Steve Ahern is an internationally recognised trainer, digital media industry expert and broadcast management consultant. He is the author of the text book Making Radio and the founding editor of the radioinfo industry trade publications in Australia, Asia and Africa.

Steve previously held various media industry leadership positions including Manager of ABC Radio in Sydney, Director of the ABU Media Academy in Kuala Lumpur and Director of the Radio faculty at Australia’s elite media university, AFTRS.

In his forty year media career, Steve has helped found a number of media tech start up companies and has steered the boards of media and communications companies around the world to commercial success. He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday honours list for his contribution to media and training.

Steve began his media career as a presenter, producer and announcer at commercial and community radio stations in Australia, then joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where he managed radio stations in Newcastle (2NC), Canberra (2CN) and Melbourne (3LO).

He was the founding consultant for South Africa’s National Electronic Media Institute (NEMISA), and Afghanistan’s Nai Media Institute (NMI) and has developed training curricula for universities and media companies in Singapore and India.

Steve has also worked in Teaching, International Diplomacy and Executive Management.

He is a sought-after international conference speaker, with a degree in Education, qualifications in Workplace Training and post graduate qualifications in Business Management.

Golda Arthur is an award-winning audio producer who creates innovative podcasts that connect deeply with listeners. Over the course of her 20 year career in journalism, she’s worked on breaking news, produced long-form documentaries, and led teams of creative people on deadline. She has reported, edited and produced audio at the BBC World Service, and launched and run podcasts at Vox Media and MIT Technology Review. In 2023 she hosted and created Overlooked, an award-winning podcast about women’s health. She teaches audio reporting at Columbia University and lives in New York City.

Natasha Aziz (she/her) is a classically trained musician, recording engineer, podcast producer and storyteller. Over her 20+ year career at CBC, she has worked on both the English and French networks, and on current affairs and music programs. She has produced live radio programs from every single province and territory in Canada and won a Juno Award for her editing contribution to violinist James Ehnes recording Bruch Concertos, Vol. 2. 

Swarup nurtured Stark Communications Pvt. Ltd., from its inception in 1994 in Trivandrum, South India, to an agency recognized for its distinctive creative, work ethic, people-centric growth and outstanding client retention record. He played a key role in building the Kerala Tourism brand for two decades, actively partnering the brand’s journey from a non-entity to India’s No.1 tourism destination. Swarup’s tourism campaigns have consistently set benchmarks in the realm of destination marketing in India and won him many national and international awards.

Andrew Biggs is a five-time New York Festival winning audio producer. He has worked in radio for almost 20 years in New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East and currently owns and operates eyesound, working for New Zealand's largest radio and media organization NZME for Coast, ZM, Hits, Mix and more.

Benoit Bories is a sound artist. He has produced audio documentaries and sound art pieces for different public broadcast companies. His sound art activity comes originally from the radio documentary. It has gradually transformed over time towards more hybrid productions combining forms borrowing from sound art, acousmatic composition and field recording while retaining this desire to document societal issues. He was, during his experiments, brought to establish a formalism of sound writing which is specific to him. His learning and practice of sound writing are based on in-depth training in physics, a taste for musical experimentation and a desire to confront social issues in the field of these issues. He insists on maintaining an artisanal relationship to sound work.

Since 2016, he has been presenting his pieces in the form of "documentary concerts" and developing sound pieces for live performance, or installations. He has collaborated with several festivals and cultural venues for his performances and regularly participates in artistic residencies abroad. Benoit Bories has won several international awards and mentions for his sound work (Premios Ondas Prize, Prix Bohemia, Phonurgia Nova Awards, New York Radio Awards, Grand Prix Nova Romania, Prix Europa, IDA Awards).

Creator of the Webby nominated show, The Process with Jude Brewer, J.B. makes a living as an editor, sound designer, voice actor, and writer. Between producing for Pulitzer Prize winning and breakout artists, his work has been featured on every major podcast platform, receiving praise from KCRW, Radiotopia, PRX, Lifehacker, Vulture, the AV Club, the NYTimes, Bello Collective, Discover Pods, and Retreat West UK. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Since 1995 Diego has utilized his hybrid skills as a scriptwriter, sound designer, musician, radio producer, video editor, post producer, director and tv producer. His impressive career trajectory has seen Diego working within the best first-line radio stations in Buenos Aires as an independent audiovisual producer, creating an unmistakable style through sounds and graphics among all media productions.

As Owner and Director of DMC STUDIO in Buenos Aires, Diego specializes in radio arts, sound stories, commercials, field recording, sound design and mixing. An industry pro known for award-winning work, he creates audiovisual productions for radio, TV, social networks and movies. 

Diego also serves as a Radio Producer for Urbana Play FM.

With 8 Gold New York Festivals Radio Awards, 1 Silver, and 6 Bronze, he has also twice earned the presitigious NYF Grand Award, the ultimate honor bestowed at the NYF Radio Awards Gala.

Dave Carter is a creative producer, accomplished writer and interviewer who’s spent more than 30 years’ leading the conception and production of award-winning podcast, radio, and television content. With a wealth of experience both in front of and behind the mic, Dave has been instrumental in shaping high-end content for the likes of LiSTNR, MCM Entertainment, Granada, SEN, and more.

In his current role as General Manager and Executive Producer at the Australian-based contentproduction company Media Heads, Dave oversees the company’s day-to-day operations while also spearheading its overall creative strategy and output. Dave has spent decades directing and working with talent from all walks of life. His commitment to excellence and quality has helped bring out the best in people which has been a large part of Media Heads' success. With a focus on delivering purpose-driven narratives and human stories, Dave is heavily involved with all of the company’s creative output, including the award-winning podcast titles ‘Closing The Net’ , ‘OPERATION ALLIANCE: 2002 Bali Bombings’, and ‘ALWAYS LIVE’ .

Mike joined News UK in 2017 to head Virgin Radio UK. He launched The Chris Evans Breakfast Show in 2019 alongside two new brand extensions – Virgin Radio Anthems and Virgin Radio Chilled. In January 2021 Mike signed and launched The Graham Norton Radio Show and that June launched the award winning Virgin Radio Pride UK, a station to broadcast through Pride season and the summer months to bring together the LGBTQ+ community. Mike is also a member of the News UK Diversity board which was set up to drive diversity throughout News UK.

Mike has worked in major markets across the world in his previous roles as Operations Director for Newcap Radio in Vancouver; Network Content Director for the UK’s Bauer City Network; Deputy Group PD for Nova Entertainment in Australia and Galaxy Group Programme Director for Global Radio in the UK.

An award-winning programmer, Mike’s accolades range from Sony awards in the UK,  ACRA’s in Australia and an award from the United Nations for a series on World AIDS Day. In 2017 Mike was made an honorary lifetime member of the UK’s Student Radio Association.

