What’s your job title and how long have you been at Loughborough?

I’m the Head of Major Sports Events at Loughborough Sport and have been working at the University since June 2022.

Tell us what a typical day in your job looks like?

No two days are the same, and that’s what I love about working at Loughborough Sport. I work in the Business Development & Events Team, and we’re involved in everything from planning and running our own events, linked to our performance sport programmes, to helping external partners bring their events to campus, such as the School Games National Finals and BUCS Big Wednesday.

We deliver around 200 events each academic year, ranging from school camps to major tournaments. Most days involve a mix of project meetings, working with other departments, and supporting the team.

Right now a lot of my focus is on Lightning Netball and delivering a great experience for our home matches both on campus and at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, as part of the Netball Superleague. We’re midway through the season and have really invested in the match day offer – with improved sports presentation and a new fan zone to bring in more supporters. I would encourage Loughborough staff and students to come and experience it for themselves – it’s a lot of fun!

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on?

My favourite project (although also the most stressful) has been working on the Loughborough Sport Sponsor Dinner delivered in December 2022 at the BT Sports Studios in London. It was the first big event I was involved in, having joined the department earlier that year, and the pressure was on to deliver something incredible to 300 of our sport partners and industry contacts. It was a star-studded evening with many of Loughborough’s talented athletes and alumni, entertainment and a charity auction. From an event operations perspective, working with a broadcast production team was fascinating and I loved all the attention to detail to make it a one-of-a-kind evening for our guests.

What is your proudest moment at Loughborough?

One of my proudest moments at Loughborough is any time the Business Development & Events team comes together to deliver a large-scale event. One example of this is the Loughborough International Athletics which is a 1 day competition featuring both track and field events with teams competing from across the country. That moment at the end of the day when we regroup for a celebration and a team photo is something I always look forward to – it might sound cheesy, but it gives me a real sense of pride in what we’ve accomplished together.

Which University value do you most resonate with and why?

Creative. I enjoy projects that involve creative thinking – whether that’s developing new ways to present sports or enhancing the spectator experience. Creativity also plays a big role in problem solving, which is a daily part of my job. While I don’t always have the perfect solution immediately, I really value the creativity that comes from talking through ideas with colleagues. There’s generally always a solution.

Tell us something you do outside of work that we might not know about?

I’ve been a governor at my local infant school for the past five years, and for two of those years, I chaired the Resources Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the school’s finances. This role has given me the opportunity to contribute to an important part of my local community, while also helping me develop greater confidence in strategic-level thinking. One of the most rewarding aspects has been the school visits, where we engage directly with teachers and children – those moments really bring the role to life and remind me why the work is so meaningful (and the children do come out with some very comical one-liners!).

What is your favourite quote?

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

If you would like to feature in ‘5 Minutes With’, or you work with someone who you think would be great to include, please email Lilia Boukikova at L.Boukikova@lboro.ac.uk