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Claire is Course Leader for the BA(Hons) Events Management and BA(Hons) Hospitality Management courses at the University of Northampton and the Deputy Head of School for the School of Marketing and Hospitality Management.  Her current teaching covers risk management for events, contemporary issues, diversity & inclusion, event strategy development, and sustainable event management.

Claire joined the University from English National Ballet (ENB) where she was Head of Enterprises & Events, leading the set up and operations of all commercial functions of the company. She also led the development and delivery of all event activity across the company including the opening of their new building, opening nights, Royal visits, and fundraising Galas.  Prior to ENB, Claire founded and led Mackerel Sky Events, delivering a vast range of event projects including Agile on the Beach, City of Lights, BBC Blast, and Bloodhound SSC. Claire also previously rescued the professional ice hockey club, MK Lightning, and led the organisation for 3 years.

Outside of UON, Claire is co-Director of 80% Awesome exploring the application of Agile practice to real life and living a life of sustainable awesome! She also presents and consults with various organisations and businesses including the British Science Festival, Imperial War Museum and Sport England. She is a member of the Practitioner Board for the Centre for Events and Festivals and Chair of the Association for Event Management Education Research Special Interest Group.

Claire holds a BSc(Hons) Mathematics and an MBA and is working on several research projects around Agile event management practice and applied game theory, including her PhD focusing on decision making in events management. Her research seeks to understand how event managers make those difficult on-event decisions and create a framework of good practice. She is a published author with texts on virtual events management, events mis-management, and contemporary issues.

In her active research, she is leading several knowledge exchange projects in collaboration with other academics, businesses, and community organisations, exploring public safety, regional events strategy and simulation pedagogy.

  • LEI1034 – Business Practice for Hospitality, Events and Tourism
  • LEI1035 – Live Project
  • LEI2006 – Risk Management for Events
  • LEI2031 – Contemporary Issues for Events
  • LEI2032 – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion for Events and Tourism
  • LEI3012 – Events and Sustainability

Project Leadership:

  • Operation Nexus + – Large scale simulation event in collaboration with Silverstone Circuits with students from Events, Tourism, Hospitality, Marketing and Criminal Justice.
  • Protecting People, Strengthening Places – Regional collaboration project to develop shared approaches for compliance with Martyn’s Law and wider good practice in safety management across retail, events, tourism, hospitality and public space.
  • Northamptonshire Events Strategy – in collaboration with local authorities, developing an events strategy and forward plan that is embedded in community interests and designed to optimise the positive impact of event activity.

Drakeley, C. (Editor) & Brown, T. (Editor), Contemporary Issues in Events 2 May 2025, Goodfellow Publishers. 244 p. (Events Management Theory and Methods)

Drakeley, C., Garlick, A., Kerr, G. & Radcliffe, K., Is there a doctor in the house? Addressing the challenges of medical provision for events 2 May 2025, Contemporary Issues in Events. Drakeley, C. & Brown, T. (eds.). Goodfellow Publishers, 16 p.

Jordan, F., Reic, I. & Drakeley, C., Building and Influencing Inclusive Culture at the University of Northampton 7 Mar 2024, Advance HE

Brown, T. & Drakeley, C., Designing the virtual and hybrid event experience 1 Apr 2023, Cases for Event Management and Event Tourism. Getz, D. & Ziakas, V. (eds.). Goodfellow Publishers, p. 29-31 3 p. (Events Management Theory and Methods Series).

Brown, T. & Drakeley, C., From Pixels to Possibilities: Innovations within Virtual and Hybrid Events5 Aug 2023, Virtual Events Management. Drakeley, C. & Brown, T. (eds.). Goodfellow Publishers, p. 1-25 24 p.

Brown, T. & Drakeley, C., Lessons learned and looking ahead: the potential of virtual and hybrid Events 5 Aug 2023, Virtual Events Management. Drakeley, C. & Brown, T. (eds.). Goodfellow Publishers, p. 228-238 10 p.

Drakeley, C. & Brown, T., Virtual Events Management: Theory and Methods for Event Management and Tourism Aug 2023, Goodfellow Publishers.

Drakeley, C., Managing Event Stakeholders: Expect the unexpected 1 May 2022, Events Mismanagement. Brown, T. (ed.). Goodfellow Publishers, p. 45-75 31 p.

 Drakeley, C. & Brown, T., Safety In Numbers: the challenges of managing free-to-attend events 1 May 2022, Events MisManagement. Goodfellow Publishers, p. 105-136 32 p.

Drakeley, C. & Reic, I.,  A Brave New World: The impact of Covid-19 on events and higher education 1 Jan 2021, University of Northampton. 15 p.

Find Claire Drakeley on Pure