Allison Stewart loves seeing events and ideas come to fruition. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 090115rk02bop.JPG
Allison Stewart loves seeing events and ideas come to fruition. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 090115rk02bop.JPG
This week's Rotorua Daily Post Newsmaker is Allison Stewart, the Bayley's National Sevens event organiser.
Tell us about yourself: I am an events manager working with Bayleys and Eves Real Estate and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. My work involves planning and delivering large and small scale events from weddings,corporate events and adventures, to various festivals and sports event management.
What projects are you working on and what have you been involved in? Currently working on the Bayleys National Sevens. Twenty six of New Zealand's top rugby sevens sides will be in Rotorua for the weekend of January 17 and 18. Along with the event planning for the weekend there is the logistics of travel, accommodation and meals for all the teams and officials. Covering the basics whilst ensuring there is some great entertainment and fun along the way for the teams, supporters and patrons.
What do you love about your job? Working with a wide range of personalities and professions and being able to work as part of, or leading, a team. There is plenty of variety, and whilst at times it is very intense trying to get all of the ducks lined up, it is very rewarding to see it all come together after what is often months of planning.
What have been your biggest achievements? I get immense satisfaction from seeing events and ideas come to fruition. Whilst people see the finished product there has always been an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to get to the point when the gates or doors open. I have worked on some pretty big events and certainly had some "wow" moments that really only event managers ever understand.
What do you love about Rotorua? I love the retailers who have got behind the Window Dressing promotion; I love Rotorua Stadium, I love the boardwalk along the Lakefront, the peace and quiet of the forest and a dip in the Polynesian Spa is very good for the body and the soul.
Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know: I have had afternoon with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. I supervised the engraving of the Rugby World Cup and set up the medals in 2011 during the final (intense!) at Eden Park. I have played an international hockey match against Fiji.