Jennie Cataldo is an award-winning radio and podcast producer. She is the creator of Accompany Studios, a radio and podcast production company based in San Francisco, California. Accompany Studios uses music, creative audio editing and sound design to produce audio stories that sing.

Jennie has produced a variety of audio content, including commercial and public radio programs, documentaries, short form series, specials and podcasts. The range of subjects in which she has produced programs includes history, music, culture, health, science, and technology. Her productions have aired on national and international networks. She has worked with celebrity host talent such as Dan Aykroyd, Susan Sarandon, and Reid Hoffman. Jennie has conducted hundreds of interviews with critically acclaimed recording artists, authors, critics, historians, entrepreneurs and academic experts. She works with clients such as the University of California at Berkeley, the United States Library of Congress, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
 

Jennie’s work has been recognized yearly at the International Radio Festival since 2015, where she has also served as a Grand Jury member and presenter. Jennie also serves on the New York Festivals Radio Awards Advisory Board.

Jennie’s interests include music history, cultural criticism and analysis, literature, narrative nonfiction, and record collecting. She studied Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts at San Francisco State University, where she graduated with honors and received a BA in 2012.

John Catlett is a life-long radio broadcaster, having been introduced to the medium as an undergraduate volunteer at WPRB-FM at Princeton University in 1960. He completed his studies with an MBA in marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. After early experience at King Broadcasting Company in the Pacific Northwest and Time-Life Broadcast in New York City, he was tapped to manage CBS-owned WBBM-FM in Chicago just as the potential of FM radio was beginning to see its earliest realization. In 1972, he was transferred by CBS to take over WCBS-FM in New York City, where he installed the first major-market all-oldies format in July of 1972. Without any significant promotion support, the station suddenly became the first FM station to break into the top ten rated stations in the market, with a #5 ranking overall, and only six stations nationwide--AM or FM--had larger cumulative audiences. The oldies format survives to this day at WCBS-FM, with strong ratings.

Chris began his career in audio production as an intern and consultant for Sirius Satellite Radio (now SiriusXM Radio). While simultaneously earning his degree from Seton Hall University, he helped create Oscar and Grammy award winner Jamie Foxx’s comedy and music channel “The Foxxhole”.

Upon successful completion and tremendous success with “The Foxxhole”, Chris joined SiriusXM full time and helped create “Carlin’s Corner”, a 24/7 George Carlin comedy channel and “Que Funny”, SiriusXM’s only bilingual Latino comedy channel. He also oversaw programming and operations for the “Urban View” and “Blue Collar Radio” (now “Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup”) channels. In addition to SiriusXM’s permanent stations, Chris also worked on pop-up channels such as “Richard Pryor Radio”, “Star Wars Radio”, “Comic Con Radio”, and “E3 Radio”.

As Director of Urban Talk and Comedy for SiriusXM, Chris worked on several audio documentaries. These documentaries provided his transition to the role of Vice President of Programming for Cadence13 (formerly DGital Media). While at Cadence13, he oversaw all documentary projects and produced top podcasts such as “Cover Up”, “Origins”, “What Really Happened”, and “Majority 54”.

Having worked with names like Jamie Foxx, Touré, James Andrew Miller, Joy Reid, Zak Levitt, Andrew Jenks, Joe Madison, ESSENCE, PEOPLE, Crooked Media, Sports Illustrated, WME, and the United Negro College Fund, Chris specializes in media partnerships and content development.

Chris is an award-winning documentary host, producer, and writer of the podcast series, Say Their Name, and his passion for conversations surrounding mental health have led him to create the series, Entrepreneur Struggle, where Chris talks about the various mental and emotional challenges that particularly impact business owners and executives.

With a passion for connecting audiences with innovative and inspiring content, Chris founded DCP Entertainment; a place to bring together audio and visual storytelling.

Sam is an Associate Professor at Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom. He is the Course Leader for the MA in Media Production and teaches a range of undergraduate and postgraduate audio production classes for the College of English and Media. Before joining academia, he worked in the New Zealand and United Kingdom commercial radio industries. Sam is a Trustee of the Charles Parker Archive Trust and is a member of the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research, where he investigates development radio, documentary production and popular music studies. Sam has written chapters and articles about popular music and radio production for various publications, and his book, Music Documentaries for Radio, was published by Routledge in 2021. He continues to work as a radio freelancer, producing music documentaries for networks in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Jax Coombes is a Radio Producer with over ten years’ experience working at BBC Radio 6 Music making award-winning documentaries including a Palme D’Or in 2015 for John Grant’s Songs From A Dark Place, a documentary exploring the music, magic, and rise of Icelandic music.

Radio Mitre is the Nº 1 radio station of Argentina. It has great quality in its sound and promotions. There is one guy who is responsible for writing these promotions and monitor its editing and coordinate its airing. He is in charge of maintaining the highest quality standards in music and institutional jingles; he is the director of special reports; he is the Artistic Producer of the whole broadcast... He is Juan Pablo Córdoba. He studied Social Communication (UBA - University of Buenos Aires) and Multimedia Production (EMBA), and he is a vital part of Radio Mitre since 2004.

Nicholas Davis has worked in radio, television and print for the past three decades covering everything from current affairs to the arts. He has won many awards for his journalism, including a 2006 Gabriel Award. For the past 24 years Nicholas has worked at CBC as a reporter and producer -- most notably as Senior Producer for Metro Morning, the number one morning show in Toronto. He’s currently the Executive Director, Engagement & Inclusion.  He was previously  Manager of Program Development for CBC, where he was responsible for the ongoing development of local programming in radio, television and online.

Susan Dennehy is a multiple award-winning Independent Radio Producer based in Dublin. She holds a BA Comms (Hons) with a major in radio production from Dublin City University and completed her professional training as a Radio Producer with RTE in 2005. Susan has been producing radio documentaries and series on a freelance basis for national Radio stations RTE Radio 1 and Newstalk for many years. In October 2024, her docu-series ‘Last One On The Train’ produced for RTE ,won gold in the documentary category of the Irish IMRO Radio Awards. 

Joni Deutsch is an award-winning audio professional and NPR veteran with nearly 15 years of outstanding experience as a producer/host, content manager, and marketer/audience growth specialist. Deutsch is currently SVP of Marketing and Audience Development at The Podglomerate, where she leads audience strategy for high-profile podcast clients including NHPR's "Bear Brook" (praised as one of the best true crime podcasts by Stephen King), Magnificent Noise & PRX's "This Is Dating" (named "one of the best podcasts of 2022" by NYT), and "Missing Pages" (called a must-listen by Apple Podcasts and Washington Post), as well as PBS, NPR, Freakonomics Radio, Harvard, Stanford, and NPR stations (WHYY, KUOW, WUNC), among many others. Deutsch spent the first decade of her career helping to innovate audio and community engagement within public radio (including at member stations WVPB and WFAE, as well as a national host/producer with NPR and NPR Music). Her strong communication skills and creative marketing style have led to national features by Bloomberg, The Verge's Hot Pod, Harvard's Nieman Journalism Lab, Buzzfeed, Axios, Slate, Digiday, Poynter, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and beyond. Her work has been recognized by the Murrow Awards, Gracie Awards, and Webby Awards, in addition to the ONA's Women's Leadership Accelerator, Axios' "30 under 30," and Duke University TiP's Early Achievement Award.

