Maria has more than twenty years of professional hospitality and operations experience, currently working as an Area General Manager at etc.venues which is part of the Convene global portfolio of brands overseeing a team of over hundred hospitality professionals and the company's sustainability efforts. During her tenure of more than seven years with etc.venues, she has led teams at many conference and training venues in London, opened two new venues, led the company’s ESG policy development and ongoing initiatives, and liaised with the company’s charity partner, YoungMinds.

Prior to joining etc.venues, she worked in various roles at hotels and a leisure business, De Vere Venues. Maria also sits on the board with IAAC, a global community of meeting professionals, and heads up IACC’s Better Tomorrow global task force. She is passionate about sustainability and the advocacy for better environmental practices within the hospitality and events industry.