Charlotte De Witt, CFEE, Boston, USA, has produced waterfront festivals and international events since 1979, working in some 29 countries throughout North America, Europe, “Down Under”, Asia, and the Middle East. A highly respected industry leader, she has been interviewed by print and broadcast media worldwide and is widely sought as a speaker and a trainer.
Charlotte was the only inductee into the 2009 International Festivals and Events Association Hall of Fame, the highest honor in the industry. The induction video with career overview may be downloaded from her website.
Charlotte DeWitt is also a highly respected journalist with an international readership. She draws from thirty-three years’ experience to write fact-packed articles on international festivals and events-- spotting trends, interpreting issues, identifying opportunities. Her annual Industry Compass article is always eagerly awaited; her spotlight articles are case studies of key festivals around the world.
As President of International Events, Charlotte DeWitt draws on an experienced, multi-lingual team of international artists and performers to create memorable, lasting public celebrations. Few can match her longevity, depth of knowledge, and extent of international experience with multiple venues, financial profiles, climates, and cultures.
Her consultations have spanned the globe: Millennium Chinese New Year’s in Singapore; Carnival in Nice, France; the Kuala Lumpur International Buskers’ Festival in Malaysia; urban waterfront design in St. Paul, USA; Cape Cod Cultural Center, South Yarmouth, USA; and speaking engagements in Beijing, Brussels, New York City, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Ottawa, Atlanta, Auckland, Reykjavik, Dubai, and Korea.
She has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, writing articles on its festivals and events, providing sponsorship training, regularly speaking at events conferences, and judging the annual Middle East Events Awards since its inception.
Charlotte DeWitt trademarked and pioneered the concept of Waterfront Festivals® in the United States in the 1970s, designing and producing over 100 waterfront festivals in seaports and river cities. With turnkey event management services, the festivals uniquely positioned Charlotte as the director of one of the few event management companies able to deliver an “instant” waterfront festival with no government funding. Some thirty years later, she has accrued an unrivaled wealth of creative ideas and practical knowledge dealing with waterfront celebrations.
Professional event production requires professional skills. International Events is an internationally recognized conference producer for festival and events producers, managers, and directors. Charlotte DeWitt has produced “Behind the Scenes” industry conferences in locations ranging from the Edinburgh Festivals in Scotland to Nice Carnival and Battle of Flowers in France, from the European Cultural Capital of Copenhagen, Denmark, to the spectacular Stockholm Water Festival in Sweden.
She also conducts seminars on corporate sponsorship and profit centers, in locations as diverse as Euro Disney and Dubai.
Charlotte DeWitt is Past Chairman of the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA World) and founder/ past President/CEO of IFEA Europe. She lived in Stockholm, Sweden, from 1994-2004. A native of Boston (USA), she speaks fluent American, adequate French, and basic Swedish. She is a Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE).
Career Highlights: Charlotte J. DeWitt, CFEE
- Large-scale Celebrations: Design and production of the finale of Singapore’s Millennium Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) celebration Chingay and the finale of Chingay 2001; additional consultations, including the opening of Chingay 2006.
- Festivals and Events: Trademarked and pioneered the concept of Waterfront Festivals® in the United States in the 1970s, bringing arts festivals to the water’s edge as a visitors’ magnet; later worked with the Thames Water Authority, London, and the Stockholm (Sweden) Water Festival, the largest festival in northern Europe, beginning in 1994. Marketed the world’s only Floating Cinema®, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. International events consultant with extensive experience with multiple venues, financial profiles, climates, and cultures.
- Parades: Producer, Kuala Lumpur International Buskers’ Festival Grand Parade; Finale, Singapore’s Chingay Parade 2000, 2001. International programming consultant: Singapore; Carnival and Battle of Flowers Parades, Nice, France; parade float judge (all USA): Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio; Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville, Kentucky (twice); Fiesta Bowl, Phoenix, Arizona; Minneapolis Aquatennial Parade, Minnesota; and Mazda Gator Bowl Light Parade, in Jacksonville, Florida.
- Conferences: Production of numerous international event management and marketing conferences throughout Europe. Also, production of the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) conference in Stockholm, Sweden, attended by HM Queen Silvia and numerous ambassadors and dignitaries.
- Guest Speaker: Sponsorship conferences in Singapore, Sweden, France, Belgium, New Zealand, and Dubai; tourism conferences throughout Europe and Asia; SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Executives) Conference, Singapore; festival and events conferences worldwide (Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, USA); and urban waterfront conferences, USA and Canada. Judge, Middle East Event Awards, Dubai: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
- Author: Book Culture Smart! Sweden published in England and in the United States; contributing writer, industry textbooks; global perspectives editor and contributing writer, i.e.: The Business of International Events, the industry’s foremost trade magazine, 2007-2011. Download articles at www.internationaleventsltd.com.
- Charitable Fundraising: Special emphasis on projects benefiting disadvantaged women and children.
Charlotte J. DeWitt, CFEE, PresidentInternational Events, Ltd.249 West Newton Street, #8Boston, MA 02116 USAt/f +1 617 536 9083 m +1 617 513 5696
www.internationaleventsltd.com charlotte@internationaleventsltd.com