Dr. Caroline J. Pendlebury

Caroline Pendlebury is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Event Management at International University Canada, where she teaches and supports students across the School of Hospitality & Tourism. Her academic work focuses on the practical and strategic dimensions of event planning, examining how successful events are designed, organized, and executed across corporate, cultural, and hospitality settings.

Throughout her early academic career, Caroline Pendlebury has built a teaching approach grounded in real-world application, helping students move beyond theory to understand the operational details that make events successful, from budgeting and vendor coordination to risk management and guest experience design. She encourages students to think like working event professionals from their very first course.

In her courses, Caroline Pendlebury draws on industry case studies, planning frameworks, and current trends in the events sector to help students build practical skills they can apply immediately. Students explore topics such as event logistics, budget management, marketing and promotion for events, and the coordination required to deliver conferences, weddings, corporate functions, and large-scale public events.

As an Assistant Professor within the Department of Event Management, Caroline Pendlebury also supports curriculum development that keeps pace with an industry shaped by changing client expectations and emerging event formats, including hybrid and virtual events. She works closely with senior faculty across the School of Hospitality & Tourism to ensure that coursework remains current, practical, and aligned with the skills employers actually look for.

Caroline Pendlebury is especially attentive to supporting students who are new to the events industry, helping them build confidence in project management and client communication alongside technical event planning skills. She designs coursework that balances structured planning frameworks with creative problem-solving, recognizing that no two events unfold exactly according to plan.

Recognizing that many of her students are working professionals studying online, Caroline Pendlebury structures her courses with clear project milestones, accessible planning templates, and consistent feedback opportunities. Her approach to online teaching emphasizes practical skill-building that students can apply directly to events they may already be organizing in their current roles.

Students who study under Caroline Pendlebury often highlight her ability to make event planning feel achievable and grounded in real industry practice rather than abstract theory. Her long-term goal as an educator is to help students develop the organizational and creative skills needed to launch and grow successful careers in event management, hospitality, and tourism.