The Advisory Board

The Digital Media Lab is excited to have formed an External Advisory Board (EAB), comprising high-level professionals with significant experience from a cross-section of industries. 

The EAB will act as a sounding board which will help us inform and validate approaches, guide us towards new ideas and workflows, and help us to consider the balances and challenges found at the intersections between Higher Education, Media Production, and Extended Reality (XR).  

With experience in broadcast media, VR, gaming, visual FX, health education, the full list of our board members can be found below. 

 

Advisory Board Members

 

Henrietta Mbeah-Banka, Health Education England, Head of Blended Learning and Digital Learning, and Development Lead

Henrietta is the Head of Blended Learning and the Digital Learning and Development Lead at Health Education England. She is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur, driving the use of innovative technology in education. She is an honorary research assistant at UCL. 

Richard Bradley, Lion TV, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer 

Under Richard’s leadership Lion TV has built a worldwide reputation for quality, inventive and ambitious television (from Horrible Histories to Meet the Romans). Consistently proving that intelligent factual content can also be entertaining and popular, Richard oversees the creation of documentary, history, science, arts, comedy and children’s programming, as well as HE content.  

Will Byles, Supermassive Games, Studio Director

BAFTA  winning creative director at Supermassive Games, Will has directed some brilliant, influential games at both supermassive and previously EA Games.  With background in filmmaking and animation (including at Aardman Animation), his storytelling and audio-visual prowess crosses media and formats. 

Catherine Cahn, Tucker Capital, Strategic  Advisor 

Catherine was formerly co-founder and CEO of TWIG Education and President, Core Curriculum, for Imagine Learning. Nowadays she is helping to enable the ‘next  big things’ in Education at Tucker Capital.  

Lawrence Chiles, National Gallery, Head of Digital 

Lawrence has been an experienced digital leader working in the cultural sector for over 20 years. Prior to his National Gallery role, he led strategic, interdisciplinary teams to deliver large-scale exhibitions and cross-platform projects. 

Andrew Larking,  Lego, Head of  Design 

Andrew  is a Head of Design with over 20 years' experience leading design and  experience teams. He has worked with the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Volkswagen and Vanquis Bank, amongst others. 

Ben Louden,  Viridian FX, Head of  Studio - VFX Supervisor 

Leading  this innovative York-based VFX studio, Ben’s team has been delivering  brilliant visual effects for television and film, from HBO's House of the Dragon to Paramount's The Infernal Machine.  

Stephen Stewart, Factory 42, Chief Technology Officer 

Stephen is CTO of award-winning immersive technology & experience studio Factory 42, responsible for the company's technology and R&D roadmap.  

David Johnston, Digital Catapult, Lead Technologist
David directs his expertise towards the utilisation of immersive and cutting-edge creative technologies, delivering a wide range of projects at Digital Catapult. His background also encompasses leading a cross-functional Research & Development team with a dedicated focus on pioneering future technologies, including AR & VR for a world leading broadcast company and extensive technology and craft consultancy work in the Film industry.