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, we meet Erin Hutton, event manager at Bray Leino Events.
What made you want to get involved in the industry and why?
I think I was always destined to work in events. I’ve always been the ‘organiser’ – school events, group holidays, family events… I’ve always adopted a logical ‘tick list’ approach to make sure things happen. I enjoy bringing people together and love the feeling of seeing something come to life after months of planning and preparation.
When I started thinking about my career, I naturally gravitated towards the events industry; it draws on and has developed my skill set. Add in my passion for travel and experiencing different cultures, and building a career delivering events around the world felt like a natural fit.
What is the first career highlight that comes to mind?
The standout highlight that comes to mind is supporting Bray Leino Events at the last two Expo ‘UK National Days’ (Dubai, 2020 and Osaka, 2025).
First, it was supporting the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and conductor Matthew Freeman in Dubai, and then again with Matthew and the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra accompanying BBC Earth’s Planet Earth III Live in Concert in Osaka.
Coming from a very musical family, both opportunities felt like genuine pinch-me moments – being part of the team behind the scenes and then experiencing the performances live was incredibly rewarding, and remains a highlight of my career to date.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve overcome has been learning to thrive in an industry where plans can change in an instant. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to deliver perfection; but I’ve learnt that success in events is often about adaptability rather than control. Managing high-profile events with competing stakeholder priorities has taught me how to stay calm under pressure, rise to unexpected challenges and make confident decisions.
What have you learned about yourself since entering the events world?
I’ve learned that I’m far more resilient than I ever gave myself credit for, and I’ve discovered that I genuinely enjoy problem-solving under pressure. I’ve also realised how much I value building relationships – some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from seeing those connections, and the events themselves, create a meaningful impact.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice when starting out in events, what would it be?
I’d tell myself not to wait until I feel ready before putting myself forward. Early in my career, I often underestimated my own abilities and held myself back by overthinking opportunities. However, I’ve learned that growth comes from being outside your comfort zone and embracing challenges before you feel 100% prepared.
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 incredibly important because they shine a spotlight on emerging talent and the contributions being made across the industry. I felt honoured to be included among this year’s nominees and recognised alongside so many talented professionals.
While the events industry offers fantastic opportunities for learning and development, there’s always more we can do to support young professionals. International events, FAM trips and networking opportunities help build skills, confidence and valuable long-term industry connections.
How do you see the events industry changing over the next five years, and how do you want to be part of that change?
I can see that AI will continue to transform how we plan and deliver events, but I don’t think anything will ever replace the value of real-world experiences.
The most memorable events are the ones that bring people together to spark conversations and create experiences that simply can’t be replicated by AI. Moving forward, I’d like to embrace the opportunities that AI offers our industry, but also continue to champion the value of face-to-face experiences.
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave in the industry?
I hope to be remembered as someone who delivers exceptional events while always putting people at the heart of what I do.
Whether that’s colleagues, clients, suppliers or attendees, the relationships we build are often what make events truly successful. I’d also like my legacy to be one of positive change – helping to champion more sustainable ways of working and encouraging others to see that even small actions can have a meaningful impact.
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?
For me, it has to be sustainability. Events bring people together, but they can also have a significant environmental impact. However, a premium guest experience doesn’t have to come at the expense of sustainability.
Some of the most innovative ideas in our industry come from finding smarter, more responsible ways to deliver events. At Bray Leino Events, sustainability is something we actively consider across our event planning and delivery, and I’m passionate about continuing to find opportunities to reduce impact while still creating exceptional experiences.
Why is this particular issue or topic important to you?
Sustainability is important to me because I believe our industry has both the opportunity and responsibility to create positive change and demonstrate best practice. As event professionals, we’re in a unique position to influence not only our own operations, but also suppliers, partners and attendees – and we must lead by example.
What do you plan to do to continue to champion/topic?
I want to continue embedding sustainability into every stage of the event planning process. I’m proud to work for an organisation that takes this seriously, and has been recognised for doing so. Going forward, I want to continue expanding my knowledge of sustainable event delivery and use that expertise to help drive positive change within the projects I work on.
What can the industry itself do to better champion this topic?
The industry can better champion sustainability by viewing decisions through a ‘sustainability lens’ at every stage of the process, ensuring environmental considerations are at the forefront, from concept through to delivery.
Achieving meaningful change requires collaboration across organisers, venues, suppliers and partners. And by sharing best practice and collectively raising standards, we can make sustainability an expectation of every event rather than an aspiration.