Laura Bryde
Twickenham,City of London
Summary
Senior Manager with extensive experience in higher education, having held academic and administrative roles in both the UK and internationally. Currently serving as a Senior Conference and Events Manager at a leading university, overseeing high-profile academic and corporate events. I serve as a representative on the Board of Governors at my institution and contribute to the Swim England Masters Working Group, focused on promoting inclusivity in Masters Swimming. Experienced in leading teams, managing complex projects, and driving initiatives that support institutional growth and community engagement.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Conferences and Events Manager
St Mary’s University
Twickenham, United Kingdom
02.2023 - 11.2024
- Managing a diverse portfolio of high-profile events, overseeing end-to-end logistics from strategic planning to execution, including hosting elite athletes, organising VIP lectures, concerts, high-level conferences, weddings, and large-scale film shoots. I am Skilled in venue coordination and delivering seamless, high-quality event experiences.
- Collaborating with legal teams for contract negotiations and leading business development initiatives to foster stakeholder relationships.
- Implementing marketing strategies and managing campaigns to promote events effectively and expand business outreach and increase revenue.
- Creating bespoke quotes, drafting and negotiating contracts with high-value clients.
- Generating detailed financial reports on revenue and income to drive profitability, ensuring client satisfaction, and support data-informed decision-making.
- Leading a high-performing team of events officers, fostering a collaborative environment and actively promoting staff development opportunities to enhance skills, engagement, and overall team performance.
Head of UK Student Recruitment
St Mary’s University
Twickenham, United Kingdom
02.2019 - 02.2024
- Led the UK student recruitment team, overseeing recruitment officers and the schools and colleges engagement team to drive effective outreach and maximise student enrollment.
- Directed all marketing communications, supervising the marketing and media teams, and developed an annual recruitment strategy to meet undergraduate and postgraduate application targets.
- Organised large-scale recruitment events and fostered partnerships with schools to strengthen outreach efforts and build prospective student relationships.
- Produced high-quality promotional materials to enhance brand visibility and appeal to prospective students.
- Actively participated in cross-functional committees to streamline recruitment efforts and align strategies across departments.
- Managed the recruitment budget, optimizing resource allocation to support key initiatives and maximize ROI.
- Utilised CRM data to evaluate engagement outcomes and continuously refine marketing and recruitment strategies for improved results.
Student Recruitment Manager
St. Mary’s University
Twickenham, United Kingdom
10.2017 - 02.2019
- Oversaw comprehensive recruitment efforts for undergraduate and postgraduate programs across the UK and EU, coordinating key events such as higher education fairs, school engagement activities, open days, taster sessions, and campus tours.
- Led a team of recruitment officers, providing support during peak recruitment periods and leveraging demographic data to identify trends and new growth opportunities.
- Developed and implemented recruitment strategies aligned with institutional KPIs and growth targets, ensuring efficient budget management and accurate cyclical forecasting.
- Collaborated closely with the Marketing and Communications team to design targeted campaigns and promotional materials throughout the academic cycle, enhancing outreach and engagement.
International Student Advisor
Kingston University
London, United Kingdom
01.2015 - 10.2017
- Advised international students on immigration and Home Office compliance issues, safeguarding Tier 4 visa applications and ensuring regulatory adherence.
- Conducted screening checks for all international applicants to confirm eligibility and compliance with Home Office requirements.
- Managed orientation and social events for new international students at the start of each academic cycle, promoting a smooth transition to university life.
- Organised visa and immigration workshops to provide students with essential guidance and resources.
- Provided ongoing academic and pastoral support to continuing students through one-on-one appointments, drop-in sessions, and small group tutorials.
Instructor
Zayed University
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
01.2009 - 12.2014
- Taught a diverse range of courses, designing and implementing innovative, interactive lessons to engage students and enhance learning outcomes.
- Administered and invigilated internal and external exams, marked test papers, and wrote detailed student reports to track academic progress.
- Contributed to the launch of the 'iPad Initiative,' organising and presenting workshops and events to promote mobile learning technologies.
- Managed outreach projects, including collaboration with the UAE military to support cadet education and enhance educational opportunities.
- Presented at academic conferences and actively participated in university committees to contribute to institutional development and innovation.
Education
CIM Certificate - Professional Digital Marketing
Chartered Institute of Marketing
Online 09.2021 - 06.2022
MA - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
University of London, Institute of Education
London 09.2006 - 03.2008
BA (Hons) - Sociology with Italian
University of Kent at Canterbury
Canterbury, Kent 09.1999 - 06.2003
Additional Experience
Swim England, Masters: Masters Working Group member
St Mary’s University, London: Board of Governors – non-academic staff member
St. Mary’s University, London: Resident Mentor
Kingston University, London: Pre-sessional English Lecturer
Birkbeck University, London: In-sessional English Lecturer
Kafetzopoulou Language School, Greece: English Language Teacher
Via Lingua Language School, Italy: English Language Teacher
ASA Level 2 Swimming Teacher: Free lance swim teacher & coach
Timeline
Conferences and Events Manager
St Mary’s University
02.2023 - 11.2024
CIM Certificate - Professional Digital Marketing
Chartered Institute of Marketing
09.2021 - 06.2022
Head of UK Student Recruitment
St Mary’s University
02.2019 - 02.2024
Student Recruitment Manager
St. Mary’s University
10.2017 - 02.2019
International Student Advisor
Kingston University
01.2015 - 10.2017
Instructor
Zayed University
01.2009 - 12.2014
MA - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
University of London, Institute of Education
09.2006 - 03.2008
BA (Hons) - Sociology with Italian
University of Kent at Canterbury
09.1999 - 06.2003
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