Speakers, moderators and panellists 2019

Jenny Sealey, UK

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Jenny is the CEO / Artistic Director of Graeae - a force for change in world-class theatre, boldly placing D/deaf and disabled actors centre stage and challenging preconceptions. Jenny’s directing career began with Interplay Theatre, co-directing Sea Changes, then directing Stepping Stones and Mad Meg. Jenny has been Graeae’s Artistic Director since 1997.
Directing credits for Graeae include: This Is Not For You, Reasons to be Cheerful (2017, 2012, 2010 and concert versions), The House of Bernarda Alba (in a co-production with Royal Exchange Theatre), Blood Wedding (in a co-production with Dundee Rep and Derby Theatre); The Threepenny Opera (with Pete Rowe in a co-production with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich, West Yorkshire playhouse, Nottingham Playhouse and Birmingham Rep); Belonging (with Vinicius Daumas and performed in Brazil & London); also Signs of a Star Shaped Diva; Static; Blasted; Whiter than Snow; peeling; Bent; Iron Man and Rhinestone Rollers.
International credits include: Blood Wedding (Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo); Romeo and Juliet (Saitama Arts Theatre, Tokyo); and at Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF) then touring outdoor arenas: Against the Tide; The Garden; The Limbless Knight – A Tale of Rights Reignited. Jenny co-directed the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony alongside Bradley Hemmings (GDIF).
She also won the Liberty Human Rights Arts Award and was on the h.Club 100 list of the most influential people in the creative industries.

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Jonathan Holloway, UK

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Born and bred in Sheffield, Jonathan cut his teeth as a theatre director, since when he has travelled the world as a festival director, chief executive, educator and cultural leader.  He spent seven years heading up public events at London’s National Theatre, then seven years leading the team at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival, growing it to be the third largest annual arts festival in the UK and delivering Creative Partnerships for the region, the government's flagship creativity in schools programme.
In Australia, his first Perth International Arts Festival in 2012 opened with 30,000 people dancing in the streets, as angels and two tonnes of feathers fell from the sky. In 2015 he masterminded the largest single arts event Australia has ever seen, when 1.4 million people spent three days walking with giants through the main streets of Perth. In 2017 he brought Taylor Mac’s epic 24-hour production A 24-Decade History Of Popular Music to Melbourne, the only time it will be seen complete outside the US.  All three won the rare and prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Special Event.
Until recently Jonathan was the Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Melbourne International Arts Festival, the flagship arts event of Australia’s cultural capital. By championing giant thinking and vision, managing talent, leading delivery teams, and collaborating with governments, sponsors, the media and the public, he has repeatedly harnessed innovation, persuasion and health & safety to create unmissable, unexpected and unforgettable experiences for small and massive audiences.

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Agata Etmanowicz, PL

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#cultureworker #practitioner #audiencedevelopment #impact #socialusefulness #people #thereisnostrategywithoutdreams #dreambig #fun!

THE PAST.
She always kept herself busy. She worked as a journalist, producer, culture manager, and even as an official dealing with European Affairs and representing the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in the Culture Committee of the Council of the European Union. She was also producing “her own” culture and artistic projects and helping others with the realisation of their dreams.   
THE PRESENT.
Together with Impact Foundation (for the past 10 years) she supports culture organisations in placing audiences in the heart of everything they do (by spreading the joy of working according to audience development philosophy).

With Art Factory in Łódź she co-creates ART_INKUBATOR to support the growth of young creative entrepreneurs (both locally and internationally).
With Poland Without Barriers Foundation she promotes accessibility in all aspects of life - from architecture, design to the production of cultural events.

She’s also a great fan of wheelchair rugby, volunteering with Warsaw Wheelchair Rugby Team and supporting professional approach to adaptive sport.   
THE FUTURE?
…Hoping that she’s going to be able to sit back, observe, relax and enjoy as there will be no need for her to work anymore ☺

Lousie Lindén, SE

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When you face global challenges you have two options: fear the world or save the world. When Louise Lindén as an 18-year-old student was struck by climate change depression she decided to save the world, and founded one of Sweden's most sustainable music festivals – LiveGreen.
Today Louise is a social entrepreneur, business leader and change maker. Since 2011 she has developed national concepts for sustainable behavior change and young innovation, written books about green events and inspired thousands of people. She has also been awarded by The King’s Foundation for Young Leadership and Reach for Change. Her mission is to create empowerment, social innovation and green movements through her biggest passion – music, art and festivals.

