Each week, we will focus on a StandOut individual who has been extraordinary within the events industry. This week it is David Humphreys, director at Green Circle Solutions.

How did you get into the events industry? Where has your career taken you and what roles have you enjoyed?

Having become chartered as a civil engineer I spent ten years in mainstream construction, building roads, bridges, jetties and sewage works, then I saw a project management role that promised to travel the world. I subsequently worked up from project manager to operations director at GES, formerly SDD Exhibitions, with responsibility for building complex exhibition projects on six continents, and generated a huge carbon footprint!

I have always been passionate about sustainability and the environment and decided to put that to use during the pandemic becoming qualified with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and subsequently founded Green Circle Solutions, my own sustainability consultancy.

What is it about your job that you love doing?

In the “olden days” as a project manager, it was the can do attitude of all involved and the intense pressure and collaboration that comes with an exhibition build that motivated me. Not to mention delivering some very cool projects in conjunction with some very cool designers. Now as GCS there is the daily excitement of running a business, and the hope that our output is actually doing some good.

What’s been the stand out moment of your career so far?

Over 25 years of exhibition project builds I would say having semi-permanent legacy structures at Singapore, Farnborough and Dubai air shows is high on the list. Now as GCS, we have many long-term clients who are genuinely making great strides with their sustainability progress and we can be proud to have driven that positive influence.

What’s been your biggest achievement? Equally, what have you done that you can now look back on and cringe?

As GCS, the development of our suite of online carbon calculators stands out as a huge achievement, and one that is continually evolving to be ever more tuned to our customer and the industry needs.

There are many cringe worthy moments on site with clients and contractors, but probably poking myself in the eye with a straw from a gin and tonic at a high level client dinner causing me temporary blindness and great hilarity to everyone else is a winner.

What key pieces of advice would you give to someone starting in events?

Roll your sleeves up and get stuck in! It’s a can do industry and the show will open whether you are ready or not. The right kind of person will thrive under the pressure, camaraderie and the end result of a successful event.

What career goals do you have and where do you see yourself heading? For example, is there an event that you would love to work on but haven’t?

Ultimately into the sunset 😊 but for the foreseeable, it’s all about consolidating Green Circle Solutions and trying to drive some meaningful change across the industry . No preferred event as such but the bigger the better so we can create the most influence.

Nominate your #EventProf of the week or sponsor an #EventProf and align your brand with the best in the industry by emailing marketing@standoutmagazine.co.uk