Our Founding Members
Emily Forbes
CEO Seenit
Emily Forbes is the founder and CEO of Seenit, an app and platform which helps brands and organisations co-create video with employees, fans, journalists and experts from around the world. Emily founded Seenit at the start of 2014 having spent five years working in production, starting out in feature film at London firm Working Title. After moving to South Africa to become a producer she had a go at creating her own short documentary. It was here that she first came across the power of UGC. She arrived to film a protest and quickly realised a smartphone generation were readily documenting everything they saw. Their footage was personal, current and opinionated.
Chris Morland
CEO Citrus Suite
I’m CEO, designer and producer at Citrus Suite. We create award-winning mobile apps, websites and software systems for globally based clients – user-focussed digital innovations that entertain, engage and empower. We work with lots of organisations to craft smartphone products: clients, partners and supporters include Penguin Books US, Random House Digital, Creative England, Disney, BBC, Liverpool John Moores University and Mersey Care NHS Trust. With an evolving portfolio of award-winning digital experiences for iPhone, iPad, Android, Cloud Systems and Website; mHealth (mobile health) is a really interesting space for us.
John Whaling
Innovation & Strategic Investment Lead LCR LEP
John’s is the innovation & digital lead for the Liverpool City Region (LCR). His primary role is to “make things happen” at the intersection between sectors by maximising the LCR’s distinctive, internationally significant assets and capabilities. Specific current responsibilities include producing an action plan to deliver the Metro Mayor’s signature ambition for the LCR to become the most digitally connected place in the UK and a global gateway to the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Dave Buonaguidi
CEO Unltd-Inc
Dave has worked in advertising for over 30 years. He co-founded St.Luke’s, the world’s first advertising co-operative. He set up 4 Creative when he was creative director of Channel4. He founded Karmarama in 2000 and most recently co-founded Unltd-Inc. He is an artist in his spare time and used to play cricket for Italy. Seriously.
Michael Braithwaite
Creative Director Kitsune Studio
Michael is co-founder and Creative Director of UX design agency, Kitsune Studio. His role sits at the overlap of UX, digital strategy & design. With over a decade of experience he finds simplicity in complex problems. When The British Library were planning a tour of China they approached Michael to determine the customer journey. A minimalist at heart Michael follows the principles of the great Dieter Rams. He believes good design is as little design as possible, but no less. His inclusive approach considers the edge case of usability, ignoring trends for the timeless beauty of simplicity.
Allan McLaughin
CEO BD Network
CEO of BD Network an independent integrated marketing agency in London. A self starter driving an entrepreneurial, high performing team. A supporter of new tech start-ups as both an investor and mentor. Also has UK and Global M&A experience with a network of wider industry contacts. Glaswegian!
Chris McHugh
CEO Doris ITk
As a successful IT professional over the last 30 years, Chris has done it all, from programming to managing a team of 600+ for a global outsourcer. In 2012 she founded an innovative company, Doris IT which opened the industry door to our next generation. With her business partner Kath, Chris has employed over 130 Millennials into sustainable and progressive IT and Business careers. Developing talent and giving back to the community are top of their agenda and the Doris workforce is developing fast as a result. Her philosophy is ‘Let go and grow!’.
Audrey Christon
Global Consumer Insight Director at Unilever
Cambridge MBA graduate, Audrey has more than 15 years’ experience in influencing commercial strategies and fuelling innovation through impactful market and consumer insight. She has worked in media, retail and FMCG for very diverse organisations including Universal Pictures, Shazam, Sainsbury’s, Unilever, and has led international insight departments across multiple countries and cultures. Passionate about driving change, she particularly enjoys being the customer voice, challenging the status quo and unlocking growth opportunities as a result.
