Event Director & Operational Lead

Event leadership for when getting it wrong is not an option.

Event Director. Former Metropolitan Police control room operator. Calm in the bit where everyone else starts talking faster.

Plan My Event
53.4808°N  2.2426°W   |   SE 0451 8923   |   ACTIVE
01

Most events don't fail because of one big mistake.

They fail because too many small things were never properly owned.

That's where I come in.

I step in early, build the plan properly, run the live day, and make sure there's always a plan B ready before anyone asks for it.

02
What I Do

Three things I do well

01

Design events people actually want to come back to

Not just "well organised". Properly thought through. Routes, timings, people flow, comms, the lot. Built so it works in the real world, not just on paper.

02

Take race day off your shoulders

I run the live operation so you don't have to juggle radios, problems, and ten people asking different questions at the same time. You get decisions made, not panic shared around.

03

Keep things steady when the plan changes

Because it always does. Weather shifts, timings slip, volunteers go missing, someone forgets the barrier plan. I deal with it so it doesn't become your headline.

03
Why Me

I don't just plan events.

I've sat inside the control rooms where decisions are made under pressure, where timing matters, and where calm thinking wins the day.

I understand how events behave when they are under stress, not just when they are rehearsed.

And yes, I will notice the tiny things that turn into big problems later. That's just how my brain is wired.

  • APolicing and public safety environments
  • BNational scale operations and exercises
  • CMass participation sport events
  • DMulti stakeholder, high visibility delivery
04
How I Work

Most organisers bring me in 3 to 6 months before race day.

Not because I need that long to "do my bit", but because good events are decided early. After that, it becomes damage control dressed up as planning.

I only take on a limited number of events each season so I can stay close to every detail that matters.

05
Services

What I offer

S1

Event build

Turn your idea into something that actually works on the ground. Routes, logistics, staffing, timings, comms, risk thinking, all joined up so it behaves on the day.

S2

Event delivery

Live control of the event. One point of decision making. Clear comms. Calm execution. Problems handled before they become visible.

S3

Operational oversight

For organisers who have a team but need experienced eyes on the plan. I plug in, spot gaps early, and make sure nothing important gets missed.

06
Nicola Harrington
About
TQ 3103 8042  •  Event Director

I run and cycle. Not for branding. Just because I like events where the only thing you can control is how well you prepared.

I've spent 20+ years delivering events across multi-agency emergency exercises, public safety operations, community partnerships and large-scale outdoor events. The kind where something always needs a decision made quickly and quietly.

That mix is what shaped how I work. Calm planning. Fast thinking. No drama when things shift.

Let's Talk
08
Contact

If your event is getting bigger, more visible, or simply more important than it used to be, this is usually the point where bringing in experienced operational leadership changes everything.

Not later. Before it gets expensive.

Tell me what's keeping you awake about your event.

Or just say hello. We can work out whether it's a fit from there.

hello@nicolaharrington.co.uk Let's make race day boring