Advisory Group

Our advisory group includes academic experts in policy, small nations media and broadcasting, along with representatives from industry.

Prof. Steve Blandford is Emeritus Professor of Theatre, Film and Television in the Faculty of Creative Industries. He was the co-founder and director (until 2014) of the Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations is a founding trustee of National Theatre Wales and became a Board member of Chapter Arts Centre in 2013. Steve’s teaching and research interests include: British film, theatre and television; new writing for stage; screen performance; and media and performance in small nations. His latest publication is a monograph on the acclaimed television scriptwriter Jimmy McGovern (Manchester University Press, 2013). Prior to moving into academia, Steve worked as a writer, actor and director for theatre and television, producing work for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Chapter Arts Centre, Sherman Theatre and the BBC. He was shortlisted for The Guardian International Theatre Award in 1993.

Prof. John Cook is Professor in Media at Glasgow Caledonian University. He an internationally known and respected academic expert in the study of the media, with particular research specialisms in aspects of television history, media institutions, screenwriting, television drama, documentary and film.. He has a range of industrial interests and experience, having worked over the course of his career with a number of very distinguished media practitioners on various collaborative projects, both in terms of research and knowledge transfer.

Siwan Hywel is a Partnership Officer at S4C, working within the Partnerships Team, which is responsible for relations between S4C and external institutions and organisations, including the National Assembly for Wales, the Welsh Government and the Westminster Government. The role requires a lot of organisation, and maintaining and developing both political and community partnerships. Prior to joining S4C in November 2014, Siwan worked at Bangor University’s Welsh for Adults Centre, where she was responsible for marketing and communications. Siwan then went on secondment to the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Unit, working as a Development Officer as part of the community team, developing partnerships. She studied Welsh and Education at the University of Wales Aberystwyth.

Dr David Fernández-Quijada is Senior Media Analyst at the Media Intelligence Service of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). His research focuses on public service media, media industry and markets, radio and media policy. On these areas, he often delivers presentations at trade events and workshops. Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies, he was previously lecturer at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His track-record includes more than fifty research publications. He is currently the vice-chair of the Media Industries & Cultural Production section of ECREA, the European Communication Research and Education Association.

Hywel Wiliam obtained a Law degree at Cardiff University and a post graduate media diploma at Cardiff Metropolitan University, he joined BBC Wales in 1984 as an Assistant Film Editor. In 1986 he moved to the facilities company Barcud in Caernarfon as a VT Editor, and later became a corporate affairs producer with the company, before founding Pow Wow in 1989, an independent television company specialising in television commercials. In 1994, Hywel joined the Independent Television Commission, eventually becoming Manager, Wales and the West of England. In 2003, the ITC was merged with four other regulators to become Ofcom, and in 2004 Hywel became its Head of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Wales. He left Ofcom in 2011 to work as an independent consultant with Advisors in Media (AIM) before joinng S4C in 2012. This is his second period in office as a member of the RTS Wales Centre Committee – he first served in that capacity in the late 90s.