Gemma Allen

2013 Sports Management Graduate

Consumer Business and Events Assistant, Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Club

What is your current role and outline your professional experience?

I am currently working for the Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Club as a Consumer Business and Events Assistant. During the season this involves being the frontline for customer service, managing the delivery of membership packs, organising member activities during Match Days and selling tickets. During the off season my role focuses on membership renewals and analysing data to improve our customer service and generate higher profits.

During my time at ICMS I worked for Australian Rugby Union as Membership and Ticketing Assistant, Match Day Assistant for Waratahs Rugby Union and Social Media Coordinator for Australian Baseball League at the 2013 Asia Baseball Series in Taiwan.

What career achievements are you especially proud of?

Working for Australian Baseball League (ABL) as a Social Media Coordinator in Taiwan has been my biggest career highlight. I worked alongside incredible professionals from ABL and Canberra Cavalry who taught me a lot about sports media and baseball. The experience was unique, staying with the team in a five-star hotel whilst travelling to sports venues each day on a tight and busy schedule. An Australian team had never won a game at the Asia Series before but against all odds, Canberra took home the title. The journey of this victory I shared with them in Taiwan is something I’ll never forget.

How has your ICMS undergraduate degree contributed to you achieving your professional goals?

My sports lecturers always encouraged me to begin networking early within the industry. This inspired me to start an internship with Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and volunteer for every sports event possible.

My industry experience working in Membership and Ticketing at the ARU made it easier to gain a similar role at the Wests Tigers within months of graduating. I was offered the role by the CEO Grant Major who was once my lecturer at ICMS. He was seeking additional staff within this department and remembered I had experience from ARU. I was able to transition into full-time work quickly as it was a role and industry I was familiar with.

What were the major factors contributing to your decision to study at ICMS?

• Location – Manly is a beautiful part of the world and close to where I live.
• Industry training – ICMS has some great contacts in sport which I knew would become beneficial.
• Fast track study – Most courses take four years to complete with long holiday breaks. I preferred to fast track my course and be more productive with my time.

Tell us about your industry training placement experience

I worked at the Australian Rugby Union as a Membership and Ticketing Assistant. I gained experience in customer relations management, events and fan engagement. I handled customer enquiries via phone and email, and processed memberships and delegated tickets. I also assisted at Wallaby Fan Days and Rugby 7’s tournaments in various roles such as running information to the communications department and making sure the day runs strictly to schedule, for example managing the location of players.

What were the highlights during your time at ICMS?

• Australian Baseball League Asia Baseball Series Tour – I was selected as the ICMS representative as a Social Media Coordinator
• Industry training with Australian Rugby Union and Waratahs Rugby Union

What advice would you give to someone considering study at ICMS?

Gain as much work experience as you can within your chosen industry. This allows your studies to be more enjoyable and makes graduating less daunting.