Simon Bird
Actor/Writer/Director
Simon is best known as Will McKenzie from Channel 4’s multi-award-winning sitcom The Inbetweeners, The Inbetweeners Movie and The Inbetweeners 2. He has won British Comedy Awards for Best Actor and Best Newcomer, and been nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Comedy Actor and a RTS Award for Best Comedy Performance. He has also starred in 5 series of Friday Night Dinner (winner of the Rose D’Or). As a writer, Simon created The King is Dead, a panel show for BBC3, and co-created Chickens for Sky1, which was nominated for Best Sitcom at the 2013 Broadcast Awards.
Christian Hughes
Co-Founder/CEO Toddler Fun Learning
Christian is a YouTube certified highly experienced online strategist and content creator, in particular specialising in video production and animation together with YouTube optimisation. The co-founder of Toddler Fun Learning – a family run production company that makes fun and free educational videos and apps for toddlers all over the world. The Toddler Fun Learning channel has had over 250 million views to date on Youtube. Christian is also the managing director of Curly Productions Ltd – a video production company working with well known brands across the country to deliver premium quality video content to a global audience. We work with Virgin, Kärcher, Lil-lets, LaFarge Tarmac, Bupa and Concern Universal.
Ann Steer
Group Chief Customer Officer NBrown
Ann is NBrown’s Group Chief Customer Officer and is responsible for Marketing, E-commerce, Sales and Customer Services. Promoted to the role in 2014 Ann has led the marketing transformation agenda, simplifying the brand portfolio to drive double-digit growth for the Power Brands with focus on driving the digital agenda and championing the customer at board level. Ann joined NBrown in 2007 to lead e-commerce, growing the online business from 20% to now 70% of turnover. Prior to NBrown, Ann worked in various marketing and e-commerce roles at Shop Direct, having joined as a graduate.
Ben Blackmore
Frontier Labs Technical Director
Frontier Labs design and build intelligent augmented systems that help people and businesses realise their potential. Ben is the technical lead at Frontier and has taken a unique career path into the industry. From professional poker player to equity trader, turning his highly analytical and logical nature towards data science and software development. Ben has applied data experimentation, data visualisation and machine learning, to numerous Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data products for clients such as Merseytravel, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Shop Direct and University of Liverpool.
Helen Langan
HCL Consulting Executive Coach & Leadership Expert
For over 10 years Helen has been running her own business and before that for 15 years held senior positions in Leadership development & talent management and HR in large companies. Business coaching qualifications were gained through the global gold standard in coaching – the ICF (International Federation Coach). Significant experience of developing leaders to lead change and growth. Helen is passionate about transformational coaching ie long lasting, roots based change not surface level slick tricks.
Johnny Fewings
MD John Fewing Media Consultancy
Johnny Fewings is a record and film industry veteran of over 40 years. Prior to establishing his own media consultancy he had been Head of Strategic Initiatives at Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE), the home entertainment arm of Universal Pictures. Starting behind the counter at Virgin Records, Johnny rose to become the first manager of the famed London Megastore in 1979 and subsequently MD of Virgin Retail in 1983, a position he held until 1988, during which time he oversaw the expansion of the chain into Europe and Australia, as well as establishing the Virgin Megastore brand.
Chelsea Slater
Co-founder / Director Liverpool Girl Geeks
Chelsea works tirelessly to achieve gender equality within the tech sector. Her direct experiences of inequality within the sector inspired her to start her first business Liverpool Girl Geeks in 2013. Now, Co-Founder of InnovateHer she has ambitious plans to support teenage girls across the UK through a nationwide tech programme, providing them with the soft and hard skills needed in order to have a thriving career within tech.
Graeme Park
DJ
The story of DJ Graeme Park really mirrors the story of evolution of dance music and club culture itself. From working in a Nottingham record shop in the early 80’s, to selecting discs at the shop owner’s nightclub, Graeme’s career has sky rocketed as a house pioneer. Since a stint at the infamous Hacienda in Manchester became permanent, he quickly became one of the biggest names on the emerging dance scene whilst becoming one of the first British DJs to play in Australia, South America, Asia and beyond.
