Rachel Azzopardi
Job title: Head of Catering & Events
How long have you been at Regent’s and what do you love most about your job?
Too long!! Nearly 9 years, but had 2 roles within that time. I love the variety of the job – no two days are ever the same, which is fab. Seeing the summer events on the lawns is always fun and seeing clients leaving very happy is the most rewarding feeling.
What’s the best event you’ve ever helped put on at Regent’s?
It has to be the LFW Topshop event – so many different suppliers to deal with and of course the ‘fashionistas’ that was an experience! They certainly had high expectations but the whole event was great fun (not least the star spotting – Anna Wintour, Cara Delavigne, Kate Moss etc…), a huge challenge but really rewarding.
What’s the most elaborate/unusual request a client has ever come to you with?
The petting zoo and snakes were interesting…
Have you ever saved an event from near disaster? Tell us the story…
A client turned up one day without a booking but had 30 people arriving within the next half hour. Luckily we had a room available, galvanised the whole team and had the room set up within 10 minutes and catering organised within 15. They were very grateful.
Tell us one thing your colleagues and clients probably don’t know about you?
I have a phobia of snakes. I can’t even see a picture of one I get that freaked out.
What is your biggest, professional or personal, claim to fame?
I met Muhammed Ali, which was pretty awesome!
Rafael Azzopardi
Job title: External Events Manager
How long have you been at Regent’s and what do you love most about your job?
I’ve been involved with the Events here since 2008 and permanently on the team since 2015. I like weddings the best. Making a couples’ day really special does give me a lot of satisfaction.
What’s the most elaborate/unusual request a client has ever come to you with?
We had a request for a stand alone door with a frame for a theatre company. It was an essential prop for the production but the client hadn’t checked before the day whether we had one or not. Luckily we did.
Have you ever saved an event from near disaster? Tell us the story…
When working for a government department I received a phone call at 11am to ask if everything was alright for the cocktail reception that evening at 5pm for 300 people including visiting ambassadors, Lords, MPs , cabinet ministers and a few celebrities. I pointed out that the gentlemen on the line had not responded to 5 emails, 5 phone calls and a visit to their office asking him to confirm whether the planned event was going ahead or not. We referred him to an email we had sent a month previously confirming that as he hadn’t responded to any of our various requests for confirmation we would be cancelling the enquiry and not supplying anything for him. He apologised profusely and asked if there was anything we could do as it would cause embarrassment for the government and cost him his job. I asked the long-suffering chef to produce canapés from his kitchen and neighbouring kitchens. I rang our flexible staffing agency and we delivered on time without the guy’s boss knowing.
Tell us one thing your colleagues and clients probably don’t know about you
I once swore in front of Diana, Princess of Wales.
What is your biggest, professional or personal, claim to fame?
I am a Maître de Sabrage.
Shareena Sattaur
Job title: Conferences & Events Coordinator
How long have you been at Regent’s and what do you love most about your job?
10 years. I’ve been very fortunate to work with great people at Regent’s. The Conferences and Events team are the most genuine, hard-working, fun people to work with.
What’s the best event you’ve ever helped put on at Regent’s?
The annual Graduation Ceremonies have played a big part in my working life. You never know who is going to be in attendance, from footballers, Paralympians and designers to high-profiled individuals and members of Royal Families.
What’s the most elaborate/unusual request a client has ever come to you with?
A graduate had ripped her tights and had asked for moisturiser to be ‘leg ready’ for her time to walk across the stage!
Tell us one thing your colleagues and clients probably don’t know about you
I love baking. And F1.
Esta Verzoviti
Job title: Conferences & Events Coordinator
How long have you been at Regent’s and what do you love most about your job?
I have been at Regent’s a little over a year now and what I love the most about my job is the events we host on the lawns. We are incredibly fortunate to work in such beautiful surroundings.
What’s the best event you’ve ever helped put on at Regent’s?
There have been too many for me to narrow it down, but I generally love organising corporate summer parties on our lawns.
What’s the most elaborate/unusual request a client has ever come to you with?
I once organised a fantasy medieval dinner for a client. It was very surreal seeing all the guests with costumes and horns coming out of their heads, walking the same corridors as our regular clients, dressed in normal clothes!
Tell us one thing your colleagues and clients probably don’t know about you
I was a professional show jumper back in Greece.
Valentina Andreoli
Job title: Conferences & Events Coordinator
How long have you been at Regent’s and what do you love most about your job?
My journey at Regent’s started not long ago and I am very excited and proud to be part of this beautiful and friendly team. I must admit, walking through the park and entering the campus every morning is such an amazing way to start the day.
What’s the best event you’ve ever helped put on at Regent’s?
Early to say but the most puzzling events I can think of organizing are the summer parties in our stunning York Lawns! I am ready to take anything that comes on board, just bring it on.
What’s the most elaborate/unusual request a client has ever come to you with?
A double decker bus was brought inside the venue together with a military truck! It was a challenging request and the event turned out fantastic!
Tell us one thing your colleagues and clients probably don’t know about you
One of my big passions is Archaeology, Egyptology is my favourite branch.
Elliott Dobbs
Job title: Internal Events Manager
How long have you been at Regent’s and what do you love most about your job?
I started here in the long hot summer of 2018. The thing I love most is the end to end execution aspect of the role, from discussing ideas at the initial stages of the event, through to being there on the day throughout the delivery process.
What’s the best event you’ve ever helped put on at Regent’s?
I would have to say our graduation ceremonies and receptions. We spend 12 months preparing for graduation and it’s hard work, but the most rewarding jobs always are.
What’s the most elaborate/unusual request a client has ever come to you with?
I was once asked for a cup of water by a guest at an event I was working at, not an unusual request until I realised it was for his pet iguana. It turns out iguanas can be quite sociable creatures.
Tell us one thing your colleagues and clients probably don’t know about you
I’ve been to Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
