Maria Thorpe is Events Manager at Gather and Gather, UCL’s catering partner. She has delivered some of the university’s most memorable moments, from intimate VIP dinners to large-scale celebrations.
Maria has spent nearly four years at UCL, playing a leading role in the day-to-day operation of UCL’s hospitality services and designing tailored events that respond to the evolving needs of staff, students, partners and visitors.
A familiar face on campus, she brings her positive attitude and collaborative spirit to the table: “I love a party, I love to host” she quips, laughing at her inability to say no to an event.
She’s always busy, organising multiple events at any one time.
We deliver thousands of events a year – just this week we have 270 events and this month [June] we served roughly 34,758 teas and coffees on our Bloomsbury Campus alone!
Born in Spain, Maria completed a law degree at the University of Sevilla before coming to London. She worked her way up in hospitality, from jobs in the Shoreditch nightlife scene to the historic Honourable Artillery Company, before joining UCL in 2022.
Her reputation as a “fixer” is well earned. Whether navigating last-minute changes, dietary complexities or the logistical chaos of summer event season, she stays calm and focused on solutions:
We like to think in hospitality, there is no bad feedback. They’re not problems, they’re challenges, and challenges are ways to learn and improve.
She insists on “quality over quantity” and one-to-one conversations, walking clients through spaces to really understand what they need and what the possibilities and limitations are.
This approach means she has been able to deliver a varied and bespoke programme of events, from high-profile partner receptions and faculty dinners to student summer shows and celebrations on the quad with thousands of people.
UCL is a city within a city, so I’m exposed to so many nationalities, so many different personalities, it’s quite vibrant. It keeps me on my toes!
Maria credits her success to the relationships she has built over the last four years, with stakeholders across the institution and with everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes to make events look effortless, including chefs, porters, front-of-house, and UCL operational teams.
In particular, she acknowledges the support of her line manager Baerbel Moehrle, her behind-the-scenes super team, and Head chef Shannon Johnson: “My team can do the pretty things, but the magic comes from Shannon and the kitchen team.”
What matters most to her is finding and creating moments of joy:
When they care and you care, that’s when it works. Life is fun, I want to enjoy it, and I want others to enjoy it too.