The Shakhon Brothers
Executive Experience Directors Karmarama
The Brothers (Amardeep and Gurmit Shakhon) jointly have over 24 years experience in creating digital products and creative services with over 4 digital awards each. The Brothers have worked together across the world from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe. Leading and building teams for wider organization support and capability development. They have a strong history of successfully working with client teams to ensure efficient and effective delivery of business transformation.
Nigel Collier
CEO Skylab
Nigel Collier is a BAFTA Award-winning leader in digital innovation. He has a track record of repeatedly creating world-class work for projects of national and international importance. A natural visionary, he specialises in architecting digital solutions and directing teams and studios that create digital projects, products and services. Nigel has significant experience of the film, games, mobile and web industries. Nigel became a Producer for Sony creating Playstation games, before working on computer game franchises such as Battlestar Galactica and becoming Development Director on the highly successful PlayStation blockbuster Killzone.
Joanna Booth
CEO Social Media Makes Sense
Joanna Booth is the founder and director of Social Media Makes Sense Ltd., the only UK company specialising solely in social media for TV and Film. As a Social Media educator, Jo loves to use her expertise, knowledge and skills to support productions and businesses to make the most out of their online presence. She likes to bring energy and enthusiasm to all her work and help clients fully understand and harness their digital marketing potential. As a result of this, she is regularly invited to speak at events and conferences about her opinions on Social Media, business, and how to engage with audiences.
Andrew Child
Head of Product Strategy Karmarama
Andrew has 15 years industry experience, 10 years in digital. During this time, Andrew has worked with global brands, operating at both a national and international level. As a Client Partner, Andrew collaborates with key clients to define their digital product strategies to deliver against business/marketing objectives. As Head of Product Strategy, he informs and governs a digital product/service’s strategic vision, purpose, requirements and roadmap. Andrew mentors and leads a team of product specialists, ensuring standards of excellence in client services, product strategy and design in Karmarama.
Rachel McLean
Director Liverpol Screen School
Professor Rachel McLean is Director of Liverpool Screen School at Liverpool John Moores University, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in an eclectic range of creative disciplines including Media Production, Film Studies, Journalism, Drama and Creative Writing. Rachel’s own career path reflects this diversity. After graduating with a first degree in English Literature, she worked as a curator in the British Library’s Western Manuscripts department, and in HE Libraries before obtaining a PhD in electronic commerce. Lecturing posts in Business and Creative Technology at various universities brought Rachel to her current role, in which she draws on creativity to drive forward initiatives and to inform strategic planning.
Robyn Dooley
Director and Learning Designer OH
Robyn Dooley founded OH in 2015 to address the gap between education and industry. OH deliver alternative education for creative people, and work in collaboration with the creative and digital industry to co-design and co-deliver programmes that upskill, inform and inspire individuals and teams. Robyn’s experience involves being a connector within the industry and working with young people, small to larger businesses and educational institutions through service and programme design to create memorable learning experiences.
Jackie Marlow
Director of Membership & Marketing ISBA
Jackie is Director of Membership and Marketing, leading the membership and events teams. Her key focus is to ensure value for and engagement with members, to continually review the ISBA proposition and grow the ISBA membership and its income. Jackie also has overall responsibility for ISBA’s Capability, Networking and Events programme. Jackie leads our engagement with CMO’s and senior marketing members and is their key point of contact.
Claire Connor
Chief Executive The Place
With a longstanding background in dance and performance, Clare trained at London Contemporary Dance School before embarking on a successful performing career with Phoenix Dance. She then worked as a teacher-artist in both further and higher education and collaboratively produced performing arts programmes for the University of East London, as well as supporting the validation of new arts programmes in several universities.
Rob Lowe
Senior Global Director The LEGO Group
Rob Lowe is responsible for global strategy and development of digital consumer engagement at the LEGO Group, with particular focus on the strategy and development of their kids’ engagement experiences. Key initiatives include continued development of LEGO.com, the new content-focused app LEGO TV – and LEGO® Life, the new creative, social and safe digital experience for kids. LEGO Life allows LEGO builders of all levels and interests to connect with a community of like-minded peers to express their creativity, share their LEGO creations, interact with LEGO characters and inspire one another in a super-safe, creative space.
