Barry Nicholson
Conference and Event Manager at Northumbria University- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Duolingo Italian Fluency: Advanced (Estimated)
DuolingoJul, 2016- Oct, 2024
Experience
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Northumbria University
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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500 - 600 Employee
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Conference and Event Manager
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Sep 2017 - Present
Manage project to bring together two separate functions of internal academic conferencing and commercial hire/sales within a large higher education organisation; developing systems, procedures and re-branding strategy for market awareness and enhanced organisational functionality. Developed cost, process and service level agreement packages for the logistical management of conferences and events informed by market research, competitor analysis, existing performance levels and stakeholder feedback.Manage budget and staff activity with monitoring systems to report and manage ROI targets across channels using the full marketing mix.Repositioned and rebranded department across multiple channels both online and offline. Developed marketing toolkit and collateral to enhance and support ROI and strengthen brand.Created online payment function to streamline financial activity and reduce bureaucracy for both internal and external clients and increase reporting efficiencies.Day to day management of full cycle of academic conferencing and external client events from developing initial bids with academic and service colleagues, managing enquiries, to delivery and feedback mechanisms.Establish and maintain a network of key internal services whilst stakeholder managing key external partners to enable support for our offer and progress the development of our growth in the conferencing and events destination market.
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Marketing (Advancement)
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Sep 2016 - Present
Develop marketing strategies and campaigns, which support philanthropic, enterprise and international income growth plans whilst ensuring clear returns on investment and engagement.Build, maintain and manage cross-organisational relationships to increase support and understanding of objectives; working with alumni, students, businesses, employers, strategic partners, international agents and policy makers in order to generate positive reputation, engagement and income streams.Work with key stakeholders across the business to develop market and customer insight, develop and agree annual marketing objectives in line with Corporate Strategy.Develop and implement plans, through integrated campaigns, which market the business-to-business, employer and knowledge transfer offers, producing targeted marketing collateral.Create and support a network of funders, advocates, recruiters and advisors to support the employability agenda, identifying opportunities for placements, internships and volunteering. Raise philanthropic donations to support strategic fundraising campaigns and projects, including the Faster Higher Stronger Fund, which align to the Corporate Strategy.Work with external agencies across digital, creative and media planning to develop and deliver effective campaigns that deliver against objectives. Campaign management for exhibitions, events, promotions and academic programmes, analysing and evaluating the impact of events and external relationships to both organisation and stakeholders.
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Project Coordinator in partnership with Deloitte
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Sep 2015 - Sep 2016
Working in partnership with Deloitte on the Transforming the Student Experience (TSE) project which aims to enhance and optimise student support services in order to increase student satisfaction as well as enabling systems and technological solutions to improve the entire student journey and experience.Provide expert marketing support and knowledge to the team and HE subject matter expertise to ensure maximum project buy-in across the University and work with colleagues to ensure all stakeholder needs are addressed.Developing the design around the student journey and experience and in relation to the marketing and communications strategy and objectives in line with the overall Corporate Strategy.Work in partnership with the Project Manager and other team members to deliver the TSE project work streams, leading the project from a programme support and student record perspective in conjunction with the wider project team.Manage a change culture within a large HE organization and acting as an advocate across a variety of functions, including stakeholder engagement, communication channels and promotion of project aims and objectives. Managing project intranet site digital design and content and other communication channels including project Twitter feed, e-bulletins, stakeholder presentations and workshops, lecture engagement and pop-up stands within the organisation.Represent the project internally and the University externally on committees, working groups, forums and at other events. Also design, run and support workshops, test planning and business readiness.
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External Relations & Events
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Nov 2013 - Sep 2015
Developing and maintaining partnerships, collaborations, internal and external relations whilst increasing the University’s profile regionally, nationally and internationally.Stakeholder management, setting objectives and the planning and prioritising of marketing and events management in line with the Corporate Strategy.Developing the strategic and operational objectives of external engagement and marketing output and developing measuring tools to review and maintain robust processes. Developing marketing strategy and campaigns for exhibitions, events, promotions and academic programmes, analysing and evaluating the impact of events and external relationships to ensure both organisational and stakeholder needs are met. Planning and delivering key recruitment events including around University undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment campaigns. Work with digital, marketing intelligence and brand teams on increasing audience reach and attendance at events.Plan, develop and maintain large sporting events; planning, marketing, ticketing, working with external hosts such as Kingston Park and Gateshead Stadium, Policing and Security and management of both crowd and staff at the events.Review processes with major alumni donations and stakeholders and developing terms and conditions for the awards, managing budgets, continuously monitoring income and expenditure.Development, writing, proofreading and sign off marketing materials such as catalogues, brochures, maps and web text as well as liaising with the Communications team on information for the public.Develop internal communication channels to University staff and board of governors, using monthly e-updates linking to forthcoming events, conferences and audience participation opportunities.
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Northumbria University
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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500 - 600 Employee
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Region, Engagement & Partnerships
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Sep 2010 - Sep 2013
Project manage the award winning BALTIC partnership (Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts in 2012, as well as the Journal’s Culture Award for Best Arts and Business Partnership in 2013) and part of the team that developed and launched the BxNU partnership and BxNU Institute for Contemporary Art at BALTIC 39.Developing and maintaining partnership and collaborative activity such as Tyneside Cinema, New Writing North, Great North Run Culture, Tyne & Wear Museums, Northern Stage and Live Theatre. Contributing to the continual development and review of procedures and practices with stakeholders to ensure that needs and expectations are met. Identifying and establishing internal and external network opportunities through interaction with other Faculties and University services and external areas such as the Late Shows, VAMOS, GIFT Festival, High Bridge Festival, Northern Stage, Festival of the North East, Callum McDougal (Executive Producer of Skyfall) and Fergal Keane (BBC reporter, presenter and author). Developing relationships with contacts and managing the organisation and running of events such as public lectures, final year shows, student exhibitions and performances, festival participation and symposiums. Contribute to the development, planning and management of a variety and complexity of strategies, objectives and activity and offering expert knowledge and advice through my role on the BxNU Management Group, BALTIC Communication Group, BALTIC 39 Stakeholders Committee, High Bridge Residents Association, Gallery North Board, Health & Safety Committee and Contemporary Arts North East Stakeholders Group. Support student, alumni and graduate employability through external enterprise activity, profiling the courses and facilities at Northumbria and schemes such as Graduate Studio Northumbria (GSN), Graduate Fellowships and Gallery North Internships.
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Education
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2001 - 2003
Northumbria University
MA, Film Studies -
2012 - 2013
Chartered Institute of Marketing
PG Marketing, Marketing/Marketing Management, General -
1996 - 1999
University of York
BA (Hons), Business Management
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