With decades of executive-level experience spanning independent, corporate, and public sectors, specialising in Marketing, Operations, Licensing, Logistics, and System Implementation. Holding significant positions at Luminar Leisure Plc, Rank, Northern, The Drinks Group, University of East Anglia, and currently as Chief Executive of the Night Time Industries Association. He has led high-level initiatives with local and national governments and key stakeholders, focusing on best practices for venues, bars, pubs, festivals, and live venues, as well as a high-level media advocate for the nighttime economy throughout the pandemic, featuring in central Government strategy and over 20,000 media interviews during this period.

After working as a filmmaker and campaigning for a change in the drug laws, Cara was elected to Bristol City Council in 2024. Having spent years trying to affect change from the outside, she is now focussing on what can be done inside the system. This includes working with stakeholders in Bristol including drug users, drug treatment workers, public health officials and the police about how we can improve harm reduction within the confines of the law whilst lobbying central government to recognise the additional harms and risks that prohibition of some drugs creates. Cara firmly believes we cannot police our way out of the various drug-related crises we face and drugs should be a health matter, not a criminal one. She would also like to end the use of the false dichotomy, 'alcohol and drugs' commonly used in the public health arena.

Grace is Head of Music Minds Matter, a charity working to put positive mental health wellbeing centre stage in music. Prior to joining Music Minds Matter, Grace led the Music for Dementia campaign and co-authored the Power of Music report having previously worked as a music therapist for over 10 years in adult psychiatry, education and the NHS, having trained initially as a bassoonist. Grace is passionate about working with all those in music to ensure the industry can be a beacon for positive mental health. Grace also holds several trustee roles, including Chair of Our Dementia Choir.

Mark joined the Avon and Somerset Constabulary in May 1995, fulfilling his childhood ambition of becoming a police officer. Building on his foundations as a patrol officer, Mark then became Bristol’s Community Safety Sergeant, a move that was the starting point for what became over 20 years of working with local and particularly minoritised communities across the City. In addition to his core roles, Mark has worked as a Tactical Firearms Commander, overseeing the deployment of armed officers. He is one of the Constabulary's Silver Public Order Commanders. This role brings responsibility for planning and managing policing operations for protests, disorder and large-scale public events, including St Pauls Carnival and Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Mark has been a police negotiator for over 15 years and leads the Constabulary's team of officers trained to deal with crisis intervention and hostage-taking. As Avon and Somerset's Drugs Strategy lead, Mark shapes the local police's policy for drug-related issues and has supported harm-reduction initiatives including drug safety testing. In his current role as Bristol Police Commander, he is sits on the Keeping Bristol Safe Executive and Chairs the Community Safety Partnership and Youth Justice Partnership Board. Through specialising in Neighbourhood and Community Policing, Mark has developed an extensive network of local contacts, who are invaluable to the partnership working he is committed to. Away from work Mark is a proud father of two and enjoys running (slowly) and following his favourite teams in rugby (Bath) and football (Crystal Palace)

Michele is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) of the University of Bristol, where he is also Professor of Urban Resilience in the School of Geographical Sciences. Michele is also a managing editor of Urban Studies. A keen researcher and practitioner of urban governance, not least at night, Michele is a renowned voice on the international dimensions of city leadership and currently leads several research programs centred on urban politics and how cities tackle ‘global’ challenges – including how this plays out after dark. He is the chief investigator for the Australian Research Council project "Night Shift", investigating the management, design and planning of the spaces that night shift workers inhabit, and co-author of "Managing Cities At Night" for Bristol University Press. He has also advised and worked on night-time economy policy and urban design at the local, regional and national levels, for instance, by serving on the City of Melbourne’s Nighttime Economy Advisory Committee. Before joining Bristol, Michele taught Studio N (night) at the University of Melbourne School of Design and produced the "Cities After Dark" podcast miniseries.

Carly is Bristol’s first Night Time Economy Advisor and chair of Bristol Nights. Carly designs people-centred solutions to support businesses, workers and audiences who enjoy the city from 6pm-6am. Her efforts with Bristol Nights have been at the forefront of Night Time Economy innovations, such as the UK's first city-wide Harm Reduction policy, the establishment of a Women’s Safety Charter, and Thrive-At-Night, which concentrates on the wellbeing of night workers.

Amy has a long and successful track record as a leader and collaborator in culture and creative industries, communities and broadcasting. She served as London’s first Night Czar from 2016-2024, and is now founder and CEO of 24hr Cities, a global consultancy. She co-founded the legendary Olivier award-winning queer club night Duckie and hosted it for over 25 years. Amy’s passion for music can be heard on her weekend morning shows on BBC Radio 6Music. Her debut book, From Prejudice to Pride: A History of the LGBTQ+ Movement – the first LGBTQ+ history book for children – was published by Hachette in June 2017. She has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East London, is an Honorary Professor at University College London, and was recognised as a National Treasure as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Originally from New Jersey, Amy has been a proud Londoner for 30 + years.

