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17 NOVEMBER 2026 - BARBICAN, LONDON
Speakers
HEADLINE KEYNOTE INTERVIEW
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Kate
Phillips
Chief Content Officer
BBC
Kate Phillips, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, will be delivering a keynote interview at this year’s GrowthLab London conference being held at the Barbican on November 17.
Kate is one of the UK’s most powerful and influential commissioning executives. Her brief includes commissioning for BBC iPlayer and all the national TV channels, as well as commissioning and production for all 10 national radio networks and for BBC Sounds. She also oversees commissioning and production for all Children’s and Education content.
Main Stage & Masterclass Speakers
More announcing soon
Mairi Brewis
Head of MediaCo Partnerships
YouTube UK
Mairi Brewis is YouTube’s lead for partnerships in Media and Responsibility for the UK. Her team manage relationships with the lead broadcasters, production companies, sports and news organisations, to help them maximize their YouTube presence.
Mairi has a strong interest in education, learning and children. She is a school governor, and previously served as a Trustee for Polka Theatre.
YouTube UK
Mairi Brewis is YouTube’s lead for partnerships in Media and Responsibility for the UK. Her team manage relationships with the lead broadcasters, production companies, sports and news organisations, to help them maximize their YouTube presence.
Mairi has a strong interest in education, learning and children. She is a school governor, and previously served as a Trustee for Polka Theatre.
Zai Bennett
CEO & Chief Creative Officer
BBC Studios Global Content
Zai Bennett leads BBC Studios Global Content as CEO and Chief Creative Officer, overseeing the UK’s most awarded production company, its number one distributor - and one of the world’s foremost creators of premium content. Since joining in November 2024, Zai has brought a bold, creative-first vision to a global portfolio spanning Scripted, Unscripted, Global Productions, Kids & Family, and Audio - driving innovation across both UK and international markets. Recently BBC Studios brought together all its domestic and international production capabilities, along with its global content sales network, into a single, unified global content studio under Zai, to better serve partners and clients and present a single face to the market.
His leadership has seen BBC Studios Productions continue to deliver genre-defining hits and record-breaking successes. BBC Studios was the most awarded production group at the recent BAFTA TV Awards, with programme wins ranging from Scam Interceptors and VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember, to Here We Go, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) and EastEnders. BBC Studios was also the most awarded producer at the National Television Awards including a record-breaking 10th win in a row for Strictly Come Dancing - while EastEnders swept the board at the British Soap Awards with 8 wins, including Best British Soap.
May’s celebrations marking Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday saw BBC Studios deliver a stirring tribute to the beloved naturalist at the Royal Albert Hall for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, including a touching short film produced by its Natural History Unit from His Majesty King Charles. Other recent content triumphs include a second series of the popular Death Valley, hit documentary The Mother of All Cons, and the riveting podcast To Catch A King.
Before BBC Studios, Zai was Managing Director of Content at Sky UK & Ireland, where he commissioned acclaimed titles like Chernobyl, Gangs of London, and Brassic, and launched Sky Documentaries and Sky Kids. Earlier in his career, he helped launch ITV2, ITV3, and ITV4, and as Controller of BBC Three, commissioned award-winning shows like People Just Do Nothing and Life and Death Row.
BBC Studios Global Content
Zai Bennett leads BBC Studios Global Content as CEO and Chief Creative Officer, overseeing the UK’s most awarded production company, its number one distributor - and one of the world’s foremost creators of premium content. Since joining in November 2024, Zai has brought a bold, creative-first vision to a global portfolio spanning Scripted, Unscripted, Global Productions, Kids & Family, and Audio - driving innovation across both UK and international markets. Recently BBC Studios brought together all its domestic and international production capabilities, along with its global content sales network, into a single, unified global content studio under Zai, to better serve partners and clients and present a single face to the market.
His leadership has seen BBC Studios Productions continue to deliver genre-defining hits and record-breaking successes. BBC Studios was the most awarded production group at the recent BAFTA TV Awards, with programme wins ranging from Scam Interceptors and VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember, to Here We Go, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) and EastEnders. BBC Studios was also the most awarded producer at the National Television Awards including a record-breaking 10th win in a row for Strictly Come Dancing - while EastEnders swept the board at the British Soap Awards with 8 wins, including Best British Soap.