Jude Dobson is an award winning historical documentary producer and best-selling author, who hails from New Zealand. Her current focus is the human face of conflict - the stories of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances in wartime. She is currently writing the WW II spy drama screenplay based on the memoir.

https://judedobson.com/

Elaine Dunseath is an award winning radio producer at BBC Northern Ireland. A journalist for 15 years at the organisation, she has a background which includes researching and producing television current affairs investigations and television news.  She has a particular interest in highlighting the plight of society’s most vulnerable and helping those who often don’t have a platform to be heard. In June 2019, she and reporter Declan Harvey won bronze at the New York Festivals Radio Awards Social Issues category for ‘Did A Serial Killer Murder My Sister?’ which explored how alcoholism can often mean domestic abuse victims go unnoticed. Her most recent documentary is ‘Silent No More: Fermanagh’s Abused Children’ which showed how one person speaking out has forced a rural community to confront how widespread child sexual abuse was allowed to go on for years. 

With over a decade of experience shaping the radio industry, James discovered his passion for radio presenting in 2009 after immersing himself in every aspect of station operations. His career took him from local shows to national and syndicated broadcasts across the UK. In 2014, James made the leap to the UAE, where he now serves as the Content Director for two powerhouse stations: Virgin Radio Dubai, the Middle East's biggest English radio station, and Dubai 92, the longest running radio station in the UAE.

With a focus on engaging radio content, promotions, video production, and digital integration – these strategies have helped increase standards of content across the industry. He collaborates with on-air talent to craft market-leading radio shows and develops cutting-edge programming designed for the modern, ever-evolving audio landscape.

Nathan Farr is an enthusiastic member of the community, best known for running the awards and festivals program for scripted, factual and sports programming at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Padraic is now Head of Operations of Clare FM and Group Programme Director of Clare FM & Tipp FM. 

Over the past few years Padraic has directed & edited several documentaries including, “Vincent Hanley Cominatcha” the life story of one of Ireland’s greatest presenters, Vincent Hanley.

“Bullets & Ballads in the Banner County”.  2018 he produced “Top of the World” the story of a local Clare man becoming the first Clare man to climb Mount Everest.  It received a bronze award at the New York International Festival Radio Program Awards for The World’s Best Radio Programs in the Human-Interest category.

In 2019 Padraic and his colleague Gavin Grace produced “The Rescue” the story of Jim Warny a local Clare man that travelled to Thailand to aid in the rescue of the Wild Boar Soccer Team.  The documentary received a Gold award at the New York International Festival Radio Program and a silver award in the IMRO awards.

Over the years Padraic has produced several imagining packages for Clare and Tipp FM. 

Strong production and programming content remains Padraic’s passion in life.

A Grand Jury member since 2009 and recipient of the New York Radio Festivals United Nations Silver Medal (UNHCR) 2008 - The Stolen Generation, SBS Radio - Alchemy. 
Executive Producer and Leader in radio, podcasts, TV and digital media production, having played a lead role in establishing the SBS PopAsia brand from a start-up radio show on SBS Australia into a 24/7 Digital Radio Station, TV Show and digital content hub. Over 25 years Maddy has built significant relationships with audience, industry and community stakeholders, focusing on diversity, music and culture. As an Asian Pop subject matter expert (artists, companies + media) Maddy has negotiated interviews and access to artists as talent for radio shows, podcasts and performance. 

International Broadcast Consultant VALERIE GELLER is president of Geller Media International. She works with top broadcasters in radio, TV, internet throughout the world, and has consulted on several award winning documentary films. As a content and story consultant, trainer and seminar leader, Using proven methods she developed over years of working in 35 countries with over 500 radio and television stations, Geller coaches and trains on air personalities, programmers, producers and broadcast news journalists to become more Powerful Communicators Geller has worked with some of the top personalities in the world. to get, keep and grow their audiences using the proven POWERFUL COMMUNICATOR techniques - Geller, a former program director (WABC, New York) and News Director (K101, San Francisco) has been training broadcasters since 1991. Her clients in Europe have included LBC, The BBC, Australia's ABC Sweden's MTG,among others.

Slobodan Govorcin, holds B.A. in dramaturgy. He is Editor in Drama and fiction Department with the Public media institution RTV Vojvodina in Serbia. He has been a jury member of international radio drama festivals for several times now. He also served as a selector for national amateur theatre festivals and for the festival of monodrama for children. As the author of radio dramas he won awards at the Prix ex Aequo in Slovakia and at the Festival of Best Radio Shows in New York. He was preselected at Prix Europa in Berlin, Prix Nova in Bucharest, HearNow in Kansas and UK radio drama festival in Herne Bay.

With over 24 years’ experience in the advertising, radio, movie content and newspaper industries Viplove has been at the forefront of  creating and curating multiplatform content, client led brand solutions, radio programming and music management.

A post graduate in English Literature, Viplove has been writing for newspaper and publications on films and film music since an early age, paving his way to advertising industry where he started heading a team of copywriters in no time.

Started his radio career in 2001, he has launched 29 radio stations across India, hired and trained many talents who went on to winning many international accolades.

With an intention to create a positive and meaningful impact on the radio industry of India, he is in the process of launching a podcast for radio professionals who are not finding radio as a challenging medium any more.

Lauren Hansen is an award-winning audio producer and journalist who loves rich, narrative storytelling that explores our present conditions through an historic, immersive, and empathetic lens. She has developed and produced a variety of podcasts - from the political and news-driven, to the celebrity-led, to thoughtful pop culture explorations, and highly produced limited series. She is currently a supervising producer at iHeartPodcasts and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Cathie has worked for various Radio and Television companies internationally including those in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

This award winning broadcaster has been extensively involved on both sides of the microphone

Scripting, performing and producing a wide range of programmes for television, radio, and live performance, has given Cathie the opportunity to work with professional musicians and actors in various countries, and with young people both in entertainment and education. More recently she has specialized in researching and producing historical entertainments.

Cathie has had a long association with NEW York Festivals almost since its beginning days.

Her website is www.cathieharrop.com

Dylan Haskins is a multi-award winning audio commissioner and executive producer at BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live responsible for podcasts including I’m Not A Monster, Have You Heard George’s Podcast?, Where Is George Gibney?, Bad People and Wheel of Misfortune. 

I’m Not A Monster and Where is George Gibney? won a total of six Golds, a Silver and the Grand Jury prize at the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards, contributing to the BBC also being awarded 2021 Broadcaster of the Year.  

