Lorraine Heggessey Producer

Lorraine was originally a producer for Newsnight, Panorama and Dispatches, making a variety of films on everything from the treatment of Jews in Soviet Russia to a bizarre interview with the former gangster ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser. She then became Head of Children’s BBC, where her duties included explaining to Blue Peter viewers why she had sacked Richard Bacon.

The One To Watch

When she took over BBC One, Lorraine was faced with a network struggling to escape from its old image and orthodox thinking. As well as commissioning a raft of popular programmes, she ditched the tired station idents and reviewed a number of protocols; without compromising the part the channel plays in the national psyche.

Talkback TV

Lorraine moved from the BBC to become Chief Executive of Talkback Thames, by then a major independent production company. Again she backed winning formats, launching Britain’s Got Talent, X-Factor and The Apprentice onto UK television screens. After Talkback she moved on to a series of high-profile media roles, including advising the Channel 4 Growth Fund; an innovative proposition to enable new businesses access to the broadcaster’s advertising. She also worked with a data science company, an angel investment company, and now chairs The Royal Foundation.

Lorraine Heggessey Speaker

In presentations Lorraine describes the challenge of leadership. Though drawn from the media industry, the messages about innovation, managing talent, moving outside your comfort zone and implementing change; apply to any audience in any sector of business and public service.

She was a fantastic speaker and made very valuable insights that definitely would apply to the audience. Her story engaged the audience and was extremely thought provoking. – Deloitte