- Margaret Manning BSc ACA FRSA
Chief Executive Officer
Reading Room
Margaret@readingroom.com
In 1996 Margaret jointly founded Reading Room which now employs over 105 people worldwide.
Reading Room is an award winning digital communications agency based in London, Manchester, Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Margaret has overall responsibility for Reading Room’s strategic direction and marketing activities.
Reading Room has completed digital projects for prestigious clients including The Home Office, British Heart Foundation, Sony Entertainment Europe, The British Library, Australian National Audit Office, Guardian Media Group, and HRH The Prince of Wales. The company is an Australian Government endorsed supplier.
Margaret’s special interests in new media are in the following areas: The communications revolution, User experience, Digital Marketing
She is frequently invited to be a keynote speaker, recently presenting to amongst others, the Institute of Directors, New Media Age, Ad:Tech London, the Institute of Direct Marketing, and the Website Content Management Conference in Canberra. Other talks have included audiences from The Professional Services Marketing Group, IIR, QDOS, New Media Group, The Law Society and The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
She spoke recently for the Institute of Directors and hosted a healthy debate about the process of e-CRM. Her talk at the New Media Age Conference on web usability recorded the highest attendance levels of the twenty talks given at the two-day exhibition. Margaret has also spoken at Internet World conferences in both London and Sydney.
Feedback from all her presentations has been excellent with scores of 80% and higher from delegate feedback. Typical comments include “this is just what I attended for!”, “crisp, clear and enjoyable”, and “great speaker, dynamic!” Her presentation at the Website Content Management Conference in Canberra was particularly well received and was ranked 2nd highest out of over other 30 presentations.
Margaret also hosts the annual Reading Room Seminar held at Soho Hotel. This event is the highlight of Reading Room’s client seminar diary, and always proves extremely popular. She also hosts a number of wine tasting evenings where guests are able to relax and discuss industry topics.
As well as being a frequent speaker at events and conferences, she has been a member of the Governments advisory panel on Internet Usability and an advisor on content management and database systems for the office of the e-envoy. Furthermore, she currently holds the position of Vice Chair on the executive committee for the British Interactive Media Association and is on the B2B Marketing Committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Margaret is a highly respected figure within in the New Media Industry. She has been one of the regular team of experts commenting in trade magazines and has in the past been the editor of FD Centre Magazine. Her views are often sought, from interviews on BBC radio to articles for both national and trade press.
Developing the business strategy and ensuring Reading Room continues to evolve is Margaret’s core role within the company. Her interest in IT was sparked whilst studying cognitive learning and artificial intelligence. This theme has continued throughout her career, and has formed the basis of her interest in web usability – which is a cornerstone of Reading Room’s philosophy. Her 9 years spent at Price Waterhouse Coopers and 3i Plc, prior to founding Reading Room stands her in good stead for continuing to drive Reading Room’s media acquisition strategy and continued international expansion.
She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
- Matthew Bagwell
Creative Director
Conchango
London
matt@signalorange.co.uk
Matthew Bagwell is Conchango’s Creative Director and founder of creative agency, SignalOrange. Matthew has been called digital evangelist, offering insight into how people want to interact with organisations through multiple channels. He is capable of bridging the gap between inventing experiences made possible by web 2.0 phenomena and delivering them in reality.
- Julie Lane
Sales & Marketing Director
LBi Ltd
julie.lane@framfab.com
Julie is currently the sales and marketing director for LBi, responsible for the LBi brand and developing programmes to maintain its status as the number one marketing and technology agency in Europe. Julie is also responsible for the inbound sales channel, closing new business opportunities generated through prospecting and traditional business development channels. Prior to LBi, Julie worked with Organic in the US as their west coast business development director.
- Juliet Blackburn
Head of Digital
AAR
jblackburn@aargroup.co.uk
Over the last five years Juliet Blackburn has built her reputation to become the expert in new media agencies. Juliet helps clients to find the right agency for their needs and to achieve this she spends time meeting agencies (she estimates she has met in excess of 400) getting to know all about them – what they do and what they don’t actually do. Keeping up to date with the agencies and the discipline is certainly a full time job for her.
Prior to AAR, Juliet spent nearly six years at BT delivering their marketing communications for the Internet and Multimedia services and established the new media Marcomms team. Having had a two-year spell in the agency world and 5½ years with Coca-Cola before that, Juliet is uniquely placed to understand what clients and agencies really want from one another.
She says that the market is currently very buoyant with clients increasing their spend and focus on the digital area. Amongst others, she has helped Wana
- Chris Conlan
Account Director
magneticNorth
ChrisC@magneticN.co.uk
Chris has worked in digital marketing and branding for 5 years. He is Client Services Director at magneticNorth, an award winning interactive design agency who specialise in the development of innovative and original creative interaction. Their clients include Kellogg’s, Coca Cola and the BBC. Previously, Chris worked at McCann-i managing digital projects for brands including Nescafe and Durex. He began his career working in advertising for J Walter Thompson in 1996, before joining McCann Erickson in 1999.