In US and Canada, Dylan’s podcast commissions have also won a Peabody Award, an inaugural Podcast Academy ‘Ambies’ Award, the Banff World Media Festival ‘Rockies’ Award for Podcast of the Year, a RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award and multiple Webby Awards including Best Documentary and Best Sound Design. In Europe, they’ve won the Rose d’Or for Audio, multiple UK Radio Academy ARIAS Golds, Silver and Bronze, the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Podcast of the Year, NME Podcast of the Year, British Podcast Awards 'Moment of the Year' Gold and multiple Silvers, Overall Prize at the Justice Media Awards in Ireland and been Specially Commended at the Prix Europa.

Paul Hollins

Paul Hollins is a versatile broadcaster, insightful writer, and innovative business owner whose influence in the media industry is both broad and impactful. His broadcasting career has seen him become a familiar voice on some of the UK's most prominent radio stations, including Capital FM, Heart, and Smooth Radio. His engaging style and natural rapport with listeners have made him a distinguished figure in the radio landscape.

At the helm of Blue Revolution and Radio Express, Paul has propelled these businesses to international acclaim, providing services to a distinguished roster of the world's most notable radio stations and brands. His leadership has expanded the reach of Blue Revolution into the burgeoning world of digital media, with the production of popular podcasts that cater to diverse audiences and showcase his company's adaptability and creative prowess.

As an author, Paul has offered his rich knowledge of the industry through books like "Hang The DJ?" and "Essential Media Law." His expertise extends to journalism, contributing articles for RetroPop Magazine and previously for Music Power Magazine, which speaks to his multifaceted talent and ability to engage with readers on various platforms.

Paul's skills as a communicator are not limited to broadcasting and writing. He has conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, including Elton John and the Spice Girls, revealing his talent for drawing out intriguing and personal narratives. His dynamic presence is equally evident in live hosting and captivating on-stage performances. Additionally, his voice has brought life to campaigns for major brands such as Cadbury and Currys/PC World and has narrated a best-selling documentary series, highlighting his versatility as a voice artist.

Paul Hollins's career is a testament to his creative flair and professional dedication, making him a notable and influential figure in the world of media.

Matt has worked in the radio industry for more than three decades, and in 2018 founded Trisonic, a specialist audio creative and media agency based in London.   Trisonic creates and promotes the use of audio in all its forms.

Matt was a pioneer in the field of radio commercial production, has extensive experience in creating editorial audio content and radio programme management.   He is a highly skilled radio copywriter, audio producer and director in his own right, and also co-founded Spiteful Puppet Entertainment, whose audio dramas have scooped numerous accolades from the BBC and New York Festivals.

Geoff set-up Biscuit Jim in 2024 with a focus on format development, sustainable production and providing an a-list friendly service. The resulting company is net zero, setting targets to minimise the carbon footprint of each production, and funding the offsetting of any carbon used. Having worked with the likes of Emma Bunton, Julia Roberts, Claudia Winkleman and James Cordon, Geoff and Biscuit Jim have a particular focus on creating premium quality productions that work around intensely busy schedules.  

For over 20 years Geoff has been at the helm of some of the biggest shows in the UK & Australia. Recognised with multiple awards for creativity he has also held roles in TV and Events Communications. A creative producer, strategist and talent manager with almost two decades experience across radio, TV & social media.

Previously at TBI Media, he was the Executive Producer of Claudia Winkleman for BBC Radio 2 and oversaw a slate which includes programmes for BBC radio and TV, commercial radio, brand podcasts and Audible Originals. 

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Alex Jungius is the driving force behind the speech content at This Is Distorted, an award-winning audio-first content agency known for its innovative work with global brands and household names.

With over 20 years of experience at the top level of the UK radio and audio sector Alex began his career in Brighton, where his passion for audio storytelling and sound design took root. Before Distorted, Alex served as Programme Director for the Capital Network, overseeing eight radio stations and reaching over 7 million listeners weekly. His work has earned prestigious awards from the Radio Academy, Arqiva, and the New York Festivals.

Under Alex’s leadership, This Is Distorted has grown into a leading content agency, celebrated for its creativity and excellence in audio production.

Aaron Kearney (OAM) is a multi-award-winning broadcaster, photojournalist, sports commentator, five-time New York Festival award winner, AIPS Sports Award Silver Medallist and Prodi Journalist of the Year.

He’s won a Walkley Award for emergency broadcasting and forged a career across newspapers, television, radio and social with Fairfax, Channel Seven Australia, the ABC and others.

He’s currently the Director of AKS Media International, ABC’s Pacific Disaster Preparedness Broadcast Unit Lead and host of “Pacific Prepared”.

Aaron is in demand across the globe for his experience in broadcasting, commentary, storytelling and innovation, working for the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, the BBC World Service and universities and corporations on five continents.

An inaugural Summer Fellow at Reuters Institute for Journalism at the University of Oxford, he holds a Masters Degree and Graduate Certificate from Griffith University, specialising in broadcast for development. He designed and produced the world’s first Pacific indigenous language live broadcast of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, co-produced Papua New Guinea’s historic coverage of the 2015 Pacific Games and has mentored female journalists from six countries at several international events, including the Commonwealth Games.

In 2020, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to broadcasting.

Further information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-kearney-oam-28772767/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Kearney

James Keen is Managing Director for Tindle Radio’s Channel Island stations – Island FM in Guernsey, Channel 103 in Jersey and newly-launched Soleil Radio which broadcasts to all of the Channel Islands. Channel 103 and Island FM deliver the highest and second highest weekly reach percentages in the British Isles respectively.

As Managing Director, James Keen leads both the commercial and content sides of the businesses. Prior to joining Tindle, James was Managing Editor for Global’s Heart stations in the east of England before which he worked for GCap Media, UKRD Group and Turner Broadcasting Systems.

Fahimeh Khezr Heidari is a highly accomplished multimedia journalist, analyst, and commentator with over 25 years of experience in journalism and media production. Her work focuses on social, political, and women’s and minority issues, with specialized expertise in Iranian internal dynamics and foreign policy. Fahimeh’s ability to produce award-winning content and offer critical, thought-provoking insights into Iran’s socio-political landscape has made her a respected voice in the media industry.

Fahimeh has won several prestigious awards from the New York Festivals for her work in radio and television productions, earning Silver, Bronze, and honorary diplomas for her impactful contributions. These accolades reflect her commitment to producing high-quality, engaging content that resonates globally.

She began her career in Iran, where her critical stance toward the Islamic Republic led her to work with several newspapers that were eventually shut down by the government. After being banned from traveling legally and having her passport confiscated, Fahimeh was forced to flee the country in 2010, crossing into Turkey. Despite these challenges, she continued her journalism journey, joining Radio Farda later that year and producing influential content for Farsi-speaking audiences outside of Iran.

