Speaker Profiles

Simon Danker

  Director, Digital Media, BBC Worldwide Back
Simon Danker

Profile

Simon was appointed Director of Digital Media in 2006 and heads up a team looking at widening the availability of programmes on multiple platforms including VOD, the Internet and mobiles. He is responsible for brokering global partnerships, such as the partnership announced in March 2007 with YouTube for the launch of a BBC Worldwide branded channel. In addition Simon works with all divisions within BBC Worldwide on digital media initiatives. He recently negotiated a major content deal to put BBC programmes for sale on Apple’s iTunes platform. Simon joined BBC Worldwide in 2000. Prior to taking up this new role he was Director of UK and Ireland TV within BBC Worldwide's Global TV Sales division. He has managed and grown the development of programme sales to Video on Demand (VoD) platforms such as BT and Homechoice. In addition to selling programmes to broadcasters in the UK and Ireland, Simon was responsible for growing the relationship with UKTV, in which BBC Worldwide has a 50% stake.


Juliet Davenport

  CEO, Good Energy Back
Juliet Davenport

Profile

Good Energy was established in 1997 - then called Unit [e] - with the aim of supplying 100% renewable electricity to provide a simple, effective method for homes and businesses to cut their impact on climate change.  In 2002 Juliet had the opportunity to take charge of the company's operations - this is when the company re-branded as Good Energy and really began to take form.  Juliet offered her customers the chance to buy into the company; an opportunity that over 600 of them were quick to accept.  Today, with over 20,000 customers being supplied with 100% renewable electricity, Good Energy and its customers are helping to prevent 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into our atmosphere each year.  Good Energy is committed to supporting independent, renewable generators by providing a stable market place for them to sell their power.  By Supplying 100% renewable electricity, the company is helping to develop secure, sustainable energy sources for tomorrow.


Dr Clive Dix

  Chairman, Modern Biosciences Back
Dr Clive Dix

Profile

Clive has over 22 years' experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, encompassing business leadership, project management and drug development.  He was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of PowderMed Ltd and led their sale to Pfizer Inc in October 2006.  Prior to that he was the Senior Vice President, Research and Development of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc, which was acquired by Chiron for £550 million in 2003.  He also held a senior position at Glaxo Wellcome as the UK Research Director where his role included co-chairing the management group that oversaw all of the company's research projects worldwide.


Jonathan Freedland

  Journalist & Broadcaster Back
Jonathan Freedland

Profile

Jonathan has been a columnist for the Guardian since 1997.  He also writes a weekly piece for the Evening Standard, as well as presenting BBC Radio 4's contemporary history series, The Long View.  He served for four years as the Guardian's Washington correspondent and has written for a variety of US publications, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Newsweek.  US affairs remain a keen interest, along with British politics and the Middle East.  He has written four books - Jacob's Gift (2005) and Bring Home the Revolution: the Case for a British Republic (1998) as well as a 2006 best-selling thriller, The Righteous Men and in 2007, The Last Testament, published under the pseudonym Sam Bourne.  In the annual What the Papers Say awards of 2002 Jonathan Freedland was named Columnist of the Year and praised for his "incisive, original, strong and very outspoken views".