UK government names Creative Industries Council members

The CIC has been reshaped to improve representation from the industry, regions, and nations – including doubling representation outside of London.

The new membership brings together cultural institutions, trade bodies, creative businesses, regional leaders, and sector representatives from across the UK's creative industries, representing sectors and subsectors, such as film, TV, music, and design.

The council is co-chaired by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Baroness Shriti Vadera, and Sir Peter Bazalgette.

Key priorities for the council include innovation, access to finance, skills, and trade. The new look council comes as the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan aims to increase business investment in creative organisations from £17bn to £31bn by 2035.

Nandy stated: “The CIC is vital to ensuring that we are effectively understanding and addressing the needs of the sector. Our ambition is that every corner of this country will flourish, cementing the UK’s position as a creative superpower. We are committed to delivering the Creative Industries Sector Plan, as part of the government’s Plan for Change, and the remodelled CIC will continue to play a critical role in that.”

New membership of the Creative Industries Council

Co-Chairs

• Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy
• Business Secretary, Peter Kyle
• Baroness Shriti Vadera
• Sir Peter Bazalgette

Working group leads

• Stephen Pegge OBE, Director of UK Business Angels Association (Access to Finance)
• Sinead Rocks, Managing Director of Nations and Regions at Channel 4 (Workforce)
• Sara Pepper, Co-Director of the Creative Economy Unit at Cardiff University (Innovation)
• Michael Frohlich, CMOP at WPP (Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board (CITIB)
• Francesca Hegyi, Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Festival (Co-Chair of the CITIB)

Members

• Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray
• Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK 
• Deborah Annetts, Chair of the Creators Rights Alliance
• Hasan Bakhshi, Director of the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
• Jade Beason, CEO of the Creator Project
• Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
• Lee Brooks, Co-Founder of Production Park
• Prof. John Collomosse, Principle Scientist at Adobe
• Dan Conway, CEO of Publishers Association
• Jon Gilchrist, Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome
• Dan Guthrie, Director General of Alliance for IP
• Sophie Helm, Co-Founder of Manchester Contemporary and Manchester Art Fair
• Darren Henley, CEO, Arts Council England
  • Tom Kiehl, CEO of UK Music
  • Alison Lomax, Managing Director of YouTube
  • Deepa Mann-Kler, CEO of NEON
  • John McVay, CEO of PACT
  • Natalie Melton, Executive Director of Craft Council
  • Keith Merrin, Deputy Chair at the National Museums Directors Council and Director North East Museums
  • Minnie Moll, CEO of Design Council
  • Iain Munro, CEO of Creative Scotland
• Caroline Norbury, CEO of Creative UK
• Paula Orrell, Director of CVAN
• Nick Poole, CEO of UKIE
• Catryn Ramasut, Director of Arts, Arts Council of Wales
• Rhuanedd Richards, Interim Nations Director at the BBC
• Ben Roberts, CEO of BFI
• Mick Ross, CEO of Generator
• Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of AHRC 
• Chloe Straw, CEO of AudioUK
• Alison Tickell, CEO of Julie’s Bicycle
• Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO of RIBA
• Chris Van Der Kuyl, CEO of 4J Studios
• Claire Walker / Hannah Essex, Co-Chief Executives at SOLT/UKT
• Laura Weir, CEO of British Fashion Council
• Richard Williams, CEO of NI Screen
• Stephen Woodford, CEO of Advertising Association

• Freelance Champion, to be appointed

The UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently announced the members of its Creative Industries Taskforce. Discover more here.