#Rethink2017, Birmingham City Universitys one-day conference for digital media professionals, taking place on Tuesday 13 June 2017 at 9AM. At Parkside, the UKs largest media production centre, attendees will hear valuable talks by industry leaders, insightful panel discussions and have fantastic networking opportunities.
#Rethink2017 is part of Digital Cities Birmingham, running 12 - 18 June for a series of inspiring free events and roadshows across the city.
The conference programme will make attendees rethink how you gather, generate and publish truly engaging content to meet the rapidly-changing expectations of todays audience. Issues of representation and diversity, both on and off-screen, will be debated throughout the day.
The full line up of speakers is shown below.
The host - Ayo Akinwolere
Ayo is a broadcaster, world record holder and BAFTA nominee. He became Blue Peters first black male presenter, hosting the show for five years. In 2015, he became the winner of an RTS (Royal Television Society Award) for his documentary on Extremism for the BBC's Inside Out.
Chair - Maverine Cole
Marverine is an Award-winning TV News Journalist & Broadcaster with over 30 years experience. She has worked for many of Britains most watched TV channels and listened to radio stations. Marverines a multi-award-winning Journalist, whos presented over 3,000 hours of live television & radio programmes for BBC News, ITV News and Sky News.
Chair - Robert Sharl
Robert Sharl is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communications in the School of Visual Communications at Birmingham City Universitys Faculty of Art, Media and Design.Robert is changing the way that industry and the School of Visual Communications collaborate, he wants the University to be at the centre of creative activities in the city.
The speakers
Tim Plyming
Tim has been creative leader and partner since June 2016 for Green Rock,with board-level responsibility for creative development and Executive Production on every project.
Drew Benvie
Drew Benvie is founder of social media agency Battenhall. As a consultant, he has advised and represented corporations, global figures and brands worldwide.
Lyra McKee
Lyra McKee is a freelance journalist based in Belfast. She has been published in The Atlantic, BuzzFeed News, Private Eye, and many more. She works mostly on longer-term projects, while editing media news site Mediagazer.
Faraz Osman
Faraz is the MD of Lemonade Money, a collection of award winning, expert video producers and creatives, crafting films in music, fashion, art and youth culture, for broadcasters, brands and online channels in a confident, celebratory and inclusive way.
Linda Davidson
Linda was a writer for a BBC science programme, she then went onto be apart of BBC Online overseeing Drama Entertainment and Children's, launching the award winning Writer's Room. Linda was headhunted to launch E4.com, from there Linda went to work at Discovery as Global Production Director (digital) and then Director of IT, business strategy and operations.
Adam Biddle
Adam Biddle is the MD of Edition a digital and creative agency owned by Vice media Group. Adam has hands on experience with devising and executing internet publishing strategies on behalf of global celebrities, key opinion influencers and best-in-class brands.
Dr Yemisi Akinbobola
Yemisi is an Award leader, Global Media Management/ Publisher & Editor in Chief IQ4News, she is also a Distance Learning Programme Coordinator and Visiting Lecturer at the Birmingham School of Media.
Dr Robert Lawson
Robert Lawson is Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at Birmingham City University and former Fulbright Scottish Studies Scholar (University of Pittsburgh, 2012-2013).