Andy Duncan - Chief Executive, HR Owen Plc: Former Chief Executive, Channel 4

Andy Duncan was appointed as Channel 4's fifth Chief Executive in July 2004. Before recently departing Channel 4, he launched the Next on 4 strategic blueprint of the enhanced public service role Channel 4 aims to play in the fully digital media future.

During his time as Chief Executive, investment in programming and content grew to over £600 million annually and Channel 4 has also built the most successful free to air digital TV portfolio of any terrestrial broadcast group. Under his direction Channel 4 also pioneered a number of new digital services including becoming the first broadcaster in the world to launch a full video-on-demand service, 4oD. Digital expansion is continuing including the launch of the 4IP digital innovation fund.

Prior to joining Channel 4, Andy was a member of the main Board at the BBC, as Director of Marketing, Communications and Audience, overseeing the launch of digital TV and radio services and Freeview, which he also chaired for its first 2 years. Andy joined the BBC from Unilever where he worked for 17 years including as a Senior Global Executive in general management and marketing.

Andy has been Chairman of the Media Trust since 2006 and is National Chair of RTS Futures.

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Jon Snow - Presenter, ITN/Channel 4 News Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees, Media Trust

Jon Snow has been the main presenter of Channel 4's award-winning evening news programme since 1989.

Jon's skills as a first-rate interviewer and broadcaster take him beyond the Channel 4 News studio.

In late January 2003, he was the first mainstream television newscaster to travel to Baghdad in Iraq at this time, where he presented Channel 4 News every night for a week. During that visit, he was the first UK broadcaster to interview Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, and the only broadcaster to quiz UN Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix – Jon live from Baghdad - with Blix in New York.

In March 2006 Jon hosted Channel 4 News nightly for a week from Iran. He also produced a series of in-depth reports from the country. He has also anchored similar news programmes from Africa and India. Jon Snow joined ITN in 1976 and has reported from Afghanistan to Zanzibar.

Among his assignments, he reported the overthrow of Idi Amin in Uganda; the Iran hostage crisis; The Russian invasion of Afghanistan; the Iran Iraq war; the fall of the Berlin wall and the release of Nelson Mandela. He was also based in Washington for ITN for three years.

In April 2005 he won a BAFTA (The Richard Dimbleby Award for best contribution to factual programming). In the same year, Jon was awarded the Royal Television Society award for Journalist of the Year – an award he had last won in 1980 – and an award rarely won by a studio presenter.

However, as the main presenter of Channel 4 News, Jon continues to anchor the flagship programme from wherever major world events occur: from South Africa during the country's first democratic elections; from Washington at the Israeli-Palestinian peace signing; from Hong Kong at the time of the handover to China. He was also presenting the day and night of 9/11.

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Matt Brittin - Managing Director, Google UK and Ireland

Matt is Managing Director of Google in the UK & Ireland – the biggest market for Google outside the US and the most advanced major country in terms of e-commerce and online advertising spending.

Google’s products are enjoyed by millions of people throughout the UK and help thousands of businesses succeed online.  Matt and his team aim to help UK consumers and businesses make the most of the internet.

Before joining Google at the start of 2007, Matt spent much of his career in media and marketing, with particular interests in strategy, commercial development and sales performance.  This included Commercial and Digital leadership roles in UK media.
Matt has an MBA from London Business School and an MA from Cambridge.

In 2008 New Media Age readers voted him the greatest individual contributor to New Media and in 2010 he was voted Wired magazine’s ‘Most Influential Person in the Digital World’. He rowed in several boat races for Cambridge and has won medals for Britain in the World Rowing Championships. Matt lives near the Thames with his wife and two energetic sons.

 

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Scott Cormack - KPMG Europe, Leadership team and Lead Partner on BBC Audit

Scott has 34 years in the profession and is one of KPMG’s most experienced global partners. He has just stepped down as a member of the UK board and is in the leadership team of KPMG Europe.

He has worked extensively in the financial sector, spent three years in Brussels running KPMG’s operations of the European Commission, and latterly served as global lead audit partner for Nestle and Allied Domecq.

He has strong FMCG credentials and extensive knowledge of Branded businesses. He has conducted professional assignments all over the world. He has been a practitioner in IFRS/IAS since 1983. Currently, Scott is serving as the Lead Partner on the BBC Audit. He is also an ambassador for mens' health in the UK and in particular raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer.

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Paddy Coulter - Director, Oxford Global Media

Paddy is a specialist in media and development with the Oxford Global Media consultancy and also works as Communications Director for the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at Oxford University’s Department of International Relations.

