Member Spotlight: Maggie Gray

At AUNZ MICE CLUB, we love catching up with members of our community to hear what they’ve been working on across the events industry.

Recently, we caught up with Maggie, an Auckland-based freelance Event Director and founder of BRAVA, a boutique collective of event and media professionals delivering events and activations across New Zealand.

Maggie shared that the first few months of 2026 have already been action-packed, and the momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Nearly two years into her journey in the freelance events world, she reflects on a period focused on relationship building, learning and pushing herself in new ways.

Maggie (right) alongside the Caffeine Daily team.

One of the biggest shifts during this time was wrapping up her work with her first events business, The Food Truck Collective, stepping away from the street food scene that had been such a big part of her life for many years. Maggie says the transferable skills from that chapter have been invaluable and she’s incredibly grateful to the many people across the industry who have guided and supported her journey so far.

The year kicked off with the delivery of her second ISPS Handa Halberg Awards at Spark Arena. Maggie shared that she poured everything into the event alongside the Halberg team, and seeing the night come together — along with the feedback from athletes, partners and guests — made all the hard work worthwhile.

Looking ahead, Maggie said her current focus is the upcoming Halberg Games, where hundreds of young athletes with physical disabilities travel from across New Zealand to come together for a weekend of sport, connection and celebration.

A spectacular night at the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards at Spark Arena, celebrating New Zealand’s sporting achievements.

Over the past six months she has also been working closely with the Caffeine Daily team delivering a series of events bringing together founders, operators and partners from across New Zealand’s startup ecosystem. Later this year they will also deliver the inaugural NZ Startup Awards, celebrating founders and innovators shaping the future of New Zealand’s startup landscape.

Maggie also shared that she will be supporting Marketers Day with The Marketing Club in late May, helping bring the event to life for the marketing community across New Zealand.

In addition, she has recently joined the team behind New Zealand’s newest Tech Expo, supporting the delivery of an exciting new event bringing together leaders, innovators and businesses from across the tech sector.

Maggie (left) enjoying the #EventPros Lunch + Showcase in Auckland.

As a Founding Member of AUNZ MICE Club, Maggie joined our Auckland meet-up last month and shared how exciting it was to see the momentum building within the community.

It’s always inspiring to hear what members of our community are building, and we’re proud to have Maggie as part of the AUNZ MICE Club network.