about SBAC > sbac at work > recruitment and secondment > people who work in SBAC > Gen Richards

Background

I was born and educated in South Africa and have lived in London since 1995. A graduate in Public Relations & Journalism, I joined SBAC in 2005, after 10 years in the Central London property sector.

I originally applied for a different position within SBAC, but now that I am in market development could not imagine working elsewhere! SBAC's project teams work across a matrix system (where people can work across project teams according to their own personal strengths and the company's needs), and originally I worked in membership services before moving into market development.

Building on previously-learned skills, I found that I had an aptitude for organising events and exhibitions and since moving into the team full- time I have organised two SBAC Quality Conferences, the 2006 SBAC Annual Conference and coordinated UK Pavilions at Aeromart in 2006 & Aero India and Australia International Airshow in 2007. I was also part of the team that coordinated the SBAC events and presence at the Farnborough International Airshow 2006.

I enjoy working on different events and juggling my work-load as deadlines approach; and any stress that comes with the nature of the job vanishes when an event (conference, mission or exhibition) goes smoothly and our members are happy with the service we have provided and have found the event to be a worthwhile opportunity to win new business.

And, as I am a freelance writer and amateur photographer, having the opportunity to travel around the world as part of my job almost seems almost too good to be true!


Roles and responsibilities

Even now that I work in market development full time, I still have a dual role in that I act as a new business adviser in helping UK companies to win new business overseas when coordinating and attending overseas missions (for both SBAC & BAG); and as an exhibition manger when coordinating the UK presence at international airshows (for SBAC). My role is member-facing and I interface, both on the telephone and in person, with SBAC member and non-member companies on a daily basis.

Current work

Coordination of the UK pavilion at:

2007 Exhibitions

• Paris Airshow
• Asian Aerospace, Hong Kong
• Aerosolutions, Bordeaux

2008 Exhibitions

• Singapore Airshow 2008
• Japan Aerospace 2008

Coordination of the following missions:

2007 Missions

• Aerospace Sector mission to Aero India (February 2007)
• UKTI & BAG Airport Sector Seminar Mission to Moscow (May 2007)
• BAG Seminar in India (October 2007)