Isabel Forrest

About

I am a fellow of the HEA and have worked for over 15 years as a Senior Lecturer in Media HE. Prior to that, I had a distinguished career for over 15 years with the BBC as Creative Director, Producer, Director, Researcher, and also in Design and Audio roles. I have multi-disciplinary and multi-platform experience and am passionate about teaching, seeing “every project as an opportunity to stimulate students”.

Teaching responsibilities

I am a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications, currently covering the following topics:

Digital multimedia
Television theory and production
The media industries
Writing for media
Management in the media industries
Work-based learning in the media industries

Research interests

The issue of the value of media degrees is often challenged in broader popular culture and by the elite discourses around what should distinguish a university education. Knowledge which is esoteric and not vocationally focused is often granted higher status. Consequently there is a need to understand the value of such degrees to students, the media industry and to broader society and universities.

Recent conferences

I have delivered conference papers for both the BBC and HE at International and European events and conferences, and my doctoral interests are around the values of professional degrees.

Experience in industry

My background is as a Creative Director for BBC Television and Radio, as well as working in Digital Media Production, Account Management, and Communications for BBC Television and Radio.

My specialities include: BBC Branding, Producer and Director across genres from the award winning Natural History Unit to the promotion of major BBC brands.

I have extensive management experience of teams of Internationally acclaimed creatives, directors and producers, alongside a substantial career in Higher Education and also strategic communications and relationship management in all aspects of digital and media production.

I relished working in busy, high-pressure senior roles both at the BBC and in Academia, always driving for the highest quality and creative ambition whilst ensuring the utmost tact and diplomacy in sensitive situations. Having worked with actors, musicians and artists at the top of their games, I know how to bring out the best performances and to achieve incredible results.