Omar Essack is a 30-year veteran of the audio broadcasting industry. He started his career as a radio and TV presenter in 1990, before running two of the largest broadcast media companies in South Africa. He also trained media managers in Asia for Deutsche Welle and has spoken at various media conferences around the world, including the inaugural Indian Radio Forum. In his most recent role as the Group CEO at Primedia, he established a Data Analytics Centre of Excellence and led the development of new data and technology driven solutions for customers of their Audio and Out of Home businesses. Omar is now an independent consultant, television anchor and digital nomad, who also works with RedTech as business developer, strategic advisor and TechTalk panel facilitator.

Graham Dixon was Head of Radio at the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva until December 2020, having previously worked at the BBC in various editorial roles, including finally Managing Editor, BBC Radio 3. At the EBU, Graham’s responsibilities included advocacy for public media and fostering radio innovation across Europe. He studied in both Italy and Germany for his musicology PhD, and later completed an MBA, focusing on the challenges of reshaping radio production for multiplatform delivery.

Based in Paris, Emmanuelle Pautler has worked in the radio industry for over 30 years. She has held posts as both a producer and presenter for French stations, such as Radio Notre Dame and Radio France’s France Culture. In addition to being involved with academic research and EU consulting in Brussels, she specializes in print journalism and client relations for the broadcast and music trade press.

Angela Bünger is a freelance journalist, writer and translator based in Düsseldorf, Germany. For more than 15 years she has held various creative and senior editor roles in the media and entertainment industry with a focus on cinema, broadcast and ProAV technology.

Lameck Masina is an established multimedia freelance journalist based in Blantyre, Malawi. He files for a number of international media organizations including Voice of America, Inter Press News Service, African Arguments and Zenger News. He has also reported for CNN, New African and African Business magazines.

Radio enthusiast since childhood, at the age of seven Davide Moro began as a radio presenter at his town’s local station. After receiving a Master of Science in engineering, Davide worked for Telecom Italia and Italian public broadcaster, RAI. Based in Bergamo, Italy, he now spends his time as a broadcast consultant for radio stations and equipment manufacturers, specializing in project management, network design and field measurement.

Charles Flores is a Maltese poet, writer, journalist and broadcaster. His professional training has taken him to the Belgrade Institute of Journalism and the Newhouse School of Communication at Syracuse University in New York. Following a career in print journalism, Flores went into broadcast management where he has overseen various aspects related to national broadcasting, including news, radio and TV programs, publishing sales, corporate affairs and archives.

BBC-trained John Masuku is a veteran Zimbabwean journalist and radio trainer who has worked for both public and private media. He has profiled radio and television stations and prominent personalities as well as the impact of changing media trends in Zimbabwe and sub-Saharan Africa since 1975.

Dr. Lawrie Hallett has worked in radio broadcasting for more than 30 years. From his early involvement in UK “pirate” broadcasting to several years as a broadcast regulator at Ofcom, he has at various times been a producer, presenter and broadcast engineering consultant. Lawrie currently operates a city-wide DAB multiplex in the East of England City of Norwich and teaches radio broadcasting, journalism and development at the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. Perhaps not surprisingly, his PhD focuses on the effective delivery of Community Radio services.

Based in Antwerp, Belgium, Marc Maes is a veteran music and radio journalist. He began hosting a weekly program at a local radio station in 1980. Before joining the Dutch-language national broadcaster VRT as a reporter and music programmer, he worked as a free-lance writer for various publications including national press, industry publications and magazines. Since 1985, he has been a free-lance writer for both Belgian and leading international music, audio and broadcast publications.

Will Jackson is a freelance journalist and project manager in the audio and radio sector. He is managing director of AudioUK, the trade body for radio, podcast and audiobook production companies, and has worked on major events such as the International Radio Festival. He has also presented and produced for BBC and commercial radio stations. Will is based in Chelmsford (near London), England — the “birthplace of radio.”