Date & place of birth:
April 8 1974; Cosford, Staffordshire, UK.

Profession:
PR, Sponsorship & Marketing Manager for McKenzie Group Ltd - owners and operators of Shepherd's Bush Empire, Carling Academy venues in Brixton, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Islington, and Bar Academy sites in Birmingham and London.

What was your first professional job?:
I got a job at a PR firm and quickly worked towards being a regional publicist for Poole Edwards PR based in Wolverhampton. I was responsible for numerous regional press campaigns for major touring artists and lovely teen bands including Backstreet Boys and Peter Andre - happy days!

How did you end up working for the McKenzie Group?
Just over three years ago I joined WembleyTV, created by Ian Howard, who is also Chairman of McKenzie Group Ltd and promoters SJM Concerts, Metropolis Music, MCD and Wembley PLC. It was here I met John Northcote, MKG's Managing Director, and assisted with the PR launch of the Academy in Bristol (Nov 2001). The rest, as they say, is history and I moved across 18 months ago to become in-house publicist for MKG and its venues. It's been non-stop ever since.

What does the Group get right about venues that other management companies don't?
The McKenzie Group is a market leader that successfully combines a healthy live programme with excellent venues. MKG has a consistent strategy at moving forward and keeps up with trends in the industry and invests heavily in its staff and its facilities, both at front of house and in production. We strive to deliver the same excellent standards for our customers and industry clients across our entire venue portfolio. It's a dynamic and forward thinking company that's growing incredibly quickly so we're all looking forward to 2004 for more great venues and working together to develop the Academy brand.

What's your professional wish?
Wow, that's a tough one... the same for everyone I don't doubt: more pairs of hands, more heads, more hours in the day please!

If you could change one aspect of the live event industry, what would it be?
That people are more realistic about what's possible to do in different venues, such as very early load-ins... and a decrease in the number of hours worked. For me, it would be to rid record company press officers of their voice mails and get them to answer their phones!

What were the last additions to your record collection?
The Distillers' Coral Fang, Michael Jackson's Number Ones and a personal, signed copy of Saviour by The Marshmen.

The last live show you attended as a punter?
This is probably very sad to say, but I have worked so many in the last few months it was more than likely AC/DC at the Apollo which was a truly amazing gig... or The Darkness at the Astoria... and before that, Blur!!! Note to self: must more get out more in 2004!

Any hobbies away from the job?
I'm a budding photographer - it was purely a hobby as I've always loved taking pictures and own all sorts of cameras, so it progressed to me doing a couple of photographic courses, but it's purely for fun. Also, I'm now learning Hungarian, seeing as my father's from there, I think it's high time I got to grips with the language properly at long last.

If you were to meet up with the teenage Louise Kovacs, what advice would you give her?
Stick to your guns and finish your education, though get out there in the real world as soon as you can. Get that foot in the door and go for the job and career you really want, no matter what people say. Looking back I'd insist on time out for travelling and seeing more of the world in the early years or you'll always think you've never got time to do it. Above all though... just be yourself.