This year marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Media and Communications degree program at Greenwich. To celebrate, the university has invited the first cohort of Media and Communications alumni to organise a reunion event for current students and graduates of the Media and Communications course.
The event will take place on Tuesday 3 October and will comprise of a panel event where members of the Class of ’96 talk about their career journeys since leaving Greenwich.
Sitting on the panel is Michael Kelpie, Deborah Sargeant, Phil Rorke and Lisa Baker. Read more about the panellists below:
Michael Kelpie, Executive Producer
Michael Kelpie, a multiple BAFTA award-winning Executive Producer, is widely recognised as the founder and Managing Director of Potato TV, a renowned production company under the ITV Studios umbrella. Since its establishment in 2013, Michael's visionary leadership has propelled Potato TV to great heights. In Summer 2023, Michael received an Honorary Doctor of the Arts from the University of Greenwich, in recognition of his achievements in Television.
With a passion for creating captivating television, he has curated a diverse and highly successful portfolio of quiz shows, entertainment programs, comedies, reality series, and factual productions. Under Michael's guidance, Potato has become one of the UK's most prolific entertainment production companies, celebrated for its engaging quiz formats, celebrity-driven content, and compelling documentaries. Their acclaimed works include The Chase and its spin-offs, Ninja Warrior UK, Iain Stirling's CelebAbility, and many more. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Kelpie's expertise and creative prowess continue to shape the landscape of television entertainment.
Deborah Sargeant, Executive Producer & Format Consultant
Deborah Sargeant is an accomplished media professional with over 25 years’ experience in the entertainment industry. Currently working as a freelance Executive Producer & Format Consultant in non-scripted television, Deborah previously ran her own production label, Second Star, where she was solely responsible for the label’s creative strategy as well as managing her small team across development, pitches & productions. Most notably, Deborah created the innovative, award-winning Channel 4 dating format, Flirty Dancing, which has sold worldwide. She also Exec Produced an American incarnation for Fox Network.
When Deborah worked as a Commissioning Editor at Sky, she managed a slate of entertainment series and worked with everyone from James Corden to Elaine Paige to Idris Elba. Most notably she launched Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of The Year; a brave commission back in 2012, the innovative art format is now in its tenth series.
Having produced headline-grabbing, talkabout tv such as The Big Breakfast, Big Brother (… and lots of other shows without the word “Big” in the title…) she has also frequently worked with world-class talent and her series of Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word earnt a BAFTA nomination. As Co-Series Editor, her talent-search series, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, won multiple UK awards as well as the International Emmy Award for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment.
Phil Rorke, Director
Phil Rorke is a distinguished TV director in the high-speed world of Formula One. With over 25 years’ experience, he's achieved the pinnacle of his career as the Broadcast Executive Director of the international feed of the Formula One World Championship. His journey began with a passion for Formula One during his university years, and through hard work and determination, he eventually landed his dream job. Phil's dedication to his craft and ability to handle the pressure of live broadcasts has made him an indispensable part of the Formula One viewing experience for fans around the world. This was demonstrated by their well-earned recognition at the 2022 BAFTA awards for their exceptional sports production during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which featured the epic title battle between Hamilton and Verstappen.
Lisa Baker, Founder & Strategic Director
Lisa Baker is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the realm of arts and culture communications. As the founder of Lisa Baker Associates Ltd, a London-based PR consultancy specializing in visual arts and culture, she has played a pivotal role in promoting books, art fairs, festivals, exhibitions, galleries, artists, and photography.
Lisa has worked with photographers such as David Bailey, artists such as Ai Weiwei, musicians such as Led Zeppelin and Ronnie Wood. Her client list has included The Saatchi Gallery, Art Car Boot Fair, The Other Art Fair, the MaxMara Art Prize and The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair. She has also overseen the press at major music festivals including Benicassim.
In addition to her consultancy work, Lisa serves as the Strategic Director at Liberatum, where she spearheads strategy and communications for their global cultural programming and projects. Her dedication to the arts extends to her role as an Art Advisor for War Child UK, a position she assumed in 2023. Lisa also sits on the Steering Committee for Koestler Arts, a charity that promotes the arts within prisons, helping ex-offenders, secure patients and detainees in the UK to express themselves creatively. Lisa's profound expertise and passion have solidified her as a prominent figure in the arts and culture industry, leaving an indelible mark on the creative landscape.
You can discover more about her work at www.lisabakerltd.com or by following @lisabaker_ltd.
