Ruth Griffiths – Exec Chair

Ruth Griffiths has worked in broadcasting for more than 25 years, notably building the BBC’s subtitling, Sign Language interpretation and audio description services. Since leaving Red Bee Media in 2006, Ruth has been working on research and consultancy projects, in both the access and translation arenas.

Terry Riley – CEO

Chief Executive of the newly set up British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT). Terry has a wealth of experience specialising in Deaf Television. He started his career as a researcher with the BBC’s ‘See Hear’ in 1987, gradually working his way up the ladder to become its Editor in 2000. He was instrumental in setting up the European Deaf TV & Video network which now involves over 20 countries including Japan, Greece, Australia and the USA. Terry is a firm advocate in promoting new and up-and-coming Deaf talent both on and off screen.

Maggie Swinfen

Maggie Swinfen is production manager at BSLBT. She has worked as a PM and line producer in film and television for over 18 years, starting her career in pop videos with UB40.

She has worked across a wide range of genres in both feature films and television and she brings skills in drama and factual programmes to this job. She also worked in young people’s programmes for several years, running the small indie, Squeeze Productions.

Joanna Fitzgerald

Joanna is a broadcast sector advisor with special interest in access services. She worked at Channel 4 for 12 years as Deputy Head of Broadcast Technology Management where her responsibilities included the provision of BSL interpreted programmes. She was also responsible for the presentation, playout and video on demand operations. Prior to being at Channel 4, Joanna worked at BSkyB for over a decade, latterly as Head of Transmission. Joanna is married with 2 children.

Oliver Foster

Oli has been Head of Press and Public Affairs at the UK Film Council since 2009, where he works closely with politicians, officials, journalists, and other key figures from across the creative industries. Before the UK Film Council, Oli worked in the Corporate Affairs team at ITV plc, responsible for lobbying on public policy issues including the Public Service Broadcasting Review, Digital Britain, advertising issues, and accessibility.

Nicholas Padden

Nicholas is 19, born in Surrey and later moved to Newcastle at the age of 4. He first developed an interest in broadcast media at a very young age, watching television programmes and writing down ideas as to how they could be improved. He has been involved in a wide range of work in TV and other media. An aspiring law student, Nicholas spends his spare time travelling, reading and playing lacrosse.

Austin Reeves

Austin was born partially deaf and has 3 children, two of which are also partially deaf. He is a Civil Engineer with Coventry City Council, with particular responsibility for highway bridges. Former Secretary of the Deaf Broadcasting Council and Chair of British Deaf Association, he is currently Chair of Governors for The Royal School for the Deaf in Derby.

Patsy Newey

Patsy Newey worked for 30 years at the BBC, mostly in television. Between 1994 and 2000 she was Series Editor of talk shows. Four of her programmes were nominated for BAFTA and RTS awards. Between 2001 and 2006 Patsy was Executive Producer, ‘See Hear’ and was thrilled to gain her Level 1 certificate in BSL during this time. Patsy now works freelance in event management, facilitation and editorial training.

Penny Beschizza

Penny has been in the teaching profession with Deaf learners for two decades, after doing voluntary work with young deaf people. She is part of the Deaf Broadcasting Council (currently being restructured) and has participated in several broadcasting events concerning deaf TV audiences. Penny’s Board skills encompass Deaf people’s human rights and their personal development.

David Jackson

David was born in Whitechapel towards the end of the WW2.

His first employment was as trainee Quantity Surveyor whilst attending the North East London University RICS degree course, which he had to abandon due to the lack of BSL interpreters.

However he has since had a successful career spanning 24 years with IBM, Unilever, ICL and Fujistu and in 1987, took a one year sabbatical to work for Euroaction, training Deaf Associations in the fifteen member states.

David mentors Deaf students at the University for the West of England, delivers Deaf Awareness courses to medical students at the Centre for Deaf Studies within the University of Bristol, provides private English tuition to Deaf Adults, is involved with voluntary work within the Deaf Community and has made several TV appearances.

He is writing a book on the definitive history of Deaf Telecommunications in the UK.

Tim Patterson

Tim Patterson is currently Head of Editorial Operations at UKTV (joint venture between the BBC and Virgin), a network of 10 channels covering entertainment, factual and lifestyle genres. He has responsibility for ensuring the smooth running of all editorial operations.

He has worked in broadcasting for more than 25 years in both the public and commercial sectors and his experience covers a range of disciplines from market research to the running of channels. He also is an executive leadership and management coach at the BBC.

Carmel Giblin

Carmel Giblin is Head of Corporate Responsibility & Accessibility at BSkyB and part of the Bigger Picture team. The Bigger Picture is Sky’s way of ensuring it is a responsible company, focused on doing the right thing for all of the Sky community – including its customers, people, suppliers, and the society in which we live and work.

Carmel holds a degree in management studies and has worked across many sectors including retail, telecoms and media. In her role at Sky Carmel works closely with customers & charity organisations to ensure its products and services are accessible.

Alan D Murray

Alan, born Deaf in Middlesex, London, is a life-long member of the Deaf Community. He has strong interest in the Arts, Media and Heritage, Deaf Culture and History and British Sign Language (qualified as a teacher and BSL assessor/internal verifier).

Alan particularly strives to raise the profile of the Deaf Community’s BSL campaign, developing and progressing BSL access to Arts and Media.

Alan works full-time in mainstream tertiary education management; his other appointments are currently: Deputy Chair, deafPLUS and Governor of Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children. Formerly: Vice-Chair – British Deaf Association; Trustee – United Kingdom Council on Deafness; Trustee – Shape Arts and Trustee – London Disability Arts Forum.