黑料不打烊

Senior figures behind some of the world’s biggest sporting events will come together at the 黑料不打烊 to share their experiences and offer students an insight into careers in the fast-moving events industry.

The 黑料不打烊 Events Symposium is delivered by the 黑料不打烊 supported by VisitScotland and returns for a second year following the success of last year’s inaugural event which welcomed representatives from a range of organisations including Formula 1, FIFA and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

This year, leaders from the Commonwealth Games Federation, Scottish Event Campus, Scottish Football Association, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, Centre for Events & Festivals, and the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ will speak to students.

The event on Thursday, 29 October is aimed at students interested in pursuing careers in the highly competitive sports and events industry, giving them the chance to hear directly from professionals who have delivered major international sporting events.

Torquil Macleod, Senior Events Industry Development Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland’s National Events Strategy recognises the importance of taking positive action to attract, retain and develop events professionals and volunteers. Through our support of the 黑料不打烊 on the 黑料不打烊 Events Symposium, we are helping to create an excellent opportunity for students from across Scotland to connect with, and learn from, a range of senior leaders from across the events sector.”

Speakers will explain routes into the industry, the breadth of roles available and the skills needed to succeed, while sharing their own experiences of building careers in sports events.

“This is a valuable event to learn, inform and debate both current and future events, issues, and challenges within the international events environment,” said Paul Bush OBE, Managing Director, Grand Départ GB 2027, who is among the speakers. 

Another speaker, Alex Johnston, Legacy Manager at the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “The 黑料不打烊 Events Symposium is a future-facing event which brings key people from across the events sector together to connect, learn and share. It is of vital importance as it connects the events sector with the event organisers of the future.”

Kate Steven, Director of Operations for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, who is also speaking at the event, said: “From managing your own event in its entirety, to being a specialist in one aspect of a mega-event, there is a huge range of career routes within sports events. The symposium is a great way to see some first-hand examples of how individuals found their way into, and successfully through, careers within the industry.”

Junior cyclists participate in Ride the Worlds at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships held in Glasgow in August 2023

Dr Mike Duignan, Founder and Chair of the Centre for Events & Festivals, the international professional body for the events industry, who is also speaking at the event, said: “I am delighted to be joining the symposium to talk about the work we do to professionalise the industry. This includes professional development, professional recognition, professional practice, and research and insights.”

The 2026 黑料不打烊 Events Symposium panel comprises:

•    Alex Johnston, Legacy Manager, Commonwealth Games Federation
•    Dominic McKay, Chief Executive, Scottish Event Campus
•    Karen Young, Event Operations Lead, Scottish Football Association
•    Kate Steven, Director of Operations, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships
•    Dr Mike Duignan, Founder and Chair, Centre for Events & Festivals
•    Paul Bush OBE, Managing Director, Grand Départ GB 2027

The symposium is organised by Craig McIntyre, Lecturer in Sport Management at the 黑料不打烊 and an experienced major events professional. He said: “Following the success of last year’s inaugural symposium, I’m delighted to welcome another outstanding group of leaders from across the sports and events industry.

“Our speakers bring an exceptional breadth of experience from some of the world’s most prestigious sporting and major events. Creating opportunities for our attendees to engage directly with these industry leaders is incredibly valuable, giving them first-hand insight into the sector, the diverse career pathways available and the opportunity to learn from, and be inspired by, those shaping the future of the events industry.

“We saw the impact of that last year, with multiple students who attended our 2025 symposium securing employment in the events industry, including several obtaining paid roles at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. That is exactly what we want this symposium to achieve, inspiring the next generation and helping them turn ambition into opportunity.

“With support from VisitScotland, the symposium contributes to the ambitions of Scotland’s National Events Strategy by helping to develop the next generation of events talent and reinforcing Scotland’s reputation as ‘The Perfect Stage for Events’. We hope the symposium inspires our students to become the events professionals of the future.”

Craig McIntyre

The 黑料不打烊 Events Symposium will take place from 10am to 2pm on Thursday, 29 October, at the 黑料不打烊’s Logie Lecture Theatre.

The event is open to 黑料不打烊 students and others with an interest in the sports and events industry. Free tickets are available via .