UCA launches the Creative and
Cultural Industries Leaders Network (CCILN)

UK’s creative and cultural industries are worth £125bn and trillions globally. It is a sector that is constantly evolving, with huge technological advances coming and fast. World Economic Forum employers anticipate 39% of workers’ core skills will change by 2030. How do industry leaders navigate this landscape? How do they lead into the unknown?

16 April 2025

Recognising the top-level discussions that are needed, University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has launched the Creative & Cultural Industries Leaders Network (CCILN) to rise to this challenge.

Professor Lyndsay Duthie, UCA’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Partnerships & Industry Engagement, explained:

“The creative and cultural industries are full of opportunity, but being part of the narrative is vital to thrive in these changing times. We need to think globally to maximise potential and collaborate across disciplines. UCA has developed this Network with senior industry leaders to share ideas and shape its future.”

To launch the Network, creative and cultural leaders attended an event hosted by UCA at its bespoke Creative Business School to examine the challenges for leadership, with speakers that included Head of Production, Samantha Perahia from British Film Commission, Sara Whybrew Director of Skills British Film Institute, Executive Director Stephen Hancock Apple’s Media Arts Lab and award-winning TEDx speaker, Andy Coley, all of whom acknowledged the importance of talent pipelines, resilience and leadership.

Kim Rowell, Managing Editor, ITN and Vice Chair of Royal Television Society Technology Centre, Emma Thwaites from The Open Data Institute and Chris Wheeler from Warner Bros., and Niels Stevens Adobe, were among other industry speakers who discussed leading for the future, considering AI, ethics and cultural power.

UCA’s President & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Roscoe, reiterated:

“UCA is in a great position to facilitate the important discussions we must now have to future-proof our sector. The event confirmed that we can play a leading role supporting, steering and equipping the creative and cultural leaders for the challenges today and tomorrow.”

If you’d like to join UCA’s Creative & Cultural Industries Leaders Network (CCILN) please email Helen Witt.