Aysha is a dedicated advocate for safety, inclusivity, and wellbeing in Bristol's nightlife and the wider events scene. Since 2022, Aysha has been a pivotal figure in Bristol Nights' women's safety campaign. They began by delivering anti-sexual harassment training to nightlife organisations across the city before moving to co-produce Bristol's Women's Safety Charter and redevelop the training to meet industry needs. Aysha has personally trained over 200 industry professionals, empowering them as active bystanders and Champions of safety. In 2024, Aysha was appointed as Night Time Economy Officer, a role in which they continue to upskill and support the sector and push forward the work of Bristol Nights and others working to the same goal. Beyond Bristol Nights, Aysha has spent most of their career immersed in live music, starting out at much-loved Bristol venue Trinity, with an ambition to increase diversity and inclusion within technical production. Aysha left Trinity in 2023 to pursue her ongoing freelance career as a lighting designer, sound engineer, and stage manager. Their experience spans spaces from The Jam Jar to St Pauls Carnival to Glastonbury, working with artists such as Waldo's Gift, CASISDEAD, and Erykah Badu. Aysha's commitment to community and safety extends to their volunteer work, serving as Trustee for SARSAS (Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support) and Bristol Pride, advocating for the rights and safety of marginalised communities. With a blend of professional expertise and a deep-rooted passion for welfare and belonging, Aysha is a driving force in making nightlife and events safer and more inclusive for everyone.

Jono’s background comes from over 35 years of working in the music entertainment industry. He was formally a professional freelance Musician for 15 years, including session work at the BBC. He went on to develop and run a unique national music student network of events and award ceremonies, which was a launchpad for numerous up-and-coming talent at the time including Ed Sheeran. He retrained as a Health and Safety Advisor specialising in noise and hearing health working at festivals and events across the UK. Due to loud music exposure in his early career, he unfortunately has music induced Tinnitus and hearing loss and is now very passionate about raising awareness on hearing conservation in the music industry. Jono sits on the Board of Directors at the world’s leading custom hearing protection company ACS. In 2014 he launched a campaign called Play Safe Now - Hear Tomorrow on hearing conservation issues, which has received support from acclaimed names in the music industry and music education institutions worldwide. He lectures on this subject at most of the top music conservatoires and universities in the UK. Jono sits on the Musicians’ Health Advisory Board for the charity Help Musicians UK and was involved in helping set up the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme. He’s been an advisor for the Association for Electronic Music’s Health Working Group and was an active contributor for the Tinnitus UK (British Tinnitus Association) Plug’em campaign. Jono is now working closely with the Night-Time Industries Association supporting the Listen For Life campaign and has also been invited to join the board of Trustees at the charity Last Night a DJ Saved My Life.

Paul Broadhurst is the manager of the 24 Hour London initiative for the Greater London Authority (GLA). He leads a team that researches, develops policy, and tests projects to make London a more sustainable and fairer 24-hour city.

Lydia has worked in the drug and alcohol sector for 15 years. Starting her professional life working in a mother and baby rehab before working her way up through team leader and service manager roles before eventually becoming Director of Operations with us. Lydia is a passionate harm reductionist committed to building non-judgmental and non-coercive services that prioritise quality of life and well-being as successful outcomes.

Katy is a nurse and worked in HIV services (Mildmay Hospital), substance use treatment (South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, City Roads Crisis Intervention, Cranstoun Drug Services) and homelessness (Thames Reach), both as practitioner and in senior roles, as manager and director. Katy has also taken on voluntary roles related to mental health and homelessness as Governor for Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and for the past 7 years, and continuing, as Trustee/Vice Chair for Depaul UK. With extensive experience in working across health & social care services, collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders from voluntary sector partners, to Public Health, Local Authorities, and newly formed Integrated Care Systems, Katy is committed to developing and expanding the services and reach of The Loop to ensure our drug checking service and harm reduction advice and information is accessible and available nationally.

Christian Sayer is Senior Policy Officer (Night-Time Economy) at West Midlands Combined Authority, where he has led on NTE policy in the region since the role was created in 2023. He has 8 years of experience working in regional economic development policy and holds an MSc in urban studies from UCL. He also co-owns a sports-based NTE business and has previously owned a number of culture-based NTE businesses.