Zoe Wallace
Head of Agent Academy
Zoe leads Agent Academy, a social enterprise, established to redefine skills development for young people, making sure they are prepared for the digital revolution. Agent Academy nurtures the potential of young people to create opportunities, retain talent and grow the intellectual assets of Liverpool City Region. Zoe champions a people-powered and collaborative approach to overcoming the skills challenges faced by industry. Zoe was recognised by NatWest WISE100 in 2017 as an inspiring and influential woman in social enterprise and social innovation.
Steven Hassall
Frontier Labs Design Director
Frontier Labs design and build intelligent augmented systems that help people and businesses realise their potential. Helping you to better understand your customers, products and business, through data. Steven heads up design at Frontier with over 10 years experience in the design and technology industry. He has led design on leading-edge web and mobile app development products with clients including ARM, Comic Relief, Swiss Rail (SBB CSS FSS) and the University of Liverpool. Steven makes the complex simple by applying best practice in user interface design and user experience design (UI/UX), to deliver scaleable design systems that empower businesses.
Paul Davies
Consumer Marketing Director Microsoft UK
Paul is the Consumer Marketing Director at Microsoft UK, where he leads the marketing activity for famous consumer technology brands including Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Office, Bing, MSN, & Edge.
With 20 years of experience in marketing and advertising, he has a track record of creating innovative work using digital media and technology. He has an expertise in leading teams to deliver multi-discipline marketing plans across the modern communications mix, achieving brand and direct response objectives in both traditional and digital media. He is excited by nurturing and developing talent to improve marketing capability in organisations, and to create future marketing leaders.
Andy Kent
CEO Angel Solutions
Andy is one of the most passionate and energetic leaders in the UK’s digital and creative sector. He is Chair of BIMA Liverpool and is an exceptional and inspirational leader of the multi-million turnover innovative web application agency, Angel Solutions. From renovating their whole office space into a circus-themed environment over a single weekend, to rewarding staff with monthly innovation days, birthdays off, and many other benefits, Andy and Angel have a growing reputation for being one of the UK’s most caring leaders and responsible employers respectively.
Mark Lawler
MD Baltic Creative
Mark Lawler is the Managing Director of Baltic Creative CIC – Liverpool’s leading space for creative and digital businesses. A graduate from Liverpool John Moores University, Mark is committed to supporting and promoting growth within the Liverpool City Region, with particular focus on property and the Creative and Digital sector.
Rajesh Sharma
Director & Co-Founder Tilstone Ventures
A qualified Chartered Accountant and experienced corporate financier. Having previously worked for Langtons CF, RSA Plc and United Utilities Plc Rajesh has extensive experience, knowledge and expertise in raising finance, corporate finance, venture capital, strategy, planning and financial modelling.
Jo Wright
Director, Wright Consulting (UK) Ltd
Jo is a strategic management consultant with extensive knowledge and experience of the creative, cultural & digital economy – from enterprise growth through to (inter)national policy and strategy. As Head of Creative Industries at Welsh Government and DCI Sector Development Manager at NWDA, he played a leading role in shaping the creative sectors of Northern England and Wales. As Exec Director of FACT and Merseyside Music Development Agency, he helped transform Liverpool’s digital arts and music sectors. He is currently Chair of Sound City Liverpool, Associate of Counterculture LLP, and a member of the Creative Industries Federation UK Council.
Jo Wright
Director, Wright Consulting (UK) Ltd
Jo is a strategic management consultant with extensive knowledge and experience of the creative, cultural & digital economy – from enterprise growth through to (inter)national policy and strategy. As Head of Creative Industries at Welsh Government and DCI Sector Development Manager at NWDA, he played a leading role in shaping the creative sectors of Northern England and Wales. As Exec Director of FACT and Merseyside Music Development Agency, he helped transform Liverpool’s digital arts and music sectors. He is currently Chair of Sound City Liverpool, Associate of Counterculture LLP, and a member of the Creative Industries Federation UK Council.
