our team.
Olivia McLean & Berna Ucel
Dedicating many years to the industry and having worked together, successfully delivering a number of internationally recognised events, Berna & Olivia created MiH Major Events.
OLIVIA
As an accomplished major event professional, Olivia has a wealth of operational management and multi-project experience.
Olivia's ability to collaborate and communicate effectively, along with her deep understanding of the unique needs of each project, allows her to adapt her approach to meet the specific requirements of each client. Her strong leadership skills, combined with her experience in team management, supplier and stakeholder management, site management, and operational oversight, make her a valuable asset to clients across the globe.
As the Operations Advisor for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, this role allowed her to bring her problem-solving skills and operational expertise to the forefront, helping to deliver a world-class event. With valuable experience in major sporting events including UCI Cycling World Championships, Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014, London 2012 and The Great North Run.
Her experience extends to the arts and entertainment sector as well, having worked with the BBC at the Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival itself, showcasing her adaptability and ability to deliver tailored solutions across different types of events.
“Olivia our Deputy Head of City Readiness supported the hugely successful Host City programme at Birmingham City Council. Working closely with Berna, Head of City Readiness, ensuring the smooth delivery of the Queens Baton Relay, Road Events planning, Venue Integration of Smithfield and Sutton Park. Olivia was a key member of the senior leadership team during the delivery of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022”
BERNA
Berna is a seasoned professional in the mega and major events industry, boasting an impressive track record of orchestrating globally renowned event operations.
With a diverse career that has seen her excel in various key roles, Berna has left her mark on events such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, First European Games in 2015, WorldSkills UK Live, and Royal Ascot.
Her journey in the world of event operations and management has taken her through positions in Venue Management, Host City operations, Ceremonies Production, and Brand Placement across venues and cities. This extensive experience has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to make mega and major events operate with excellence.
In 2019, Berna took on a pivotal role with the Host City Birmingham ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her leadership was instrumental in guiding a diverse team of council staff, consultants, and contractors to fulfil the Cities’ commitments.
Berna offers a set of leadership skills, that deliver complex and challenging projects. While focusing on the longer-term strategic goals the detail does not escape when planning and problem solving, always aiming to achieve high standards.
“Berna is an accomplished events professional capable of leading and managing complex programmes and delivering outstanding results. Berna’s calm approach and ability to synthesise multiple viewpoints and create an integrated plan was fully demonstrated on this project. Berna’s application and work ethics shine through and resulted in a City operation that was outstanding.”