Gareth Williams is a Principal in the Culture and Night Time Economy team of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). He focuses on the night time economy of Manchester, and is passionate about the role of public services in urban areas. He was also the co-founder and former Director of Hive Urban Farms, an urban farm in Manchester.

Mike is Belfast's first night czar, leading the initiative to boost the night-time economy in the city centre, appointed by three organisations Belfast One, Linen Quarter BID and Destination CQ. With decades of experience in hospitality, Mike works to bring together bars, clubs, transport operators, restaurants, police and volunteers to work collaboratively.

In Cork, the new role of Night-time Economy Advisor was awarded to Fiona Collins, the former Chairperson of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. She is responsible for delivering the night-time economy strategy alongside a dedicated stakeholder forum representing cross-business sector and community interests.

Anna combines a scientific mind (PhD Biochemistry) with the creativity of a cultural leader; her unique approach ensures organisations flourish. Anna is driven by excellence & creating positive social change, & thrives on collaboration & building innovative cross-sector partnerships. She develops impactful programmes that inspire – transformative examples include founding the current Bristol Pride (2010), Fog Bridge for Bristol Green Capital (2015), Night Songs with the National Trust (2015), The Tale (2017), Bristol Open Doors (2018-21). Outside of Design West, Anna leads Indigo Network (the largest LBTQ+ network in the UK) and Bristol Folk Festival.

Nicola Beech is a former cabinet member in Bristol and Labour's current candidate for West of England Mayor. She's highly experienced in infrastructure and city planning as a core element of her roles within local government and the public sector.

A proud public planner and a self-confessed Junglist, who has worked in local and regional government for 20 years. Alex is the Director of Economy of Place at Bristol City Council, responsible for regeneration, climate emergency, economic development, planning and strategic transport.

Ellie is Associate Professor in Urban Innovation and Policy at UCL's department of Science Technology Engineering and Public Policy, where she is co-director of the Urban Innovation and Policy Lab. She is also an outspoken advocate and campaigner for increasing the quality of Women's health services.

Bethan serves as the Business Engagement Officer at Bristol City Council, with a mission to ensure every entrepreneur in Bristol is aware of the available business support. Having run her own retail business for five years, she understands first hand the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Driven by this experience, she was inspired to transition into a role where she could connect businesses with the resources and support they need.

Katie is an accomplished Senior Event & Venue Manager with over 15 years' experience in the sports & events industry, and a huge advocate for women in sport. She recently took up the position Bristol Venue Manager for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. Bristol is one of 8 host cities around England which will host 2 quarter-final and both semi-final games 🏉.

Daniel fosters inclusivity and develops talent within diverse communities. As the Civic Partnership Manager at Everyone Active, he establishes robust civic partnerships that enhance community engagement and well-being.The team's efforts have been pivotal in promoting inclusivity, ensuring sport and physical activity are accessible to all across Bristol.

Ian is the Business Crime Reduction Manager for Cardiff Against Business Crime embedded within FOR Cardiff BID. He is also the Purple Flag coordinator for the Cardiff Partnership managing the evening and night time economy and has led on submissions for the accreditation since its first grant in Cardiff in 2018. He spent 30 years with South Wales Police retiring as the Community Safety Inspector for the city in 2011. During his police career he was seconded to the Home Office to join the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP), where he was responsible for promoting the sharing of hospital assault attendance data with Community Safety partnerships across England and Wales following the Cardiff model of data sharing.

Shell is a hospitality veteran with 18 years FOH experience, focusing primarily on operations, training, and business development. She has worked for some of London's best restaurant groups including Hawksmoor, Gaucho and Polpo. Having suffered a life changing burnout late 2020, she has changed her focus to improving the mental health working conditions of people in the industry by forcing difficult conversations out into the open, specifically concerning the hidden epidemic of addiction. Her podcast We Recover Loudly offers a platform for people with experience of drug and alcohol addiction, in the industry to discuss what we can do to change the systemic culture of excessive substance use we have. The episodes also highlight how it is possible to break these habits and still work within the industry, having a thriving career while in recovery. Shell's work continues to look beyond high levels of addiction we have and ask, "if alcohol/drugs were the solutions to a problem, what problems do we have in our industry that we need to change?” The services she provides include onsite workshops promoting a safe and inclusive drinking culture in the workplace, small group coaching for managers to help them better support team members, and as a qualified recovery coach she also runs 121 mentoring for hospitality leaders who want to change their relationship with drugs and alcohol.

Ellie is a live sound engineer with 6+ years experience working at festivals and venues around the country and abroad. Currently part of the in house technical team at the recently reopened Bristol Beacon (FKA Colston Hall), she also delivers regular live sound courses for wxmen on behalf of Saffron, and writes produces and DJs under the newly launched alias Rose Holland (FKA Dutchie).

