The Event Supplier and Services Association, the trade body representing the UK’s leading contractors, suppliers and service providers in the events industry, announces Rob Brackstone as its new Chair and Alexandra Bailey as Vice Chair.
Rob succeeds Marija Erzen, who has served as Chair with distinction, guiding the association through a transformative period marked by resilience, growth and increased influence.
With a career spanning over two decades, Rob Brackstone is the Managing Director of ESM Ltd, a company specialising in the design and build of solutions for live events. Since joining ESSA’s board in 2021, Rob has been instrumental in cultivating a stronger sense of community among members, championing collaboration and highlighting the critical role of event suppliers and services in driving economic growth.
On his appointment, Rob said: “I’m honoured to step into the role of Chair and build on the great strides we have made in strengthening our accreditations, professional standards and collective voice. Collaboration will be key as we navigate shared challenges, particularly in sustainability and in creating an even more unified approach across organisers, venues and contractors.
In addition to continuing to lead our industry, my vision is for ESSA to gain even greater external recognition driven by member innovation and our exciting initiatives such as our mentoring scheme. These are exciting times, and I’m ready to work together with our members to shape a stronger, more resilient industry for the future.”
Supporting Rob is Alexandra Bailey, co-founder of Creative8, which specialises in exhibition stand design and build. With an acute understanding of the challenges faced by small businesses and stand contractors, Alexandra brings a wealth of experience to her role as Vice Chair.
On her new role, Alexandra commented: “I take immense pride in being part of this vibrant and creative industry and, in my role as Vice Chair, I am dedicated to supporting our members and ensuring that ESSA remains a leading force in the sector. Our membership includes many individuals, sole traders and small businesses very like myself, and I'm passionate about increasing ESSA’s value to their voices and harnessing the power of our collective strength.”
Welcoming the new appointments, ESSA Director Andrew Harrison said: “Through their time on the ESSA board to date, Rob and Alex have already demonstrated unwavering commitment to ESSA and the greater good of our industry. I’ve no doubt that their combined skillsets will play a pivotal role in advancing the association’s mission to create a more cohesive, collaborative and thriving community of event suppliers and service providers. I’m excited to see where they’ll take us.”
The association extends its gratitude to outgoing Chair Marija Erzen for her unwavering dedication and leadership. Under her tenure, ESSA achieved several milestones, including an increased presence within the Government and the launch of initiatives that have solidified our position as a vital voice for the UK events industry.
