The Speakers
Learn more about our industry-leading speakers at IGNITE 26.
Paula Bloodworth
Co-Founder, Alien Baby with Idris Elba; Former Global Head of Nike Strategy, Wieden+Kennedy
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Paula’s strategic expertise encompasses 17 years spanning London, New York, Shanghai, Portland, Sydney, Tokyo and Melbourne, with an emphasis on the development of youth and sports brands.
She recently joined forces with Idris Elba as his Chief Marketing Officer and launched ALIEN BABY, a creative studio of a different kind, where she led the impactful ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ anti-knife crime campaign, driving a major legal change in the UK.
Before this, Paula was Head of International Strategy at Uncommon Creative Studio, working with global brands like Peloton, Jordan and Pinterest.
However, much of her career was dedicated to Nike. At Wieden+Kennedy Portland, she led Nike’s global strategy after shaping its regional direction in Greater China and EMEA. Her eight-year tenure saw her play a key role in award-winning campaigns like ‘Nothing Beats a Londoner’ and ‘You Can’t Stop Sport’, the latter earning an Emmy for its creative and cultural impact.
Margaret Heffernan
Leadership Expert, Entrepreneur + Bestselling Author
Dr. Margaret Heffernan is an internationally renowned author, entrepreneur, and one of the world's foremost thinkers on leadership, innovation, and navigating uncertainty. After a successful career producing award-winning television and radio programs for the BBC, she moved to the U.S., where she led several technology companies and was recognized among the "Top 100 Media Executives" by The Hollywood Reporter.
She is the bestselling author of seven books, including Willful Blindness, named one of the Financial Times' most important business books of the decade, A Bigger Prize, Uncharted, and Embracing Uncertainty. Her TED Talks have been viewed more than 17 million times, inspiring leaders around the world to rethink competition, collaboration, and the future of work.
Margaret is a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath and mentors CEOs and senior executives through Merryck & Co. She advises organizations on leadership, culture, and strategy, and in 2023 was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in recognition of her lasting contribution to management thinking.
Brent Hodgins
CEO, Mirren
Brent leads the team at Mirren, the go-to firm for training agency teams. Working with client-facing teams, pitch teams, and senior leadership, Mirren provides the skills and tools to immediately increase organic revenue growth, win more new business – including how to use AI to accelerate both.
More than 700 agencies engage with Mirren through training programs, live training webinars, and annual conferences each year. (www.Mirren.com)
Brent has trained senior teams in every major market around the world, pushing agencies to evolve beyond the traditional account service model. The approach is strategic, methodical, and intentionally contrarian. In fact, the path to agency differentiation and revenue growth lies in rejecting industry clichés and instead, engineering real business value for clients. He is known for his sharp insights, engaging delivery, and pragmatic impact.
Before founding Mirren, Brent began in account management at Leo Burnett (Kellogg’s, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s), launched the digital division of TBWA\Chiat\Day in New York, and led new business at Wieden+Kennedy. He has been a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, NYU Stern, Wharton, and MIT, sharing a provocative look inside the future of branding, marketing, and AI.
After 19 years in New York, Brent made the trek to Seattle when Mirren moved its headquarters to the West Coast. He now lives in the Ballard neighborhood with his wife and son.
Ravid Kuperberg
Partner & Trainer, Mindscapes
Ravid is a prominent structured creative thinking trainer in the field of brand communications, working with numerous ad agencies and brands around the world.
He is a former advertising professional with extensive experience across a wide range of strategic, creative, and leadership roles. A diverse background which has given him a unique perspective on creativity and its operations manual.
He is a frequent speaker at marketing conferences and advertising festivals, including recurring appearances at the prestigious Cannes Lions festival.
52 Cannes Lions have been awarded to work created by teams using the Mindscapes structured creative thinking tools.
Ian Whittaker
Managing Director and Owner, Liberty Sky Advisors
Ian Whittaker was an Equity Research Analyst in the City (financial markets) for 20 years, covering the Media and Technology sectors, as well as parts of the telecommunications industry. He has a proven track record of anticipating industry trends and understanding their implications for companies and investors.
Ian was named City AM Analyst of the Year on two occasions, making him the only person to have won the award more than once. He is also a regular contributor to City AM and several leading trade publications.
He has extensive experience in helping companies identify the most appropriate financing options, including IPOs, and has advised businesses on both strategic and financial matters.
Ian now undertakes consultancy and advisory work through his company, Liberty Sky Advisors, focusing on the major structural, financial and competitive challenges facing companies and sectors across the TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications) landscape.
He has made numerous media appearances, including on Bloomberg, Sky News, CNBC and BBC Radio 4, and is a frequent speaker at major industry events and conferences.