Tanya Magardie
SENIOR EVENTS MANAGER
Durban,KZN
Summary
An accomplished Senior Events Manager with 20 years’ professional working experience. My expertise lies in successfully managing events from inception to completion, establishing solid relationships with vendors and customers, and facilitating marketing and promotional efforts to maximize profits and attendance while ensuring seamless execution and participant satisfaction. Additionally, my established success in driving vendor negotiations and ensuring adherence to event budgets has prepared me to make a significant contribution to your company in this role.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Events Group Manager
Tsebo Solutions Group
05.2024 - Current
- Lead the conceptualization and execution of high-impact events from ideation through to post-event analysis, ensuring alignment with client vision and brand identity.
- Manage the full event lifecycle including strategy, planning, marketing, branding, logistics, and on-site coordination.
- Collaborate with marketing teams to develop integrated campaigns that drive event attendance, engagement, and brand visibility.
- Oversee the design and implementation of event branding, ensuring consistent and compelling visual identity across all touchpoints.
- Direct all logistical operations including venue sourcing, vendor management, catering, AV, décor, and staffing to ensure seamless delivery.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure satisfaction and repeat business.
- Monitor budgets and negotiate contracts to optimize cost-efficiency while maintaining high service standards.
- Analyze event performance metrics and produce detailed post-event reports to inform future improvements and strategic planning.
- Mentor and lead a team of event professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability.
- Present and sell tailored event solutions to clients across South Africa, effectively communicating the strategic value and impact of proposed event concepts. Engage with national stakeholders to secure buy-in, drive business growth, and position the company as a leader in innovative event delivery.
Events Manager
Thorburn Security
09.2023 - 05.2024
- Serving as the primary point of contact for clients, vendors, and all other parties involved in assigned events.
- Developing strong relationships with clients to ensure repeat business and referrals.
- Understand client objectives and develop creative proposals that meet or exceed expectations.
- Negotiating contracts with vendors and service providers to secure the best possible terms and pricing.
- Managing event budgets and tracking all expenses to ensure accuracy and adherence to budget constraints.
- Creating detailed event timelines and schedules to ensure all deadlines are met and all logistical details are accounted for.
- Overseeing on-site event management and execution, ensuring all elements are carried out according to plan.
- Handling post-event follow-up, including thank-you, surveys, and debriefs with clients and staff.
- Identifying opportunities for process improvements and making recommendations to senior management.
- Training and supervising junior event staff, providing guidance and mentorship as needed.
- Generating leads into exhibitions and events industry, targeting high potential clients participating in the exhibitions (Domestic as well as International).
- Scheduling appointments and to get maximum meetings done with the clients.
- Ensuring that payment time is made by the client after the completion of the project.
Events Manager
The Capital Zimbali Hotel and Resort
04.2023 - 09.2023
- Liaised with clients and coordinated their needs to ensure the successful execution of the function.
- Showed the client the various facilities available, advised and discussed the merits of the various options.
- Controlled provisional and confirmed function bookings.
- Updated the sheet and advised all departments once confirmation of the function was received.
- Ensured that all necessary requirements as per guests/group were ordered.
- Ensured that all payments were received before the event and afterwards according to arrangements.
- Ensured that all charges to the clients/organizers were accurate and allocated accordingly.
- Ensured that the rooming list was captured on the system with all the correct details.
Events Practitioner
CSIR
09.2022 - 03.2023
- Providing strategic support, advice, and assistance to the External Communication Manager on all events related projects.
- Project management events from inception to completion with an internal and external focus.
- Planning and executing events successfully and independently within allocated budgets and approved time frames.
- Procuring and arranging pre-event briefings with event suppliers and facility providers to ensure the smooth execution of events.
- Building and managing relationships with suppliers, stakeholders, planning committees and other internal support areas.
- Manage and monitoring the co-ordination of logistics for CSIR participation at strategic stakeholder events such as exhibitions and conferences as assigned by the Events Manager.