May’s celebrations marking Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday saw BBC Studios deliver a stirring tribute to the beloved naturalist at the Royal Albert Hall for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, including a touching short film produced by its Natural History Unit from His Majesty King Charles. Other recent content triumphs include a second series of the popular Death Valley, hit documentary The Mother of All Cons, and the riveting podcast To Catch A King.
Before BBC Studios, Zai was Managing Director of Content at Sky UK & Ireland, where he commissioned acclaimed titles like Chernobyl, Gangs of London, and Brassic, and launched Sky Documentaries and Sky Kids. Earlier in his career, he helped launch ITV2, ITV3, and ITV4, and as Controller of BBC Three, commissioned award-winning shows like People Just Do Nothing and Life and Death Row.
Fiona Campbell
Director of Factual Content
BBC
Fiona Campbell is the newly appointed Director of Factual Content at the BBC. Her remit covers Documentaries, Natural History, Science, Religion and Arts programming.
Fiona's previous role was as Controller, Youth Audience, BBC iPlayer & BBC Three where she focussed on 16 - 35 audience and innovated with the launch of BBC Creator Lab that selected 100 creators across the UK providing opportunities to work on BBC content. She also launched BBC Wonderverse which gamifies key BBC IP such as Match of the Day and Dr Who in Roblox .
Earlier in her career Fiona worked as a producer on Panorama and spent time reporting in conflict zones Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. She also spent five years as a Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 News. Fiona is a Trustee of Comic Relief and the Burberry Foundation which supports projects to encourage young people's creativity as a source of progression and mental wellbeing. Fiona also works with Speakers for Schools visiting colleges in Northern Ireland where she is based to encourage students to consider media and journalism as a career path.
BBC
Fiona Campbell is the newly appointed Director of Factual Content at the BBC. Her remit covers Documentaries, Natural History, Science, Religion and Arts programming.
Fiona's previous role was as Controller, Youth Audience, BBC iPlayer & BBC Three where she focussed on 16 - 35 audience and innovated with the launch of BBC Creator Lab that selected 100 creators across the UK providing opportunities to work on BBC content. She also launched BBC Wonderverse which gamifies key BBC IP such as Match of the Day and Dr Who in Roblox .
Earlier in her career Fiona worked as a producer on Panorama and spent time reporting in conflict zones Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. She also spent five years as a Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 News. Fiona is a Trustee of Comic Relief and the Burberry Foundation which supports projects to encourage young people's creativity as a source of progression and mental wellbeing. Fiona also works with Speakers for Schools visiting colleges in Northern Ireland where she is based to encourage students to consider media and journalism as a career path.
Alex Morris
Managing Director
4Studio
Alex Morris has spent the last 15 years building and running digital first content businesses at the heart of social media and the creator economy. In his current role as Managing Director of Channel 4 ‘s social-first division, 4Studio he plays a central role in developing and steering Channel 4’s over-arching social strategy working across content, distribution and monetisation. Prior to this role Morris was Chief Creative Officer at SB Media Group where he helped to grow the business from a Dubai-based Content Creator operation into a global media company.
In addition, Morris has held positions at LADbible Group and Barcroft Studios, where he helped lead the business for over a decade before selling to Future PLC.
4Studio
Alex Morris has spent the last 15 years building and running digital first content businesses at the heart of social media and the creator economy. In his current role as Managing Director of Channel 4 ‘s social-first division, 4Studio he plays a central role in developing and steering Channel 4’s over-arching social strategy working across content, distribution and monetisation. Prior to this role Morris was Chief Creative Officer at SB Media Group where he helped to grow the business from a Dubai-based Content Creator operation into a global media company.
In addition, Morris has held positions at LADbible Group and Barcroft Studios, where he helped lead the business for over a decade before selling to Future PLC.
Vicky Etchells
Director of Podcasts
Global Studios
Vicky Etchells is Director of Podcasts at Global Studios, where she leads the creative and editorial strategy and development of Global's portfolio of original podcasts across audio, video and social.
She is responsible for many of Global's flagship brands, including The News Agents, the UK's biggest daily news podcast, Up to Speed, one of the UK's leading Formula 1 podcasts, My Therapist Ghosted Me, The Sports Agents and Christiane Amanpour Presents. She has played a leading role in transforming Global's podcast business into a video-first operation, extending brands across YouTube, live events and digital platforms.
