We talk about networking but do we prioritise it? Does it come naturally to you or are you a bit intimidated? Is it time for you to reach out? 

Meet 3 of the best in the business - brilliant networkers whose work relies on their ability to build relationships across the industry.

Jasmine Dotiwala, Warner Brothers’ Andrew Zein and Simone Pennant of The TV Collective will be sharing their insights and anecdotes, giving you some dos and don’ts, and telling us how they managed to keep their networks alive in these last months of Covid-19.

You’ll also have the chance to network with your co-attendees in break out rooms at the end of the session. 

Hosted by Daisy Church, Media Trust. 

Access: This event will be closed-captioned. Should you have any particular access needs beyond this which we can reasonably accommodate please email kwhittaker@rts.org.uk

Panel

Andrew Zein - Andrew’s role at Warner Bros as SVP Creative, Format Development & Sales has him responsible Creative oversight of the development and production of programming and the exploitation of all forms of content within the WB International Television Production division (24 production companies, across 14 different countries.) He is also responsible for driving creative development within international production, steering the business to develop locally created properties into global formats and fostering co-developments across the group.

Prior to joining Warner Bros, he was Managing Director of Tiger Aspect Productions, one of the UK's leading independent television producers, for 13 years.

Jasmine Dotiwala - Jasmine has over 25 years of experience as a Head of department, manager, broadcaster, producer, director and columnist at brands like Netflix UK, Media Trust, Channel 4 News, MTV and more. In 2020 she moved into a role working with the Netflix UK Editorial & Publishing team. She continues to support Media Trust programmes.

In addition, Jasmine continues to report on ground-breaking arts and culture stories for Channel 4 news and Sky News. She also appears as a regular panel guest on Jeremy Vine on 5.

Simone Pennant MBE - Simone Pennant MBE established The TV Collective (TVC) over 10 years ago. TVC, is a networking resource that coaches, champions and connects TV professionals with a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background to paid opportunities in the industry and to each other. Last year, Simone through TVC worked with Channel 5 and successfully diversified its supplier base, and as a result, the broadcaster is now working with nine new production companies led by people from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds. 

More recently, she hosted a series of networking events which aimed to build better relationships between BBC Two commissioners and senior producers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Simone is currently collaborating with Channel 4 on their 2020 accelerator programme, where ten Indies have been matched with Commissioning Heads of Department for unscripted genres to work together towards a commission.  

She is a member of Bafta, and a juror for both the RTS and Broadcast Awards. In 2018 was awarded an MBE for her services to the Media industry.