Event Management

Q1: What industry are you in?
A1: I am now working in the field of event management in the HKSAR Government.

Q2: Can you tell us about your personal work background and career path?
A2: After graduating from university, I first started working as an Administration Assistant in a property management company, handling daily correspondence, answering general inquiries, and supporting the company's daily operations.

Later, I changed roles to become the Head of the General Registry at an Integrated Family Services Centre, where I provided overall administrative support.

After around 4 years in administration, I developed a strong interest in public relations and communications. I enrolled in a relevant certificate course and subsequently transitioned into public relations and communications roles, working at a different property management company, a direct-subsidized school, and a university.

Throughout these experiences, I gained valuable skills in organizing events, handling publications and translations, preparing reports, conducting interviews, and coordinating activities with various stakeholders. Among my diverse responsibilities, I found that I was most interested in and enjoyed event management.

This led me to pursue my current role as a Programme Coordinator in the HKSAR Government, where I am mainly responsible for coordinating territory-wide and large-scale celebration events.

Q3: What are the responsibilities of your current role, and what do you enjoy about it?
A3: My current role involves coordinating a variety of events, including celebration programs and special VIP visits for the Government. Apart from on-site operations, I need to liaise with internal and external departments to prepare for venue set-up, logistical arrangements, and any other relevant procurement and administrative work.

I find event management to be an enjoyable and rewarding field because no two events are exactly the same. During the event planning process, I have the opportunity to meet new people and learn new things, allowing me to continuously grow and develop. The satisfaction gained from the successful completion of an event is extremely fulfilling and motivates me to work even harder going forward.

Q4: Could you share a memorable professional experience?
A4: In the celebration program for the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR, our team had to ensure a smooth event operation while taking into account various factors, including anti-epidemic measures, requests from the Central People's Government, the tight production timeline, as well as security and traffic arrangements. Securing approvals from different parties within the compressed timeframe was particularly challenging.

We closely monitored updates to the anti-epidemic guidelines and promptly prepared the necessary documents and discussions with relevant stakeholders to accommodate the evolving requirements. Given the confidential nature of certain event details, we had to handle all information carefully and judiciously, selectively disclosing appropriate parts to our external working partners to ensure timely completion of the necessary work.

I was fortunate to work with a highly collaborative team that provided proactive assistance and unwavering support to one another. This team effort ultimately allowed us to successfully deliver the celebration event.

Q5: What personality traits are well-suited for this profession?
A5: The key personalities required include:

• Open-mindedness: Being receptive to new ideas and diverse perspectives.

• Flexibility: The ability to adapt quickly to changes and handle ad-hoc plans.

• Composure: Maintaining a calm and level-headed approach when facing challenges.

• Curiosity: A genuine interest in staying up-to-date with the latest trends and events happening.

• Collaborative: A love for teamwork, as it is a crucial element for the successful delivery of any event.

Q6: Are there any considerations or limitations in this profession?
A6: Overtime work is common during peak event seasons, and working during holidays and weekends is required whenever necessary.

Q7: How can someone enter this profession, and what are the promotion opportunities?
A7: Special qualifications are not required for the event management profession, but individuals with strong communication and coordination skills tend to have a distinct advantage. The potential for career advancement largely depends on the organizational structure and growth opportunities available within the company.

To be considered for promotion, individuals should strive to develop well-rounded expertise across various aspects of event organization, such as production, performance and programme design. This broad knowledge allows them to provide valuable guidance and leadership to their team throughout the preparation and execution phases of an event.

Share some work-related photos

Doing site recce before the event

By Iris, a Programme Coordinator in the HKSAR government

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