Over the course of the CN 30underThirty programme, Conference News will be speaking to members of the programme about their professional journey and the causes they’re championing to shape a more inclusive, forward-thinking industry.
This week, meet Gemma Clarke, assistant producer at TFI Lodestar. Clarke turned her love of planning experiences into a thriving career. In this interview, she shares the lessons she’s learned from high-pressure moments, why calm leadership matters and why ethical working practices, from fair treatment to sustainability, should be at the heart of the industry’s future.
What made you want to get involved in the industry and why?
I have always loved planning experiences for friends and family, even from an early age. Studying Event Management at university helped me realise that I could turn that passion into a career.
My first proper event was a mini festival I organised at the Half Moon in Putney. About eighty people came, just enough to break even and fairly pay the artists, which was all I really wanted. That hands-on experience showed me how much I thrived under pressure and how satisfying it was to be the person behind the scenes making things happen. From that moment on, I knew event production was where I was meant to be.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome?
I had this event late last year; it was my first time running a live stream show. A lot of preparation goes into these things as there are so many technicalities to consider, we also had a huge mixture of in person and virtual speakers so a lot of content to manage.
Everything was going smoothly until we had a national grid power outage. It was completely out of our control but of course your clients and your team are looking to you to lead them through the situation and provide answers. There was not much we could do, but we attempted to run cable to a building with power three doors down but in the end the WiFi was not strong enough to put out a decent enough stream. We were able to get some pre-records up and running and when the power finally came back on, we got up and running smoothly as quickly as possible.
The situation was incredibly stressful as there is not anything you can do apart from keep calm, gather information, and make decisions that is best for your team and the client. You must protect your team from the client whilst also appeasing them.
What have you learned about yourself since entering the events world?
One of the biggest things I have learned about myself is that I do not need to be the loudest in the room to make an impact. Early on, I found the idea of difficult conversations, whether with suppliers or colleagues, quite daunting. I used to worry that to be taken seriously, I had to be forceful or overly assertive. Coming into the industry as a young woman, that pressure felt amplified at times, I felt as though I had something to prove. But over time, I have come to realise that calm, clear communication is often far more effective.
Working in live events, means dealing with high-profile individuals who are short on time and not interested in pleasantries. They want direction that is straightforward and efficient and I have learned I am good at delivering that when I stay composed and focused. You do not need to raise your voice to be heard; you just need to be clear about what needs to happen and why.
On-site, when something goes wrong, shouting solves nothing. What people need in that moment is someone who can assess the situation, stay grounded and communicate the next steps with clarity. I have learned that I can be that person and that effective leadership does not always look loud, it can look like calm under pressure.
How important are schemes such as CN 30under30 and do you believe the industry does enough to support young professionals?
Schemes like CN 30under30 are important. Early in your career, especially in such a fast-paced industry, it is easy to feel unsure of yourself. Even with a supportive team, there are moments where you question whether you are doing things the right way or having the impact you hope to. Recognition like this is a reminder that you are on the right track.
That said, schemes like this are only part of the picture. The events industry can be incredibly demanding and often there’s little time or structure in place to properly support younger professionals. We need more consistent mentoring, clearer development pathways and inclusive team cultures. Celebrating young talent is a great start, but we also need to invest in it.
Before I landed this role, I applied for what felt like hundreds of jobs. I had just left university and kept hearing that I had potential, but not enough experience. It made getting into the industry feel near impossible at times. That is why I believe in giving young people a chance. When you do, they often work ten times harder, not just to prove themselves, but because they genuinely want to learn and grow. It also gives employers a chance to shape someone from the ground up, with values that align with their team. It is not just kind, it is smart.
How do you see the events industry changing over the next five years, and how do you want to be part of that change?
Over the next five years; the events industry is going to be shaped by two big things: sustainability and AI. Sustainability has moved from a buzzword to a genuine priority and that is only going to grow. People are questioning the impact of every decision, from travel to materials to suppliers and pressure is pushing us to make more thoughtful choices. It is something I care about and want to play an active role in, helping teams think about how we can do better without compromising creativity or experience.
At the same time, AI is already starting to change how we approach event planning. There is so much potential to make things more efficient, whether It is scheduling, logistics, or how we use audience data, but we have to be careful. I would love to be part of the generation that uses AI as a tool to enhance what we do, not replace the human side of it.
I do not think we have all the answers yet, but I want to stay curious, keep learning and hopefully help shape a future for events that is a bit smarter and a lot more sustainable.
What is an issue or topic within the industry that you think is important and want to champion? Can you explain a bit about it?
An issue I care deeply about and want to champion within the events industry is ethical working, particularly around fairness, sustainability and how we treat people at every level of the process. That includes transparent pay and contracts, inclusive practices, ethical sourcing and a thoughtful approach to technology like AI. For me, It is about raising the standard of how we work, not just what we deliver.
Why is this particular issue or topic important to you?
This matters to me because I have seen, especially early in my career and during my time in the music industry, how easily people, especially young professionals and freelancers, can be undervalued or taken advantage of. It is a tough industry at times and I believe we can still create incredible, high-pressure work without compromising basic fairness or kindness.
What do you plan to do to continue to champion/topic?
To keep championing this, I will continue to speak up when something does not feel right, share knowledge and support emerging talent. I am also committed to making ethical decisions part of the planning process, from supplier choice to sustainability to the way we treat everyone on-site.
What can the industry itself do to better champion this topic?
As an industry, I think we need to normalise accountability. That means having clearer standards around working conditions, encouraging transparency and making space for underrepresented voices. Ethics should not be an afterthought; they should be part of the way we define success.
The CN 30underThirty is a 12-month programme that recognises and supports young talent from the conference and meetings industry. Find out more about the CN 30 under 30 class of 2025 here.
