Chief Executive Officer, Reading Room

Margaret Manning is joint CEO of Reading Room.  Founded in 1996, it is one of the UK's top five independent award winning digital communications companys with over 90 staff in London, Manchester, Canberra and Sydney.

As well as having overall responsibility for Reading Room's strategic direction, Margaret is also senior project director for some of Reading Room's larger projects.  These include major projects for the Disability Rights Commission, UNESCO, Hill and Knowlton, British Library, The Law Society and Business Link.

Reading Room's expertise lies in helping companies make the most of the way their content is created, presented and managed online.  Margaret's philosophy is to stimulate the thinking on the communication benefits of the Internet, advocating the web as 'a channel to do business' through the creative use of technology and design.

Margaret's special interests in new media are in the following areas; internet development processes, web usability and accessibility and site marketing and acceptance - both internally and externally.

Margaret is frequently invited and has given a number of keynote speeches at national and international events presenting for amongst others; the Institute of Directors, Professional Services Marketing Group, Business Link, Internet Advertising Bureau, New Media Group, Australian Government Canberra, The Law Society and The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Margaret is the Internet editor of FD Centre Magazine and is on of the regular team of experts commenting in Internet Magazine.  She has written articles for both national and trade press and has been interviewed on BBC radio.

Margaret is the elected Vice Chair of BIMA and also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  Margaret qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1987 and spent three years post qualification working on special projects.  She moved to Longwall International shortly after its acquisition by an MBO team from Dowty Group plc and became Group Financial Controller in 1995.  Prior to joining Reading Room Limited she was a senior manager at 3i plc involved in business process re-engineering.

Creative Director, Partner, Strawberry Frog

Mark Chalmers is Creative Director and partner at the international, award -winning advertising agency StrawberryFrog.  The agency turned seven on Valentine's Day 2006 and Mark has been an integral part of 'Pondlife' for the past six years.

His work on ASICS' heritage brand Onitsuka Tiger, Hoegaarden, IKEA, Pfizer, Sony-Ericsson and Heineken have brought StrawberryFrog international recognition.

A world-class agency working on pan European and global briefs, StrawberryFrog seeks to challenge the domination of advertising agency dinosaurs.  Referred to as "The company that will change the way we work and live" by Fast Company Magazine, StrawberryFrog leaped stateside in 2004 to open in New York City.

Mark personifies the eclectic and vibrant nature of StrawberryFrog, a former architecht Mark cut his teeth in advertising with UK agency HHCL where he worked on the infamous Tango campaigns of the 90s.

He continues to deliver a challenging approach in global campaigns and was named the 'Godfather of Guerrilla@ by the British TV Industry Awards.  Mark's innovative approach to advertising has given the Frogs a well deserved noteriety in industry circles.

Equally infamous are the creative social events co-organised by Mark.  This underground institution mixes the top interactive creative minds from around the world to indulge in ideas from Barcelona to Brazil.

In 2005 advertising bible Campaign magazine recognised Mark as one of the top three creative minds in the digital marketing world.  Mark represents the Frogs on award show juries including The One Show NYC and China, D&AD, MSN European Creative Awards and the monthly IAB Creative Showcase.

Design Director, AllofUs

Mickey Stretton was born and bred in Leicester before escaping in the early nineties to Nottingham to study Graphic Design.  Having blagged a first class honours degree he embarked on a career in interactive design and has since added several high-profile accolades to his chargesheet, including 3 Bafta awards for Interface and Interactive Design and 2 Design Week Best of Show awards.

Today he is the Design Director and a founding partner of AllofUs, an award-winning consultancy specialising in interactive design for interior environments and physical spaces.  Current AllofUs clients include the Science Museum, Tate Britain, NHS and The Royal Shakespeare Company.

Interactive Art Director, Diesel

Richard first began collaborating with Diesel just one year after the company's first site was launched in 1996, initially as a designer for EHSBrann (then Realtime Studio) for whom Diesel was a client, and then moving to the company's north Italian headquarters to join Diesel's 'Virtual Dept' in 2000.

Designing Diesel's initial online foray into eCommerce with the UK virtual store (one of the first online fashion eCommerce sites - predating Boo), Richard helped start Diesel's online advertising.

Since 2005, he has headed up Diesel's internal web design team.  Richard is also closely involved with Diesel's other marketing and communications projects, from advertising campaigns to designing hand made rugs for the Diesel stores.

Prior to working with Diesel, Richard was a senior designer for Realtime Studios and AMX Studios.

Marketing and Operations Director, Virgin Games

Ross is Marketing and Operations Director at Virgin Games, helping to develop the gaming and gambling business for the Virgin group which includes Casino, Poker, Bingo and Skill Games.

Ross has worked extensively in advertising, marketing and digital for the past 14 years and has advised the UK Cabinet office on how to support open Government online, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the heads of the UK major music labels as to how customers will consume music in a digital age.  He has worked with clients in numerous sectors including British Airways, MVC, Channel 4, Sega, Ocado and Universal Television concentrating on how value can be created through identifying, understanding and meeting customer needs, particularly through digital channels.

Ross has previously helped found and develop companies specialising in digital and relationship building for marketing agencies DDB (Online Magic now Agency.com, BMP InterAction and Tribal DDB) and Chime Communications (Heresy).  He has run his own start up company, Fingertips, which created a personalised entertainment schedule for customers.  He has also written for New Media Age for 3 years, judged many Digital Awards for Creativity and Effectiveness and occasionally is asked to speak his mind on a platform which he's only too happy to do.

Creative Director, Partner, VCCP

Steve brings over 15 years experience in both the on and off-line worlds of advertising and is one of the original partners at VCCP London.  Steve works across VCCP's key accounts including; Diet Coke, Dyson, Nestea, Jordans, ING Direct, O2, Coca Cola, Hyundai, FedEx, Capri Sun, Minute Maid, Trebor, Dunhill, GNER, Wedgwood, Bel and Channel Five.

Steve has worked at some of the biggest and best creative agencies in the world including; FCB San Francisco, WCRS Arnold Worldwide Partner in London, Modern Media and DDB Digital in his native Vancouver.

Steve was named the number one New Media Creative in Campaign's "10 Hottest New Media Creatives of 2000" as well as making their OEA List in 2003.  In 2005, Steve made Campaign magazine's OETop 15 digital creatives list being the only one from a OEtraditional advertising agency.  His industry accolades include; his Superstitial work on BMW was the first ever OEe-ad to be chosen as Campaign Magazine's "Pick of the Week" and the best interactive ad of the year, he has been recognised by D&AD, One Show's, Clio's, Cannes Lions, the Advertising, the Andy Awards, the Reggies and the Lotus Awards.

Recently Steve was the Digital Crafts foreman for the 2004 D&AD Awards, judged the 2005 One Show Awards, the IAB;s Creative Showcase, was the 2006 Campaign Digital Awards Chairman and a judge at the Webby Awards.

Steve has spoken at Shoot Magazine's interactive TV Conference, AdTech, Yahoo! and Campaign's Digital Arts Conference alongside Jerry Yang, Bob Geldof and John Hegarty.  He has judged the Icon and Web Awards, has had his work featured in the FT, Design Week, Adage, written columns for Adweek, Marketing, Campaign, New Media Age, Cre@ate Magazine and conducted television interviews with the BBC and CNBC Europe.

In 2004 VCCP was named Effectiveness Agency fo the Year and were the first agency in the IPA Effectiveness Awards history to have wone the Grand Prix on its debut. 

Creative Director, Mook

Tom is Creative Director and co-founder of Mook.

Graduating from The London College of Printing in 1998 with a BA (Hons) in Graphic and Media Design, Tom went on to specialise in digital from the outset.  He started his career in 1996 at one of the UK's first interactive specialists, AMX Digital, under renowned graphic designer Professor Malcom Garrett.  At AMX Tom created pioneering digital media for clients including Guinness, Warner Music and Pepsi.  Moving AMX spin off The iGroup as Head of Interactive Design in 1998, he built a thriving digital team, re-branded The Sun's ISP and oversaw creative digital work for clients including Laura Ashley and Group 4. 

Whilst at the iGroup Tom met Roger Thelwell and Tom Adams, his Mook co-founders.  Mook was formed in 1999 and quickly became one of the UK's leading digital agencies, carving out a strong creative reputation in the youth and entertainment categories.  Mook became part of the Nitro group in early 2006.

Tom is an award-winning Creative Director with over 10 years' industry experience, his creative highlights at Mook include a BAFTA nomination for work on the The Sunday Times, an Adobe Y Design Award for PlayStation, several BIMA nominations, over 25 projects for MTV and countless digital campaigns for PlayStation, Diesel and Channel 4.  Other clients include BBC, Peroni, Virgin, Sport England and the COI.

Tom is a regular speaker in the digital industry and a jduge for the D&AD and BIMA awards.

Head of Digital, Start Creative

Trevor joined Start Creative in February 2006 as a Director and Head of Digital.  He was previously Creative Director/Executive Creative Director for 14 years with Real Time and EHS Brann in London. 

With a traditional background in design /art direction he has a diverse knowledge in both digital and direct communications.  Trevor has regularly won awards in all media, been a regular judge and speaker at industry events.

Work for clients include, Diesel for 8 years, Canon, Andersen Consulting, British Telecom, British Tourist Board, The Football Association, PlayStation, COI, The Premier League, MINI, BMW and Virgin.

"Thanks for asking me to take part in the Dadi's - I really had a great time, it was a lot of fun to get a guage on what people thought about each of the sites" - Richard Holley, Interactive Art Director, Diesel

"I was very impressed with the quality of some of the entrants and this made the judging not easy." - Franco Beschizza, Team Head of Digital Media, Central Office of Information

"The judging was fun" - Trevor Chambers, Head of Digital, Start Creative

"Thanks again - best judging experience I have ever had." - Ross Sleight, Marketing & Operations Director, Virgin Games

Joint Managing Director, DNA

Chris Perry founded DNA in 1995 with Neil Miller.  The company is now the UK office for the Avenue A | Razorfish network of companies which is the largest independent interactive agency in the world and counts Microsoft, Ford, Nike, Disney and Coca cola amongst its clients.  DNA has over 120 UK based employees and offers its client online media, marketing and technology services.

Chris has worked on various projects during his tenure at DNA including launching Comet, MFI, B&Q and House of Fraser's online retail presences; leading the development of the first government Service on interactive TV; creating online presences for Billy Wyman of the Rolling Stones and Gordon Ramsay; as well as leading the development and strategy for Oxfam and NSPCC's online activity.  Chris's most recent project was the relaunch of the whole of O2's online shopping service.

As well as being on the DNA board Chris has held Directorships for various companies including the film company Dragonfly and the lifestyle and concierge company, Enviego.  Before founding DNA Chris was a strategist at Ogilvy & Mather, working with various clients including Ford.

Managing Partner, Underwired

Felix has been managing partner of digital agency Underwired since 2001.  In previous lives he launched Hyperinteractive (1994) and Head New Media, which became the digital arm of Lowe in 1998. 

His agency's web, eCRM and online advertising clients include Virgin Megastores, Nickelodeon, Virgin Holidays, Friends Reunited, Institute of Cancer Research, JP Morgan and P&G.

Team Head of Digital Media, Central Office of Information

Franco Beschizza cut his teeth in the Digital Media industry back in the years of the dotcom boom, working on projects for blue chip clients such as BT and Unilever.

He joined COI Digital Media in 2000 and is responsible for directing the division's procurement/project management services, including managing the Framework list of approved agencies, to ensure that COI secures best value for its Government clients.  A major part of his work currently is developing, in consultation with clients, new digital services that will meet the future needs of both clients and customers, to ensure that the campaign of the future has digital at it's heart.

COI Digital Media have over one hundred and fifty projects running at any one time.  Franco is working together with many leading digital agencies to deliver a diverse range of projects for government, including a number of award winning sites, amongst them Talk To Frank, RUThinking, Playingsafely and the Army Recruitment.