Emily Williams

Emily Williams
She/Her
Functions and Events Sales Executive, Adelaide Oval

Growing up, I was always the planner of the group, my birthday parties were themed and organized to perfection. During Year 12, I studied tourism and worked in hospitality, which gave me a solid foundation in dealing with people, staying organised, and thinking on my feet.

I went on to complete a Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Event Management) at the University of South Australia, gaining a great theoretical understanding of the industry. Joining the workforce was difficult. It was the middle of the pandemic and finding a role in my dream industry proved to be difficult, the doubt definitely starting creeping in, but I am so glad I stuck it out!

I have been venue based for the last couple of years and I love the pace of this role. To see an event through from proposal and contracting, planning and then execution is really rewarding. Being venue based means you are sometimes managing hundreds of events a year, all at a different stage. You can be contracting an event for years down the track, planning an event for next week, managing a client in-house and invoicing for an event last month. 

What I wish I’d known starting out? That things won’t always go to plan, and that’s okay. In this industry you can get so caught up in the meticulous details, however being adaptable and keeping a cool head is so vital. Also, don’t underestimate how important it is to build relationships.

A good network can open so many doors. Volunteer where you can (something I wish I had done more of whilst studying), say yes to opportunities, even if they’re small. Every little bit of experience helps, and you never know where it might lead!

Working in events is a wild ride—it’s exciting, unpredictable, but so rewarding to see all of your hard work come to life.

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This article is part of the Festival & Event Industry Career Profiles series, a collection highlighting the diverse stories of Adelaide’s finest festival professionals. 

Photography by: Jack Fenby