Over more than 20 years in media, Vicky has built a reputation for growing audiences, developing high-profile talent and leading teams through periods of significant change. Before joining Global Studios, she held a number of senior editorial leadership roles across commercial radio, including Head of Newsgathering at LBC, where she led one of the UK's largest commercial news operations.
Vicky has received numerous industry awards, serves on several industry boards and advisory groups, and mentors the next generation of leaders through Women in Journalism.
Global Studios
Vicky Etchells is Director of Podcasts at Global Studios, where she leads the creative and editorial strategy and development of Global's portfolio of original podcasts across audio, video and social.
She is responsible for many of Global's flagship brands, including The News Agents, the UK's biggest daily news podcast, Up to Speed, one of the UK's leading Formula 1 podcasts, My Therapist Ghosted Me, The Sports Agents and Christiane Amanpour Presents. She has played a leading role in transforming Global's podcast business into a video-first operation, extending brands across YouTube, live events and digital platforms.
Over more than 20 years in media, Vicky has built a reputation for growing audiences, developing high-profile talent and leading teams through periods of significant change. Before joining Global Studios, she held a number of senior editorial leadership roles across commercial radio, including Head of Newsgathering at LBC, where she led one of the UK's largest commercial news operations.
Vicky has received numerous industry awards, serves on several industry boards and advisory groups, and mentors the next generation of leaders through Women in Journalism.
Tim Hincks
Co-CEO
Expectation TV
Tim Hincks is one of the UK’s most successful television executives, who over a 30-year career has been responsible some of the world’s most acclaimed TV shows, from hit formats to award-wining dramas, long running factual brands and reality shows.
As Co-CEO of Expectation, Tim oversees the company’s slate of high-quality, award-winning scripted and non-scripted content for broadcasters and streamers worldwide including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC, Channel 4, Acorn, TV, ITV and UKTV. Expectation’s returning brands, and limited series span drama, blue-chip documentaries, factual entertainment, comedy, talent-led entertainment formats, access-driven premium true-crime stories, and podcasts. Recent hits include Clarkson’s Farm, Malice (Prime Video); Murder 24/7, Alma’s Not Normal, Hell Jumper, Guilt, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home (BBC); The Dyers’ Caravan Park, The Essex Murders, Intelligence (Sky); The Chelsea Detective for Acorn TV; and David Baddiel: Cat Man, The Change (Channel 4).
Before Expectation Tim spent 20 years at Endemol ending as Global President of Endemol Group (and later Endemol Shine) where he oversaw creativity and strategy across 80 companies in more than 40 countries worldwide. He was responsible for hit formats including Big Brother, Deal or No Deal , 8 Out of 10 cats, and Would I Lie To You? , together with multi-award-winning dramas such as Black Mirror, Humans and Peaky Blinders.
Tim is a Trustee of the Royal Television Society, was Executive Chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival between 2008 and 2013, and has served on the boards of the National Theatre and The Royal Court. He went to The Weald comprehensive school and is proud to be an Trustee of the 93% Club and a regular contributor to Speakers For Schools. Tim is a regular commentator on the media, and also hosts a podcast about David Bowie with David Baddiel which absolutely no-one listens to.
Expectation TV
Tim Hincks is one of the UK’s most successful television executives, who over a 30-year career has been responsible some of the world’s most acclaimed TV shows, from hit formats to award-wining dramas, long running factual brands and reality shows.
As Co-CEO of Expectation, Tim oversees the company’s slate of high-quality, award-winning scripted and non-scripted content for broadcasters and streamers worldwide including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC, Channel 4, Acorn, TV, ITV and UKTV. Expectation’s returning brands, and limited series span drama, blue-chip documentaries, factual entertainment, comedy, talent-led entertainment formats, access-driven premium true-crime stories, and podcasts. Recent hits include Clarkson’s Farm, Malice (Prime Video); Murder 24/7, Alma’s Not Normal, Hell Jumper, Guilt, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home (BBC); The Dyers’ Caravan Park, The Essex Murders, Intelligence (Sky); The Chelsea Detective for Acorn TV; and David Baddiel: Cat Man, The Change (Channel 4).
Before Expectation Tim spent 20 years at Endemol ending as Global President of Endemol Group (and later Endemol Shine) where he oversaw creativity and strategy across 80 companies in more than 40 countries worldwide. He was responsible for hit formats including Big Brother, Deal or No Deal , 8 Out of 10 cats, and Would I Lie To You? , together with multi-award-winning dramas such as Black Mirror, Humans and Peaky Blinders.