Martin Booth is the Editor of Bristol24/7, the city’s leading news and entertainment website and magazine. Martin is the author of the bestselling guidebook '111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss' and has written for publications including The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and Time Out. Martin leads regular walking tours of Bristol, and in his spare time enjoys cycling and drinking locally-brewed beer. Follow him on Twitter for all things Bristol and more at @beardedjourno.

Jamell Ackford is an accomplished arts professional with 14 years of experience, dedicated to fostering inclusivity and vibrancy in the arts. As the Director of Culture at Trinity Community Arts, Jamell has played a pivotal role in shaping the programming at this historic music venue and community hub, bringing his vision for accessible and impactful cultural experiences to life. A champion of diversity and emerging talent, Jamell's programming highlights underrepresented voices and fresh perspectives. His work includes producing for St Pauls Carnival since 2022, where he has contributed to spotlighting up-and-coming talent and creating a celebratory space that reflects the rich diversity of the community.

Hadie Abido is the co-founder and director of The Jam Jar, an independent creative space in Bristol that began its journey 10 years ago. The Jam Jar aims to support local talent and promote inclusivity in the arts, whilst being a key component of national & global touring infrastructure. Under his leadership, the venue has become internationally recognised creative institution and an essential part of Bristol’s cultural identity. Hadie has recently been funded by Arts Council England to explore the music of the Middle East & North Africa. This year he has been looking at heritage & identity through the lens of music.

Poppy Stephenson is a seasoned sustainability leader with a track record in delivering world-class events and pioneering green initiatives. She began her career in Bristol, where she managed large-scale shows like Brisfest, Tokyo World, and Boomtown, and took an active role in the local arts scene before going on to manage the event control centre at Glastonbury. As a founder of Bristol Festivals and a board member for the Beacon and the Bristol Music Industry Network, she raised essential funding for sustainable practices, contributing to Bristol’s Green Capital project to help Bristol events lower their environmental impact. Her expertise in sustainability evolved further through her work with international experiential events for global brands, where she sought to bring the ethically minded initiatives of the festival world into the corporate space. At isla, the events industry’s sustainability body, she led the development of leading tools such as the TRACE carbon calculator, Proseed, and the Progression Pathway, designed to guide the industry toward net-zero goals. Now with Sustainability Simplified, Poppy translates complex concepts like Net-Zero roadmapping and Carbon Neutrality into practical, actionable strategies for organizations and events, driving real environmental change. Her background as an award-winning CEO, charity trustee, and university lecturer has shaped her into an effective strategist, facilitator, and leader, engaging stakeholders to secure buy-in across the board. Known for her ability to translate industry jargon into pragmatic actions that drive real change, she continues to advance sustainable practices within the global events industry.

Elahe is a an architect, urban researcher and educator, with experiences of working and teaching in different cities and sectors, dedication to contextual values, and passion for equitable futures of cities and their public and cultural life. She has been critically exploring spatial practices that challenge normative values and imaginaries of public places and urban spaces, and highlighting multiple stories, temporalities and approaches through which different forms of exclusions and dominations are resisted. Elahe is an academic at UWE Bristol, and a member of Board of Trustees at Bristol Women's Voice.

Katy joined Bristol Women's Voice in November 2020. She has worked in the violence against women and girls sector for 15+ years in practitioner, leadership and consultancy roles. She continues to provide independent consultancy in the specialist women’s sector.

Lorri joined SARSAS in 2020 as Head of Services before becoming CEO in 2024. Since joining the team, she’s been instrumental in helping to develop our service delivery teams, including our counselling, specialist support work and pathway navigation teams, as well as our helpline services. Lorri’s career began in the Civil Service, where she worked for 15 years, before she retrained as a counsellor and worked as manager for a counselling charity.

With a background in education, mental health and support, Megan speaks from a place of lived experience of sexual violence and male violence - this experience and expertise informs the many ways in which she works within SLEEC. As a project manager and facilitator, Meggan works with men and those most likely to perpetrate harm and violence to explore how we collectively dismantle male violence and rape culture that centres compassion, accountability and transformative justice. Through co-curating learning spaces that provide men with the opportunity to unpack their internalised relationship to patriarchy, sexism and masculinity, Meggan understands how (un)learning, action and community are essential in challenging and changing the current male violence epidemic.