Emily Forbes
CEO Seenit
Emily Forbes is the founder and CEO of Seenit, an app and platform which helps brands and organisations co-create video with employees, fans, journalists and experts from around the world. Emily founded Seenit at the start of 2014 having spent five years working in production, starting out in feature film at London firm Working Title. After moving to South Africa to become a producer she had a go at creating her own short documentary. It was here that she first came across the power of UGC. She arrived to film a protest and quickly realised a smartphone generation were readily documenting everything they saw. Their footage was personal, current and opinionated.
Chris Morland
CEO Citrus Suite
I’m CEO, designer and producer at Citrus Suite. We create award-winning mobile apps, websites and software systems for globally based clients – user-focussed digital innovations that entertain, engage and empower. We work with lots of organisations to craft smartphone products: clients, partners and supporters include Penguin Books US, Random House Digital, Creative England, Disney, BBC, Liverpool John Moores University and Mersey Care NHS Trust. With an evolving portfolio of award-winning digital experiences for iPhone, iPad, Android, Cloud Systems and Website; mHealth (mobile health) is a really interesting space for us.
John Whaling
Innovation & Strategic Investment Lead LCR LEP
John’s is the innovation & digital lead for the Liverpool City Region (LCR). His primary role is to “make things happen” at the intersection between sectors by maximising the LCR’s distinctive, internationally significant assets and capabilities. Specific current responsibilities include producing an action plan to deliver the Metro Mayor’s signature ambition for the LCR to become the most digitally connected place in the UK and a global gateway to the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Dave Buonaguidi
CEO Unltd-Inc
Dave has worked in advertising for over 30 years. He co-founded St.Luke’s, the world’s first advertising co-operative. He set up 4 Creative when he was creative director of Channel4. He founded Karmarama in 2000 and most recently co-founded Unltd-Inc. He is an artist in his spare time and used to play cricket for Italy. Seriously.
Michael Braithwaite
Creative Director Kitsune Studio
Michael is co-founder and Creative Director of UX design agency, Kitsune Studio. His role sits at the overlap of UX, digital strategy & design. With over a decade of experience he finds simplicity in complex problems. When The British Library were planning a tour of China they approached Michael to determine the customer journey. A minimalist at heart Michael follows the principles of the great Dieter Rams. He believes good design is as little design as possible, but no less. His inclusive approach considers the edge case of usability, ignoring trends for the timeless beauty of simplicity.
Allan McLaughin
CEO BD Network
CEO of BD Network an independent integrated marketing agency in London. A self starter driving an entrepreneurial, high performing team. A supporter of new tech start-ups as both an investor and mentor. Also has UK and Global M&A experience with a network of wider industry contacts. Glaswegian!
Chris McHugh
CEO Doris IT
As a successful IT professional over the last 30 years, Chris has done it all, from programming to managing a team of 600+ for a global outsourcer. In 2012 she founded an innovative company, Doris IT which opened the industry door to our next generation. With her business partner Kath, Chris has employed over 130 Millennials into sustainable and progressive IT and Business careers. Developing talent and giving back to the community are top of their agenda and the Doris workforce is developing fast as a result. Her philosophy is ‘Let go and grow!’.
Zoe Wallace
Head of Agent Academy
Zoe leads Agent Academy, a social enterprise, established to redefine skills development for young people, making sure they are prepared for the digital revolution. Agent Academy nurtures the potential of young people to create opportunities, retain talent and grow the intellectual assets of Liverpool City Region. Zoe champions a people-powered and collaborative approach to overcoming the skills challenges faced by industry. Zoe was recognised by NatWest WISE100 in 2017 as an inspiring and influential woman in social enterprise and social innovation.
Mark Lawler
MD Baltic Creative
Mark Lawler is the Managing Director of Baltic Creative CIC – Liverpool’s leading space for creative and digital businesses. A graduate from Liverpool John Moores University, Mark is committed to supporting and promoting growth within the Liverpool City Region, with particular focus on property and the Creative and Digital sector.
