Brian Birks
Summary
Results-driven senior executive with extensive venue and event experience in strategic leadership and operational excellence. Proven track record in driving growth, optimizing processes, and fostering team collaboration. Exceptional skills in strategic planning, financial management, and stakeholder engagement. Adaptable and reliable, consistently achieving high-impact results in dynamic environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President (health, safety, and environment)
Sports Boulevard Foundation
06.2022 - Current
- Establish HSE policies, procedures covering all risk pertaining to public safety
- Oversee and manage the HSE budgets, creating a 5-year budgeting plan
- Develop a series of testing and readiness preparation sessions, ensuring all government plans for emergencies are aligned to the Sport Boulevard mitigation plans
- Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
Senior Event Safety Officer (operations safety office)
World Expo 2020 United Arab Emirates
09.2019 - 04.2022
- Planning and developing the portfolio of safety, and risk mitigation related documentation for the Expo site
- Provide safety assurance to the Vice President, Chief Operators Officer and Operational Directors
- Undertake the role has the Senior Safety Officer during the six months event time
- Oversee the implementation of all Emergency Action Plans for all building and venues as defined under UAE codes of practice across the entire Expo 2020 site
Consultant (Subject Matter Expert SME)
Pan American and ParaPan Games
11.2017 - 09.2019
- Providing expert consultancy advice on developing, and planning, tailored training programs for employees at various levels within the organization.
- Collaborated with all core cross-functional teams to successfully deliver comprehensive solutions for event and competition related issues.
- Reviewing all operational event safety related documents, for all competition venues.
Head of Function (Events Services)
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG)
07.2016 - 10.2017
- Oversee the strategic planning, safety, budgeting, and recruitment of the function Event Services
- Develop and build cross functional relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Provide AIMAG with a national and international expert trained workforce, whilst ensuring a sustainable legacy for future events is maintained.
- Crowd Safety and security advisor to the Turkmenistan government.
General Manager of London events & activations
Olympic Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Kia Oval, The O2
08.2015 - 06.2016
- Oversee the daily management of an exclusive and prestigious venues portfolio across the London region, management of all contractual obligations, providing guidance and support to all venue operational teams, developing core business models.
- Maintained the operational budget for the London events region, circa of £6m
- Oversee all core functions including security, soft and hard services and health and safety
Senior Cluster Manager, Event Services, Venue Management
The Inaugural Baku European Games 2015 Organising Committee
05.2014 - 07.2015
- Responsible for the effective and consistent planning, games readiness and successful delivery of operations for the largest cluster of venues, providing unique guest services to the region
- Acted as Subject Matter Expert for the development of the event safety documentation and the review of key functional areas and overlay that impact event operations
- Recruitment, mentoring and development of a team of 32 direct line venue and deputy event managers
Management Expert, Event Services, planning and integration Division
Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games 2014
01.2013 - 04.2014
- To provide Expert advice to Russian, Sochi 2014 Olympic Committee, Events Services, Venue Management and Village Management on all event related matters for test events and Olympic Games time
- Development of crowd management plans including operational safety plans, overlay design, staffing plans, last mile plans, contingencies and wayfinding strategies and training
- Develop the initial Olympic Park design into an operational efficient games time venue for an estimated 4 million visitors.
Event Services (EVS) Olympic Park Lead planner & Park Manager
London Organising Committee for Olympic & Paralympic Games 2012
02.2011 - 09.2012
- To establish a proactive and professional team of spectator advocates through the Deputy Managers, Staffing Manager and all staffing deputies
- Designed and delivered the Olympic Park crowd safety and security plans for over 6 million visitors
- Worked in collaboration with multiple stakeholders across LOCOG and external agencies including Government, Police, Fire and Transport agencies
Education
MBA - Occupational Health and Safety
08.2024
Level 5 Dip (RQF) - Crowd Safety Management
08.2021
Dip - Event Management
09.2020
NVQ Level 4 - Spectator Safety Management (Safety officer)
11.2009
FSOA - Event and Match day safety management course
01.2008
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UK Home Office Emergency Planning College
01.2006
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National Examination Board of Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
06.2002
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Institute Occupational in Safety and Health (IOSH)
05.2000
Skills
- Senior operations planning for venues and major global events, producing and overseeing the implementation and submission of detailed mitigation plans, safety, operating and contingency planning Influencing buildings by design for safety, security and physical activity
- Coaching and mentoring large teams, through training and performance development
- Excellent stakeholder relationships established with emergency services, contracting organizations, clients, suppliers and regulatory bodies
- Consultancy: During my career history I also provided consultancy advice and operational roles to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Superbowl in San Francisco, leading on the city-wide safety and security planning FIFA 2018 Russia football world cup, where I was responsible for assessing and reviewing all crowd safety, city, and event safety plans for all twelve competition venues Providing expert advice to the Russian committee and the senior management teams
References
Available on request
Certification
Highfields Registered and Approved Tutor (international award) March 2025
Timeline
Vice President (health, safety, and environment)
Sports Boulevard Foundation
06.2022 - Current
Senior Event Safety Officer (operations safety office)
World Expo 2020 United Arab Emirates
09.2019 - 04.2022
Consultant (Subject Matter Expert SME)
Pan American and ParaPan Games
11.2017 - 09.2019
Head of Function (Events Services)
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG)
07.2016 - 10.2017
General Manager of London events & activations
Olympic Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Kia Oval, The O2
08.2015 - 06.2016
Senior Cluster Manager, Event Services, Venue Management
The Inaugural Baku European Games 2015 Organising Committee
05.2014 - 07.2015
Management Expert, Event Services, planning and integration Division
Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games 2014
01.2013 - 04.2014
Event Services (EVS) Olympic Park Lead planner & Park Manager
London Organising Committee for Olympic & Paralympic Games 2012
02.2011 - 09.2012
Level 5 Dip (RQF) - Crowd Safety Management
Dip - Event Management
NVQ Level 4 - Spectator Safety Management (Safety officer)
FSOA - Event and Match day safety management course
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UK Home Office Emergency Planning College
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National Examination Board of Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
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Institute Occupational in Safety and Health (IOSH)
MBA - Occupational Health and Safety
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