He previously worked as Director of Studies at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Director of the Reuters Fellowship Programme at Oxford University (2001/2007); Director of the International Broadcasting Trust (1990/2001; Deputy Director 1987/1990); and Head of Communications at Oxfam (1982/1987).

Paddy has had a lengthy involvement with the voluntary sector, having served on the boards of Comic Relief and UNICEF-UK as well as Oxfam. He is currently a Trustee of Fahamu, the African social justice network, and INTRAC, the International NGO Training & Research Centre. He is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Bournemouth Media School.

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Rupert Howell - Vice Chairman, Advertising Association: Former Managing Director, Brand and Commercial, ITV

Rupert started his advertising career with two-year stints at Ogilvy and Grey, followed by four years as New Business Director of Y&R. He founded his own agency HHCL in 1987, which went on to become Campaign's 'Agency of the Decade'. In 1997, he sold it to Lord Bell's Chime Communications plc, becoming CEO. Five years later he left to join McCann Erickson as President, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He joined ITV in 2007 as Managing Director, ITV Brand and Commercial and is an Executive Director on the ITV PLC Board. Rupert has non-executive roles in the M.C.C., Warwick Business School, Old Vic Theatre Company and Advertising Association.

 

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Martina Milburn, Chief Executive, The Prince's Trust

Martina is chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, the UK’s leading youth charity. Since joining The Trust in 2004, she has spearheaded a support-network for young offenders and launched the charity’s first public fundraising and advertising campaign, trebling the public’s understanding of the charity’s work.

Prior to joining The Trust Martina was chief executive of the BBC Children in Need Appeal from 2000, overseeing nine regional offices. She sat on the trading subsidiary Children in Need Ltd and was a member of the BBC's Corporate Social Responsibility Board.

Martina trained and began her career as a journalist, established the Press and Communications function for the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and worked on a freelance basis for a range of charities.

She then held the post of Chief Executive of the Association of Spinal Injury Research, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (ASPIRE) - a service delivery charity - for seven years, growing the staff from five to 100. In this role Martina was responsible for the development of Europe's first integrated arts, sports and rehabilitation centre.
 

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Jane Reed CBE - director of Times Newspapers Limited

Jane Reed is a director of Times Newspapers Limited and consultant to News International Limited.

A past magazine editor, publisher and divisional managing director, she was managing editor of the Today newspaper and director of corporate affairs for News International. She is a council member of The National Literacy Trust and a Trustee of the St. Katharine & Shadwell Trust.

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Mark Thompson - Director General BBC

Mark Thompson is Director General of the BBC, and as such is Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief of the BBC and chair of its Executive Board. Mark became Director General in June 2004, and has successfully steered the BBC through its ten-yearly Charter Review process, securing Licence Fee funding for the BBC for the next six years.

Mark was a major author behind ‘Building Public Value’, the BBC’s strategy manifesto for the digital age, and the Creative Futures project, a far-reaching editorial blueprint for BBC programming and services to meet changing audience expectations. During Mark’s time as Director General the BBC has launched new platform trials in on-demand programming including the on-line iPlayer and podcasting, as well as mobile and high definition television.

Before re-joining the BBC, Mark was Chief Executive of UK broadcaster Channel 4, a post he had held since December 2001. His earlier BBC career had spanned 20 years including the significant roles, in chronological order, of Editor of BBC-1’s ‘Nine O’Clock News’, Editor of BBC-1’s current affairs flagship ‘Panorama’, Head of Features, Head of Factual Programmes, Controller of BBC-2, Director of National and Regional Broadcasting and finally Director of Television.

Mark was born in London on 31 July 1957 and was educated at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, England and Merton College, Oxford University.

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Sophie Turner Laing - Managing Director, entertainment, News & Broadcast Operations, BSkyB

Sophie has been Sky's Managing Director of Entertainment since April 2007. She has overall responsibility for Sky's entertainment and news portfolio, including Sky1, Sky2, Sky3, Sky Movies, Sky Box Office, Sky Arts, Sky Real Lives and Sky News. She also oversees the Sky Creative Agency, which looks after on-air promos and design, and Sky Network Planning.

Prior to joining Sky in 2003, Sophie was Vice-President of Broadcasting at Flextech Television for three years, before taking over as Controller of Programme Acquisition at the BBC. Sophie began her career at Henson International Television working on the Muppet Show and she then went on to co-found HIT Entertainment in 1989, a specialist distributor of children's and natural-history programming.

Sophie also sits on BAFTA's Board of Trustees, is the Chair of BAFTA's Commercial Committee, and is a Trustee of BAFTA Management Ltd. In addition to this she is Governor of the National Film & TV School as well as a Co-Opted Crew Member for Variety Club (UK).

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