NEP is recognizing International Women’s Day all month long by celebrating women’s achievements in broadcasting and live events. Over the years, we have seen a rising movement of women taking on more roles in these industries and there are amazing professional opportunities and career paths for women. Today, we highlight Caroline Ramsay, Project Director of Major Events for NEP Australia, and Storm Cowle, Executive Assistant/Communications Officer for Mediatec Asia Pacific. We hope their stories will inspire more women to consider a career in broadcasting and live events. If you or someone you know is interested in applying to NEP, make sure to visit https://www.nepgroup.com/career/careers#openings to view all of our current openings.

About Caroline

Caroline Ramsay is currently Project Director of Major Events for NEP Australia and is responsible for planning and delivering the broadcast of major international events, along with creating and managing large teams of people and coordinating with a wide variety of third-party stakeholders, often across different countries and multiple NEP companies. She started out as a contractor for NEP on major events in 2012 and then joined NEP Australia’s team full-time in 2018. Caroline has had the ability to work on some of the biggest events in the world and strongly believes that, even in a technology-based business, people are the biggest asset. She received the Golden Olympic Rings award from Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2000 following the Sydney Olympics. The award goes to 100 people for their contribution to the ‘best games ever’!

1. What sparked you interest in the industry?

Wanting to work for the BBC.

2. What do you consider to be the most significant achievement(s) of your career so far?

Being responsible as Project Director for the Host Broadcast of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018. A special mention also goes to the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 being the closest I’ve come to a broadcasting miracle!

3. Can you see any signs that the historical gender imbalance in the industry may be starting to shift?

Sadly no. Until we have more females in leadership positions the gender imbalance will remain.

4. What is your advice for women who are looking to get into the industry?

Go for it! There are so many opportunities at all levels. I think the challenge is around making the industry visible and accessible to women in the first place. Once they can see and understand the nature of the business, that it is constantly evolving and offers exciting careers, we might start to see more women getting involved. I would love to see NEP leading the charge to move the dial.

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About Storm

Storm Cowle is the Executive Assistant/Communications Officer for Mediatec Asia Pacific, a company acquired by NEP in 2015. She has been in the Live Events industry for 25 years working in a range of roles from technician to project coordinator. She has been in her current role for the past five years, providing consultative support to the management team in communications, human resources, staff benefits and training. She was the top student in Film/TV Production Management in 2014 at Swinburne University and was a recipient of NEP’s Keith Andrews Core Values Award in 2017.

1. What sparked your interest in the industry?

The Zoo TV concert in 1993. I was just finishing high school and U2 toured the show at the time. It was nothing I had ever seen before and they reinvented the concert experience for me. I was literally star struck by the creativity in production, the use of screens and interactivity. I decided that one day I wanted to be a part of something like that, if not produce it! It was a dream of mine to turn my ideas and creativity into something that has impact and wow factor.

I started my career by working in a large Live Music venue in Perth, it was there my interest grew as I worked with, developed friendships with the production staff. I eventually got my start working as junior sound engineer, lighting technician, after I completed “Music Industry Skills” at TAFE.

2. What do you consider to be the most significant achievement(s) of your career so far?

Completion of a double degree in Business and Communications in 2020. It took me 8 years part-time, while working full time. Also working as project coordinator and part of the team that has delivered Australian Open Tennis as it has evolved and grown.

3. Can you see any signs that the historical gender imbalance in the industry may be starting to shift?

I think this is tough one; the industry itself is a very niche one and ours in particular is not put in the spotlight by its very nature… We are always doing our best not to be seen and not give away the magic of the show/live experience. I feel more needs to be done in schools and tertiary education where the technical roles in the events/broadcast industry are promoted as a viable career option. I personally never experienced any bias or discrimination out in the field, rather I have felt welcomed and respected for the choice I had made to work in a technical field. We are still seeing women gravitating toward administrative and operational roles in the industry, but factors such as having children combined with a lack of regularity in the schedule of work associated with field roles could be at play.

4. What is your advice for women who are looking to get into the industry?

Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you, you need to change. Ask for help when you need it and help others when they need it. Only work in a role for as long as you are enjoying it, it isn’t work when you are loving it.

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