Her qualifications include deep expertise in geopolitics, a strong understanding of the media landscape, and a proven ability to critically assess content, making her well-positioned to serve as a Grand Jury member for the New York Festivals Radio Awards. Her international experience and recognized contributions to the field highlight her dedication to excellence and innovation in storytelling.

Becky Lamb-Prichard is Head of Marketing at award-winning audio agency, This Is Distorted. With over 20 years of experience in the audio industry, Becky has worked on marketing campaigns for some of the UK’s most prominent entertainment organisation including Global and Bauer Media. She is known for her innovative and creative approach that has driven numerous award-winning projects.

At This Is Distorted, Becky partners with brands and individuals to ensure their stories are not only told but resonate widely. She describes her role as the perfect meeting of her two passions: people and audio. Driven by a commitment to make meaningful content that has a positive impact in society, Becky is on a mission to influence change and spark conversations through audio.

Ivan is the Head of Content at Radio Express in the US and Blue Revolution in the UK.
He is the executive producer of the Official World Chart, the UK Chart (UK's Official Airplay Chart), The Kim Wilde 80s Show and the international version of the Joe Elliott Show, distributed worldwide by Radio Express. 

Geneviève Levasseur is Senior Director of Radio-Canada’s music radio network. A lifelong music lover and seasoned media transformation leader, Geneviève made her mark in the digital space by launching the groundbreaking music radio streaming service Bandeapart.fm in the early 2000s. She later went on to oversee Canada’s largest French-language news site, Radio-Canada.ca, and founded her own creative studio,Ingrid Ingrid, whose interactive experiences have toured across Canada and the U.S.She is currently dedicated to showcasing Canadian musical talent through ICI MUSIQUE

STEVE LEVINE BIOGRAPHY 2019
Starting as a tape-op at CBS studios in 1975, Steve progressed to in-house engineer
and worked with many new wave, punk & pop acts including The Clash, The Jags,
The Vibrators, XTC & Sailor.
Beach Boy, Bruce Johnson was to play an important part in Steve's early career,
culminating with Steve producing an album for the Beach Boys several years later.
Steve produced all of Culture Club’s classic hits and the bands’ three multi-platinum
albums.
Artist collaborations include Honeyz, China Crisis, Gary Moore, Ziggy Marley,
Louise, The Creatures, The Angelic Upstarts, Lemmy & Motorhead, David Grant,
Jimmy The Hoover, Westworld, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Mis-teeq, 911.
Steve has collected a number of prestigious industry awards including a Brit Award,
Musicweek Award and a Grammy for his work with Deniece Williams.
He has appeared on many radio and TV programes, is a regular guest presenter of
the newspaper review on BBC weekend Breakfast and on BBC’s 6 Music with his
own show.
His radio production company produces original high quality radio content, in
particular, The Record Producers, a series for BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music.
Steve has won a SONY Radio Award and most recently 2 Gold Awards at the New
York Radio Festival.
He has also presented The Record Producers Live with special guests.
Busy producing new acts, recently XamVolo , Space, and a remix project for the
legendary Millie Jackson entitled “Exposed” for ACE records.
He is currently in the studio working with games producer MILKY TEA on the
soundtrack to a new exciting game HYPERBRAWL currently exclusive to the new
Apple Arcade platform .........more news soon ......and more tracks for
Electronic project Pretty Robotic.
Steve is a Director of PRS for music, a member of the MU, PPL,
and a LIPA Companion and recently elected to the new Liverpool Region Music
Council

Viola Lo is Executive Producer with Corea Studios.  She has immersed herself in the realms of radio and television for two decades, navigating vibrant cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and currently, the bustling metropolis of Seoul, South Korea. She previously contributes her expertise to TBS efm, Korea's premier foreign language channel, engaging in the diverse and global voice resonating from this vibrant city. 

Viola is esteemed for her proficiency in crafting entertaining programs and delving into the depths of documentary storytelling. With a multilingual background, she steadfastly believes in the power of storytelling as a universal language that captivates hearts and minds worldwide.

I was one of the original employees at Radio Clyde in Glasgow joining the station in November 1973. Through the 80s and 90s, I was Production Controller for Radio Clyde when the station won "Sony Station of the Year" 3 times and was nominated twice. I was also the producer on two Sony Award-winning shows for Best Rock and Pop Programme - Hue and Cry (1989) and The Big Day C1 (1991). I have 10 New York Radio World Medals as producer or co-producer. Among the other career highlights was the innovatory series of 17 annual open-air Kelvingrove Free Music Festivals which provided to launch pad for many local bands performing original music. I have always had an interest in aviation and have produced three critically acclaimed aviation documentaries. Doing the Continental – An hour-long examination of Continental’s first brush with Chapter 11 made in 1985/86 and featuring Continental pilots and crew, the FAA, and an exclusive interview with Phil Bakes. Britannia 300 Alph

Jennifer Macey has worked in radio and podcasting for 20 years+ in newsrooms at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and at DW Radio, Germany’s international broadcaster. She has produced podcasts for kids, for geographers, on economics, art, cultural diversity and education. Her audio documentary Kangaroo Cuddles won gold and bronze at the New York Radio Festivals in 2021 and her feature Half-Caste Legends was a finalist in 2024. Jennifer teaches podcasting at the University of Wollongong where she is currently undertaking a PhD in geography, creating an oral history podcast about a place, the changing industrial landscape of Port Kembla in Australia.

Michela is a reporter, radio author and producer for the Podcast editorial team at Rai Radio1. Specializing in "creative radio" and "audio documentary" at Goldsmiths University of London, she has also collaborated with the BBC. Since 2016, Michela has been working for Italian public radio and television, focusing on investigative journalism.

She was awarded the Prix Europa Rising Star in 2020 for the audio drama Goldfish and Soldiers and her audio series The Silenced was a finalist at this year's Prix Europa in the audio investigation category. Her latest podcast, Crazy Town, has been nominated for Best Radio Documentary at both the Prix Italia and Abu Prizes 2024.

Liliana Manna is a journalist who graduated in 1972 from the School of Journalism of the city of Buenos Aires and 1974 from the Institute of Radio Education. She was the first woman in Argentina radio to be named a writer-broadcaster in the News Service of Radio Belgrano and served as producer on various radio and television programs. In 7 opportunities, Manna was awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies at the New York Festivals. The last occasion was in 2014 where she won the Gold for Best Documentary for “30 Years of Democracy: Everybody’s Story.” Also in 2014 she won the Ondas Award, awarded by the Cadena Ser Spain, for best documentary radio program in the world “Human Trafficking: Merchants of Innocence” which on December 3rd was delivered in a special audience with Pope Francisco. Other international awards have included: (with journalist Nelson Castro) the "King of Spain" International Award. First distinction achieved by Argentine journalist radio special prize

SIOBHAN MCHUGH is a narrative podcast producer, podcast consultant, critic, award-winning author and academic, whose storytelling podcasts have won seven gold awards at New York Festivals. Siobhán’s collaborations include The Greatest Menace, about a ‘gay prison’ experiment:  described as ‘Australia’s S-Town’, it has won 17 major awards. 

