Sarah Storie-Pugh, founder member of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) 25 years ago, received the association’s first ever Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual conference gala dinner at St Paul's Cathedral yesterday.

Storie-Pugh told the audience that her time developing her professional conference organising agency Concorde Services may have been hard work, but added: “As an industry to work in, you can’t beat this!”

Other awards were presented to Catrina Foley of MCI Glasgow (‘One to Watch’), and Annie Metcalfe of Leeds Met University (Academic Excellence in Event Management).

ABPCO also raised more than £1,100 for event industry charity Meetings Industry Meeting Needs with a table raffle at the dinner.

Pictured (left to right): Michael Foreman, ABPCO chairman and managing director of Kenes UK, Sarah Storie-Pugh and Jennifer Jenkins, ABPCO vice-chair and managing director of MCI UK