Meet the team

The Academic Venue Solutions team headed up by Rachael Lee all bring a wealth of experience from across the sector.

Rachael works with the company’s volunteer Board of Directors and business partners to deliver the service required to provide members a platform to increase their business, whilst supporting a programme for networking and engagement events. She is responsible for leading and directing the team to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the business plan to meet the agreed objectives.

Our expert enquiry team Helen Fogg and Helen Cuddy work directly with the member venues and event organisers to build relationships and understand their needs and requirements. The result is a free venue-finding service, matching event planners with a list of specialist academic venues that can help. Rachael, Helen and Helen have extensive experience and a deep understanding of the academic venues sector having worked in hospitality and higher education for many years.

The Team:

• Helen Cuddy, Event Sales Consultant. Helen has worked in HE for many years and brings with her a wealth of experience in both the sector and proactive sales. Her role is to proactively work with clients to help them find solutions for their events through our venue-finding service.

• Helen Fogg, Event Sales Consultant.  Helen was vast experience in the venue sector and has worked for several hotel and venue companies.  Helen's role is to help find solutions for our clients in our venue finding service

• Dawn Spendlove, Marketing Consultant. Dawn owns our marketing strategy and  looks after our key exhibitions and events, she has many years’ experience across many sectors including the academic venue sector.

Our Board, chaired by Clare Forster, includes hospitality industry specialists and senior operations managers, as well as marketing and events experts. They have a profound understanding of both the needs and requirements of event planners, and the challenges the Higher Education sector faces in the commercial marketplace.