfectly captures the pace, problem-solving and (let’s be honest) adrenaline that comes with the job.

This was one of those weeks — three days, three Advisory Boards, two hotels, and plenty to keep me on my toes.

A bit about me

I’ve been working in events since graduating with an Events Management degree back in 2011 — so around 15 years in the industry now. I joined the team in May 2025 and found my home within Advisory Boards.

It’s a fast-paced area with a high volume of events, which means no opportunity to stand still — and I love that. It also comes with some incredible travel opportunities. In just one year, I’ve been lucky enough to visit Wroclaw, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Padova, Lisbon and even Denver. Not bad for a job that keeps you so busy!

Day 1 – A fresh take on the familiar

The first Advisory Board kicked things off with a slightly different room set-up — a welcome change from the usual U-shape we often work with. It immediately created a more open, collaborative feel.

As always, day one was all about preparation:

• AV checks
• Room set-up confirmation
• Slide reviews

By the time the event began, everything was in place. From there, it was about keeping things running smoothly — registering attendees, monitoring timings, and making sure the hotel team were kept up to speed if anything shifted.

Day 2 – Problem solving in real time

The second Advisory Board meant moving across to a new hotel — and with that came a fresh round of checks.

On paper, everything looked good… until it didn’t.

The air conditioning wasn’t working, which is never ideal in a room full of delegates. What followed was a flurry of calls, messages and coordination with the hotel team to get a solution in place as quickly as possible. It’s one of those moments that really highlights how important quick thinking (and persistence!) is in events.

Thankfully, we got there — and once the event started, it was business as usual:

• Signing in attendees
• Managing the flow of the agenda
• Keeping breaks and lunch timings on track

A personal highlight? Seeing familiar faces from the previous day. Advisory Boards often bring the same groups together, which means you start to build real relationships — something that makes the experience even more rewarding.

Day 3 – Back to familiar ground

For the final Advisory Board, we were back at the first hotel — and there’s something reassuring about returning to a space you already know.

With a later start time, I had the chance to do a full reccy of the room, reconnect with the hotel team and double-check that everything was exactly where it needed to be. That familiarity makes such a difference — you can focus less on logistics and more on delivering a great experience.

There was even a quick opportunity to pop over to the congress centre… and, of course, visit the much-talked-about puppy corner. It was just as good as it sounds.
Back at our event, everything ran like clockwork — the perfect way to round off a busy few days.

Why I love Advisory Boards

After three in a row, it’s safe to say Advisory Boards are a big part of why I enjoy what I do:

• Familiar faces – Seeing the same attendees regularly builds trust, rapport and stronger working relationships.
• Confidence in the format – The structure is consistent, which means you feel knowledgeable and in control.
• Travel opportunities – You get to visit multiple destinations across the year, without being away from home for long stretches.

Three days, three Advisory Boards, countless moving parts behind the scenes — and a great reminder of why I love working in events.

As I celebrate my one-year anniversary in the business, I’m incredibly proud to also be stepping into a promotion as Senior Project Manager — and I’m excited to see what the future will bring.

Now, onto the next one…