30 April 2026

Wayne Garvie, President, International Production, Sony Pictures Television, will deliver the inaugural Creative Cities Convention ‘Wake Up Address’, a new keynote designed to challenge assumptions and spark debate.

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Also featuring at this year’s conference are ScreenSkills CEO, Laura Mansfield, as well as the leaders of Screen Alliance North, who will be highlighting future skills challenges and career equality.

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Derry Girls star, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, joins the This City is Ours panel, discussing the BBC crime drama’s journey to screen, alongside writer Stephen Butcher, executive producer Rebecca Hodgson, and BBC commissioner Jo McClellan.

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One of the industry’s most experienced and esteemed executives, Wayne Garvie will offer delegates at this year’s convention in Liverpool on May 6 and 7 a sharp, big-picture view of where the sector stands now.

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He joins a roster of high profile speakers that includes: Sir Phil Redmond; legendary writer Jimmy McGovern; Quay Street Productions Chief Exec, Nicola Shindler and Jimmy Mulville of Hat Trick Productions.

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ScreenSkills CEO, Laura Mansfield, will join the Help! Finding your way in Digi-land panel to share brand-new data from the organisation’s UK-wide Powering Production report. Published this week it identifies the future skills needs facing the screen industry workforce and the potential impact of AI.

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Screen Alliance North, consisting of the CEOs of the four partners organisations: Lynn Saunders, Liverpool Film Office; Alison Gwynn, North East Screen; Rob Page, Screen Manchester and Caroline Cooper Charles, Screen Yorkshire, will be discussing training provision, sharing best practice and championing equitable access to careers.

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Garvie will address the pressures reshaping the UK production economy and the wider international forces redefining how content is made, financed and distributed.

Drawing on Sony Pictures Television’s global perspective, the keynote is expected to examine the convergence of traditional television and digital content, the emergence of new creator-led and short-form models, and the need for the production sector to respond with clarity and urgency.

Wayne Garvie said: “These are changing and challenging times, precarious times for our industry. However, if we understand and embrace the opportunities of the new era, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. I look forward to delivering the Wake Up Address, provided I get out of bed on time, and hope to give everyone much to chew on.”