TRISH Howard did such a great job of organising the biggest hi-tech bonanza of recent years in Wales that she has started a business to make her skills more widely available.

And immediately she has begun shaping what she describes as an even better event to take place next May - but this time she will be taking total control.

ICT02, a day-long extravaganza in Newport, earlier this year, brought together the leading experts in information technology for an impressive show.

It ended with an awards night and dinner hosted by broadcaster Nicholas Owen, which would not have been out of place at London's Savoy.

Its intention was to introduce businesses to the benefits of ICT and the lengths to which it has already developed.

She was with another company when she took on the organisation of ICT02, after working for the South Wales Argus.

Now, she has formed THEM (Trisha Howard Event Management) and has begun to organise TWO3 (Tech-nology Wales 2003) with the aim of making it an annual event. It will be held on May 30 at the Celtic Manor Resort, the day before the Wales Open golf tournament.

"ICT02 was a result of massive research I did on why Wales is lagging behind the rest of the UK and Europe in understanding the best use of ICT and how it can help their businesses to develop and expand," she said.

"A technology event was the answer. The gap in the market is not ignorance but lack of knowledge - it's not knowing where to go to get at information.

"The messages of congratulation which came back said it all. But this is a new company and a new concept I am developing. TW03 won't be the same as ICT02.

"This time we are identifying areas not explored last time, such as women in technology and health matters."

She said THEM was a technology-based company identifying problematic areas in PR marketing and event management.

Operations manager Shan Sullivan said: "I see it being a cutting-edge company because we can encompass many different disciplines from web marketing to marketing companies and events.

"Because Wales is lagging behind, companies are being hindered in moving into the area and sometimes encouraged to move out."

Trish Howard said she wanted the company to develop and expand in the UK and the rest of Europe.

"I have been in touch with an international company that wants to put on a broadband roadshow around the UK and been approached by Boston company in relation to technology in medicine.

"But Wales will be hub of our business."

* Pictured: Trish Howard with operations manager Shan Sullivan, left, and projects manager Sussannah Peachey