Meet the Team

Unique Events has a small team of dedicated permanent staff and specialist freelancers who work year round to manage our portfolio of projects, with a loyal group of skilled independent freelance contractors who are taken on to deliver specific events.

We have years of experience constructing large and small scale programmes, frequently in challenging environments and climates, working to demanding schedules often managing hundreds of contractors and performers.

Every person in our organization is a rich source of knowledge, experience, perspective and ideas. We celebrate our diversity and understand that good ideas come from every direction. We are an open minded and collaborative group. Job titles may define roles but do not restrict our team from stepping outside of their job or area of expertise.

Penny Dougherty

Director

Company/Event Director

Penny has over 30 years’ theatre and events management experience, specializing in delivering high-profile, time or location specific events and national celebrations. Penny’s expertise lies in her ability to help creators turn their dreams into reality. She brings a host of practical skills and a wealth of experience creating special one-off events and “money-can’t-buy” experiences.

As Senior Producer for many of Unique’s high-profile projects Penny has delivered many of Scotland’s signature events: including Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2000 – 2017; the Official Opening of the Queensferry Crossing 2017; Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park and World’s Big Sleep Out 2017-2019; Bannockburn Live 2014; Forth Road Bridge 50th Anniversary Celebrations 2014; Cultural Olympiad Sistema’s Big Concert 2012; UEFA Champions League Final Glasgow 2002 and Live 8 The Final Push Gala Concert 2005.

Penny is the lead account director and client contact for many of Unique Events’ projects working closely with key stakeholders, partners and funders. Holding “Gold Commander” status for the outdoor largescale events that the company specialises in enables her to use her training in strategic planning, continuing to develop her understanding and knowledge through training and onsite experience.

Alan Thomson

Director

Company/Event Director

With over 20 years’ experience in creative, artistic and event management, Al has acquired a unique range of knowledge and industry experience from delivering large-scale, high-profile events throughout the UK, developing a much-respected understanding of event creation and delivery, producing world-class events which engage and inspire both audiences and artists. His career began in 1997 working Edinburgh’s Festivals, which in turn led to a 20-year career at Unique Events, Scotland’s (and one of the UK’s) most successful independent event creation and production companies.

Rab Randall

Production Manager

Regular freelancer

….he likes to remain mysterious….

Frances Sutton

Press Manager

Regular freelancer

Frances has had a wonderfully circuitous route through a wildlife conservation charity, international polo tournaments, a zoo, a geological visitor attraction, horse riding safaris and world class equestrian events, the world’s largest Book Festival and the world’s first Science Festival via East Africa, USA, London, South America, Yorkshire and Edinburgh before landing, head first 6 years ago, into Unique Events.