Chris is one of two policy directors at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). He is responsible for the legal framework governing Copyright, Patents, Trade Marks and Designs. Chris is drawn to roles which combine technology, law and politics. Prior to joining the IPO, his recent positions (at the FCO, Home Office and in Parliament) have focused on data collection and processing by law enforcement and intelligence agencies – balancing economic interests, security interests, and individual rights such as privacy and access to justice. Before joining the Civil Service in 2012, Chris worked in IT as a systems engineer and technical director.

Isabelle Doran is CEO of the Association of Photographers – a trade association representing over 3,000 members, set up in 1968 with the aim of protecting and championing the rights of photographers and image-makers working in the creative industries. Isabelle’s creative industry career as a photography graduate spans almost 30 years, formerly as both a supplier and client within the photo industry before moving into policy advocacy. Her background began in traditional darkroom practice with Tony Stone (now Getty Images), followed by spells employed at Magnum Photos, Luminous Design, and Conran. After completing a Masters in Museum Management, she ran a lifestyle image library for 14 years. In 2012, Isabelle began her policy role as a BAPLA non-executive director for 9 years and chairing for 5 years, working with wide range of representatives across the creative industries to engage with government departments and parliamentarians. In 2015, Isabelle was appointed as board director of the British Copyright Council, representing Artistic Works. She is a representative member of Creative UK, member of the Royal Society of Arts, and became Vice Chair (AI brief) of the Creators Rights Alliance in 2025.

Deborah is CEO of the ISM, Chair of the Creator Rights Alliance, former Chair of ERA, member of the Creative Industries Council and a Trade Commissioner for Best of Britain. Prior to working at the ISM Deborah worked as an expert employment lawyer specialising in discrimination law, with 15 years’ experience in the City of London. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at Queen Mary University, has been named by Woman’s Hour on its power list of women working in music and was also named on the Music Week Roll of Honour in 2022

Sophie Jones is Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at UK record labels association the BPI, which is also home to The BRIT Awards, the Mercury Prize and the Official Charts.

Sophie was promoted to the CSO role in January 2023 having served as the BPI’s Director of Public Affairs for nearly three years. Sophie also acted as the BPI’s Interim Chief Executive between January and July 2023.

Sophie is an inspiring and outstanding leader, whose strategically-focused public affairs and communications-led work is having a marked impact on the organisation and on the support given to its breadth of members – helping to foster an environment in which they can thrive and the industry grows through digital innovation, increased music consumption and exports.

James Bennett is Head of Rightsholder Relations at the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA). A copyright and licensing expert, he is responsible for the strategic management of CLA’s relationship with publishers and writers, working in partnership with CLA’s members to maintain and develop CLA’s collective licences and other services. He is also responsible for content acquisition for CLA’s digital platforms, and manages CLA’s relationships with other Collective Management Organisations around the world. Prior to CLA he held several editorial roles in trade book publishing. He has an MBA from Henley Business School, University of Reading.

Dr Clementine Collett is a BRAID UK research fellow at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at The University of Cambridge and Principal Investigator on the project ‘Co-designing responsible technology and policy for the impact of generative AI on the writing and publishing of the novel’ in partnership with the Institute for the Future of Work.

Dan is Director General of the Alliance for Intellectual Property, a campaign group of 23 organisations representing IP rich businesses and creators. Members include representatives of the audio visual, music, toy and games, business software, sports rights, branded manufactured goods, publishing, retailing, art, image and design sectors. They share a collective interest in ensuring that Intellectual Property (IP) rights are valued in the UK and around the world and that legislative regimes exist which enables the value and contribution of those rights to be fully realised.

Dan has 30 years’ experience advising companies in the creative industries on their engagement with Westminster, Whitehall, Brussels and the devolved assemblies. He has supported companies including global telecommunications companies, creative industry sectors, broadcasters and sports rights owners. Dan has spent the last 20 years advising companies and organisations on IP issues. He is a member of the Government’s Creative Industries Council and is Chair of its IP Group and is also a member of the Department for Business and Trade’s IP advisory group while sitting on a number of the Intellectual Property Office’s Expert Advisory Groups.

Dr Paula Westenberger is a BRAID (AHRC) Research Fellow and a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law at Brunel University of London. Paula holds a Masters and PhD in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary University of London. She is Deputy Editor of the European Copyright and Design Reports (ECDR), member of the Centre for AI at Brunel, and founder and coordinator of the Heritage AI and Law (HAIL) Network. Her research covers the intersection between copyright law, human rights and culture, with particular focus on the use of AI in the cultural heritage sector. As a BRAID Research Fellow, she is the principal investigator for the project ‘Responsible AI for Heritage: copyright and human rights perspectives’, in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Dominic Lees is Associate Professor in Filmmaking at the University of Reading and an award-winning film and television drama director. He leads the Synthetic Media Research Network, a grouping of AI developers, industry stakeholders and academic researchers who explore issues around AI in the creative industries.

Dominic also works as a specialist advisor on film and AI to Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee. His 2019 research project on deepfakes in film drama was groundbreaking and he speaks on the impact of AI on the creative industries across a wide range of international media.

Dominic’s recent published work has looked at the impact of AI on actors and the use of deepfakes in documentary film production. He is lead writer on AI for the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound magazine.