Clare was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset in May 2024, and brings a wealth of experience to the role. Clare has a background spanning a variety of sectors, including serving as a Member of the European Parliament, working at the heart of government in No.10 Downing Street, and as a Trade Union officer for over twenty years. Prior to being elected to the PCC role, Clare was co-chief Exec of Equally Ours, a UK equality and human rights charity. These experiences have equipped Clare with an understanding of how to work with complex organisations and systems, as well as applying strong problem-solving skills.

Ojay McDonald is the Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management. He works with government ministers, parliamentarians, UK Cabinet Office, economic development professionals, business leaders and place managers across the UK and Ireland to support town and city centres. He works on a range of policy issues including adaptation to an industrial revolution, tax reform, local government finance, transport, housing, planning, retail, crime, urban regeneration, COVID recovery and the climate emergency.

Ali is a project manager who is passionate about physical activity and sport and how it can improve both physical and mental well-being and also support personal development. Supporting programmes that recognise that people’s health and well-being are determined by a range of social, economic, and environmental factors and seeking to address people’s needs holistically. Working for Wesport, a sports charity that is passionate about helping people become more physically active and enjoy the benefits that an active lifestyle can bring. As one of 43 Active Partnerships across the country, we work collaboratively to create the conditions for an active nation and use the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives. Advocating for the importance of physical activity to improve health outcomes for our communities. Bristol Girls Can is the local activation of the widely acclaimed Sport England National 'This Girl Can' campaign. All about inspiring women and girls to access physical activity and movement across the city. Through the ‘Let's Lift the Curfew’ National campaign, the research found that almost half (48%) of women prefer not to be active outside after dark and six in 10 (60%) women worry about the risk of sexual harassment or intimidation when exercising. Bristol Girls Can aim to address these concerns of local women, working together with our partners to understand these challenges and create a safer and more inclusive environment for women and girls to be active.

Based in Bristol, K-Rush is a multifaceted artist whose DJ, rapper, and poet work reflects a deep commitment to creativity and self-expression. They craft performances that captivate and resonate with audiences across genres and platforms. Known for their innovative sound and evocative poetry they have established themselves as a prominent voice in the city.

Marley, also known as Medis, is a prominent figure in Bristol's thriving underground scene. As an event promoter, producer, DJ, and radio broadcast tutor at Saffron, she embodies creativity and constantly pursues new cultural ventures. Known for her distinctive musical taste and deep passion for the craft, Marley brings artistic depth to every project she undertakes. Her ever-evolving expression and dedication continue to shape and elevate Bristol's influential cultural landscape.

An integral part of Bristol’s vibrant music scene, HazDnB brings a wealth of talent and experience across multiple roles. As a Crew Member at Runtingztv, Events Manager at CRE8DNB, and Studio Assistant at Headroom Studio, they are deeply embedded in shaping and supporting the city’s dynamic drum and bass culture.

Having played for various venues/brands, including some of the biggest in the UK and worldwide - such as E1, Dreamland, Motion, Lakota, Sony and Hospitality, Saf taught herself the art of DJing at just 14 years old, then began producing dubplates exclusively for herself to DJ with. Following the COVID-19 lockdowns, she was the youngest DJ to play at Bristol’s famous Love Saves The Day Festival in 2021 at just 18 years of age. In 2023, aged 20, Saf held a year-long mentorship with one of the biggest labels in Drum and Bass worldwide - Hospital Records. She also played at their annual festival: Hospitality on the Beach in Croatia, which was her first international booking.

Harriet Robinson is a versatile TV and online news journalist with BBC News and a cover presenter for BBC Introducing. With a rich background in broadcasting, they bring expertise as a presenter, producer, and live event host, having worked across BBC programs, podcasts, live concerts, and TV productions. They are the founder of The Bristol Music Show (Radio, TV, YouTube) and a sustainability and nature blogger at @wannabe.greener. A former director of BCfm Radio and Bristol Women in Music, Harriet is also an MMG Awards-nominated presenter

Issy Cross is a passionate Director and Project Manager with a talent for business strategy and project innovation. With over nine years of experience, she has played a key role in a range of exciting projects, honing her expertise in brand activations and management while collaborating with dynamic teams and continually expanding her skill set. Known for her curiosity and problem-solving mindset, Issy thrives on tackling complex challenges and discovering creative ways to optimize processes. Outside of work, she dedicates time to side projects and enjoys unwinding with a binge-worthy TV show.

Colin Moody, an award-winning photographer known for his captivating work on social environments, has had his photography published in The Guardian, The Observer, Bristol Life Magazine and more. His work, including recent projects like “Portraits of Care” with the Royal Photographic Society and The Great Bristol High Street book, showcases his passion for documenting the vibrancy of city life. He’s also a seasoned TV, radio and live event presenter, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in media to his projects.