About – The Events Insight

Welcome to The Events Insight podcast

The events industries favourite podcast

How it all started

I’m Jack, and I found myself doing a lot of peer support and coaching when Covid first hit in March 2020. During that time, I was consistently asked how I managed to remain so positive and focused when sharing my experiences in the events industry.

On a growing number of occasions, people suggested I start a podcast to share this positivity more widely. Why anyone would want to listen to me on a podcast was beyond me – but in the summer of 2020, I accepted an invitation to appear as a guest speaker at a virtual event. While chatting to a fellow panelist, the subject came up yet again.

“Ok, I might actually have to look into this,” I thought. But if I was going to do it, I had a few important conditions:

This wasn’t going to be a podcast discussing Covid or dwelling on the many challenges people were facing – there were plenty of others doing that.
It had to be a celebration of our industry – sharing knowledge, experiences, and hopefully some of the many entertaining stories that make events so special.
I needed a great co-host – I wanted this to be a conversation, not an interview.
I wanted the whole podcast production – from branding to editing – to use the skills of peers I’d met during lockdown, to showcase their talent.

If all four conditions could be met, then I’d give it a go.

The Original Duo

The co-host connection

Condition three was the most critical – and one name immediately came to mind:

Ellan Campbell-Swann

We’d worked together for several years and, while our specialisms differed, that’s exactly what made our partnership so effective. Ellan had a way with words and, like me, wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She also had an incredible network of contacts, which played a huge part in making those early seasons a success.

Creative Contributors

Lockdown was challenging for many of us. While we agreed the podcast wouldn’t focus on that, we couldn’t ignore one key positive from that period: the incredible new connections we made. That’s where condition four came in – and several of those new contacts contributed significantly to the development of the podcast. We particularly want to thank:

Nathaniel Brown

for his creative design skills (and seemingly endless patience)

Charlotte Kaye

for her unique photography expertise and ability to get us to sit still and stop giggling

Catherine Rannus

for her enviable and accomplished musical talent

Pamela Hopkinson

for whipping us into shape with her social media mastery

Ari Rannus

for his spectacular editing finesse

There were others too, but these five had a huge impact as supporters and contributors in those initial seasons – and that won’t be forgotten.

Evolving the Team

As the podcast evolved, so did the team. Ellan has since taken on a new role behind the scenes, as her professional commitments meant she could no longer commit to regular recordings. While we missed her voice on the airwaves, this gave us the chance to introduce a fresh presence – Karen Edwards.

Karen stepped in as co-host, and the chemistry between her and me just clicked. Her energy brought a new dynamic to the podcast that both listeners and guests have commented on – and we’re proud of how seamlessly that transition happened.

Below on this page, you’ll find the names of the wider team who help bring the podcast to life, along with our extended family of past team members who will always remain an important part of the podcast journey. Their contributions have shaped what this show has become – and we’re grateful for every single one of them.

The podcast has taken listeners on a journey of shared experiences, knowledge, and plenty of laughs – from wading through muddy British fields to navigating (and occasionally struggling with) wonderfully diverse cultures around the world. We’ve heard from a wide range of voices across the international events community, and we hope you’ve enjoyed the conversations as much as we’ve enjoyed creating them.

Meet the current team

Jack Saward

Jack is a seasoned PR, trade fair, and events specialist whose journey in the industry began before he was even 16 — and he’s never looked back. Over the years, his career has taken him across the UK and around the globe, delivering projects in Europe, North America, China, and Africa. From boutique activations to large-scale exhibitions, Jack brings a wealth of experience and a trusted network of contacts to every brief.

When you work with Jack, you’re in expert hands. Known for his trademark phrase, the “professional cuddle” (or sometimes the “customer cuddle”), Jack doesn’t mean a literal hug — it’s his way of describing the warmth, support, and reassurance he aims to give every client, every time.

Karen Edwards

Karen describes herself as “endlessly energetic about events” and it shows. She founded Bright Events out of a genuine love for solving problems and a firm belief that effective problem-solving lies at the heart of every successful event.Her career has taken her across the globe, with standout moments including COP26 in Glasgow, an intimate but impactful training event in Hong Kong, and a rain-soaked construction show in Peterborough that proved nothing fazes her.

Karen offers done-for-you event planning and operational delivery, helping clients bring their visions to life minus the stress and surprises.

When she’s not coordinating logistics with a walkie-talkie in hand, Karen lends her expertise to the next generation as a guest lecturer at Staffordshire University. She’s also a proud Mental Health First Aider, championing wellbeing in the industry she loves.