- External and Internal speaker coordination and management.
- External exhibitor coordination and management.
- Managing venues and attending the procurement of goods and services.
- Assisting in sourcing and appointing suitable service providers for requested services. This includes branding and promotional material; advertising space; entertainment, décor, etc.
- Facility tour planning and coordination, this includes assisting with the procurement of goods and services to ensure the smooth hosting of tours.
- Planning and coordinating Gala dinners.
- Preparing progress and status reports for EXCO.
- Ensure budget reconciliations and the processing of outstanding invoices.
- Producing a post event report for both clients and the unit.
Events and Travel Manager (Domestic and International)
African Tax Administration Forum
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Managed and built relationships with stakeholders.
- Managed and ensured the successful execution of events, conferences, functions etc.
- Onsite Event Management from concept, execution, and expenditure reconciliation.
- Managed contracts and relationships with suppliers.
- Continuously created new ideas and presented new offerings to stakeholders.
- Built and maintained good relationships with members and various partners.
- Managed brand placement, visibility and awareness at events.
- Led all aspects of event productions, including pre-production logistics planning, vendor selection, hiring, onsite execution, post-event wrap-up, budget allocation and reporting.
- Supported the marketing team with planning, implementing and monitoring marketing campaigns.
- Assisted with the production of marketing materials and collateral.
- Created and ensured adherence to production timelines.
- Handled all post event reports and meeting with relevant client and project managers for event close out reports.
- Managed the annual events budget.
- Project Management and Public Relations.
- Managed all internal and external travel arrangements for staff and members.
- GDS trained for internal systems.
Managing Director
Upcoming Events/Shereno Printers
01.2008 - 01.2016
- Project managed and oversaw the operations of events from inspection to completion.
- Recruiter and trained event staff members.
- Developed and implemented general event management policies.
- Oversaw the production process of an event.
- Managed various staff and LOC.
- Interacted with and maintained relationships with clients and suppliers/vendors.
- Controlled budgets and reported on expenditure.
- Evaluated the event’s success and submitted reports.
- Sourced and identified new business opportunities.
- Managed brand placement, visibility, and awareness at events.
- Led the planning and implementation of printing projects.
- Planned, scheduled and ensured adherence to project timelines.
- Planned and allocated resources.
- Managed project administration, including all documentation incl. Tenders, Contracts, and Invoicing.
- Clients: Auditor General South Africa, South Africa Revenue Services, Palama, NPA, South African Post Office, African Tax Administrative Forum.
Events Manager
SARS
01.2003 - 01.2008
- Managed internal and external events, monitored budgets and liaised with suppliers.
- Managed projects and compiled project plans.
- Arranged and managed all events including roadshows, exhibitions, launches and sporting events.
- Arranged and managed regional and national training.
- Controlled and ordered branding material/promotional items.
- Coordinated editorial/advertorial material and media schedules.
- Project managed Outreach Campaigns.
- Managed the office and made all international and domestic travel arrangements.
Education
High School Diploma -
Pretoria Technical College
Pretoria 04.2001 -
Skills
- Event Management
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Supplier & Vendor Relationship Management
- Procurement
- Supplier Sourcing & Selection Process
- Improvement
- Budget Management
- Communication
- Management Budget
References
Will be provided upon request.
Timeline
Events Group Manager
Tsebo Solutions Group
05.2024 - Current
Events Manager
Thorburn Security
09.2023 - 05.2024
Events Manager
The Capital Zimbali Hotel and Resort
04.2023 - 09.2023
Events Practitioner
CSIR
09.2022 - 03.2023
Events and Travel Manager (Domestic and International)
African Tax Administration Forum
01.2016 - 01.2022
Managing Director
Upcoming Events/Shereno Printers
01.2008 - 01.2016
Events Manager
SARS
01.2003 - 01.2008
High School Diploma -
Pretoria Technical College
04.2001 -