Tim is a Trustee of the Royal Television Society, was Executive Chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival between 2008 and 2013, and has served on the boards of the National Theatre and The Royal Court. He went to The Weald comprehensive school and is proud to be an Trustee of the 93% Club and a regular contributor to Speakers For Schools. Tim is a regular commentator on the media, and also hosts a podcast about David Bowie with David Baddiel which absolutely no-one listens to.
Jen Topping
Founder
Business of TV
Jen helps producers, TV broadcasters, brands and creators grow their businesses in an era of tech disruption. Over 5,500 industry professionals subscribe to her bestselling Substack newsletter, Business of TV, which covers what TV, film and content producers need to know to plan for the future. She has supported over 100 independent TV, film and content production companies through programmes including Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund, FilmCity Futures and North East Screen; regularly leads sessions for organisations such as Pact, Documentary Campus and Indielab; and has worked with clients including the Booker Prizes, STV and Beano Studios. Previously, she was a director at the Microsoft studio making interactive TV for Xbox, and spent and seven years at Channel 4 working across 4oD, multiplatform TV shows, channel4.com, YouTube and social. She started her career as a BBC news trainee. She has an MBA and was vice chair of BIMA, the trade body for the British digital industry.
Business of TV
Jen helps producers, TV broadcasters, brands and creators grow their businesses in an era of tech disruption. Over 5,500 industry professionals subscribe to her bestselling Substack newsletter, Business of TV, which covers what TV, film and content producers need to know to plan for the future. She has supported over 100 independent TV, film and content production companies through programmes including Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund, FilmCity Futures and North East Screen; regularly leads sessions for organisations such as Pact, Documentary Campus and Indielab; and has worked with clients including the Booker Prizes, STV and Beano Studios. Previously, she was a director at the Microsoft studio making interactive TV for Xbox, and spent and seven years at Channel 4 working across 4oD, multiplatform TV shows, channel4.com, YouTube and social. She started her career as a BBC news trainee. She has an MBA and was vice chair of BIMA, the trade body for the British digital industry.
Alex Hryniewicz
Managing Director, Network Social Platforms
Little Dot Studios
Alex Hryniewicz is Managing Director, Network Social Platforms at Little Dot Studios, a multi-platform production company, social media agency and digital media network. He leads the delivery and monetisation of premium digital content across major video and social platforms, driving revenue growth and wider strategic initiatives for the Little Dot Studios Network. Alex manages a portfolio of 135+ Little Dot Studios owned and operated YouTube channel network, and most recently served as Executive Producer on the digital content created during the search for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance. Previously, Alex was Head of Multiplatform at Maverick Television, working across award-winning cross-platform projects for major UK broadcasters and commercial partners.
Little Dot Studios
Alex Hryniewicz is Managing Director, Network Social Platforms at Little Dot Studios, a multi-platform production company, social media agency and digital media network. He leads the delivery and monetisation of premium digital content across major video and social platforms, driving revenue growth and wider strategic initiatives for the Little Dot Studios Network. Alex manages a portfolio of 135+ Little Dot Studios owned and operated YouTube channel network, and most recently served as Executive Producer on the digital content created during the search for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance. Previously, Alex was Head of Multiplatform at Maverick Television, working across award-winning cross-platform projects for major UK broadcasters and commercial partners.
Rhian Roberts
Commissioner for Podcasts & Formats
BBC Audio Speech
Rhian is the Commissioner for Podcasts and Formats for BBC Audio Speech. Her titles include: Uncanny, What’s Up Docs, Fame Under Fire, Top Comment, You’re Dead To Me, Sliced Bread and Lady Killers. She’s also commissioning visualised podcasts like Sort Your Life Out Unpacked and Here For The History. Rhian began her career as a video editor and then journalist for BBC News. For fun she goes home to Wales to practise her Welsh.
BBC Audio Speech
Rhian is the Commissioner for Podcasts and Formats for BBC Audio Speech. Her titles include: Uncanny, What’s Up Docs, Fame Under Fire, Top Comment, You’re Dead To Me, Sliced Bread and Lady Killers. She’s also commissioning visualised podcasts like Sort Your Life Out Unpacked and Here For The History. Rhian began her career as a video editor and then journalist for BBC News. For fun she goes home to Wales to practise her Welsh.
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