She partnered with Melbourne’s The Age newspaper on hit podcasts Phoebe’s Fall, Wrong Skin, and The Last Voyage of The Pong Su and she co-hosts Heart of Artness, about transcultural aspects of contemporary Aboriginal art in Australia. Siobhán’s book, The Power of Podcasting: telling stories through sound (2022), unpacks the art of making narrative podcasts and analyses the history of podcasting as a vibrant medium that foments creativity and expression.

Siobhan’s book has been mentioned by the Oprah Winfrey Network and hailed as ‘the most in-depth guide to the best audio storytelling around the world’, by Marc Fennell, creator, Stuff The British Stole. Siobhan has appeared at podcast industry events alongside Dana Chivvis, producer of Serial, and Kara Swisher, host extraordinaire. She is Associate Professor (honorary) of Journalism at University of Wollongong and continues to teach and research podcasting in global settings.

Dr. Daithí McMahon is a critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning playwright, director, producer, sound artist and Associate Professor of Media & Culture at the University of Derby, United Kingdom. He is a specialist in historical fiction, social realism, and true crime drama with over 17 years of experience in radio and audio media production. Strong central narratives and an immersive audio experience are the hallmarks of his work and have led to him winning six New York Festivals Radio Awards, three PPI/IMRO Irish national radio awards and two invitations to compete at the Prix Europa. As an academic with an international profile his research interests lie in radio and audio media theory and practice; media sociology; digital culture and the critical political economy of the media industries. Through his practiced-based research, he is interested in capturing and disseminating culture, history, heritage and identity through oral history projects. His first book Producing Audio Drama: A Practical Guide for Radio & Podcast, is due to be published by Routledge in 2026.

Allison Michaels is the deputy director of audio at The Washington Post. In her role, she leads audio growth and distribution, oversees the editorial side of audio product and technology initiatives, including AI-read articles, and manages a team of producers. She’s a business-minded journalist with instincts for revenue-generation and standout, prestige storytelling. As an experienced manager, Allison empowers teams to think creatively and solve real problems. 

She was formerly the editor for political coverage in audio and the host of the "Can He Do That?" podcast. In the past, she's worked at The Washington Post as a newsroom projects editor, digital editor for politics, and as a mobile producer on the Emerging News Products team. She joined The Post in 2014. Prior to joining The Post, Allison worked at U.S. News & World Report, Washington City Paper, American Journalism Review and several other publications.

Noreen Mir is a broadcast journalist and a familiar voice to listeners in Hong Kong. Her background is in radio, and she is currently the presenter and producer of "Brunch with Noreen", a weekday magazine-style programme on RTHK Radio 3. With over 15 years of broadcast experience, Noreen is passionate in using her platform to share stories of those who are underserved and promote awareness and education about important social issues. Noreen frequently moderates and MC’s both corporate and charity events. In her spare time, she likes to read in the sun, people watch and explore local Cha Chaan Tengs (tea houses).

Eduardo "Lalo" Morino is an Argentine based voice actor, broadcast journalist, scriptwriter and a professor. He's been working in the global Media Industry for the past 28 years.

Since 2000, he's been part of Radio Mitre, the leading radio station of Argentina, as a service journalist, voice talent, and radio host. Currently, Eduardo's hosting "Overnight, weekend edition" (narrative, music & news) and has been part of teams widely recognized by the industry and audiences all over the world (King of Spain Award, New York Festivals, Martin Fierro, among others).

He is the institutional voice of La100FM and Golf Channel Latin America, and he works as Voice Actor and Voice Talent in various fiction, commercial and documentary productions (DirecTV, MTV, Tenaris University-Techint Group, and others).

He is a full professor at ISER (Instituto Superior de Enseñanza Radiofónica) and an independent media & comunication consultant.

Eduardo strongly believes that Radio can empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Leslie Mullen is an award-winning media producer with extensive experience in multiple formats, including photojournalism, documentary video, radio, podcasts, television, and stage performances. Demonstrated success in communicating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. Proven ability to orchestrate high-profile events and collaborate effectively with teams to achieve project goals. Adept at streamlining processes and improving efficiency to deliver high-quality productions within budget and timeline constraints. Developed projects for NASA, PBS, and The National Geographic Channel, as well as many other platforms.

Previously, she was the writer, producer and host of the NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory podcast “On a Mission.” A science photojournalist for over 20 years, she also is a documentary filmmaker and was previously the producer for Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “StarTalk” podcast.

Götz Naleppa, Drama Director & Sound Artist of Naleppa Audio Productions, Germany. He is one of the most well-known and experienced directors of radio plays in Germany. He is a member of the Radio Advisory Board.

In the 90’s he constructed the radio play departments of Germany Radio (Cologne / Berlin) as a radio play director, and from 1997 to 2008 Mr. Naleppa acted as director and dramaturg for Germany Kultur (responsible editor for sound art). Since January 2009 he has concentrated his talents on projects serving as a freelance director (radio drama, media arts), translator, and composer in digital sound art.

The NYF Gold trophy for “ZENScapes – City, Land, River” for Sound Art is Gotz Naleppa’s fourth

Started my radio career in 2002 as a DJ with a renowned radio station in Delhi, moved on to become the Program director with Radio City91.1FM, Mumbai in 2009. Have been part of the Radio city family ever since. I now work in the capacity of Vice President & Programming director-west for Radio City. I head 11 markets including mumbai and Regional head- Audacity, creative solutions.

In all close to 22 years of experience in my favourite forever- Radio!

Jason Phipps is Head of Content & Development at the London based independent podcast studio Chalk + Blade creators of titles such as 'Takin On Putin' and 'Spygate F1'. Previously he was a commissioning editor for BBC Sounds podcasts where his Peabody award winning Sounds team developed and commissioned podcast-first titles for BBC Sounds audio app including 'I'm Not A Monster', 'The Cipher', 'Where Is George Gibney?' and 'Have You Heard George's Podcast?'. His work is across genres from blue-chip journalistic serialised podcasts to blockbuster dramas. Previously he was Head of Podcasts at The Guardian newspaper, and is an award winning podcast/radio producer and believer in the unique power of audio in the digital age.

Richard Power is a multi-award-winning producer with ten years of experience in the industry. While a Senior Producer at 7digital Creative, he produced, directed and executive produced speech programming, drama, documentaries and podcast series for Audible, BBC World Service, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio 4 and Kiss. He has produced music programming for BBC Radio 2 with presenters Tony Blackburn, Jo Whiley, Trevor Nelson and Paul Gambaccini. Visual credits include The Gaming Show for BBC iPlayer and short videos for Warner Music Group and BBC Ideas.

Along with two silver New York Festival awards, Richard has won a James Beard award and was nominated for a Rose D’Or for the Audible series It Burns. In 2020 he was awarded 30 under 30 with the Radio Academy and Bronze for Best New Producer at the APAs.