Rajesh Sharma
Director & Co-Founder Tilstone Ventures
A qualified Chartered Accountant and experienced corporate financier. Having previously worked for Langtons CF, RSA Plc and United Utilities Plc Rajesh has extensive experience, knowledge and expertise in raising finance, corporate finance, venture capital, strategy, planning and financial modelling.
Graeme Park
DJ
The story of DJ Graeme Park really mirrors the story of evolution of dance music and club culture itself. From working in a Nottingham record shop in the early 80’s, to selecting discs at the shop owner’s nightclub, Graeme’s career has sky rocketed as a house pioneer. Since a stint at the infamous Hacienda in Manchester became permanent, he quickly became one of the biggest names on the emerging dance scene whilst becoming one of the first British DJs to play in Australia, South America, Asia and beyond.
Chris McHugh
CEO BD Network
As a successful IT professional over the last 30 years, Chris has done it all, from programming to managing a team of 600+ for a global outsourcer. In 2012 she founded an innovative company, Doris IT which opened the industry door to our next generation. With her business partner Kath, Chris has employed over 130 Millennials into sustainable and progressive IT and Business careers. Developing talent and giving back to the community are top of their agenda and the Doris workforce is developing fast as a result. Her philosophy is ‘Let go and grow!’.
Simon Bird
Actor/Writer/Director
Simon is best known as Will McKenzie from Channel 4’s multi-award-winning sitcom The Inbetweeners, The Inbetweeners Movie and The Inbetweeners 2. He has won British Comedy Awards for Best Actor and Best Newcomer, and been nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Comedy Actor and a RTS Award for Best Comedy Performance. He has also starred in 5 series of Friday Night Dinner (winner of the Rose D’Or). As a writer, Simon created The King is Dead, a panel show for BBC3, and co-created Chickens for Sky1, which was nominated for Best Sitcom at the 2013 Broadcast Awards.
Christian Hughes
Co-Founder/CEO Toddler Fun Learning
Christian is a YouTube certified highly experienced online strategist and content creator, in particular specialising in video production and animation together with YouTube optimisation. The co-founder of Toddler Fun Learning – a family run production company that makes fun and free educational videos and apps for toddlers all over the world. The Toddler Fun Learning channel has had over 250 million views to date on Youtube. Christian is also the managing director of Curly Productions Ltd – a video production company working with well known brands across the country to deliver premium quality video content to a global audience. We work with Virgin, Kärcher, Lil-lets, LaFarge Tarmac, Bupa and Concern Universal.
Ann Steer
Group Chief Customer Officer NBrown
Ann is NBrown’s Group Chief Customer Officer and is responsible for Marketing, E-commerce, Sales and Customer Services. Promoted to the role in 2014 Ann has led the marketing transformation agenda, simplifying the brand portfolio to drive double-digit growth for the Power Brands with focus on driving the digital agenda and championing the customer at board level. Ann joined NBrown in 2007 to lead e-commerce, growing the online business from 20% to now 70% of turnover. Prior to NBrown, Ann worked in various marketing and e-commerce roles at Shop Direct, having joined as a graduate.
Ben Blackmore
Frontier Labs Technical Director
Frontier Labs design and build intelligent augmented systems that help people and businesses realise their potential. Ben is the technical lead at Frontier and has taken a unique career path into the industry. From professional poker player to equity trader, turning his highly analytical and logical nature towards data science and software development. Ben has applied data experimentation, data visualisation and machine learning, to numerous Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data products for clients such as Merseytravel, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Shop Direct and University of Liverpool.
Helen Langan
HCL Consulting Executive Coach & Leadership Expert
For over 10 years Helen has been running her own business and before that for 15 years held senior positions in Leadership development & talent management and HR in large companies. Business coaching qualifications were gained through the global gold standard in coaching – the ICF (International Federation Coach). Significant experience of developing leaders to lead change and growth. Helen is passionate about transformational coaching ie long lasting, roots based change not surface level slick tricks.
