Caroline Gourlay discusses leading the UK Chapter of Women in Exhibitions and tackling gender diversity in the events industry.
Caroline Gourlay, recently appointed as the UK Chapter President of Women in Exhibitions, is no stranger to the industry. With over two decades of experience, she has witnessed firsthand the evolving dynamics of the sector and the growing presence of women in various roles. However, despite the strong female representation at entry levels, Caroline is keen to address the disparity that exists at the senior leadership and C-suite levels. Her recent appointment comes at a crucial time with more focus than ever on diversity and inclusion.
Having been on the board of Women in Exhibitions for about 18 months, Caroline has already made significant contributions to the organisation. She admits that her decision to step into the role of UK Chapter President wasn’t taken lightly: “I’ve been in the industry for nearly 25 years,” she says, “and throughout that time, I’ve built a network that spans organisers, suppliers, and venues. It felt like a great opportunity to leverage my experience and knowledge to support the next generation of women in this industry.”
Her position provides a unique vantage point: “Most of our members are event organisers, and they tend to be quite siloed within their specific sectors. I sit in a fairly unique position where I know all parts of the ecosystem – from the organisers to the suppliers to venue operators – and it gives me a platform to advocate for change across the entire industry.”
Caroline’s focus as President is clear: she aims to expand the membership base of Women in Exhibitions, which currently stands at around 45 corporate members which represents over 500 women in the industry. But increasing membership is only part of the equation. She’s also determined to ensure members are engaging with the network and accessing its full suite of services, from networking events to mentorship programmes and professional development.
One of the key areas of focus for Women in Exhibitions under Caroline’s leadership is helping women navigate their career paths more effectively, as while at entry level 80% of event profs are women, at directorial level, this number shrinks to 20%: “There is still significant gender disparity at the senior leadership level,” she explains. “Part of our role is to highlight career paths that might not be immediately obvious and ensure women feel empowered to pursue these opportunities.”
Networking and mentorship are central to this vision. Women in Exhibitions hosts several key events throughout the year, including a summer and Christmas party that brings together corporate members and facilitates industry-wide networking. These events are designed to provide a comfortable environment for women, especially those new to the industry, to forge connections and build relationships.
“The networking aspect can be intimidating. But if we create a buddy system or have regular opportunities to meet people from different companies, it becomes easier each time.”
“The networking aspect can be intimidating. But if we create a buddy system or have regular opportunities to meet people from different companies, it becomes easier each time. It’s about building confidence and connections.”
The mentorship programme is another critical pillar of the organisation’s mission. Caroline has personally benefited from the programme both as a mentor and a mentee. She emphasises the value of having external guidance and role models, especially in an industry where many people “fall into” event management by accident: “Havingsomeone outside of your company to offer a different perspective, to challenge your thinking, or to provide advice – it’s invaluable.”
Gourlay is also a strong advocate for flexible working arrangements, something she believes is essential in encouraging women to remain in leadership roles: “Since the pandemic, the conversation around flexible and hybrid working has been much more open. It’s no longer a taboo. The industry has shown that it’s possible to work effectively from home, and it’s not going to cause everything to fall apart. Women may take time out for things like maternity leave or to care for aging parents, and these gaps shouldn’t be seen as liabilities. In fact, they bring valuable skills like negotiation, time management, and conflict resolution.”
One of the strengths of Women in Exhibitions lies in its ability to collaborate with other organisations, as the challenges around gender disparity are too vast for any single entity to address alone: “There’s strength in collaboration,” Caroline says, noting that organisations like Pregnant Then Screwed and Flex Appeal are doing incredible work to promote flexible working policies. “We are all working towards a similar goal, and by collaborating, we can have a bigger impact.”
Looking ahead, Caroline is excited about the opportunities to influence industry-wide change: “We’re planning a leadership dinner in April where leaders from our member companies will come together to discuss gender diversity in the workplace. The aim is to identify trends and explore how diversity can lead to better business outcomes.”