The UK’s Creative Workforce Conference

Bernard Hay is a policy advisor, researcher and writer working across the creative industries. He is currently Policy Director at the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, co-hosted by Newcastle University and the RSA.

Previously he was Head of Research and Practice at the Design Council, overseeing a portfolio of research, policy and engagement championing the value of design to the UK, and the role it can play in addressing climate and biodiversity loss. Between 2017 and 2020 he was a researcher and education curator at the Design Museum, where he helped to establish the national AHRC-funded Future Observatory programme, and oversaw the museum’s adult learning, higher education and community programmes. He has also been a festival producer, editor, writer and research assistant working across the arts.

From 2019 to 2023 he was an Associate Lecturer in Design Theory and Social Innovation at University of the Arts London and a visiting tutor in curating and museum education at Kingston University and Kings College London.

He is currently a Policy Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Science and Policy (2025-2027) and a Trustee of Engage, the national charity promoting participation in the visual arts.

Sandra Booth FRSA is Director of Policy and External Relations at the Council for Higher Education Arts and Design (CHEAD). She leads a network of Art and Design education providers and, as co-founder of the Creative Education Coalition, wrote a Creative Education Manifesto to advocate for creative education pathways and access for all to creative education and training.

Director of the University of the Arts London, Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute (UAL, FTTI) with over £25m investment to date, Professor Harris is Director / PI of the Business of Fashion, Textiles and Technology (BFTT, £6m) one of nine Creative R&D Partnerships funded by the AHRC Creative Industries Clusters Programme (£80m, CICP, 2018-24) – and is Co-I on two Circular Fashion Network+ initiatives led by the Universities of Leeds, and Exeter (2023-25).

As PI, Professor Harris is leading development of an XR Research Lab specialising in the rendition of textiles and dress supported by the AHRC Creative Research Capability fund (CResCa, £3.5m) as part of the UKRI World Class Laboratories initiative, is Co-I on an EPSRC Digital Economy Network+ award (2022-27) establishing a UK wide Virtual Production Network led by the University of York, and led an AHRC award ‘DREEm: Digital, Regeneration and Experience Economy modelling’ (£657,912), with over 100 UK wide visitor economy and creative industry partners and stakeholders.

Director of Research and Innovation (East Bank), Professor Harris operates at the intersection of Design+ STEM, cultural anthropology and business practices, with over twenty five years of experience, and is leading development of strategic partnerships aligning to the new UAL campus for London College of Fashion, as part of the emergent East Bank on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – including co-founding the Global Disability Innovation Hub. She is a member of the Peer Review College for AHRC, advisor to EPSRC, NERC, ESRC, EU ICT – and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA).

Mel Rodrigues is the CEO of Creative Access, the leading UK social enterprise championing diversity, equity & inclusion across the creative industries. With 20+ years’ experience in the screen & digital sectors, Mel brings a crucial non-London-centric perspective to expanding the organisation’s reach across the UK. Prior to Creative Access, Mel enjoyed a long career in TV, working across network productions & leading creative diversity initiatives at TEDx, BBC and Channel 4. In 2019 she founded Gritty Talent – an award-winning talent & tech company building inclusive systems to connecti under-represented talent to the TV industry – funded by Innovate UK. Mel is also Non-Executive Director & current Vice Chair of Women in Film and TV (WFTV).

Stephen became CEO of the Advertising Association in October 2016. The AA promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, business and the economy. The leading advertising trade bodies, commercial media owners and tech platforms are all members of the AA. The AA focuses on ad industry priorities, such as public trust in advertising, inclusion through the All In programme and sustainability, as the home of Ad Net Zero, which started in the UK and now extends internationally. The AA lobbies on behalf of the industry with Government and promotes the economic value of the industry through the ‘Advertising Pays’ reports. It is the home of Media Smart, the industry’s media literacy programme and the UK Advertising Export Group, promoting the UK’s world-leading exports performance.

Before the AA, Stephen held leadership roles in four agency groups (Leo Burnett, WCRS/Engine and DDB/adam&eveDDB and Next 15). He is a Governor of Ravensbourne University in London, the UK’s newest creative and technology university. He chairs The Debating Group, a cross-industry programme that hosts debates on industry issues in Parliament. He is a past President of NABS and serves on the board of the History of Advertising Trust. He was IPA President (2003-05) where he led both their first ethnic diversity initiative and launched its professional qualifications, which over 20,000 people have now passed in the UK and around the world.

Bernard Hay is a policy advisor, researcher and writer working across the creative industries. He is currently Policy Director at the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, co-hosted by Newcastle University and the RSA.

Previously he was Head of Research and Practice at the Design Council, overseeing a portfolio of research, policy and engagement championing the value of design to the UK, and the role it can play in addressing climate and biodiversity loss. Between 2017 and 2020 he was a researcher and education curator at the Design Museum, where he helped to establish the national AHRC-funded Future Observatory programme, and oversaw the museum’s adult learning, higher education and community programmes. He has also been a festival producer, editor, writer and research assistant working across the arts.

From 2019 to 2023 he was an Associate Lecturer in Design Theory and Social Innovation at University of the Arts London and a visiting tutor in curating and museum education at Kingston University and Kings College London.

He is currently a Policy Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Science and Policy (2025-2027) and a Trustee of Engage, the national charity promoting participation in the visual arts.