about ella

I grew up in the small village of Corfe Castle, Dorset, where ambition and hard work were part of everyday life. My parents owned a hotel in the village, and watching them work relentlessly from a young age had a lasting impact on me and my two sisters. We were always encouraged to try everything, challenge ourselves, and figure out what we genuinely enjoyed rather than following a fixed path.

I started working early, washing dishes for some extra pocket money, before moving into reception and then into the events side of my family’s hotel. Helping the team with weddings and corporate functions was my first real introduction to events, and it’s where my interest in creating experiences for people really began. That interest followed me to Oxford Brookes University, where I studied and also became Social Secretary for the hockey club. Organising socials and events for a large group of students confirmed how much I enjoyed bringing people together and creating memorable experiences.

After graduating, I spent time travelling through South America and Southeast Asia, which had a big influence on how I see the world. Experiencing different cultures, languages, and ways of life made me want a career that allowed me to experience weird and wonderful parts of the world!

That led me into my first role in London at Gumball 3000, where I’ve spent the past five years growing from Events Assistant to Head of Events, leading a team of five. During that time, I’ve helped scale the events side of the business from smaller car displays into large-scale, multi-country productions blending cars, music, sport, and culture. I’ve worked across 35+ countries, delivered events in more than 25, and collaborated with governments, global brands, agencies, and hotels to create high-impact experiences for a global UHNW audience.