This month, we’re celebrating another milestone with Claire Highton Barge, our Head of People & Culture, who has been shaping the people-first ethos that Sleek was founded on, and makes it so special.

From creating initiatives that support wellbeing and growth to championing a culture where everyone can thrive, Claire’s passion for people is at the heart of everything we do. We sat down with her to reflect on her journey at Sleek, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and what makes working here truly unique.

The Blue Earth Summit 2025 brought together leaders, innovators, and activists from across the sustainability and environmental sectors to explore the urgent challenges facing our planet.

Gabriella Weekes, Sleek’s Sustainability and Supplier Lead, attended the summit and returned with key takeaways for the events industry. These insights highlight how sustainability, leadership, and creative innovation can be embedded into event design and delivery - ensuring experiences are responsible, inspiring, and future-ready.

This month marks one year since Steve Austen-Brown joined Team Sleek as our first ever Creative Director. With years of experience in design and storytelling, Steve brought a fresh perspective to how we approach experiences and explains why having curiosity at the heart of the business is game-changing for how we bring our clients’ visions to life.

To celebrate his anniversary, we sat down with Steve to chat about his role, why having creativity at the core of Sleek matters, and what excites him most about the projects we deliver.

At the annual off-site, Team Sleek were lucky enough to hear Debra Searle MVO, MBE, speak about the power of choosing your attitude – and how a positive mindset can transform both your work and your life.

Debra is a professional adventurer and serial entrepreneur whose expeditions have taken her across the Atlantic, around Antarctica, up to the Arctic Circle and everywhere in between. She has launched five companies, published a book, presented over 40 programmes for the BBC and is a trusted corporate speaker. The film of her story – rowing solo across the Atlantic after her husband was rescued – is currently in development in Hollywood.

Emma Cooke (neé Da Costa) has rejoined #TeamSleek as our Venue Sourcing and Suppliers Specialist.

Having a dedicated team member in this role is a game-changer – Emma’s got the knowledge, the relationships, and the instincts to find the perfect fit for every brief. From unique venues to trusted supplier partnerships, she’s already making her mark (again).

At Sleek, we believe the future of leadership is already here - and it looks a lot more human!

Recently, our Head of People & Culture, Claire Highton Barge (Known simply as ‘Barge’ to the team), had the exclusive opportunity to hear former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speak in London. Known for her kind, values-led approach to leadership, Ardern’s insights offered powerful affirmation of something we’ve always believed at Sleek: empathy, honesty, and clarity are the most important leadership tools of our time.