07:00AM BST, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH 2022 - WOLVERHAMPTON, WEST MIDLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM

Publishing this blog post fills me with real emotion, pride, and the most profound sense of gratitude, that 767 of the most memorable days of my life employed by The Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Limited today concludes alongside the closure of the programme for the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

When I formally received the job offer for Administrator – Ceremonies, Culture and Queen's Baton Relay on July 29th, 2020, I knew I would be both throwing myself into the unknown and giving myself an opportunity of a lifetime. This was undoubtedly knowing I would play a behind-the-scenes role as part of the biggest Cultural, Economic, and Sporting event ever held in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

The task of being one of many humbled helpers to organise "The Games For Everyone" - in my first Full-Time job after graduation defined daunting for a then 22-year-old, but from opening my laptop for the first time on August 24^th, 2020, and had a great chat with the division's masterminds in Martin Green CBE and Phil Batty, the foundations were laid for me to do my thing, learn a vast amount and grow both professionally and personally.

And it's safe to say that after:

• Two Lockdowns;
• Hundreds of people engaged with in a off-the-scale number of events;
• A fascinating and wild rollercoaster of an Apprenticeship;
• 11 days of crazy sport;
• A meeting with a Prince;
• One Parliamentary Visit, A changing of US President, UK Prime Minister, and Head of the Commonwealth in less than two years;
• One speech in front of 1,300 people at Symphony Hall;
• And helping to spend millions of pounds later, to name a few things:

Made the challenge, as stated above, the most worthwhile thing imaginable.

The team across the Ceremonies, Culture, and Queen's Baton Relay Division, alongside the excellent partners at Birmingham Ceremonies Limited, Outdoor Digital Productions and Progress Productions, to name a few, are among the most outstanding people I have ever worked with and undoubtedly ever met. The talent that the Games managed to bring under one roof enhanced the experience and has given me friends for life.

Also, calling the team at Festival 2022 Limited – widely known as UNBOXED colleagues and mates feels really special. No matter what the wider public thinks about UNBOXED, I have witnessed the creation of a year full of simply magical projects, which has seen collaboration on a mind-blowing scale. The whole team has a fantastic job (not least in the Media Spotlight), and I certainly intend to visit Weston-Super-Mare before See Monster concludes its time at The Tropicana Lido.

Also, I hugely appreciate all those part of the Games' groundbreaking Accessibility Advisory Forum, Chair by a queen in all things Accessibility in Brummie, Sarah Rennie, and the Access team here at B2022. The AAF achieved a tremendous amount over a short period. Seeing it unfold as someone directly invited to the Forum before my appointment at the Games and then as a Staff Member was a significant highlight of my work. I use that power we created to ensure accessibility is forever on the agenda.

And of course – my team who have helped pull together what is now THE BIGGEST EVER Cultural Programme alongside a Commonwealth Games: I don't think I can fully describe how much I thank you for both welcoming this once Cultural Virgin into your world and giving me a platform to be part of something extraordinary. I adore and love you wholeheartedly and feel beyond grateful to have worked in the most incredible gang of humans and for the support and encouragement you've given, not least during my darkest hour of mourning Kieran earlier this year.

I want to state a huge thanks and congratulations to everyone else I've worked, engaged with, and met through the OC and Games Partners; not least the Senior Leadership Team led by B2022's masterful CEO Ian Reid, my fellow Level 3 Business Administration Apprentices, of whom are some of this region's best and brightest emerging talent and the whole team at FABRIC, who helped to mastermind the glorious and game-changing programme of Critical Mass as well all on the project's Steering and Partnership Groups. All of you are geniuses!

As for me and my future, I am delighted to say that I am on track to secure a new and exciting Admin role here in the West Midlands.

Interviews are booked in the coming weeks at a significant WM-based Cultural Organisation involved in the B2022 Festival and at a Major regional Educational Institution that also played a spectacular role in the Games. I'll leave you to guess who they are!

In closing this life-defining chapter, to know I came into such a role aged 22 and wondered how awesome it would be, I go out of it having transformed as a human, had my eyes open to what positivity humanity can bring and ultimately fulfill a dream come true.

2022 will forever be remembered, and to the whole team at the XIII Commonwealth Games of Victoria 2026: I give you my big luck and love, and I am sure you will create many more stories like mine through the world-beating power of Culture and Sport combined!