diff --git a/app/models/event.rb b/app/models/event.rb
index a8768571..72f13dcf 100644
--- a/app/models/event.rb
+++ b/app/models/event.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ class Event < ApplicationRecord
   before_validation on: :create do
     self.submission_time = Time.zone.now
     self.decision_time = Time.zone.now
+
+    # Populate submitter using contact info if absent
+    self.submitter ||= contact
   end
 
   before_validation on: :update do