6 mins read
Meet our team: The faces behind exceptional corporate events
At Venue Crew, our people are what make the difference. Every day, our event specialists work alongside clients as trusted advisors, helping them navigate venue sourcing with confidence while making the process feel effortless. But who are the people behind the emails, recommendations and great event ideas? We asked the team about what they love most about their roles, their event superpowers and the little things that help turn good events into exceptional ones.
Darcy Allen
What’s your role and what do you love most about it?
General Manager here at Venue Crew, I love that every day is different and we get to help businesses of all sizes with their events Australia-wide, all whilst bringing business to our amazing venue partners!
What’s one thing clients are always surprised you handle behind the scenes?
All of the venue tour bookings, scheduling and follow-up of site inspections!
What’s your superpower when it comes to events?
Venue expertise: I have grown to know our Venue Portfolio Australia-wide very well over the past six years and can recite suitable venue recommendations off the top of my head from a simple brief.
What makes a great venue experience in your opinion?
The food and beverage!
Coffee order?
Soy latte.
Ballroom, rooftop, warehouse or winery? Pick your dream event venue.
Ooooh rooftop!
Most memorable event moment?
One of my first corporate events I ever organised/coordinated: Brisbane Lions Football Club Hall of Fame Dinner.
If you could plan an event for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Carrie Bradshaw!
What’s your go-to way to unwind after a big event?
A relaxing morning on the couch with my go-to watch series of that time, and a strong coffee!
Fiona Parmley-Potter
What’s your role and what do you love most about it?
My role is Manager of Corporate Events. The people: we get to meet the most amazing clients and venue connections through what we do, and we work in an amazing sector where people really enjoy what they do as we get to create the fun, inspiring moments in our business world
What’s one thing clients are always surprised you handle behind the scenes?
The nitty-gritty back and forth that goes with finding venues, the emails, the calls. We take it all on so the focus is purely on the execution for our clients
What’s your superpower when it comes to events?
I’m a bit of a venue detective. I love uncovering hidden gems and finding creative options that clients might never have discovered themselves
What makes a great venue experience in your opinion?
The vibe. It’s the atmosphere, energy, and feeling a space creates that leaves a lasting impression on guests. A venue with the right vibe can elevate an event from simply well-executed to genuinely unforgettable.
Coffee order?
Dirty chai if I have a moment to sit or a classic latte with 1/2 sugar (gotta have a little sweetness!)
Ballroom, rooftop, warehouse or winery? Pick your dream event venue.
HARD question – again, very vibe-dependent, but for me, for a business celebration you can’t go wrong with a great rooftop.
Most memorable event moment?
Getting the opportunity to MC an event supplier conference personally but from an event I attended I would say the new trend of visual minutes/notes being drawn – as a visual person I found my engagement peak!
If you could plan an event for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Michelle and Barack Obama – I think they would be fascinating to plan an event for!
What’s your go-to way to unwind after a big event?
A team wind-down. Not too debrief, but to just soak in the epicness that was just executed and really take the time to enjoy the moment, as another event is not far around the corner usually.
Renee Falckh
What’s your role and what do you love most about it?
Head of Corporate. The variety of events and venues we get to work with; there is something new each day!
What’s one thing clients are always surprised you handle behind the scenes?
That we help them through every step, right through to contracting; we do the legwork for them.
What’s your superpower when it comes to events?
Understanding exactly what the client needs, listening to the event brief and recommending/sourcing the perfect venue. I make the clients feel heard and respected with every question.
What makes a great venue experience in your opinion?
Customer service, food and above all, the little details: the welcome notes and the extra care towards every guest.
Coffee order?
Small skinny latte, extra hot
Ballroom, rooftop, warehouse or winery? Pick your dream event venue.
Oh goodness, can I say all of them? Each venue style is the perfect background depending on the event I was planning.
If you could plan an event for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I have planned many large-scale events for top clients. I love my repeat clients. Those would be the ones I would like to plan events for; the ones that we have a relationship with are important to me.
What’s your go-to way to unwind after a big event?
Switching off and enjoying the peace and quiet of our stunning property in the Macedon Ranges
Ciara Coghill
What’s your role and what do you love most about it?
I love the fast-paced variety of this job, but the best part is easily the connections and building real relationships with my clients and venue partners.
What’s one thing clients are always surprised you handle behind the scenes?
The research phase! Clients love that I completely take over sourcing quotes and formal proposals. It saves them hours of scrolling and emailing so they can focus on their actual day jobs.
What’s your superpower when it comes to events?
Staying calm in the chaos. Whether a client has a last-minute, urgent event to pull off or throws me a complete 360 degree shift on their event brief, I don’t panic. I just pivot, re-strategise, and keep the process entirely stress-free for them.
What makes a great venue experience in your opinion?
It’s all about the people. Beautiful spaces speak for themselves, but it’s the venue staff, their responsiveness, hospitality, and willingness to collaborate that really make or break the experience.
Coffee order?
A skim flat white.
Ballroom, rooftop, warehouse or winery? Pick your dream event venue.
It is incredibly hard to say no to a winery! There is nothing better than a corporate retreat set against gorgeous vineyard views, wrapping up a productive day sharing a cheeky glass of wine with colleagues.
Most memorable event moment?
Planning my own wedding. It’s what first gave me a taste for the events world, and to this day, it still goes down as one of my absolute favourite days ever.
If you could plan an event for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Honestly, my daughter! I love helping global brands and high-profile clients, but being able to plan an event for my own family is the absolute best. Creating a magical, core-memory celebration for her would easily be my favourite project ever.
What’s your go-to way to unwind after a big event?
Heading outside and spending some quality time with my husband and daughter. It’s the absolute best way to reset and recharge!
Ready to plan your next corporate event?
Connect with one of our dedicated event specialists and discover how Venue Crew can help you find the perfect venue, save valuable time and deliver an exceptional event with confidence. Explore our complimentary venue sourcing service today.