- Mirage Islam
Networked Future Media Lead
BSkyB
mirage.islam@bskyb.com
Mirage Islam has a history of making things happen. Having emerged intact from a brush with members of the England rugby squad in his university years, Mirage joined the marketing department at Clerical Medical Investment Group supporting its new ventures arm. Two years later he took up an enviable role at Cadbury’s where he developed his liking for chocolate before heading off on an around the world adventure.
On his return he joined BHSF Insurance Services with a remit to overhaul all internal and external communications, developing and implementing core strategies. In 2000, Mirage moved into to the cutting edge of new media at breathe.com, one of the UK’s largest mobile internet portals, where he developed a highly popular sports channel and online community -harnessing the power of brands and exposing them to niche audiences.
This experience with the rapidly developing digital online market, along with his industry knowledge and contacts, alerted BSkyB, where Mirage had a remit to implement a partnership programme, which he did successfully for a number of years as Head of Developers’ Programme.
Focusing on strategic development, Mirage was then responsible for proposing a trade communications strategy for Sky Interactive and was then given the remit to deliver an online trade communication to support commercial and marketing partners in the digital sector.
The formation of a new business unit – Networked Media - allowed Mirage to take the role of Networked Future Media Lead, giving him a remit to develop the external media strategy for exploiting Youth Culture and engaging Future Talent. He now works with a highly skilled team dedicated to developing strategic relationships and is involved in Sky’s mobile, online and TV platforms.
- Richard Copping
Commercial Director
Isle Interactive Ltd
r.copping@isleinteractive.co.uk
Richard co-founded Cambridgeshire based full service agency Isle Interactive in late 2004. Since 2004 Isle Interactive has seen its client base and revenue steadily increase. Currently acting Commercial Director Richard is responsible for new business, client service, commercial and general strategic direction of the company.
- Hal Robinson
Managing Director
Librios
hal@librios.com
Hal Robinson is Managing Director of Librios Ltd, an innovative information management company that focuses on structuring and shaping content to make output more efficient and controllable, whether to web or print. He has special expertise in healthcare and the publishing sectors, where his company has been credited with pioneering ‘next generation’ methods of information management and delivery, particularly emphasising interactive content provision. He is also involved in developing online interactive games and puzzles for mobiles, PCs and consoles.
- Matt Gorzkowski
Managing Director
Play
matt@playwithus.co.uk
Matt began his Marketing career working for Saatchi & Saatchi in Europe and Shafter Advertising in the US where he helped to launch new products for major brands including Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Fujitsu and Nokia.
Recognising the potential of digital media, Matt joined Itraffic in San Francisco as Account Director. Here Matt led key accounts such as Disney and Buena Vista Entertainment before returning the Europe to join Itraffic London as Client Services Director where he oversaw the interactive marketing activity of brands such as British Airways and Hilton. In 2005, Matt co-founded Pay in conjunction with M&C Saatchi and former Itraffic colleagues Jon Sharpe and Ethan Segal.
- Steve Clayton
CTO
Microsoft UK Partner Group
steve.clayton@microsoft.com
Press Biography:
Steve Clayton is one of the geek new breeds. In touch with technology and with the society in which he thrives, many consider him to be “the ambassador of geek”. One of the first UK “softies” to blog (driving his page views to 2 million from zero within 10 months) and the pioneer of Microsoft’s TV channel Partner TV (blogs.msdn.com/ptstv), Steve is now a recognized digital media and blogxpert. Not only is he driving the internal use of Web 2.0 technology within Microsoft, he is also advising many external organisations, including Waterstones, Talent Network and Fifteen (Jamie Oliver’s restaurant) on social media’s potential to reach their audiences. Along with this Steve is speaking at many industry events and contributing expert comment and articles to the press.”
Personal Biography:
I’ve worked for over 9 years at Microsoft and enjoyed every minute…well, almost. I started as a Systems Engineer playing with Internet technologies and then migrated to the trendy area of Knowledge Management. I then got the gadget bug and worked in our mobile devices group helping Orange to launch the world’s first Windows Mobile Smartphone.
That’s how 5 years went by in 10 seconds … that’s how it felt anyway. A new adventure beckoned and I moved in to the UK Partner Group where I now work as the CTO. I get to work with truly amazing people inside and outside of Microsoft and see the cool stuff they’re out there doing with Microsoft products. This role has reminded me that software can change the world and affect people’s lives. It can have an astonishingly positive impact and I felt the need to tell that story and change the image of a company lambasted for doing bad things. It’s led me to get involved in telling stories about Microsoft, software and most recently some “Moonshine Marketing” with the Blue Monster – but maybe that’s just an excuse for becoming less technical ƒº
- Michael Collins
Director
i-Publishing Consultants Ltd
Michael worked in further and higher education, cultural diplomacy and arts management, and as a sponsorship consultant, commissioning editor and charity director, before joining the world of information and communications technology. Having recently spent five years working in marketing and new business development, with particular focus on the publishing sector for an IT solutions plc, Michael now divides his time between working as a marketing and business development consultant for several small–scale, complementary software, systems and service providers and advising publishers and other information providers on strategic planning, marketing, communications and software solutions, with particular reference to interactive publishing and the electronic dissemination of information.
