Exclusive Q&A w/ Shona ODonnell, Head of Events at GameOn

Can you tell us a little about your experience in the iGaming industry?

I’ve worked in the iGaming industry for almost two decades, primarily focusing on event management. In that time, I’ve been fortunate enough to help shape events for major players like iGaming Business, Clarion Events, and Better Collective.

This experience has allowed me to work closely with some of the industry’s biggest names and alongside some of the best event managers in the business. It has also given me a deep understanding and insight into the unique demands of event management from both client and organiser side, and I intend to bring all of this into my role at GameOn.

Can you tell us the story of how this new division came about?

I’ve been friends with Sarah and Andy Blackburn, the co-owners of GameOn, for many years and have often spoken about finding a way to work together. Sarah approached me last year, explaining how she had seen a huge surge in demand for events from her clients. We began exploring the idea of launching a dedicated events management division for GameOn, and the idea snowballed from there.

With Sarah and Andy’s ambition and vision, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just a passing idea. It was an exciting new chapter in the making – and one I knew I had to be part of. We’ve exchanged ideas back and forth over the last year, and we are now eager to get the ball rolling and bring some of these ideas to life.

What is it about GameOn that made working alongside them such an attractive prospect?

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve known Andy and Sarah for some time, and I admire their work, professionalism and the business they have built. We’ve worked together on several occasions, and I know it sounds cliche, but sometimes, in your career, you find yourself in the right place at the right time, and that is what has happened here

While there are people at the company who are no strangers to events, this new division is essentially uncharted territory, and I know I am the right person to help charter these waters. GameOn has never been a company that is afraid to take risks, and I’m excited to be a part of this journey.

Everyone at GameOn brings something a little different to the table; each team member has their own experiences and networks to utilise. From a personal and professional perspective, I am eager to tap into this wealth of knowledge and expertise while also presenting my ideas and discovering how much we can achieve together.

How will the events management division complement the existing PR services GameOn offer?

Sarah and Andy have compiled a fantastic team of PR  and marketing professionals at GameOn, and I believe the newly launched event management division will perfectly complement the company’s existing services.

Events are an incredibly powerful way for companies to build brand awareness, create relationships, and help businesses generate leads. The expertise of the existing PR team, combined with this, will allow GameOn to maximise its offering to clients and help them take their services to the next level.

Over the last two decades, events have taught me how important collaboration is to success. I will work closely with the PR and marketing teams to ensure our events align with clients’ overall communication strategies and branding requirements. I’ve no doubt that together, we can achieve exceptional results for all our clients.

What are the short- and long-term key objectives and goals for the events management service?

Honestly, the sky is the limit. We intentionally left the scope of the service very broad so that we could help support GameOn’s clients with all aspects of event management. We want to provide a comprehensive events service unrivalled anywhere else in the industry.

The industry is changing. Events are ubiquitous, and competition is strong. We want people to think about events strategy and communications and instantly think of GameOn. I’ve watched Sarah and Andy launch their new Fractional CMO Service in the last twelve months and have been incredibly impressed with how successfully it has taken off. I’m well aware of what this team is capable of, and I can not wait to see what this new adventure has in store for us all.