Denise Sharpe

Denise Sharpe co-founded Outsourced Events (OE) in 2001, following a corporate career that reached board level by 26. What drove her to start the business was not ambition alone, but conviction - that organisations succeed when they genuinely value people. Twenty-five years on, OE is the proof.

Under Denise's leadership, OE has grown from a two-person start-up into a 47-strong, award-winning B2B event agency delivering 240+ events annually for global technology brands and professional associations. Revenue has tripled from £1.4M (FY19) to £4.7M (February 2026). The agency holds a perfect NPS of 100, 100% client retention including through the pandemic, and 78% staff retention, metrics that reflect a culture built to last.

What sets Denise apart as a Luminary is her commitment to developing the next generation of event professionals. She invests £100,000+ annually in training, funds two Cranfield Executive MBAs, a CIM Level 7 and an ACCA qualification, and designed a 14-module Event Executive training programme Highly Commended at the Business Culture Awards. Four OE team members have been named to the C&IT A-List in various years; one joins CN 30underThirty in 2026. Her standing in the wider industry is reflected in her appointment as a judge at the Conference and Events Awards 2025 and the Micebook Awards 2026.

Her leadership through COVID-19 - pivoting to virtual events overnight and retaining every client defines her values under pressure. Her influence extends far beyond events: she mentors emerging leaders, hosts student placements, volunteers with Ealing Christmas Dinners, and has opened her home to those in need.

Denise founded OE to prove that commercial excellence and humanity are not in conflict. Twenty-five years of evidence confirms she was right.