Iain Bennett

Creative Alchemist

The Fifth Sector

Speaker Biography

Iain founded The Fifth Sector in 2011 to bridge insight and implementation across the creative economy. Over the past fifteen years, with a cast of accomplished associates, they have delivered creative sector mapping and cluster strategies across 30+ places from Aberdeen to Plymouth, including Combined Authorities across the North and Midlands; led the development of a framework for skills for VFX, games and animation for the Western Balkans; and supported universities and regional agencies in building practical skills training and business support for creative freelancers and microbusinesses.
Before The Fifth Sector, Iain led investment in digital infrastructure across eight UK cities as Project Director of the DCMS Superconnected Cities programme. He spent five years as Sector Leader for Digital and Creative Industries at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, where he wrote the region’s digital and creative industries strategy and managed £20 million in sector programmes supporting the £1 billion MediaCity development in Salford.

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