The Dan Gilbert Memorial Lecture is given in memory of Dan Gilbert, who was a major figure within the broadcasting community of Northern Ireland. He worked with the BBC, and served for a stint as editor of Radio Current Affairs. He is well regarded for the training and mentoring he offered many leading figures in the industry, including Gloria Hunniford.
The annual lecture series launched in 1997 and features a range of speakers from across the television industry, all with a strong tie to Northern Ireland.
Peter Johnson. Towards the BBC at 100, November 2016
Peter Johnston was appointed Controller of BBC Northern Ireland in October 2006. Prior to that he had been Head of Broadcasting for BBC Northern Ireland.
During his tenure as Head of Broadcasting, Johnston greatly enhanced the output of BBC One NI and BBC Two NI, doubling the number of single documentaries, introducing new formats and expanding the range of music and comedy on offer. Programmes commissioned during this time won nine RTS awards.
With a career originating in marketing and management, Johnston moved into the media after providing management consultancy support for a number of local ITV fanchise bigs and an application for a CHannel 5 television license.
Noel Curran. A Discussion with Noel Curran, January 2014
Noel Curran was appointed Director General of RTÉ in November 2010 with effect from February 2011. He is a native of Co. Monaghan and a graduate of Dublin City University. Noel's experience in Irish media runs from the print industry to senior management level in broadcasting, taking in high level and diverse production experience in Current Affairs and Entertainment programmes in addition to work in the independent production sector.
Noel Curran completed a BA in Communications from Dublin City University before beginning work in the print media as a business journalist. He was Deputy Editor with Business and Finance before joining RTÉ in 1992. In RTÉ Noel worked as a reporter, producer and editor in RTÉ Television.
He was executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1997 and served two terms as Editor of Current Affairs in the News Division, where he established the Prime Time Investigates programme strand. Noel Curran joined RTÉ's Executive as Managing Director of Television in 2003.
In March 2010 Noel left RTÉ to pursue private business interests. He has previously been a company director in the independent production sector in Ireland.