Paul Robinson (Chair)

CEO and Principal of PR Media Consulting and Creative Media Partners

Paul heads consultancy services which include content production and distribution, channel branding, design and programming, marketing, broadcast technology and talent management. Paul founded KidsCo, the international children’s channel and on demand service in 2005, securing funding, devising the strategy, and as CEO built the business into a successful network in 98 countries leading to a majority sale to NBC Universal, the Hollywood studio in 2011. From 1998 Paul was Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Walt Disney Television responsible for Disney’s global content production and broadcast strategy, based in London and Los Angeles.

Prior to Disney, Paul was CEO of Talk Radio the national commercial station, turning it round from loss making and creatively repositioning it with high profile presenter signings and sports right acquisitions From 1990 Paul was Managing Editor of BBC Radio 1 responsible for all programming and music of the national radio network before being promoted to Head of Strategy for Radios 1, 2, 3 4 and 5Live leading strategic development of the BBC’s analogue and digital stations.

Paul started his career in commercial radio as a presenter at Radio Tees and Mercia Sound, becoming Program Director of Chiltern Radio, a network of 9 commercial stations He holds a BSc(Hons) from Cambridge and Manchester Universities and MBA (with distinction) from the University of Bradford.

James Cridland

Radio Futurologist / Managing Director Media UK

James has worked in radio since 1989 as an award-winning copywriter, presenter, and internet advisor. In 2001 he joined the original Virgin Radio in London, where he was Digital Media Director. In 2007 he joined the BBC to work on the BBC iPlayer for radio, achieving a dramatic increase in the service’s audio quality. Since leaving the BBC in 2009, he has worked for a variety of businesses, including the receiver manufacturer PURE, audio blogging platform Audioboo and a variety of European media companies, helping them focus on the benefits and challenges that new platforms bring to their business.

James is one of the organisers of nextrad.io, the radio conference for ‘people that do’ in September. He is a Trustee of The Radio Academy. He is also Secretary-Elect of the hybrid radio RadioDNS project, and has served as a judge for a number of industry awards including the Sony Radio Academy Awards, where he has also served on the organising committee. James lives in North London and likes beer. He blogs about the future of radio on his own website at james.cridland.net.

Lorna Clarke

Network Manager, BBC Radio 2, 6 Music & Asian Network

Lorna is Network Manager for BBC Radio 2, 6 Music and Asian Network where she is responsible for the strategy, finance, commercial and creative development of the networks.

Lorna’s career began in 1983 in the newsrooms of BBC Cornwall, Radio Viking in Hull, Metro Radio in Newcastle, BBC GLR and World Service News.

She joined KISS 100 London in 1990, working her way up to Programme Director. She was Head of Mainstream Programmes for BBC Radio 1 for five years, followed by four years as BBC Talent Executive. She then moved on to become Head of Programmes for BBC 1Xtra and Electric Proms Director, where she established the innovative festival as one of the key musical landmarks in the UK live music calendar.

Lorna is a respected radio and music executive, having judged the Sony Radio Academy Awards and The Mercury Music Prize. Whilst Programme Director for KISS 100, Lorna was awarded the prize of Best Radio Programmer by the commercial radio industry.

Matt Deegan

Creative Director, Folder Media

Folder Media is a radio and new media consultancy and Matt helps its clients develop and implement plans to benefit from the changing digital world. This includes everything from business planning and platform analysis to customer relationship management and social network marketing.

Since its inception in 2007, Folder Media has developed a broad client base ranging from large media companies like UTV, radio stations like Planet Rock and Absolute Radio, industry bodies including the RAB and the Radio Academy and even government bodies like the Highways Agency.

Folder Media also operates the children’s radio station Fun Kids. Matt’s work on the station has seen him be nominated for Progammer of the Year and the station winning Best Digital Station at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.

Folder is also in the process of launching a raft of local DAB multiplexes under the MuxCo banner – bringing local digital radio to over 10million people.

Lisa Kerr

Founder and Director, Lisa Kerr Media & Communications Consultancy

Prior to launching Lisa Kerr Media & Communications Consultancy, Lisa was Director of Strategy at RadioCentre, the industry body for UK Commercial Radio. She spent more than a decade representing and promoting the interests of the Commercial Radio industry at the most senior level.

