Club Liverpool, the city region’s ambassador programme, welcomed a new Chair as Karen Brady from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine took the post.
Club Liverpool is a powerful network of influential ambassadors passionate about bringing world class conferences and events to Liverpool and showcasing the very best the city has to offer to associations and organisations across the globe.
At a networking event at RCP at The Spine, Colin Sinclair stepped down after three years at the helm. Under his stewardship, ambassadors had worked to bring 26 conferences with a total economic value of £40m.
From her experience working in the city’s higher education sector, Karen Brady is already very familiar with the power of the Liverpool brand in attracting conferences and events. She joined Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in 2016 as its first Director of Fundraising, with responsibility for developing and implementing a new fundraising strategy and campaign for LSTM’s 125th anniversary in 2023. In addition to her role as Director of Fundraising, Karen is also the Operations Lead for HiVE (Health Innovation in a Virtual Environment). Prior to joining LSTM, Karen spent nine years at the University of Liverpool, initially as Head of Alumni Relations and later becoming Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Relations. Before this, she worked in corporate and private events for Heathcotes Outside.
Brady said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Chair of Club Liverpool. Our city region has so much to offer and the team at Club Liverpool has worked hard not just to promote Liverpool as a world-class conference destination, but in developing this sector-leading conference ambassador programme. I am excited to work with them to grow this network and support efforts to attract new conferences and events to benefit our region’s economy.”
Jane Fawley, Club Liverpool Programme Manager, said: “Karen joins ahead of one of the busiest years since Club Liverpool started. Many of the 20 conferences affected by the pandemic have been rescheduled for next year, which promises to be a bumper time for business tourism in the city.
“Ambassador-led events which have been confirmed over the next few years are forecast to have an economic impact in excess of £30m. However, there is a real challenge about filling the pipeline from 2023 onwards, largely due to the stasis the industry caused by Covid-19.
“As such, the network is urging people to bid for more events that could come to the city, and spread the word about Club Liverpool and the free support the team can offer.”
Club Liverpool supports ambassadors to bring events and conferences to venues across the region including the city’s largest convention centre ACC Liverpool.
Its 240 members are primarily in medical science and education, with half of all ambassadors coming from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University and a significant number from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
However the team is particularly keen to grow in other sectors, such as energy, technology and creative arts.