The Brewery Success Story Series #1: Ollie, Event Planning Executive

July 13, 2023

Our dedicated employees are the driving force behind our success. From the meticulous planners, to the welcoming receptionists, the talented kitchen staff, the efficient operation, finance, logistics teams and the hardworking cleaning crew, every single member of our team goes above and beyond to preserve the legacy of The Brewery. It's time we bring attention to the remarkable individuals who make our organisation what it is today.

This month, let's shine a well-deserved spotlight on Ollie, one of our event planning executives.

Hi Ollie, tell us a bit about you and your background:

Hello, my name is Ollie, I am an event planning executive at The Brewery on Chiswell Street. I started my career in the outdoor activities industry: I used to teach kids activities like climbing and kayaking.  Little by little, I started organising some social events and took on the summer party organisation. I really enjoyed it. I kind of grew up in the events industry, my dad used to do crowd management for concerts in big places like Wembley and I’ve always been immersed in this exciting environment. I decided to leave my old job and started working for a charity. I was doing all their social media and also helped running some business breakfasts where we would invite different speakers to talk about different topics.

Confident that the events industry was the sector I wanted to work in and the right path for me, I started looking for other jobs and got an interview for The Brewery. The first time I stepped into the cobbled courtyard, I fell in love with the place and really hoped I will get the job! Luckily, my interview was successful and I joined the team in March 2022, first as the Sales Coordinator, and then as an Event Planning Executive.

Can you tell us more about your role at The Brewery?

Of course! We are a team of 6 event planners, with different assigned clients and we plan events for them. The majority of the events we host are corporate (conferences, awards dinners, exhibitions etc) but I am also involved in wedding planning.

I am heavily involved in the logistic side of things (agenda, food, AV etc) and work with all the departments at The Brewery to make sure we have all the information we need to deliver a smooth and successful event. I love this part of the job because I get to speak to everyone at The Brewery, from operations, kitchen, reception, logistics and even finance.

I am also present at the events to check up on everything even though our operation team does an amazing job. I organise around 100 events per year, approximately 2-3 events per week, for guests from 60 to 300. I sometimes organise events across multiple rooms and sometimes in one room only, it really depends on the brief and what the clients wish. All the events are different which makes my job really exciting! For example, we recently held an event with the New Zealand prime minister, there was a lot of security planning involved, I had to speak with the police which is something I don't usually do and it was, I have to say, very cool!

Can you give us some examples of exciting events you worked on?

All the events are exciting, but if I had to choose, I would pick:

• Hamilton Watch: One of my all-time favourites. I got to spend the entire day with them. A lot of work went behind the scene. The event was a product launch/brand release for Hamilton's new watch. They had some watches on display and they explained the history of each of them to the guests. They had a bespoke menu, a bespoke theme. It was an incredible event.
• Graham & Brown: I loved that one. Until this day, people at The Brewery still talk about it. The event took place in our sister venue The Grubstreet Author. The client was looking for an intimate space to celebrate their wallpaper of the year awards. This event is a great example of how The Grubstreet Author can be personalised. If you would like to know more, click here, we wrote an entire case study on it!

• Impossible not to mention the event we organised for The New Zealand Commission. It was a very special event to me because it was a very important one for the clients. Everyone said it was fantastic
• I recently helped organise an event for the marketing company Passle. Everyone at The Brewery loved that one because the client brought 200 orange octopuses (their logo is an octopus!) and scattered them everywhere around the venue. The event went very well and the client has already booked their summer party again with us for next year! (read our case study here)

How can you describe the culture at The Brewery?

Everyone here is very friendly, we all fit in very well together. We always help and support each other. I made a few mistakes when I started, but everyone was so helpful, trying to find a solution. This is the kind of environment where you feel like you can grow and learn.

What are you the most looking forward to for the next coming months?

I am looking forward to the two weddings I am planning. There is a lot to organise but the two couples are lovely and it is nice to be able to organise private events as well as corporate events.

Final question: What do you like the most about The Brewery?

The Brewery is such a unique space, I am always very proud to say that I work for The Brewery. It is a cool, quirky and elegant venue and I am proud of all the events we organise.  My favourite space is The Grubstreet Author, I love its speakeasy vibe and how, even though it’s already themed, you can personalise it and make it your own!