CEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events'

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Claire Drakeley from the University of Northampton, whose work is reshaping how we understand decision-making in live event delivery. Drawing on her extensive industry experience and doctoral research, Claire explores the psychology and complexity behind real-time decisions made under pressure—where outcomes can impact safety, reputation, and the very fabric of the event industry. Rather than relying on instinct or experience alone, Claire is developing a new framework designed to make event decisions more transparent, accountable, and robust. We discuss why event decision-making has remained an under-researched area, the limitations of traditional models, and the importance of agility, simulation-based training, and ecological rationality. Whether you’re on the ground at a major venue, managing stakeholder expectations, or developing future policy, this conversation provides timely insights into building more professionalised and resilient decision-making practices across the events sector.