Anwen Griffiths and Dr Romana Ramzan have been appointed to the Board of the British Film Institute. Robin Saunders, Andrew Smith and Phil Stokes have also been reappointed to the Board
Anwen Griffiths and Dr Romana Ramzan and have been appointed to the Board of the British Film Institute. Robin Saunders, Andrew Smith and Phil Stokes have also been reappointed to the Board. The Secretary of State has also reappointed Robin Saunders, Andrew Smith, and Phil Stokes to the Board of the BFI Governors for a term of four years commencing on 09 May 2022 until 08 May 2026.
Anwen Griffiths
Anwen Griffiths is a Partner at Lee & Thompson LLP, a leading law firm for the media, technology & creative industries. With a background in film production, Anwen has over 25 years of experience and specialises in advising on all legal and commercial aspects of production and finance across the screen sectors - film, television and games. She represents many of the lead financiers and producers in the industry.
Anwen has also been heavily involved in supporting public funders in the growth of indigenous talent, having previously worked at the BFI and spent six years as a member (and subsequently vice-chair) of Ffilm Cymru Wales, the delegate for National Lottery Funding in Wales, with specific focus on promoting a sustainable sector and culture.
Dr. Romana Ramzan
Dr. Romana Ramzan is a Producer at the BAFTA Award winning No Code Studio in Glasgow, Scotland. Over the past decade, Romana has demonstrated a commitment and desire to drive forward changes in the industry to make it a safer and more welcoming space for people from underrepresented groups through her advocacy work. She has been at the forefront of driving innovative initiatives, within the industry and academia, that have demonstrated success nationally and internationally.
Romana was one of the main founders, and organisers of Scottish Game Jam, she was previously a Director of the Global Game Jam and has also served on the BAFTA Scotland Committee for Games. She was one of Develop Magazine’s “30 Under 30” and in March 2014, Romana was awarded the Asian Woman of the Future Award at the Scottish Asian Women’s Awards. Most recently, Romana was named as one of the Top 100 Women in Games in the UK by MCV.
Robin Saunders
Robin Saunders is Managing Partner of Clearbrook Capital Partners, a private investment and advisory group working with growth companies across a variety of sectors, including entertainment, business services, real estate, utilities and asset management.
Prior to founding Clearbrook, Robin was a corporate banker leading global teams specialising in securitisation and principal finance within banks including Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, and WestLB. She has served on numerous boards in retail, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, consumer products and utilities sectors. She has also served on the board of the UK Government’s industry regulator Office of Rail and Road.
Robin is a Visiting Fellow of the Said Business School at the University of Oxford, a Commissioner of the US-UK Fulbright Commission and an enthusiastic supporter of arts and education organisations.
Andrew Smith
Andrew M. Smith OBE DL joined the Pinewood Studios Group in June 2008 as Corporate Affairs Director. Synonymous with world class British and international productions, the Pinewood Studios Group is home to some of the most successful feature films and TV shows of all time, including James Bond and Star Wars.
Andrew is Chair of the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership; a member of BAFTA, the British Film Commission Advisory Board, the British Screen Forum, the Department of International Trade Creative Industries Trade Advisory Group and a Governor of the British Film Institute. In June 2021 Andrew was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and in January 2022 was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2022 New Year’s Honours for services to ‘Business and the British Film Industry’.
Phil Stokes
Phil is a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has an extensive background in working with, auditing and advising film and media companies. He led PwC’s entertainment and media industry group in the UK for twelve years to 2017 and its EMEA Telecoms, Media and Technology practice from 2011 to 2015.
He founded and led the firm’s global Digital Transformation group, responding to the impact of new technologies and changing consumer behaviours across all industries. He advises companies and charities on financial controls, risk management, corporate governance and financial reporting.
Phil is a partner in The Clive Barker Archive and has co-authored several books with and about the author, artist and film-maker, Clive Barker. He is a trustee of Groundwork London, a school governor, a commissioner on the Durham Commission and chairs the BFI’s Audit, Risk and Governance Committee.
Members of the BFI Board of Governors are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.
Andrew Smith declared being the Chair for Stoke Poges Conservative Branch but stated that he resigned in 2018 on being made a Governor of the BFI.
Anwen Griffiths, Dr Romana Ramzan, Phil Stokes and Robin Saunders declared no political activity.