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About
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Panel
Managing Director, Creative Network, ITV Studios
Mike Beale is Managing Director of Creative Network at ITV Studios reporting to Julian Bellamy. Mike helps to drive the global creative development and production efforts across the group and is responsible for identifying new opportunities to build ITV Studios’ creative pipeline and roll out new formats. Mike joined in June 2011 to establish ITV’s enviable slate of formats on the global stage including The Chase, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, The Voice, Hell’s Kitchen, Come Dine With Me and Love Island.
Managing Director of Afro-Mic Productions
Emma-Rosa Dias is a Belfast-born producer, director, and entrepreneur, best known as Managing Director of Afro-Mic Productions. Emma-Rosa began her creative career in the mid-nineties in the music industry, working with dance music legends including Carl Cox and Laurent Garnier. She later moved in front of the camera appearing as a contestant on Channel 4's reality show Shipwrecked in 1999 and presented for BBC NI's hit series Dinner Next Door. In 2004 Emma- Rosa moved into advertising as assistant creative director, producing campaigns for global brands such as Coca-Cola, Heineken, and Subway. In 2014, she founded her own production company, Afro-Mic Productions. Based in Belfast, Emma-Rosa launched the company with a trilogy of films exploring Mod subculture and the award-winning short drama Cry Rosa. Since then, Afro-Mic has grown into one of the UK’s leading small independent production companies, winning 'Small Indie of the Year' in 2023 at the Edinburgh TV Festival. With factual entertainment programmes distributed internationally the company regularly delivers acclaimed work for major UK broadcasters and brands. Driven by a passion for storytelling rooted in culture, identity, and underrepresented voices, Emma’s recent projects include Secrets of the Christmas Market and Titanic: Our Secret Histories for Channel 4 - both set in her home city of Belfast. A respected industry leader, Emma-Rosa is celebrated for her commitment to bringing the stories, characters, and landscapes of Northern Ireland to global audiences, and for championing diversity, working-class perspectives, and untold narratives across her work.
Nicky Bignell, Head of Music Licensing BBC
With over three decades of experience in the UK broadcasting industry, Nicky Bignell is a leading expert in music rights management for television, radio, and online platforms. As the BBC’s Head of Music Licensing, Nicky plays a pivotal role in negotiating the corporation’s comprehensive music licences, ensuring seamless access to a vast repertoire of music for all BBC services. Nicky is responsible for shaping the BBC’s strategic direction on music use and fostering robust relationships with key music industry bodies, including the PRS for Music, PPL/VPL, Musicians’ Union, Music Publishers Association, and The Ivors Academy. Her team provide expert advice on music rights, sync and licencing of music, and commission composers to write original scores. Her leadership ensures that the BBC remains at the forefront of music rights innovation and compliance.
MBE – Managing Director, Waddell Media
Jannine Waddell MBE has built Waddell Media into a leading producer of factual entertainment, documentaries, and lifestyle programming. Under her leadership, Waddell Media has developed a reputation for creating award-winning content for the UK, Irish and International markets, working with major broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel 4, RTÉ, ITV, Discovery and National Geographic.
Founder, High Rock Media
Fintan Maguire has made television shows for over 20 years, working with BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. Fintan set up High Rock Media after 5 years as Director of Factual at Rumpus Media, before that he was an exec producer at Spun Gold and Crackit Productions. Fintan has been trusted with delicate and privileged access to big institutions, making documentaries and series with the British Royal Family, the National Trust and Border Force. He has worked with (and created shows for) on screen talent including Laura Whitmore, Sir Tony Robinson, and Alan Titchmarsh (MBE
Executive Producer/Media Consultant
With more than four decades of experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Sara Kozak has launched and led some of television’s most iconic series and specials. She’s a renowned leader, an innovator and, above all, a storyteller. Currently she’s Exec Producing a feature documentary for SBS Australia and HBO MAX and using her expertise and voice to champion the work of Northern Ireland’s Production Companies in the USA. For more than 17 years, Kozak was senior vice president, head of production at Warner Bros. Discovery, where she led nonfiction content for Investigation Discovery (ID) and HBO Max. During this time, she oversaw production on thousands of hours of unscripted content and many of Warner Bros. Discovery's marquee series, including EVIL LIVES HERE, HOUSE OF HAMMER, THE CURIOUS CASE OF NATALIA GRACE, and QUIET ON SET. Kozak also served as an executive producer on WERNER HERZOG’S critically acclaimed feature documentary INTO THE ABYSS – and his follow-up series, ON DEATH ROW. Under her leadership, Investigation Discovery became American’s #1 true crime destination. Kozak collaborated with some of the most innovative production companies in the US and UK. In 2023, she left the company to form Hudson House Media. Before joining the ID team, Kozak was vice president of production for at Science Channel where she executive produced several hit series, including the Emmy-nominated THROUGH THE WORMHOLE with Morgan Freeman. Previously, she was senior executive producer for TLC, launching the enduringly popular series SAY YES TO THE DRESS in 2007. Prior to joining Discovery Communications, Kozak served as series producer for BBC Productions USA and launched TLC’s hit series, WHAT NOT TO WEAR. In her 12 years with the BBC Kozak series produced many highly successful food series, including the first season of SATURDAY KITCHEN. During the early part of her career, Kozak was a producer, director, event producer and sports journalist. She also specialized in military documentaries and developed and directed the prime time hit, BOMB DISPOSAL MAN, for BBC1. Kozak is a member of BAFTA and the Royal Television Society and a frequent panelist at industry events. She resides in New York.