Meet the Team

Steve Heap - General Secretary
Steve has been the General Secretary of AFO since its formation in 1987.  He is also the Director of Mrs Casey Music and was Director of Towersey Festival for 45 years, having retired after the 2019 festival in August. 
He has over 55 years’ experience in the festival and events industry and is currently Chairman of the Events Industry Forum (EIF) and a contributor to the Purple Guide, of which he is currently chairing a complete review. 
Steve is also a Board Member of LIVE and of the Steering Group of Vision2025 (Sustainability Action Group). 

Lioux Heap - Membership & Conference Coordinator
Lioux has over 30 years’ experience of working at festivals and events, previously as one of the organisers of both Sidmouth and Towersey festivals and also working for Mrs Casey Music, BBC Radio 2/7digital Creative, Folk on The Pier, Moonbeams, and Cambridge Folk Festival.  She is now the Events Manager for Harmony Voyages.
Lioux is very proud to have been a Games Maker at the London 2012 Olympics.

Madeline Spear - Marketing
Madeline has over 23 years' experience in digital marketing and over the last 13 years has managed an online marketing agency - Shine On Digital  During this time she has enjoyed working with many music festivals and events companies including Costa Festival, Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival and Harmony Voyages, and with the insight and knowledge gained she will now market AFO online and offline. Madeline is a firm believer that to get the best out of social media, it needs to come out organically from the nature of the business.  It's with this principle that she will drive the social marketing of The Association Of Festival Organisers.