David Gilbert (Chair), following a long and successful career in retail including being MD of Currys Ltd, COO of Dixons Stores Group worldwide, and MD of Waterstones Booksellers, David now devotes all of his time to the Creative Industries and the Arts. He is Chair of Creative United, an Arts Council backed company which delivers innovative finance for Creative Businesses. He is also Chair of the Writers Centre Norwich and Digventures archaeology.

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Dan Woodger is a London based illustrator and animator with 8 years experience working in the creative industry. Since graduating from the University of Brighton in 2011, Dan has been busy creating a unique, playful, character based style of work, that has seen him collaborate with some of world biggest brands, including Apple, Google, The New Yorker, Netflix, Samsung & Pepsi.

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Daniel Moorey is currently editing and publishing a website project documenting the UK. Previous to that he was Head of Illustration and Photography at adamandeveDDB. He has also worked extensively in animation, live action, CG , projection mapping, matte painting, events etc. In other previous lives he was Head of Artbuying at DDB London and Artbuyer at AMVBBDO. When he isn’t camping he lives in London.

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Deirdre McDermott is the Picture Book Publisher and Creative Director at Walker Books, the largest independent children’s publisher in the UK. Many of the picture books she has art directed and published have won awards globally. She established the Sebastian Walker Award and is a trustee of Seven Stories. A native of Dublin, Ireland Deirdre lives in London, England.

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Jhinuk Sarkar is an Illustrator with work in editorial, publishing and design platforms. She is also an educator and consultant advocating inclusivity and accessibility in the arts. She studied Illustration at Norwich and Central St Martins and currently works with Ravensbourne and Camberwell universities on their BA Illustration courses alongside her access work at Turf Projects.

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Ciara Phelan With a background in design, Ciara initially built her career as a collage illustrator before co-founding artist agency Grand Matter. Ciara is also one of the founding forces behind Agents for Change.

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Montana Forbes is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle illustrator of 13 years, represented by Illustration Ltd. She grew up between Harare, London and Atlanta and studied Visual Communication at The American Intercontinental University in London. Throughout her career, she has been involved in developing, curating, and organising exhibitions, talks and conferences.

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Ren Renwick has previously worked as Managing Director and CEO of the AOI. Having trained in drama she has worked across the breadth of the creative industries, from television, festivals, contemporary art and community theatre. She is a trustee of Action Space and Laura H Drane Associates.

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Silvia Baumgart is an associate solicitor at James Ware Stephenson, a boutique law firm specialising in intellectual property working mainly with creative businesses. Prior to this, Silvia has worked for some 15 years in the creative sector in Germany and England in a range of positions in curatorial and educational projects at major public art galleries and art and design practice-based universities.

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