Last week I had the chance to attend an incredible insider session at AV1 (https://av1.com.au/) organised by Kathryn Garcia, and what an experience it was! Alyce Kelly-Kidd, People and Culture Manager, kicked things off by sharing her journey from discovering her passion as a child to building a career rooted in DEI, B Corp values and mentorship. Her story of navigating twists and turns before finding her home at AV1 truly resonated with me and reinforced the importance of following your curiosity. The panel discussion that followed brought together some of AV1’s brightest minds: Brooke Perry, Head of Production, reminded us that flawless execution starts with ruthless organisation and smart task prioritisation. Kealan Coleman - GIA (Affiliated) Director of Business Development, spoke candidly about owning your strengths, accepting areas for growth, and leveraging every role as a learning opportunity and Dominic Wattam, Technical Operator, walked us through how answering a simple ad led him to AV1’s ground crew, and how embracing every challenge shaped his career trajectory. Hearing these leaders break down their paths, share practical advice on industry expectations, and model how to stay adaptable has broadened my perspective on event management more than any textbook could. I’m excited to take these lessons forward and diving deeper into production logistics, honing my own strengths, or seeking out mentorship opportunities that push me beyond my comfort zone. A huge thanks to Kathryn Garcia for hosting such a well run event, and to Alyce Kelly-Kidd, Brooke, Kealan Coleman - GIA (Affiliated) and Dominic Wattam for the authentic insights and inspiration.
The AV1 Student Career Explorer Tour was an incredibly insightful experience that gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how audio-visual events come to life. Coming from a supply chain and analytics background, I was especially fascinated by the way AV1 manages its extensive inventory, equipment constantly moving from one event to another, treated with the same care and precision as any high-value asset. I was also impressed by the planning team, who design detailed layouts to help clients visualise their event setup in advance, ensuring clarity and alignment. Behind every event is a production team managing casual staff, logistics, and execution while finance ensures everything is cost-effective and sustainable. This experience showed me that supply chain thinking is very much alive in the creative and service industries too. It was a great example of how different teams come together to deliver seamless experiences. A truly valuable learning opportunity!
