Jen Smith
Jen Smith is CEO of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) responsible for developing its remit, operating model and governance structure. Jen led the creation and publication of the screen sectors’ first ‘Set of Principles and Guidance to Prevent Bullying and Harassment and Racism’ convening over 50 cultural organisations to adopt them, in addition inspiring additional editions tailored for the Theatre and Music sectors. In her previous role at the BFI before leaving to lead CIISA, she was responsible for gaining international recognition for the BFI Diversity Standards, achieving Autism Friendly Status for BFI Southbank, partnering with Changing Faces on the impactful #Iamnotyourvillain campaign and ensuring that the full range of diversity data on who the BFI funds and employs is published annually. Jen has also held a broad range of roles in the housing sector leading on Strategy, PR, Business Development, Learning and Develpment and Inclusion. Prior to that Jen worked as Parliamentary Researcher specialising in Foreign Affairs and International Relations and is a member of the Institute of Regulation and an ACAS accredited mediator.
Andrew Medlock
Andrew joins the CIISA team as the COO. Andrew is a senior leader with over 15 years of operational and strategic experience in improving social justice for the public through his work with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, who investigate complex complaints about the NHS in England and UK Central Government. Andrew is highly skilled in delivering strategically significant initiatives, innovation and transformational change, using user-led service design approaches and public engagement to shape services design. Andrew was the Senior Responsible Officer for building the Ombudsman’s Complaint Standards initiative, building strong working relationships with stakeholders across the NHS and Central Government on excellence in complaints handling and organisational learning. He was also responsible for oversight of outreach within the public and increasing awareness of (and trust in) the Ombudsman in diverse and underrepresented communities.
“Having come from a long background of working in a values-driven organisation that has a strong ethos in social justice and supporting organisations to using feedback to continuously develop, I am hugely proud to join CIISA and get behind its hugely important cause’, says Andrew, “and am really looking forward to working with the team to bring CIISA to life.”
Emma Hewitt
Emma Hewitt is Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at CIISA, providing strategic leadership for CIISA’s communications, stakeholder engagement, policy and public affairs functions. Emma brings more than 20 years’ senior communications experience across the UK film and creative industries. As Head of Communications at BBC Film, she led brand, communications, stakeholder engagement, events, digital marketing and strategic partnerships, advising senior executives and leading high-profile campaigns, crisis communications and industry initiatives. Prior to the BBC, Emma held senior press and PR roles at BFI, leading communications for major cultural programmes and industry policy initiatives while working closely with government, industry and media stakeholders. Emma’s first job in film was at Nottingham-based agency EM Media, supporting acclaimed British film productions and corporate communications. While in Nottingham she also worked in BBC regional radio, supporting new and emerging music talent in the East Midlands. Emma is a voting member of BAFTA and Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee for the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Niyi Akeju
Niyi Akeju is Director of Stakeholder Engagement at CIISA and led on the development and publication of the CIISA Standards.
Niyi has over two decades’ experience in stakeholder engagement and project management in the screen industries. She recently led the UK-wide BFI Film Academy programme to help young people build careers in film and television. Previous roles include heading up communications for the BBC’s filmmaking arm BBC Film, and senior PR roles at the BFI supporting film production, exhibition, skills and inclusion.
During 11 years at BAFTA, Niyi oversaw corporate communications and devised long-standing initiatives including the organisation’s first ever mentorships, the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, and BAFTA Young Game Designers. Niyi has also been a consultant to industry-led skills body ScreenSkills.
Niyi began her career in public relations at leading global PR agencies. She wrote briefly for a TV soap opera and was Diversity Executive at the UK Film Council.
Angharad Jackson
Angharad Jackson is CIISA’s Director of Data Protection and Ethics.
Angharad is a recognised data protection and AI governance expert, trusted to keep the most sensitive of personal information safe. She has led data protection and information security at the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and as Caldicott Guardian for health and care. Angharad said: “Data protection is an exciting, complex, and constantly evolving challenge. From human factors to supply chain vulnerabilities, from running scenarios to responding to real-time incidents, the digital trust ecosystem encompasses everything—from how people behave to how systems can be exploited for better or ill, from whether we can rely on the information we are being presented with and whether it help us make better decisions. I’m delighted to be working with CIISA to build systems that are technically robust while remaining human centred and focused on the protection of people’s data.”
Ella Newman
Ella has joined the CIISA Team as Executive Assistant. Ella supports the whole team with scheduling, long term strategic planning and board and governance arrangements, such as the Standards Advisory Committee and Co Creation Council. Ella previously worked at Warner Music and prior to that was PA to the Managing Director of Small Green Shoots.
