The Audio Academy reveals its 2026 Mentoring Programme
The Audio Academy’s prestigious Mentoring Programme is proud to announce this year’s remarkable list of participants.
Twenty-two people from across the UK radio and audio industry have been selected to receive six months of career-shaping mentoring from leading figures in the broadcast industry. The announcement follows a highly competitive selection process led by Chair of Judges Adele Cross, producer of BBC Radio 1Xtra Breakfast with Nadia Jae.
Now in its fifth year, Audio Academy Mentoring (formerly known as RAMP) is proudly supported by Broadcast Bionics and BBC Sounds. It is aimed at anyone working in any area of radio and audio with at least five years professional experience. It is the only mentoring programme of its kind in the UK, and attracts applicants from all backgrounds and all disciplines within the audio sector.
Audio Academy Mentoring is a personal and professional development initiative which helps participants build the confidence to take charge of their own career advancement. The programme focuses on supporting people at mid-level, when many face barriers to progression, by connecting them with industry leaders skilled in navigating personal challenges and committed to advancing equity in radio and audio.
Each mentee will benefit from confidential one-to-one mentoring sessions, as well as peer support and valuable leadership development through a series of seminars and training workshops delivered by Programme Lead Fran Plowright.
Fran is the founder of Meet a Mentor, a scheme designed to nurture emerging and established talent by carefully pairing media professionals with bespoke mentors. Fran collaborates with industry leaders to curate inspiring programmes, masterclasses, talks and workshops that empower participants to take the next steps in their careers.
The mentees come from all fields of the radio and audio industry including production, technical engineering, presentation, journalism, management and digital content creation.
Introducing the 2026 Audio Academy Mentoring cohort:
- Elle Scott - Senior Podcast Producer and Journalist, BBC Studios
- Emily Jarvis - Line Producer, ITN Productions
- Gabrielle Morris - Specialist Music Producer, Freelance
- Hannah Fisher - Audio Producer, Freelance
- Hannah Loy - Producer and Presenter, Founder of Read the Room Productions
- Harry Bligh - Journalist and Producer, Freelance
- Hywel Davies - Producer, RNIB Connect Radio
- Jo Meek - Executive Producer and Content Designer, Freelance
- Jules Garnett - Writer and Director Comedy & Scripted, Freelance
- Kelly Shungu - Podcaster, Engineer and Founder of Women in STEM podcast
- Lucy Johnson - Radio and Podcast Producer, Freelance
- Mandeep Mann - Assistant Commissioner (Music & Live Events) BBC Asian Network
- Meera Kumar - Producer and Content Development Executive, Freelance
- Michelle Martin - Exec. Producer, Story Editor and Podcast Consultant, Freelance
- Millie Chu - Executive Producer, Mindhouse Productions
- Olga Smirnova - Producer, Investigative Journalist, OSINT Trainer, Freelance
- Olivia Swift - Senior Producer, Reform Radio
- Seb Masters - Audio Producer, Freelance
- Shreni Yajnik - Radio Producer, Exec. Producer and Director at Solis Productions
- Silas Gray - Exec. Audio Producer and Presenter, Reduced Listening & Rinse FM
- Vic Turnbull - Founder / CEO, MIC Media
- Shola Aleje - Producer, The Lauren Laverne mid-morning show, BBC 6Music
By matching participants with an experienced business leader Audio Academy Mentoring creates connections across the breadth of the audio sector at the highest levels. The 2026 mentors include senior figures from all parts of the industry:
- Alex Hollands - Director of Content Goldhawk Productions / Platform Media
- Catherine Carr - Author, Documentary Maker, Podcast Host
- Chris Skinner - Vice President and Head of Content, Sony Music
- Clare McGinn - Founder, Napoleon’s Nose | Business & Leadership Coach for Creatives
- Dan Moss - Director and Founder, Colour It In Studios
- Gwyneth Williams OBE - Author, Documentary Maker, former BBC Radio 4 Controller
- Janine Kempadoo - Chief Creative Officer at Silver Music Entertainment
- Jasper Corbett - Head of Audio at The Observer and Tortoise Media
- Joby Waldman - Creative Director, Reduced Listening
- Kat Wong - Founder, This is Oh Yeah
- Leanne Alie - Podcast Producer, Consultant, Advisor & Creative Project Manager
- Lee-Anne Richardson - SVP Global Head of Podcast Production, Sony Music Entertainment
- Lorraine Okefuna - Assistant Commissioner, BBC Radio 5Live and BBC Sounds
- Megan Bradshaw - Head of Spoken Word, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Amazon Music
- Neil Sloan - Managing Editor, BBC Radio Wales
- Peggy Sutton - Story Editor, Executive Producer, Narrative Podcasts and Radio
- Rachel Simpson - Partner Manager, Spotify
- Ruth Barnes - Founder, Sonoloom
- Steve Ackerman - Media Executive and Entrepreneur
- Susie Warhurst - Head of International, Apple Podcasts
- Tony Phillips - Podcast Executive & Consultant, Founder of Sea Salt and Mango
- Vicki Blight Pitt - Head of Audio and Commissioned Media and Bengo Media
Dixi Stewart, Managing Director of The Audio Academy says:
“The relationship between a mentor and a mentee is precious and often of great benefit to both. One of the great strengths of UK radio and audio is its rich diversity of voices and Audio Academy Mentoring seeks to create space for growth and development both for individuals and the industry as a whole. The programme equips participants with confidence and perspective at a critical point in their professional journey and it’s wonderfully inspiring to see people thrive and achieve long-held ambitions. I am delighted to welcome our 2026 cohort and wish them all the very best for this pivotal career opportunity.”
Previous mentees have said;
“The RAMP scheme helped ground me in many ways, give me confidence, work out my purpose (which turns out, unsurprisingly, is to make great radio) and spend some time with people in a similar sphere.”
“RAMP has been a fantastic opportunity to not only further my own skills, but also to learn from fellow peers working in the industry. Their knowledge and varying backgrounds has fully opened my eyes to the possibilities a career in audio can bring and has fully reinvigorated my love for what I do.”
“There isn't a single person in the industry who wouldn't benefit from taking part in the RAMP scheme. It's a beautiful mix of career counselling, problem solving and network building”
The full list of mentees and mentors, along with biographies, is available now: