Pride in Leadership: Creating Inclusive Agency Culture from Within

In conversation with Matt Craigie Atherton

The final emPOWERMENt session of the year brought together our community for a morning of honesty, reflection and inspiration, led by Matt Craigie Atherton, Chief Production Officer at NCA & Ogilvy UK.

Matt has spent over two decades shaping some of the most recognisable work in British advertising. From his early years at Blink, to leading production at adam&eveDDB and Mother London, going on to become a co-founder of New Commercial Arts, and now CPO of Ogilvy UK his career has spanned the evolution of an industry still learning how to balance creativity with culture.

At this session, titled Pride in Leadership: Creating Inclusive Agency Culture from Within, Matt spoke with openness about his personal journey as a gay man and the driving force behind his professional achievements. He reflected on the experiences that shaped his leadership, the importance of visibility for LGBTQ+ professionals, and the ongoing challenge of creating genuinely inclusive workplaces.

Later in the conversation, Matt Foster, Director of Inclusion and Impact at Ogilvy UK, joined the discussion to explore the intersection of empathy, accountability and agency culture. Together, the two Matts explored what inclusive leadership looks like in practice: how to create psychological safety, nurture diverse teams and use influence to shift behaviours across the industry. 

Hearing how Ogilvy’s inclusion network is supported, with staff-chaired groups, dedicated time allowances, and financial recognition was truly impressive. It’s easy to dismiss big networks as only paying lipservice but to hear the lived impact of both the in-house initiatives and the brand collaborations bringing thought provoking campaigns into the mainstream was inspiring.

The conversation resonated deeply with many in the room, and reminded us all that inclusion does not begin with grand statements but with small, consistent actions that make people feel seen, valued and supported.

For those who attended, the morning offered more than inspiration. It was a call to lead differently, to champion representation not as a project but as a mindset, and to recognise the power of everyday leadership in creating change.

Our gratitude goes to everyone who made the session happen! Ogilvy for hosting us in their wonderful space, and to New Commercial Arts for their organisation and founding sponsorship for 2025. A big thank you goes to Alex Katz, Dom Seymour and Francine Linsey at Bite Collective, and Tim Page and Jody Allison at Heads Up Production, for kindly sponsoring the refreshments for this session and ex Music Supervisor Justine Campbell John, now founder of It's Not Just Cake, who sent in a masterpiece of a cake to sweeten the morning for her industry friends. And finally, a special thank you to all our sponsors for their incredible support throughout 2025. You are the Patrons and Patrona’s who make these events possible and help us create a space where meaningful conversations can take place.