Johnny Fewings
MD John Fewing Media Consultancy
Johnny Fewings is a record and film industry veteran of over 40 years. Prior to establishing his own media consultancy he had been Head of Strategic Initiatives at Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE), the home entertainment arm of Universal Pictures. Starting behind the counter at Virgin Records, Johnny rose to become the first manager of the famed London Megastore in 1979 and subsequently MD of Virgin Retail in 1983, a position he held until 1988, during which time he oversaw the expansion of the chain into Europe and Australia, as well as establishing the Virgin Megastore brand.
Steven Hassall
Frontier Labs Design Director
Frontier Labs design and build intelligent augmented systems that help people and businesses realise their potential. Helping you to better understand your customers, products and business, through data. Steven heads up design at Frontier with over 10 years experience in the design and technology industry. He has led design on leading-edge web and mobile app development products with clients including ARM, Comic Relief, Swiss Rail (SBB CSS FSS) and the University of Liverpool. Steven makes the complex simple by applying best practice in user interface design and user experience design (UI/UX), to deliver scaleable design systems that empower businesses.
Andy Kent
CEO Angel Solutions
Andy is one of the most passionate and energetic leaders in the UK’s digital and creative sector. He is Chair of BIMA Liverpool and is an exceptional and inspirational leader of the multi-million turnover innovative web application agency, Angel Solutions. From renovating their whole office space into a circus-themed environment over a single weekend, to rewarding staff with monthly innovation days, birthdays off, and many other benefits, Andy and Angel have a growing reputation for being one of the UK’s most caring leaders and responsible employers respectively.
Nigel Collier
CEO Skylab
Nigel Collier is a BAFTA Award-winning leader in digital innovation. He has a track record of repeatedly creating world-class work for projects of national and international importance. A natural visionary, he specialises in architecting digital solutions and directing teams and studios that create digital projects, products and services. Nigel has significant experience of the film, games, mobile and web industries. Nigel became a Producer for Sony creating Playstation games, before working on computer game franchises such as Battlestar Galactica and becoming Development Director on the highly successful PlayStation blockbuster Killzone.
Claire Connor
Chief Executive The Place
With a longstanding background in dance and performance, Clare trained at London Contemporary Dance School before embarking on a successful performing career with Phoenix Dance. She then worked as a teacher-artist in both further and higher education and collaboratively produced performing arts programmes for the University of East London, as well as supporting the validation of new arts programmes in several universities.
The Shakhon Brothers
Executive Experience Directors Karmarama
The Brothers (Amardeep and Gurmit Shakhon) jointly have over 24 years experience in creating digital products and creative services with over 4 digital awards each. The Brothers have worked together across the world from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe. Leading and building teams for wider organization support and capability development. They have a strong history of successfully working with client teams to ensure efficient and effective delivery of business transformation.
Joanna Booth
CEO Social Media Makes Sense
Joanna Booth is the founder and director of Social Media Makes Sense Ltd., the only UK company specialising solely in social media for TV and Film. As a Social Media educator, Jo loves to use her expertise, knowledge and skills to support productions and businesses to make the most out of their online presence. She likes to bring energy and enthusiasm to all her work and help clients fully understand and harness their digital marketing potential. As a result of this, she is regularly invited to speak at events and conferences about her opinions on Social Media, business, and how to engage with audiences.
Andrew Child
Head of Product Strategy Karmarama
Andrew has 15 years industry experience, 10 years in digital. During this time, Andrew has worked with global brands, operating at both a national and international level. As a Client Partner, Andrew collaborates with key clients to define their digital product strategies to deliver against business/marketing objectives. As Head of Product Strategy, he informs and governs a digital product/service’s strategic vision, purpose, requirements and roadmap. Andrew mentors and leads a team of product specialists, ensuring standards of excellence in client services, product strategy and design in Karmarama.