He hosts a monthly radio show on Voices Radio.

HELEN QUIGLEY (Production Director, B7 Media) has more than nearly twenty years’ experience in producing audio for broadcast. 

As an audio drama producer for B7 Media, her credits include Theatre of the Damned - inspired by a true story about the birth of the Grand Guignol in 1920s Paris; The Space Race; Greenborne - a post-Covid radio soap opera; the Audible psychological thriller series The Effect; and for BBC Radio 4 the courtroom drama Barred and a modern dramatisation of the ancient Indian poem Mahabharata Now. Helen has also produced numerous audiobooks, including Marriage Bureau, Scimitar into Stanley and comic artist Dave Gibbon’s autobiography, Confabulation.

Other producer credits include national network radio promos for the BBC’s flagship TV programming, including Blue Planet II, Industry, Line of Duty, The Apprentice and Wild Isles and mastering for Fresh Air Production’s The Big Steal and Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place app.

Previously she was a Continuity Announcer and Producer for Comedy Central UK and in 2006 was also responsible for producing of the UK’s first branded comedy podcasts; Robin Ince’s Show and Tell and Utter Shambles.

In 2023, B7 Media launched Audioteria, a new purchase platform for the distribution of independently made audio drama.

Australian writer and independent radio feature maker following a long creative career at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a highly-regarded producer and presenter across a range of innovative, specialist programs, including The Listening Room and Into the Music. She has collaborated with composers, performers, writers, sound artists and musicians to create unique radio works for these shows and mentored emerging radio creators and artists in residence.

Recipient of international and national awards, including New York Radio Festivals Silver and Bronze awards, the Australian Human Rights & Equal Opportunities Commission Radio Award and the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize for Radio.

Tim Rohan is an independent journalist who writes for audio and print. He started his career working as a sportswriter for The New York Times and Sports Illustrated, where he wrote features and investigations. For several years now, he’s been making narrative podcasts, serving as the reporter, writer, and host. He made “Fall of a Titan,” a nine-part series investigating the death of NFL quarterback Steve McNair, and then “False Idol,” a seven-part series re-examining the rise and fall of Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympian who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. “False Idol” won Gold in the Sports Podcast category and Silver in the Narrative/Documentary Podcast and Serialized Podcast categories at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Awards.

Nicolás Harry Salvarrey is an Argentinian radio journalist, producer and works as a co-host in Perros de la Calle, Urbana Play 104.3. He also writes about beer, food and lifestyle as a freelancer.

An astute media professional with an insightful & cross cultural work experience of more than 18 years, comprising of Radio, Television, Digital Marketing & Events. Expertise in revenue optimization through branded content and creative client solutions.

Previously, Vice President, Radio City (Dainik Jagran)

Eimear Shannon is a producer and content creator with TodayFM, Ireland’s largest national commercial radio station. She is currently working on the flagship mid-morning radio show ‘Dave Moore on TodayFM. Since beginning her career on TodayFM, she has produced numerous shows across genres from current affairs to magazine and lifestyle to music and entertainment shows. 

She is also currently a producer and editor on the Irish podcast ‘Why Would You Tell Me That?!’, hosted by Dave Moore and comedian Neil Delamere. In 2024, she was a judge on the ‘RTE Choice Music Prize’, tasked with selecting for the best Irish album of the year.

She is a graduate of the BA in Journalism in DCU. A proud Dubliner, she lives and works in the city but is never too far away from popping into her parents to visit her beloved dog and cat.

Abhishek Sharrma is one of India’s most applauded Audio Programmers. His work saluting the Indian forces, shows on polio awareness, menstrual hygiene, organ donation and more are awarded at the New York festivals, India Radio Forum, Golden Mikes, ACEF and Radio Duniya awards. His recent work is for the Art of Living Radio that was set up, launched worldwide during the pandemic by the Global ambassador of peace Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. An expert with branded content, Abhishek currently head Bhopuwala and provides top class audio solutions to Radio Stations/Podcasters/other businesses worldwide.

Helen is an awarding winning producer/director and has been a judge with the New York Radio Festival since 2013. She runs Athena Media, in Ireland, a digital and broadcast storytelling agency, and Athena Media has previously won the Grand Award, six Gold, 2 Silver and a Bronze for its work at the New York Radio Festival. Athena Media has also been a multiple awardee at both the Celtic Media Festival Awards and the Irish Radio Awards. Helen is a graduate of UCD, DCU and was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University at the International Affairs Centre. She has worked as a news reporter with the Irish Times, a current affairs producer with RTE and she was editor news and current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland before taking up the post as Head of RTE Radio. RTE is Ireland's public broadcasting service. She ran RTE Radio for five years, launching RTE Lyric fm and leading the digital transformation before taking the sabbatical at Harvard University and post that she set up Athena Media. Athena Media creates award winning podcasts and runs Podcasting Ireland. Some of its recent work includes a new transmedia project called Mother's Blood, Sister Songs www.mothersbloodsistersongs.com exploring the intricate relationship between Ireland and Iceland, through story and song. Helen sits on the board of Arts Council Ireland and is a member of the Royal Irish Academy's Social Sciences Committee. 

Award winning producer, Peter started out at the BBC as a producer for the highly acclaimed programme Outlook and is now founder of C60Media. Production has taken Peter around the world for stories in South East Asia, Central Europe, America and Africa. Recently, Peter returned from The Arctic circle reporting on The Polar Silk Road for BBC World Service. 

Mikyung Shin is the executive producer at Busan English Broadcasting Foundation(BeFm), the one and only English Radio Broadcasting in Busan, South Korea.

She has been a dedicated member of the broadcasting field since 1996, at first as a host for various shows across television and the radio in TBC, UBC and TBN in South Korea

She began her tenure at BeFM as a producer, in charge of programs spanning various genres, from news to entertainment.

Mikyung has also created many radio documentaries on multiple issues. She has received the Gold Award at the 2018 New York Festival International Radio Program Award.

Lou is Vice President, Music Programming at SiriusXM Radio. He has been on the air and in management of radio stations across America, as well as hosting syndicated shows. At SiriusXM, he builds and oversees channels in various genres and hosts a weekly talk show about pop music.

Fyona Smith is the Managing Editor at Today FM for Bauer Media Audio Ireland, leading talent development and content strategy for Today FM’s Music and Entertainment portfolio.

An industry leader in the Irish and Australian audio markets, Fyona has held national roles in driving Audio Innovation, content creation and industry practices, with a focus on premium live content and podcasts.

Before joining Bauer Media, Fyona was the Head of Radio & Podcasting at AFTRS, developing industry training at a national and international level. 

Earlier in her career Fyona was the National Network Music Director at Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) Triple M Regional, where she was responsible for the music strategy for 34+ stations and delivering specialised shows.

