Speakers

Baroness Margaret Hodge DBE served as Labour Member of Parliament for Barking from 1994 to 2024, holding ministerial roles including Minister of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism. She was the first elected Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (2010–2015) and is currently the UK Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion. In 2025, she was appointed by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to lead the Independent Review of Arts Council England, which reported in December 2025 with wide-ranging recommendations on arts funding, organisational reform, and access to cultural across England. She sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Hodge of Barking.

Through a combination of insightful data analysis, innovative primary research and strategic development, David works with organisations to optimise their earned income strategy, bringing teams together to focus on shared objectives. In addition, David also brings to bear his understanding of consumer psychology to inform the communication of recommendations to ensure maximum impact – after all, value not communicated is valueless!

Deborah Mattinson is a leading political strategist with over 30 years in British politics. As Director of Strategy to Keir Starmer from 2021, she was crucial to Labour’s 2024 victory. Starting in 1987, she worked on Labour’s communications, advising Blair and Brown. Deborah co-founded three market research firms, including Thinks Strategy & Insight. She authored Talking to a Brick Wall and Beyond the Red Wall. Appointed to the House of Lords in 2025, she’s also President of the Market Research Society, Honorary Professor at King’s College London, and a lifelong champion of the performing arts, serving on boards like Dance Umbrella and Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Dr. Langley is the co-author of the Association of Independent Museums report Fragile to flourishing: Museum Operating Models. Alchemy Research & Consultancy helps individuals, teams and organisations to navigate change. They work with enterprises of all scales from solopreneurs to national organisations, specialising in working with enterprising creatives from any sector.

Eliza (Erskine) Easton is a leading authority on the creative industries. She has published more than forty policy and research papers on the sector, including the National Theatre’s Scene Change report into industry business models.

Eliza spent five years as Head of Policy and then Deputy Director of the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre – an £8m Government and AHRC funded research and policy centre, based at Nesta. Prior to this, she was part of the founding team of the Creative Industries Federation (now CreativeUK).

Katie is an independent strategist, trainer, and advisor with 18 years’ experience helping organisations in the arts, culture, and creative sectors use digital technologies more effectively. Previously was a Director at digital agency Substrakt and prior to that, she spent five years as Head of Digital at The Audience Agency, establishing its digital consultancy services and leading numerous digital research and consultancy projects. Her areas of expertise include digital strategy, user research, analytics, digital skills development, and AI.

Katie is also Chair of the Board of Trustees at FACT in Liverpool, a world-leading centre for art, film, and the creative use of technology.

Robin has held executive leadership positions in, and provided strategic advice to, a range of performing arts organisations and visitor attractions in the areas of organisational strategy, marketing, audience development, visitor experience and operations.

As chief executive of the employee-owned Baker Richards group, Robin leads the consultancy Baker Richards, and since June 2021 has been the CEO of its editorially-independent group company Arts Professional. He is deaf/hard of hearing, and is a trustee of Graeae Theatre Company.

Tarek is the Artistic Director of Battersea Arts Centre, having previously served as Interim Director for Theatre at Arts Council England, and is one of the founders and Associate Artistic Director of the Yard Theatre in Hackney, as well as a former Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio. Tarek joins us to host of an episode of (Un)Common Ground. The Podcast series brings together artists and industry professionals for long-form, round-table conversations. Each episode responds to current events and key issues shaping the cultural sector, with space for differing perspectives and debate.