Lia Bover Armstrong

Lia is an Education and Events Assistant at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, where she plays a key role in planning, leading, and delivering events for healthcare professionals. Before stepping into this role, she earned her degree in Events Management from Staffordshire University in 2021 and gained hands-on experience working as a freelance event professional.
Lia’s passion for events was sparked while working in Germany, where she helped deliver a summer fair — a turning point that inspired her shift from customer service and hospitality into the events world.

In June 2021, Lia joined The Events Insight podcast team to build her confidence, raise her profile in the industry, and challenge herself to step outside her comfort zone. As she puts it:
“I don’t think I’d ever have talked to camera if it wasn’t for the support of the team to help build my confidence.”

Nathaniel Brown

While most children spent their early years playing with toys, Nathaniel found joy in sketchbooks and scribbles — a passion for drawing and design that only grew stronger with time. This creative curiosity led him to pursue a BA in Advertising at Leeds Arts University, which he completed alongside a Distinction-awarded MA in Design from the University of Leeds.

Nathaniel’s work goes beyond aesthetics. His foundation in advertising and design enables him to create visuals that not only look stunning but also cut through the noise — turning heads and generating real engagement for his clients.

Early in his career, Nathaniel was guided by Jack, who helped steer his creative path and offered him the opportunity to become Lead Designer for The Events Insight podcast. Since then, Nathaniel’s talent has supported both global brands and emerging start-ups, and his creative services are now available for hire.

Welcoming Our New Members

James Cooper

Laura Bradley

Laura has been working within the marketing and journalism industry for over fifteen years. Starting out as an intern for a magazine covering World Superbikes, she built her knowledge in social media management as the platforms were started and learnt how to use them as their popularity started to grow. As her passion for marketing grew, she was approached by more businesses and individuals to help them gain traction online and, as a practiced journalist, coach them for dealing with media coverage. In 2023, she took the plunge and founded Sock and Buskin Marketing and PR after working as Head of Marketing for a construction company.

Within both her professional and personal life, Laura is a strong believer that everybody should be treated with kindness. She prides herself on loyalty and equality and aims to be approachable and honest in all of her interactions.

Emma Couldridge

Charlotte Dowdell

Charlotte has 15+ years extensive experience within the hospitality, customer relations and events industry, working towards creating experiences and memories to last a lifetime. With a passion for all things musical and creative, Charlotte thrives in fast-paced and active environments and embraces the role of “fairy godmother” for your event.

And if Charlotte isn’t sprinkling organisation magic on your event, you’ll find her in her home territory of all things performance, whether that be onstage or part of the Pro Team (she’s the one who creates dances!)

Working with and entertaining people is one of Charlotte’s favourite pastimes… She is a people focussed energetic light in the centre of your event.

Rajiah Rodien

Rae is currently working at Blackberry Events as an Events Manager, where she leads on end-to-end event delivery across a range of corporate and sporting events. Her role spans everything from budget management and timeline planning to supplier coordination, risk assessments, and on-site execution, ensuring a seamless and impactful experience for clients and attendees alike. Rae has previously worked on large-scale events including the Commonwealth Games and other major international sporting events.

Rae’s passion for events began at a young age through volunteering, particularly at major sporting events where she discovered her love for bringing people together through shared experiences. This early start laid the foundation for her career and led her to complete a degree in Events, Venue, and Experience Management.

Rae joined the team as someone who brings energy, initiative, and a genuine drive to make a difference in the events industry. She is excited to be part of a community that values collaboration, knowledge sharing, and delivering experiences that leave a lasting positive impact.

Tommy Deedigan

Tommy is an audio engineer, producer, and broadcast engineer currently working between Bristol and Manchester. With over a decade of experience in the Manchester music scene, he’s recorded a wide range of artists, with his work being featured on BBC Introducing, BBC 6 Music, Paste Magazine, WFUV (New York), NTS Radio, and more.

He first joined The Events Insight podcast in 2021 while working as a broadcast engineer for Wavecast Pro. These days, Tommy works freelance across a variety of podcasts and audio projects, bringing a calm, creative energy to every production.

Alongside his audio work, Tommy is completing a master’s degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Manchester. He’s passionate about the arts, education, and supporting marginalised communities—values he continues to explore through his work with Kandu-Arts, an alternative provision in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

When he’s not behind a mixing desk or deep in research, you’ll probably find him digging through records or planning his next community project!

Matt Glover

I’m a photographer with a passion for capturing real people and real moments with a sense of fun and energy. With a background in weddings and personal brand photography, I have an eye for impactful human centred story telling. I also wrote, photographed and published a cookbook to keep myself occupied during lockdown.