Rachel McLean
Director Liverpol Screen School
Professor Rachel McLean is Director of Liverpool Screen School at Liverpool John Moores University, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in an eclectic range of creative disciplines including Media Production, Film Studies, Journalism, Drama and Creative Writing. Rachel’s own career path reflects this diversity. After graduating with a first degree in English Literature, she worked as a curator in the British Library’s Western Manuscripts department, and in HE Libraries before obtaining a PhD in electronic commerce. Lecturing posts in Business and Creative Technology at various universities brought Rachel to her current role, in which she draws on creativity to drive forward initiatives and to inform strategic planning.
Robyn Dooley
Director and Learning Designer OH
Robyn Dooley founded OH in 2015 to address the gap between education and industry. OH deliver alternative education for creative people, and work in collaboration with the creative and digital industry to co-design and co-deliver programmes that upskill, inform and inspire individuals and teams. Robyn’s experience involves being a connector within the industry and working with young people, small to larger businesses and educational institutions through service and programme design to create memorable learning experiences.
Rob Lowe
Senior Global Director The LEGO Group
Rob Lowe is responsible for global strategy and development of digital consumer engagement at the LEGO Group, with particular focus on the strategy and development of their kids’ engagement experiences. Key initiatives include continued development of LEGO.com, the new content-focused app LEGO TV – and LEGO® Life, the new creative, social and safe digital experience for kids. LEGO Life allows LEGO builders of all levels and interests to connect with a community of like-minded peers to express their creativity, share their LEGO creations, interact with LEGO characters and inspire one another in a super-safe, creative space.
Paul Davies
Consumer Marketing Director Microsoft UK
Paul is the Consumer Marketing Director at Microsoft UK, where he leads the marketing activity for famous consumer technology brands including Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Office, Bing, MSN, & Edge.
With 20 years of experience in marketing and advertising, he has a track record of creating innovative work using digital media and technology. He has an expertise in leading teams to deliver multi-discipline marketing plans across the modern communications mix, achieving brand and direct response objectives in both traditional and digital media. He is excited by nurturing and developing talent to improve marketing capability in organisations, and to create future marketing leaders.
Chelsea Slater
Co-founder / Director Liverpool Girl Geeks
Chelsea works tirelessly to achieve gender equality within the tech sector. Her direct experiences of inequality within the sector inspired her to start her first business Liverpool Girl Geeks in 2013. Now, Co-Founder of InnovateHer she has ambitious plans to support teenage girls across the UK through a nationwide tech programme, providing them with the soft and hard skills needed in order to have a thriving career within tech.
Jackie Marlow
Director of Membership & Marketing ISBA
Jackie is Director of Membership and Marketing, leading the membership and events teams. Her key focus is to ensure value for and engagement with members, to continually review the ISBA proposition and grow the ISBA membership and its income. Jackie also has overall responsibility for ISBA’s Capability, Networking and Events programme. Jackie leads our engagement with CMO’s and senior marketing members and is their key point of contact.
Audrey Christon
Global Consumer Insight Director
Cambridge MBA graduate, Audrey has more than 15 years’ experience in influencing commercial strategies and fuelling innovation through impactful market and consumer insight. She has worked in media, retail and FMCG for very diverse organisations including Universal Pictures, Shazam, Sainsbury’s, Unilever, and has led international insight departments across multiple countries and cultures. Passionate about driving change, she particularly enjoys being the customer voice, challenging the status quo and unlocking growth opportunities as a result.
Jo Wright
Director, Wright Consulting (UK) Ltd
Jo is a strategic management consultant with extensive knowledge and experience of the creative, cultural & digital economy – from enterprise growth through to (inter)national policy and strategy. As Head of Creative Industries at Welsh Government and DCI Sector Development Manager at NWDA, he played a leading role in shaping the creative sectors of Northern England and Wales. As Exec Director of FACT and Merseyside Music Development Agency, he helped transform Liverpool’s digital arts and music sectors. He is currently Chair of Sound City Liverpool, Associate of Counterculture LLP, and a member of the Creative Industries Federation UK Council.