Joe Blackman

Joe Blackman
Born 6 August 1984
Cardiff, Wales
Residence Richmond, Surrey, England
Nationality British
Occupation Entrepreneur, event manager
Political party
 None

Joe Blackman is a serial entrepreneur[1] and CEO of Collection 26, a celebrity event planning and design company.[1][2] He sits as a Magistrate in Westminster Magistrates Court. Blackman previously sat in Cardiff Magistrates Court.[3] He organises events for high-profile clients such as the Abu Dhabi royal family, 50 Cent and The Killers.[1][4]

Event Planning

Blackman began planning events when he was 13 years old, helping out on events at a local community centre before starting his first business while in university[1][5][6] studying a BA degree in Stage Management at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003 and 2004. He began planning events on a freelance basis during this time. At the age of 20, he travelled to Qatar to help organise the 15th Asian Games for the International Olympics Committee.[3][5][6][7]

In 2005, Blackman founded Collection 26, an event-planning company.[1][5] He was 20 years old.[4][8] Venture Wales, a business-support project of the Welsh government, supported Blackman's efforts with business advice.[4][8]

Blackman's plans parties and weddings for royalty, celebrities, and corporate customers.[1][4][4][4][5][6][6][8][9] Following successful events in Abu Dhabi, he expanded Collection 26 to service customers in the Middle East in 2010.[4][6][9]

Collection 26 has organised Africa Oye, the UK's largest African festival, every year since 2006.[10]

Collection 26 has offices in Cardiff and London.[11]

Education and recognition

Blackman has a Master's degree in Business Administration and is qualified in health and safety management by NEBOSH. He lectures part-time for an BA(Hons) Events Management degree course at the Cardiff Metropolitan University and has previous lectured at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts on the Theatre and Performance Technology BA course.[6]

In 2010 Blackman was honoured as an IoD (Institute of Directors) Young Director of the Year at a ceremony at the Lancaster London hotel.[12][13]

Magistrate Service

Blackman became a magistrate, or Justice of the Peace, in Cardiff, Wales in 2008.[3][6] At the age of 23, he was the youngest magistrate on the Cardiff bench, and one of the youngest in the UK[3]

As of 2009 Blackman sits as a justice in Westminster Magistrates Court in Central London.[3][14]

Blackman applied to be a magistrate after talking to a friend who already served on the bench. He left the magistracy in 2014.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Rebecca Burn-Callander (2 May 2014). "A-list party planner bucks recession". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Joe Blackman (29 November 2013). "The Perfect Winter Wedding". Wedding Magazine. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Sally Williams (1 February 2008). "A Benchmark Case for His Generation". Wales Online. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Adam Perry (10 May 2010). "Green Ant Creative Events Increases turnover 20 Fold in 5 Years!". Event Industry News. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Hattie Williams (23 March 2014). "How I made it: Joe Blackman, founder of Collection 26". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Tom Hall (16 February 2010). "My Event World- Joe Blackman". Event Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  7. ↑ Joe Blackman. "Joe Blackman". Joe Blackman. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Welsh Events Management Company Enjoys Twenty-fold Increase in Turnover". Venture Wales. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Amy Duff. "Joe Blackman, Founder, Green Ant Events". Director Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  10. ↑ Tom Hall (15 April 2010). "Green Ant to Produce 'UK's Largest' African Festival". Event Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  11. ↑ Amy Duff (January 2011). "Rolling the Dice". Director Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  12. ↑ Andy Pearson (10 February 2011). "Big Name Sponsors for IoD Wales Awards". Effective Communication. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "Sheffield Forgemasters CEO Wins IoD Overall Director of the Year". IoD. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede". Parliament. Retrieved 1 November 2012.

External links