Alina Minkova, SE

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Alina Minkova has a MSc in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability. She is a facilitator, sustainability nerd and a designer of educational courses on sustainability. During the past three years Alina has operated as LiveGreen’s sustainability agent. She has been involved in multiple sustainability projects with organisations working within culture, event and festival branches, such as Sweden Rock Festival and Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL). In her work she combines her two main passions - music and making the world a better place to live in.

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Andrew Doe, UK

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Andy Doe is Founder of Proper Discord and collaborator of NBFP on the FestivalsOnDemand Web Platform. He is one of the pioneers of the digital music revolution. He was head of classical at iTunes as it grew from a small experiment into the world's largest music retailer, and as COO at Naxos he oversaw the company's expansion into apps, digital books and ringtones, as well as adding major label content to the company's streaming services.

These days Andy consults on music, media and technology to an extremely diverse client list including artists at all stages of their careers, as well as startups, nonprofits and multibillion-dollar corporations. He manages large-scale recording and technology projects, helps artists and ensembles decide how to publish their recordings, develop creative ways to use media in marketing, and help organisations to set up and run labels. Past and present clients include: Berliner Philharmoniker, Gustavo Dudamel, Kronos Quartet/Kronos Performing Arts, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, The New Yorker and many others.

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Vigdís Jakobsdóttir, IS

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Vigdis is Artistic Director and CEO of Reykjavik Arts Festival. She is an experienced theatre director and workshop facilitator, both in her home country Iceland, and globally. She has directed performances at the National Theatre of Iceland and with numerous independent theatre companies. She was Head of Education at the National Theatre of Iceland from 2002-2011 and adjunct and later programme director for MA studies in Theatre Education at the Iceland Academy of the Arts from 2002-2016. She is the founder of Þjóðleikur – The National Youth Theatre festival in Iceland which she led from 2008-2017.
Vigdis was elected on the executive committee of ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) in 2011 and was vice president of the association from 2014-2017. She was chairperson of ASSITEJ Iceland for many years and artistic director of UNGI festival in Reykjavík from 2013-2016.  
She holds a BA honours degree in Drama and Theatre Studies from the University of Kent (UK) and a Post.grad. diploma in Teaching Studies for Higher Education from the University of Iceland. 

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​​Rasmus Adrian, DK

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Rasmus Adrian has a background as a creative producer, executive and artistic director with substantial experience from the Danish performing arts scene. From his work with music and theatre, he has developed a unique understanding of facilitating international meetings across disciplines and art forms. Rasmus has worked in an executive and managerial capacity in several organisations, including Concerto Copenhagen, Theater Republique, South Denmark Philharmonic, and Hotel Pro Forma. With his latest venture, the production company norobo, Rasmus has created a platform for connecting artists, projects and arts organisations. Rasmus is an external lecturer at the Copenhagen Business School where he teaches arts management subjects.

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​Paul Gudgin, UK

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Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the management of festivals and events including the Aldeburgh Festival, Bury St Edmunds Festival, City of London Festival, Durham International BRASS Festival and 8 years as Director of the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
After receiving a degree in music from the University of Surrey Paul’s first festival role was for the prestigious classical music event, the Aldeburgh Festival. He subsequently became Director of the Bury St Edmunds Festival before heading to Edinburgh to manage one of the main music venues, the Queen’s Hall. Here he was able to maintain a strong association with festivals as the venue featured events by the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
After 4 years at the Queen’s Hall, Paul was appointed Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and over the following eight years saw the event double in scale reaching 1.6 million ticket sales in his final year. Paul's contribution to Edinburgh’s cultural life was recognised when he was made the first recipient of the Arts and Business Scotland Award for Leadership and he was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of Edinburgh.
Paul then established his own consultancy working on a wide range of festival projects internationally and he was also appointed Visiting Professor of Festival and Event Management by Leeds Metropolitan University and subsequently Senior Consultant at Edinburgh Napier University. He has been engaged to deliver training by a host of organisations including the British Council, Events Tasmania, The New Zealand Association of Event Professionals, Festivals and Events Ontario, Rotterdam Festivals, the Australian Centre for Events Management and the National Arts Council of Korea. He is currently Artistic Director of the Durham BRASS Festival and presents the Festival and Event Management Masterclass which has been delivered in 25 countries worldwide.

