About | Event Teaming

EventTeaming was established by Gordon Penney in 2023.

Gordon’s career in public safety and security spans 35 years across North America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. With his diverse experience in the military, private and public sectors, working with high performance teams, Gordon brings a unique and extensive range of skills to the table, including designing, launching, and maintaining high performance teams.

Gordon spent 11 years working on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 project, where he was a senior executive in corporate affairs and led a team of dedicated professionals in the HSSE division. He began his career in the Canadian military, where he undertook a variety of roles in challenging, complex and uncertain environments. He also spent a decade working in the energy sector.

Throughout his career, Gordon has developed a passion for building high-performance teams, executive and team coaching, and keynote speaking. His extensive exposure to high-performance environments across continents and industries gives him an unrivalled ability to lead EventTeaming and embed key learnings in event and mega project organizations of any size and structure.

Learn about our methods

Meet the Team

Event Readiness

Jason Marks

Jason’s career expands with over 30 years’ experience working with medium to large scale teams in the public and private sectors. Jason brings a breath of experience and expertise in rediness and operations from vast military and public sector experience in medium to large scale events across Europe, Middle East, and North Africa.

He has vast experience in creating learning environments whereby leaders harness the right skills needed to identify, evaluate and respond to incidents in complex and crisis environments. Equally his expertise focuses on embedding the right problem solving practices when incidents involve additional functional area leaders allowing them as a collective team of leaders to come together to evaluate and arrive at a series of response measures in the shortest time possible.

Jason’s most recent experience was working within the Command Center Operations for the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022

Design & Setup Internal Events

Ana Foltin

Ana Foltin, with over 25 years of extensive experience, is a distinguished leader in the realm of EventTeaming. Her expertise lies in orchestrating the seamless setup and execution of large-scale internal events, where she brings event leaders and stakeholders together to foster collaboration, strategic planning, and effective problem-solving.

Throughout her illustrious career, Ana has honed her skills with various high-performance team methodologies and tools, specifically tailored to enhance quality and efficiency. Her remarkable ability to coach and motivate teams responsible for delivering top-notch services in hospitality and accommodation has rightfully earned her the reputation of an inspiring leader in her field.

Notably, Ana played a pivotal role as a leader within the accommodation sector for the recent Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022. In this capacity, she was entrusted with the intricate task of overseeing the setup and operations of a staggering 66,000 plus rooms. Additionally, Ana led multiple teams, totaling over 12,000 contract service personnel, demonstrating her exceptional leadership in managing diverse teams towards a common goal.

Internal Communications

James Varley

James Varley is an expert in internal communications and creating collaborative work environments, bringing invaluable experience to EventTeaming. With a rich background spanning various sectors, James spent a decade managing corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organizing committee, showcasing his expertise in fostering effective internal communication within large-scale projects.
During his impactful tenure at the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), James Varley played a pivotal role in cultivating an EventTeaming atmosphere. He not only pioneered the launch of the internal communications function and executed engaging initiatives for team members but also extended his expertise to external communications. In doing so, James spearheaded a comprehensive 360-degree content strategy, a crucial element in bringing external stakeholders into the collaborative work environment.

This strategy wasn't just about making SC's content globally accessible to media outlets; it was a testament to EventTeaming principles, ensuring clear communication pathways and fostering collaboration. By bridging the gap between internal and external stakeholders, James lived up to the expectations of a dynamic and collaborative work environment, a cornerstone of the EventTeaming philosophy.

Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement

Elena Chan

Elena is a seasoned senior executive in project management, specializing in marketing communications, events, partnerships, media, and digital strategies, aligning seamlessly with the principles of EventTeaming. With over three decades of expertise spanning special events, sports, tourism, and FMCG sectors, Elena's track record in launching products within tight timeframes perfectly resonates with the urgency and precision advocated by EventTeaming.

Her notable role as Head of Marketing for FIFA World Cup 2022™ Accommodation in Qatar exemplifies her commitment to the EventTeaming philosophy. Instrumental in shaping the strategic direction, crafting multi-faceted marketing communications plans, and launching a new brand and sales website for global fans, Elena achieved remarkable success with QAR 2 billion in sales and over 2.5 million room nights sold during the tournament period. Her ability to lead high-performance, multi-locational teams stems from her forward-thinking vision, meticulous planning, and adept critical path management.
Elena's standing as a powerhouse in negotiations, stakeholder relations, media management, and team performance underscores her integral role as a key member of Event Teaming. Her dedication to facilitating strategy for major event projects aligns seamlessly with the collaborative and success-driven ethos of EventTeaming.

Event and Project Leadership

Marius Willemse

Marius is a corporate executive and program-level director with an extensive background spanning over 18 years across South Africa and the Middle East. His expertise encompasses operations, event management, project coordination, and the execution of major sporting events, reflecting a profound grasp of operational intricacies.

Committed to perpetual learning, Marius holds various professional qualifications, bolstered by a bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying, along with master's degrees in construction project management and business administration.

These credentials underscore his unwavering dedication to professional advancement and excellence.
Marius played a pivotal role in the successful execution of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, offering invaluable insights into fostering high-performance teams.

Demonstrating a profound understanding of executive-level imperatives, he actively contributes to organizational advancement. His unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with his expertise in commercial management, positions him as a valuable asset within the EventTeaming family, dedicated to effecting tangible positive change.

Organizational Development & Systemic Team Coaching

Maxine Gooding

Max is a seasoned team and executive coach, and organizational dynamics consultant with over 25 years of expertise in organizational performance and behavioral change. With a background in FTSE 100 businesses, Max has led operational teams, developed strategies, managed change initiatives, and enhanced client experiences.

Collaborating with numerous teams in fast-paced, agile environments, Max's extensive background spans professional services firms, financial services, hospitality, civil service, education, and the non-profit sector. Her comprehensive perspective enables her to adeptly address the unique demands of various industries, bringing valuable insights to collaborative teams in dynamic settings.

Max's work is anchored in qualifications as a certified Organizational Development Practitioner, Systemic Team Coach, and accredited individual coach and supervisor. Supported by a diverse toolkit including project management, process re-engineering, psychometric profiling, and large group facilitation, Max ensures a multifaceted approach to her work.