An event management dream come true

From UTS to an event management career 

Learning the tools of her trade at one of Australia’s most significant event venues was beyond Emily’s wildest expectations as a graduate. She’d always wanted to work at the top of her industry, but even she didn’t expect to find herself at ICC Sydney so early in her career.

Her ability to operate effectively in such a fast-paced environment is a testament to the teaching and content of the UTS Bachelor of Management degree and its major in Events. The degree, which is delivered by the acclaimed UTS Business School, equips students with a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that mirror the realities of real-world event production.

Alongside classroom learning on topics like risk management, environmental sustainability, legal issues and social impact, students are challenged to bring their learning to life through capstone projects and internships.

“In the final semester, I did a subject called Event Creation Lab, and we were asked to put on an online event that raised money for charity,” Emily says.

“My group picked beach cleanup organisation Take Three for the Sea. Our event had a few different components, including a trivia competition, an arts and crafts session and a raffle with donated prizes.

“I really learnt to collaborate, be confident and step out of my comfort zone. Having that experience at university really prepared me for the future.”

Beyond formal assessments, the UTS Business School’s extensive professional networks can also connect students to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. For Emily, a one-day paid ushering job that was advertised to UTS students turned into a six-month industry internship that helped consolidate her skills.

According to ICC Sydney’s Chief People Officer Luke Fleming, this mix of theoretical and practical competencies and industry connectivity has been key to Emily’s progression through the graduate program.

“This is a very large, very productive venue, so being able to scale that and understand the space that we’re working with requires students to arrive with a good knowledge and skills base from UTS, and then we build on that foundation,” Luke says.

“It’s one thing to know what to do; it’s a different thing to be able to put that into practice. If Emily didn’t have the practical experience when she got here, it would be a much steeper learning curve.”

Leading the next generation 

On top of managing the challenges and opportunities of her burgeoning career, as the inaugural ICC Sydney Event Management Graduate Program participant, Emily has carried the weight of blazing a trail for future UTS alumni.

On that front, at least, she can exhale: her achievements to date, coupled with a growing realisation within ICC Sydney of the countless ways in which the program benefits the events sector, means that it’s already set to grow.

“Our focus is on pipelining talent, not only for this venue and for our organisation but also for the industry. We want to grow the future generation of event professionals and ensure that graduates that come through our program have a long, sustained career,” Luke says.

“As our first graduate, Emily has been exceptional. Her contributions and the program itself have been that successful that as of 2026, we’ll be taking two graduates every year.”

Now, Emily can focus on enjoying the remaining year of the graduate program and on following in the footsteps of her event organiser mum. She’s reflecting on everything she’s achieved on her journey so far.

“I think it’s really cool to take a step back and see what I’ve done, especially if it’s working on a large-scale event that had a really big impact,” she says.

“I find it really exciting to be able to say, ‘I did that.’”