Join either the morning or the afternoon session for a DBT hosted in depth exploration of the latest opportunities and support to build successful media businesses, followed by the WorkWise for Screen session and one-to-one meetings.

Speakers are Marcus Ryder MBE, Chief Executive Officer, The Film + TV Charity, Mairéad Regan, HR Consultant & Life Coach and Former HR Director at UTV Media, Leanne Murphy LL.B, M.Sc., Employment & Equality Solicitor at Rosemary Connolly Solicitors, and Michelle Walsh, Head of Production at Stellify Media.

Wednesday 12 March 2025

Join us for a FREE half-day session and a networking lunch 

Session One: 9.30am-1.30pm or

Session Two: 1.30pm-5.30pm

Erskine House, 20-32 Chichester St, Belfast, BT1 4GF

FREE

WorkWise for Screen sessions to help employers and hirers navigate UK employment law under new legislation as well as providing relevant legal guidance.

Topics covered in the WorkWise for Screen sessions include:

• Recruitment and fair selection

• Contracts and legal compliance

• Team management, motivation and skills

One-to-one meetings with speakers from the event – each offering tailored HR guidance and legal expertise.

This free event is tailored to the needs of employers and hirers in all screen sectors – Animation, Distribution, Exhibition, Gaming, Production and VFX

In Partnership with the Department for Business & Trade

Leanne Murphy LL.B, M.Sc., Employment & Equality Solicitor 

Leanne Murphy completed her Law degree at Queen’s University Belfast before qualifying as a solicitor and obtaining a Master’s degree in Law and Business in London where she worked for a number of years before returning to Northern Ireland. 

Leanne is a Director at Rosemary Connolly Solicitors based in Warrenpoint and has extensive experience of providing legal advice and assistance on all aspects of Employment and Equality Law and regularly acts for both Employers and Employees in bringing and defending Employment and Equality claims in the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunals and Civil Courts.

Leanne also offers professional assistance to business clients on a wide range of matters including reviewing and drafting contracts of employment, advising on company policies, equality and diversity training and advising on corporate obligations to employees/ workers and providing assistance during formal employment-based disputes & internal processes. 

Leanne is admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland and England and Wales.

Mairéad Regan, HR Consultant & Life Coach and Former HR Director at UTV Media

Mairéad has more than 25 years’ experience in Human Resources at a senior level, with 19 of these at Director level in the broadcasting industry - television, radio and digital - and more than seven years experience of Executive and Life Coaching. She was formerly Group Human Resources Director at UTV Media plc.

For the last six years, Mairéad has been the Coach on the Northern Ireland’s Women in Film and Television Mentoring Scheme, funded by Netflix. 

Mairéad is an Associate with Clarendon Executive, an all-island of Ireland Executive Recruitment Company based in Belfast, providing Executive Coaching for their clients. 

Mairéad is a qualified Life and Executive Coach (QQI Level 6), with a first class honours degree in Psychology from Queen’s University, Belfast and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources, MCIPD.

Marcus Ryder MBE, Chief Executive Officer, The Film + TV Charity

Marcus Ryder is the CEO of the Film and TV Charity – looking after the physical, financial, and mental wellbeing of people working in the film , television and cinema industries and seeking to addressing issues of inequality and discrimination in the industry. In 2021 Marcus was appointed the Chair of RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). In 2020 he established the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity and has worked in the media industry for over thirty years. He is the co-author of Access All Areas - The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond, and the co-editor of Black British Lives Matter with Sir Lenny Henry. In 2022 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the UK media industry and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bournemouth University in 2024.

Michelle Walsh, Head of Production, Stellify Media 

Michelle’s career spans 30 years of industry experience across all genres & for all major broadcasters, notably 4 years on ITV’s Coronation Street including its 50^th live episode.

Michelle joined Stellify in 2018 & oversees all their production output, including Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for ITV, Channel 4’s Snoop Dogs & recently completed filming on BBC’s Titanic Sinks Tonight, the first docu-drama series to film virtual production in the new VP Ulster Studio.

The sessions will be moderated by Sarah McCaffrey Chair RTS NI, and documentary filmmaker Brian Henry Martin who has made work for BBC and Channel 4 and is a founder member of the Irish Film and Television Academy and a regular contributor to UTV Life.

Please register for a morning or afternoon session:

Morning 

9.30am Registration opens for morning session 

10.00am DBT on export for screen businesses in Northern Ireland, introduced by Sarah McCaffrey, Chair RTS NI

10.20am WorkWise for Screen

Marcus Ryder MBE, CEO, The Film + TV Charity - on the Looking Glass Report and how WorkWise for Screen can help change the media sector’s HR and welfare practices

10.50am Coffee break

11.00am WorkWise for Screen

Three interviews conducted by film maker and commentator Brian Henry Martin on WorkWise for Screen topics

• Recruitment and fair selection
• Contracts and legal compliance
• Team management, skills and motivation

12.15-1.45pm One-to-one meetings: 15-minute slots available with each contributor

12.30pm Lunch available until 1.30pm 

Afternoon

1.30pm Registration opens for afternoon session

1.30pm Lunch available for afternoon session

2.00pm DBT on export for screen businesses in Northern Ireland, introduced by Sarah McCaffrey, Chair RTS NI

2.20pm WorkWise for Screen

Marcus Ryder MBE, CEO, The Film + TV Charity - on the Looking Glass Report and how WorkWise for Screen can help change the media sector’s HR and welfare practices

2.50pm Tea Break

3.00pm WorkWise for Screen

Three interviews conducted by film maker and commentator Brian Henry Martin on three WorkWise for Screen topics

• Recruitment and fair selection
• Contracts and legal compliance
• Team management, skills and motivation

4.00pm Tea break

4.15-5.30pm One-to-one meetings: 15-minute slots with each contributor