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Ilgiz Yanbukhtin, RU

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Ilgiz graduated with honours from the Lomonosov Moscow State University’s (MSU) Department of Philosophy in 1994. Graduate of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (1998). Doctor of Philosophy (2000). Successfully completed the executive program of John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2012).

Served as an expert in the US-Russia Bilateral Governmental Commission on economic and technological cooperation. While working in the Commission, interacted with the US Department of State, the US Agency for International Development, the US Small Business Administration and Eurasia Foundation.

Since 2008, Ilgiz has been overseeing all international projects and business development of Moscow City Symphony – Russian Philharmonic. During his tenure, the orchestra’s Diplomatic Club was set up, while the Russian Philharmonic joined the leading industry associations: International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA), the Alliance of the Asia Pacific Region Orchestras (AAPRO), the League of American Orchestras (LAO). Since 2010, Ilgiz Yanbukhtin has been a member of the IAMA, which is the only global association for the management of the classical music. Moscow City Symphony – Russian Philharmonic became the first full symphony orchestra in Russia to join the IAMA as an affiliated member.

In September 2011 Ilgiz was one of the co-organisers of the AARPO Summit in Moscow. Hea has expanded the orchestra’s tour geography: Austria, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Oman, Slovakia, Turkey, France. In 2013, the orchestra was signed by one of the leading artistic agencies of the world, Productions Internationales Albert Sarfati, PIAS (France).

Since 2013 Ilgiz has been appointed as the CEO of the Moscow Region Philharmonic. Permanent Board member of Moscow Region’s Ministry of Culture in 2014-2016. Since 2017 – President & Founder of New Russian Classics company (artist & concert management, tours, educational & consulting programs). Since January 2018 – Programme Director, Founder and original author of “Cultural Management Strategy & Practice” educational program based in the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Since November 2018, Ilgiz represents Russia in the Working Group of the NordicBaltic Festival Platform.

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Mocci Ryen, NO

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Mocci Ryen is a musician, project manager and cultural entrepreneur. She is the CEO of Stoppested Verden and M’productions nd Head of programming at Hamar Municipality Centre for Performing Arts.

Mocci’s musical career has taken her all over the world. From songwriting tuition with Sir Paul McCartney, jamming with Patti Labelle during the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Concert to international musical collaborations with artists from South-Afrika, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, USA and Latin-Amerika.

Combining a music and business degree, Mocci Ryen has developed and managed various arts programmes and cultural projects, such as Oslo Chamber Music Festival (Festival director 2010), Oslo World Music Festival (event manager 1994-2006), Stavanger 2008 European Capital of Culture (2006-2008), 46664 Arctic Tromsø Mandela concert (2006), Norwegian Science Fair (1999-2002), the XVII Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer (1994) as well as art projects for Norwegian Concert Institute, The Nordic Council of Ministers, Nobel Peace Center and CARE Norway.

After leaving Oslo World in 2006, she initiated and founded Stoppested Verden – International Youth Festival of Culture and Arts. It quickly became the largest festival of its kind in Norway with more than 13 0000 participants yearly with its 13th edition in 2019.

Her experiences and communicative abilities have made Mocci Ryen an attractive motivator and speaker. She has lectured at Norwegian Business School (BI), Oslo & Akershus University College (HiOA) and Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KhiO), and has been in the boards of Audiences Norway, Jeunesse Musicales Norway and Damini House of Culture. She has received the Diversity Award in 2017 as well as Hamar Culture Award in 2011.

Mocci is an advocate for cultural diversity – in front of, on and behind the stage.​

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