‘Media Tech’s Got Talent’: Speakers, sessions and networking events unveiled for inaugural IBC2024 Talent Programme

The free-to-attend event will kick off with a welcome at the Networking Breakfast from Tamar Shoham, Chief Technology Officer at video technology and image science software company Beamr, which is sponsoring the morning alongside Women in Streaming Media. The rest of the Talent Programme will be moderated by multimedia journalist Omar Mehtab, whose background includes work for BBC programmes Click, Panorama, The Travel Show, and Asian Network News. 

“The IBC Talent Programme has been created to enable the Media and Entertainment community to work together to foster new talent, make training more accessible, and develop common standards for diversity and inclusion,“ said Jo Mayer, Head of Marketing at IBC. “The dedicated sessions will look at how our industry can collaborate on these issues, spotlighting the benefits of partnerships and mentoring in promoting the industry to the next generation of media professionals and driving engagement across the media, entertainment and technology sector.” 

The IBC Talent Programme includes the following key sessions: 

1. World Skills Cafe: Working collectively to educate the workforce of tomorrow 

Feedback from the inaugural World Skills Café taking place at IBC2024 on Thursday 12th September, the day before the show. Speaker: Carrie Wootten, CEO and Co-founder, Media and Entertainment Talent Manifesto 

2. Career Development with Rise Academy: Hear from the next generation of industry talent 

A panel of young people share their experience and pathways through education to where they are now in their professional careers. Speaker/Moderator: Polly Hickling, Rise Academy Trustee 

3. Mentoring in Media: Introduction to the pioneering programmes from Rise & WISM 

Mentors and mentees discuss these programmes and share advice and tips for anyone looking to take part in the future. Speakers/Moderators: Donna Kay Smith, Managing Director, Rise; Deepali Narsiker, Head of Allyship, Women in Streaming Media 

4. New Talent Pipeline Strategies 

Discussion on partnerships, a new beta-testing initiative giving hands-on experience to emerging industry talent, and what’s needed to make young careers blossom. Speakers: Amy DeLouise, Founder, #GALSNGEAR; Sarah Mosely, Multimedia Editor, Filmmaker and Technical Consultant; Armelle Canet, Head of Legacy and Broadcast Academy, HBS. 

5. SMPTE Education: Empowering the innovators of tomorrow 

Insights into the association’s Education initiatives and how they are providing platforms for young engineers in the formative stages of their media careers. Speaker: Renard Jenkins, President, SMPTE 

Partners and supporters working with IBC to develop and present the talent programme include Galsngear, Global Media and Entertainment Manifesto, HBS (Host Broadcasting Services), Pictures for the People, RISE and RISE Academy, Women in Immersive Tech, and Women in Streaming Media, as well as the six organisations that own IBC – IABM, IEEE, IET, Royal Television Society, SCTE and SMPTE. 

Pictures for the People, the unique production company that recruits unemployed and disadvantaged young people to work on its productions, will be recording video of the programme throughout the day to capture the entire event. 

The IBC Talent Programme is hosting a Networking Drinks event on Sunday 15 September from 4-6 pm at the Café Amsterdam at the RAI, offering an opportunity to meet and engage with key partners and stakeholders involved in the event.