Fyona is an award-winning radio programmer and has been a New York Festival Grand Jury Member for five years.

Ken Sweeney is the Showbiz Editor for The Irish Sun and has been an independent radio documentary maker working with RTE Radio in Ireland. His first doc, an RTE Radio Doc One One, 'Michael Jackson's Irish Driver' won an Irish PPI Radio Award and was a finalist in the New York Festivals in 2014. Since then his music docs on artists including influential Scottish band The Blue Nile have aired on RTE Radio, BBC Radio 6 Music, and CBC. His latest RTE music doc 'REM Out Of Athens' won Silver at the 2018 New York Festivals. An ex-musician, he is a regular contributor to Irish radio as Irish Showbiz Writer 2016 and 2018 at the Irish Newspaper awards ENDS.

Pearl Tan is the founder and director of Pearly Productions, a creative boutique creating content with a focus on diverse stories. She is a Senior Lecturer in Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). In 2020, Pearl was listed in the Most Influential Asian-Australian Awards and named the most influential in the Arts and Culture category. In 2016, Pearl was named a Woman of Influence by the Australian Financial Review and Westpac. She has served on multiple boards including AFTRS, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the Australian Directors' Guild and more. Pearl is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting). She also holds a Bachelor of Communications (Media Studies) from Edith Cowan University and a Master of Commerce (Strategy, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship), which she completed on a Business Leader Postgraduate Scholarship from the University of Sydney. Pearl is currently completing her PhD in Creative Practice at the University of New South Wales, where her research focus is on the experience of diverse creatives in the screen industry. As part of her PhD, she released a multi-award-winning fictional podcast entitled Diversity Work.

Mark Travis has over 20 years of experience in the music industry as a writer, producer, broadcaster, lecturer, and audio engineer. He is currently Managing Consultant of Media Production to the New York Philharmonic. Since 2011, he had been the Associate Director of Media Production for the New York Philharmonic and was Director of Media Production.  He produced the orchestra's broadcasts since 2003. Mark has also served as a writer and producer for Chicago’s WFMT Radio Network where he wrote and produced over 800 nationally syndicated programs--notably the Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera of Chicago broadcasts. As a freelance producer, he has produced English-language broadcasts for the Berlin Philharmonic, The Suisse Romande Orchestra, the Bavarian State Opera, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, and the Milwaukee Symphony. Mr. Travis also has an extensive discography as a music-producer that ranges from recordings by the New York Philharmonic to recordings by William Warfield, Jenny Lin, Jeffrey Siegel, Susan Merdinger, Maria-Luisa Rayan-Forero and the Chicago Chorale for Deutsche Grammophon, Naxos

DIEGO VÉLIZ (CHILE). Historian graduated from the University of Tarapacá and Master in Creative Documentary from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has also received training in documentary filmmaking through various courses held in Chile, Cuba and Spain. He is the author of the short films "Four Hands”, "Paula”, "Wellness”, and "Concord”, which have been screened at more than 50 film festivals worldwide, receiving awards in Chile, Brazil and Spain. He lives and works in the tri-border area of Chile, Peru and Bolivia, where he develops artistic and cinematographic projects with his production company: Candelabro Films. "Sound Desert" is his first sound art project, which won the Field Recording Award at the 28th Phonurgia Nova Awards in France. The sound piece has also been selected to the Longueur d'ondes, RIDM Montreal, New York Festivals Radio Awards, Tsonami festivals, among others. 

Juan Villalba is director of Radio U of the National University of Cuyo, one of the largest public universities in Argentina. He has more than twenty-five years of experience in the media and radio is his main love. He understands that radio is a stage where literature, theater and music are mixed. In his professional career, he has received numerous awards. He was a four-time finalist at the New York Radio Festival. In 2018 he won the Silver Award with his documentary "Grandma". In addition, he won two Martín Fierro Awards, the most important award for the media in his country.

Tim Watkin has been a journalist for 30 years and since 2016 has led podcasts and series at RNZ’s. Under his leadership, RNZ has commissioned and produced 120+ podcasts that have had more than 170 million downloads and won 86 awards in New Zealand and around the world. With hits such as Black Sheep and The Service, Gone Fishing and The Detail, RNZ has become Aotearoa’s podcasting pioneer and leader. RNZ Podcasts has a team of 15 crack producers and has partnered with more than 30 external producers.

Before joining RNZ, Tim has been deputy editor for the NZ Listener, founding producer of TVNZ’s Q+A and Executive Producer at TV3’s The Vote and The Nation. He was NZ Journalist of the Year in 2006 and lives in Auckland with his wife, two sons and dog.

Andrew Wright started his career in the radio and television industry working in some of the world's most dangerous locations as a news sound recordist. He spent 10 years as a broadcaster and latterly programme producer where he developed his production and media management expertise working with programmers, advertisers, official regulators, and talented broadcasters. His company. Wright Communicators, now helps broadcasters develop content, and businesses communicate their brand, marketing and training messages. Andrew’s diverse and valuable experience has also led him to become a leading trainer in creative, personal communication, technical and management disciplines as well as soft skills development. Areas of specialty, past, and present. TV and Radio Broadcaster Broadcasting resources Manager Commercial Copy Writer Professional trainer. (Advert and promotional writing, Digital production, talent development, Core skill development, Business skills.) Company Man

I describe myself as a Creative Artist and Content producer because  my work is divided between Radio, Fine Art and Music and Web Content creation.

I have  produced and presented  two hours of radio on the Arts  for over 20 years on my show Arts Canvass on Bay FM 99.9 in Byron Bay in Australia. I have also written and  produced  a number of radio documentaries including ‘Memories of Sarajevo which won me the Bronze medal  from New York Festivals World’s Best Radio .

I founded the website  The Narratives Library which contains hundreds of authors,  reading from their own work for just 5 minutes which was awarded the Hermes Gold Award for Web Design.

I am also a  professional Fine Artist and  songwriter and composer and my music  has been used in hundreds of T.V shows and documentary films.

I originally trained as an  independent filmmaker and still make   short films for competitions and performances.

I consider it a privilege and a joy to be on the judging panel as the range of wonderful  work produced by presenters from all over the world is such an inspiration.

Carole Zimmer is the host of the podcast “Now What?” about big life decisions, transitions and how you navigate all those curves in the road. She worked at Bloomberg Multimedia as a digital video and television producer as well as a radio reporter for 15 years and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Edward R. Murrow award for her radio documentary “Stalking a Silent Killer.” Before joining Bloomberg, Ms. Zimmer worked at NPR and the CBS and NBC radio networks. She has been a contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, Harper’s and other publications.

With an early introduction to music and storytelling by his older siblings, Tim was intrigued by rhythm and the spoken word from an early age. As an award winning radio programmer, Tim is an active audio ambasador and media mentor. Innovation and creativity drive Tim's unique training, coaching and mentoring of media professionals. A lover of all things retro, Tim loves reading, social tennis and travelling.