10th September 2026
RAI | E102 | 14:00 - 17:00
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14:00: WELCOME
Carrie Wootten - Media Talent Manifesto
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14:05 EVAN SHAPIRO: MEDIA CARTOGRAPHER
Evan will deliver a data-led perspective on the structural shifts reshaping the workforce and and the urgent need for change.
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14:25 FROM INSIGHT TO IMPACT: CREATING A FUTURE-READY SCREEN WORKFORCE
Lisa Opie, Chair, ScreenSkills
The UK screen and media industries are undergoing unprecedented change. AI, virtual production, new business models and shifting audience expectations are transforming the skills employers need, while talent shortages and barriers to entry continue to challenge growth.
Drawing on ScreenSkills' new five-year strategy, Lisa Opie will explore how industry can move from reacting to change to proactively shaping the workforce of the future. She will discuss why robust workforce data, stronger collaboration between employers, educators and government, and a shared commitment to high-quality, inclusive training are essential to building a resilient and globally competitive sector.
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14:45 HIDDEN STRENGTHS: WORKING WITH HIDDEN DISABILITIES IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY
Yosien Burke, Freelancer
In this World Skills Café session, Yosien Burke shares what she's learned sustaining and building a media career while living with hidden disabilities. After a critical illness reshaped how she works a few years ago, she made a choice: not to step back, but to step forward differently, reshaping her path, redefining her strengths, and finding roles that fit the way she works best.
Yosien speaks from both sides of the table. As a freelance media professional and as a co-founder of a start-up media business working with a team. She’ll explore how she learned to communicate openly with colleagues and new clients, saying what she needed rather than hiding it.
This is an honest, hopeful conversation about what's possible when awareness meets action. Expect practical insight, real experience, and plenty of room to rethink old assumptions.
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14:55 EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH REVEAL: TALENT TRENDS IN MEDIA TECHNOLOGY
Stuart Ray, Head of Skills, IAMT
What does the global MediaTech talent landscape really look like? At the World Skills Café, attendees will be the first to hear the findings from the Talent Trends in Media Technologysurvey—an international study capturing the views of employers across the media technology ecosystem.
The research explores the industry's biggest recruitment challenges, the technical and AI skills in highest demand, the effectiveness of today's education and training pathways, and how organisations are responding to rapidly changing workforce needs. It also examines the future of hybrid roles, emerging technologies and the skills that will define success over the next two to three years.
The findings will provide a data-driven foundation for discussions throughout the World Skills Café, helping industry leaders, educators and policymakers identify shared priorities and develop practical actions to strengthen the future MediaTech workforce.
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15:10 BREAK
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15:25 MEDIA & BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY PATHWAYS
Polly Hicking, Eviden | Laurissa Yeung Shea, WBD
There is no single route into media technology—and understanding how people build careers in the industry is essential to creating stronger, more inclusive talent pipelines. This session will present the first insights from Media & Broadcast Technology Industry Pathways, a new industry-wide initiative led by IBC in collaboration with Women in Streaming Media, Rise Academy, IAMT and SMPTE.
Drawing on stories from professionals across the global media technology community, the research explores how people entered the industry, the skills they've developed throughout their careers, and the experiences that shaped their journey. The findings will help identify the pathways that work, the barriers that remain, and the opportunities to create clearer, more accessible routes into MediaTech for the next generation. The discussion will examine how employers, educators and industry bodies can work together to build more visible career pathways, broaden participation and strengthen the future talent pipeline.
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15:40 FROM SKILLS TO JOBS: BUILDING THE AI-READY MEDIA WORKFORCE
Nina Walsh & Steph Lone, AWS
As AI and cloud technologies reshape the media industry, the challenge is no longer just adopting new tools—it's ensuring people have the skills to use them. In this session, AWS will share practical insights from a range of global workforce initiatives designed to help individuals and organisations build the capabilities needed for the future of media technology.
Drawing on programmes including the Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, AI & ML Scholars, Rise Up Skill, Project On Air, and AWS's free Media & Entertainment learning pathways, the discussion will explore what successful workforce transformation looks like in practice. From creating accessible entry routes into the industry to upskilling existing teams in cloud and AI, the session will examine how partnerships between technology providers, educators and employers are helping to close the skills gap and prepare the next generation of MediaTech talent.
Attendees will gain practical examples of how organisations can move beyond discussing workforce challenges and begin building sustainable talent pipelines that are equipped for an AI-driven future.
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16:00: EDUCATING FOR TOMORROW: REIMAGINING HIGHER EDUCATION IN A CHANGING WORLD
PANEL DISCUSSION
Doug Specht, University of Westminster | Chaitanya Chinchlikar, Whistling Woods
As technology, industry needs and learner expectations continue to evolve at unprecedented speed, higher education faces a critical challenge: how to remain relevant and responsive. This session will explore the future of higher education, from attracting and engaging the next generation of students to ensuring curricula keep pace with emerging technologies, workforce demands and new skills requirements. Industry leaders, educators and skills experts will discuss how stronger partnerships between academia and employers can help close skills gaps, create more agile learning pathways and better prepare graduates for the careers of tomorrow. Join us for a forward-looking conversation on how higher education can adapt, innovate and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
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16:20: BREAKING THE SILENCE: WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE OF WORKPLACE CULTURE AND BEHAVIOUR
Carrie Wootten, MTM
Be among the first to hear the findings from the latest Breaking the Silence survey, capturing the experiences of women working across the media and entertainment industry.
The research provides valuable insight into workplace culture, career progression, inclusion, leadership opportunities and the barriers that continue to shape women's careers. These findings will help inform industry-wide discussions on attracting, retaining and advancing diverse talent, providing an evidence-based foundation for future action across the media and entertainment sector.
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16:30: POST PRODUCTION 2030: SKILLS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
PANEL DISCUSSION
Chair: Sarah Burbedge, Freelance: Adam Downey, Sky | Charlotte Layton, Tanooki
As AI and automation transform traditional entry-level roles, the next generation of post-production talent will need to develop new skills and adapt to rapidly changing workflows.
This session explores how emerging technologies, the changing shape and size of the sector, alongside new ways of working are reshaping the role of post-production professionals and routes into the sector. Join our panel as they discuss the skills, mindsets and creative capabilities that will be essential for building successful careers in the post-production industry of the future.
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16:50 WRAP UP
Carrie Wootten, MTM
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