In 2010 she worked on behalf of the whole radio industry, including the BBC and transmission provider Arqiva, steering the Digital Economy Act. In recognition, Lisa was given the Arqiva Award for Exceptional Performance in the Long Term Development of Commercial Radio. She is a Fellow of The Radio Academy and of the Royal Society of Arts.

Before joining RadioCentre, Lisa was an award-winning presenter and producer for Classic FM and Edinburgh’s Radio Forth and, for six years, was Group Managing Director of Radio Services Ltd, responsible for a UK-wide portfolio of local radio stations.

Lisa is a Trustee of The Radio Academy and an advisor to SoundWomen, the organisation which promotes and supports women in the radio industry.

Lisa sits on the UK Regulatory Board of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, is a Vice Chair of Scottish Opera and a Governor of Gordonstoun Schools.

Stephen Mawhinney

Head of News, BBC Radio 5 live

Stephen is currently the Head of News at BBC Radio 5 live, where he runs all the news programmes and teams that deliver three-quarters of the station’s output. He is also the Senior News Leader in Salford for the BBC, overseeing the BBC’s biggest journalism hub outside of London.

Prior to joining 5 live, Stephen was the BBC’s Editor of Political News at Westminster, where he took charge of the BBC’s coverage of the last General Election campaign and fallout. Before that he was a Strand Editor on the BBC News channel, after four years on the BBC News at 10.

Stephen began his career at ITN in 1992, joining as an editorial trainee and ending up as the Senior Programme Editor for ITV News before switching to the BBC in 2002.

Karen Pearson

Director, Folded Wing

Karen is passionate about music and radio, and finding new ways to combine the two. That’s why she founded Folded Wing, and why it’s now recognized as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking production companies in the world.

Karen’s radio career began 16 years ago at the BBC where she produced Gilles Peterson’s legendary “Worldwide” show, helping it to become a globally respected and commercially successful brand.

In 2005, she left to set up the company which became Folded Wing – quickly establishing herself as an authority on podcasts and alternative audio broadcasting. Along the way, Folded Wing picked up a Gold Sony Award for the “Book Slam” podcast, and earlier this year, they won 5 awards in one week, most notably ‘Indie Of The Year’ in the Radio Production Awards.

A respected DJ in her own right, Karen continues to perform at venues around the UK and internationally, and promote the successful “Broad Casting” club nights, featuring unique performances and collaborations with artists from around the world.

Karen Stacey

Head of Broadcast and Bauer Access, Bauer Media

Karen started her career in media in 1985 working at Independent Radio Sales. In 1990 she was part of the original team that launched Jazz fm the first radio station to launch in London since capital 95.8 did in 1973. In 1992 she moved to Channel 4 and became part of the management team when the channel decided to sell its own airtime. Once there she helped lead the team that convinced advertisers and agencies to trade television in a completely new way and saw a brand change its image and become a commercial success.

In 1997 she returned to her first love, radio, and helped Emap set up Emap on Air, a sovereign sales operation. She has been a key player in driving Emap radio’s commercial success and was made Broadcast Sales Director of Emap Advertising in December 2004 responsible for all television and radio sales and strategy. Mid 2005 Karen was an integral member of the team charged with integrating SRH Group into our business and at that point was given responsibility for all three Emap Advertising broadcast offices covering Scotland, Manchester and London. With H Bauer’s purchase of Emap’s consumer division, Karen retained the position of Broadcast Sales Director.

Karen has been a key leader of a dynamic and winning radio sales team that has picked up an unprecedented four in a row “Campaign Radio Sales team of the Year”. These awards are a clear indication of the team spirit that Karen has engendered over the years. Innovation has been a key part of Karen’s approach to sales.

Karen added the Bauer Cross Media team to her list of responsibilities. Her multi media background and extensive media knowledge was invaluable as this team capitalised on the strengths of the Bauer brand portfolio. Karen’s determination and leadership skills were a core factor in driving this team to greater success. Cross Media became Bauer Access and was launched in 2010 with a remit of giving like minded advertisers and agencies access to the content creators of Bauer’s influential brand portfolio.