- Charles Billot
Marketing Director
Soup
charles.billot@soup.co.uk
Charles Billot oversees new business development and marketing for the digital agency, Soup. Charles is also responsible for the growth and running of the London office and works with clients such as Fujifilm, Royal Bank of Scotland, Virgin and Sony Ericsson.
Prior to working with Soup, Charles ran his own design and communications agency, which focused on emerging small businesses seeking recognition in the digital marketplace. Charles’ career in digital began 9 years ago at Syzygy as a designer. He then moved on to TBWA-GGT, now Tequila, where he was Deputy Head of Digital and responsible for the day to day running of interactive for clients including Vauxhall, Natwest, Eurostar and Prudential. With an art degree from Goldsmiths College and a creative start-off in digital, Charles brings originality and imagination to his role at Soup.
- Andy Finney
Managing Director
ATSF
andy@atsf.co.uk
Andy Finney was an early pioneer of interactive media in the UK when working at the BBC and has 20 years experience in the field with a special interest in media, archives and databases. He runs ATSF, a design, build and training consultancy in Godalming, Surrey, and is co-author of ‘Managing Multimedia’, the text book on management of interactive media projects. Andy was part of the group who set up BIMA’s first incarnation in the 1980s and has served on the BIMA executive for many years, including time as Chair.
- Ann Jamieson
Managing Director
PriceJamieson
annjam@pricejam.com
Ann Jamieson, Director , Pricejamieson – an Aquent company
Ann Jamieson co-founded the recruitment company Pricejamieson in 1982 and has been recruiting for digital businesses since 1994 when the company also launched their website – the first recruitment consultancy website in Europe – to source candidates for the emerging market. Pricejamieson is now an Aquent company.
Aquent is a leading global staffing firm specialising in marketing, communications and creative talent. With 70 offices in 17 countries.
Ann’s areas of interest are skills shortages, education, recruitment and training and she regularly speaks and trains on recruitment and retention.
- Liz Citron
Usability Consultant
Citron
liz@citron.uk.com
Liz Citron has a well-established new media pedigree that started at Wired magazine 12 years ago, then as a founding member of the Guardian’s New Media Lab the following year. Initially trained in design then in business, she combines a broad range of business, design, technical and publishing experience.
Elected on to the executive board of BIMA since 2001, Liz spent much of 2002 actively raising awareness of BIMA acting as an interim marketing director before being asked to become chair in spring 2003. Since then, two of the three “pillars” of the association were cemented into place: the Dialogues and the Dinners, which have helped BIMA offer members valuable networking and knowledge sharing opportunities.
- Robin Howard
Chief Engagement Director
British Telectom
robin.hall@bt.com
With a background in IT and Publishing, Robin joined BT in the later 80’s and has worked on a very wide range of internal and client-based programmes. In recent years he has developed and launched a communication product in Europe, run BT.com development, and implemented business transformation programmes. Robin now works as Client Engagement Director. He is responsible for bringing IP-based innovation to client operations. He has led workshops on mashed services and identity management within the business, and is keen that technology is seen as an enabler, with strong social standards.
- Katy Howell
immediate future Ltd
Katy.Howell@immediatefuture.co.uk
Katy Howell’s experience in public relations spans both traditional organisations and new media companies. She is an evangelist for integrated marketing: the right mix of traditional and online PR, to deliver measurable results.
Founder of independent PR agency, immediate future (www.immediatefuture.co.uk), Howell has attracted a loyal client portfolio of clients including, Association of Online Publishers (AOP), EMI Music, Bloc Media, Pigsback.com and Nomensa.
Howell’s understanding of digital business, as well as the evolving influencer and dialogue-based communications allows her to deliver a new audience-centric public relations model.
With recognised success in strategic marketing communications, planning through and tactical campaigns, Howell’s ‘feet on the ground’ approach has maintained a record of effective results from national media coverage to blogging.
Founder of Public Relations Online (www.publicrelationsonline.com), Howell networks with leading bloggers, podcasters and SEO experts, as well as participating in roundtables and seminars around the UK. She runs the only online PR training courses in the UK.
In addition, Howell is the selected advisor to reputable industry bodies such E-consultancy, European Multimedia Forum (EMF), and the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA).
Passionate about knowledge sharing, Howell delivers straightforward advice on how to improve public relations and Online PR.
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