September Festival
9th September - Dalston Curve Garden
'Cutting Through: How Building Purpose and Creativity Is Changing Lives.'
From adland to the prison yard, Stef Jones shares the raw, real story of using creativity to give people a second chance.. and how this is a campaign that cuts deeper than any he’s ever made before.
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Stef Jones — Founder, Onwards & Upwards / Co-Founder, Big Al’s Creative Emporium
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Stef Jones cut his teeth in advertising, first as a copywriter, then as Co-Founder and Creative Partner at Big Al’s Creative Emporium, one of London’s boldest independent agencies. Known for ideas with bite and heart, Stef spent years creating campaigns for big brands before deciding to turn his creativity toward something even more impactful.
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That pivot became Onwards & Upwards (O&U) a charity using creativity and business to reduce reoffending in the UK. Instead of talking about change, Stef builds it: real businesses that hire and train people coming out of prison, giving them purpose, skills, and a proper shot at a second chance.
Their first venture a barbershop run by returning citizens, proves what’s possible when creative thinking meets compassion. For Stef, this isn’t theory; it’s a new kind of brief..a campaign that cuts deeper than any he’s ever made before.
'Sara Jones Talk Title'
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Sara Jones — CEO & Visionary Founder of Centre of Excellence
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Sara Jones is the visionary founder and CEO of Centre of Excellence, one of the UK’s fastest-growing ed-tech companies and a global leader in transformational online education. With over 2 million students across 150 countries and more than 1,000 courses spanning wellness, personal growth, and professional development, her mission is nothing short of extraordinary: to positively impact the lives of one billion people worldwide.
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Recently recognised with the Goldman Sachs Award for The Company Most Likely to Become a Unicorn and named among Bright Pearl’s Top Ten Fastest Growing e-Commerce Businesses in the UK, Centre of Excellence continues to expand at remarkable speed.
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Before becoming a CEO, Sara spent 18 years as a therapist, coach, and trainer in holistic health, experience that now infuses her leadership with authenticity, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of alignment. From a single mother to the helm of a soon-to-be billion-pound enterprise, Sara’s story is one of faith, flow, and fearless vision...proof that when purpose and energy align, anything is possible!
'The Motherload: The Truth About Motherhood in Adland and a Legacy Worth Inheriting'
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Zoe Scaman - Founder of Bodacious
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Zoe Scaman is the founder of Bodacious, a strategy studio dedicated to exploring the new frontiers of innovation within brands and entertainment.
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With over 20 years of experience and a futurist's lens, Zoe crafts transformative strategies that harness emerging technologies and cultural shifts to create impact. Her client roster includes iconic brands such as Nike, Netflix, Oatly, Unilever, EA Games, Coca-Cola, and Snapchat, all of whom rely on her expertise to shape their strategies for an evolving landscape. Zoe co-authored The New Creator Manifesto, forecasting the shift from the creator economy to the community economy, and her essay Mad Men. Furious Women, a powerful commentary on systemic harassment in the advertising industry, drew international attention, with coverage in The Times, The Guardian, and Fast Company. Receiving excessive harassment and online aggression because of it.
Recently, Zoe published The Motherload, a report shedding light on the harsh realities of motherhood within the ad industry-detailing the mental load, burnout, and systemic challenges that mothers face in balancing careers and family.
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Marie Owen — Founder of LS Productions
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CEO Marie Owen founded LS Productions in 2006, with the aim of showcasing the creative possibilities available in the UK and beyond to the world’s leading production companies, TV studios and brands. Today, LS Productions is a global production partner, specialising in film and television, commercials, music videos, fashion, and sports campaigns. With an enviable client roster including: Aston Martin, Adidas, HBO, Netflix, and Ralph DIOR. Marie has also overseen projects featuring A-list talent like Harrison Ford, Harry Styles, Cristiano Ronado, Zendaya and Ed Sheeran.
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Marie is a true champion of growth and innovation with a passionate belief in building a values-led brand. She strongly believes in treating people on and off camera with fairness and breaking down industry barriers. Marie has infused LS with a pioneering spirit, and evident in every aspect of the business is the dynamic and progressive internal culture, bold and fresh communication style, commitment to championing underrepresented industry talent, and authenticity as a truly female-led business.
'Livvy Moore Talk Tile.'
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Livvy Moore - Founder & Creative Director of Blank Page
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Livvy Moore is the Founder and Creative Director of Blank Page, a creative agency on a mission to rewrite industry standards with honesty, inclusion and excellence at the heart. With a background leading global creative work for brands such as PUMA, Dickies and Under Armour, Livvy is also a fierce advocate for those who don’t traditionally ‘fit’ within the ad industry. Her lived experience growing up in an abusive home, navigating OCD and PTSD, and speaking openly as a proud gay woman, informs her belief that creativity must be rooted in truth. Her voice – in campaigns, columns, and now this session – is one the industry needs more of.
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Christina Brooks — Founder & CEO of Ruebik
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Christina Brooks is the founder and CEO of Ruebik, a leading talent attraction agency. Racial and gender discrimination shape Brooks’ perspective of access to opportunities. From a young schoolgirl in Gloucester, to the successful social impact driven entrepreneur she is today.
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Her mission at Ruebik is to impart her knowledge and lived experiences to help better the lives of the underrepresented, encompassing gender, ethnicity, and disability. Brooks has over 20 years’ experience in the talent attraction field, including Global Executive Talent Lead at Rolls Royce. She is adept in cultural and racial impacts on business, along with boardroom and executive leadership roles.
Her passion is further reflected in her personal endeavours. She is a trustee for an alternative provision school in Tottenham, a trustee for a pioneering Social Communications Centre for Autism, a mentor to incarcerated youth, and advisor to many black-owned social start-ups.