Empowering TV For climate action
Join us to connect with the people creating entertaining, informative TV that is engaging audiences and making waves.
Think climate content is like eating broccoli? Think again.
Ignite is the place to meet commissioners, funders, and like-minded TV professionals that tell impactful stories that make audiences tune in.
Across drama, current affairs, digital and more, you’ll hear about the imaginative ways we can reflect the world we live in. A world that is shaped by climate stories, whether that’s nature, energy prices, health or the cost of living.
See the 2026 programme below
IGNITE 2026 AGENDA
9.00am - 9.45am
Networking Breakfast
9.45am - 9.50am
Host: Gemma Bradshaw
Welcome!
9.50am - 10.20am
Speakers Include:
Tessa Khan, Executive Director, Uplift
Keynote: Tessa Khan
Where do we go from here? With oil prices back in everyday conversation, hear from environmental lawyer and campaigner Tessa Khan about the solutions and stories that are already here for a just transition.
10.20am - 11.10am
Speakers Include:
Mike Beale, Managing Director, Creative Network, ITV Studios
Patrick Holland, CEO & Executive Chair, Banijay UK Productions Ltd
Amelia Brown, CEO, Fremantle UK
Chair: Ralph Lee, Chair of BAFTA Albert and CEO, Love Productions
Super Indies: Bold Climate Ambitions
Super-indies Fremantle, Banijay UK and ITV Studios have signed the Climate Content Pledge, convened by BAFTA Albert, collectively representing 65 UK based production companies and over 100 globally. Find out how they’ll fulfil their commitment to tell entertaining and impactful climate stories across genres.
11.10am - 11.25am
BREAK
11.25am - 12.15pm
Speakers Include:
Ben de Pear, Founder, Basement Films
Angela Francis, Director of Policy, WWF-UK
Alan Strange, Managing Editor, Climate News Tracker
Louise Turner, Commissioning Editor, C4 News
Chair: Manali Lukha, Head ITV Millbank Studio, ITV News
Reporting On An Ever-Crisis
In the midst of an urgent news agenda, how can we make sure the climate crisis is heard above the noise? Hear from news and current affairs about the challenges of reporting from the frontlines of an ever-crisis.
12.15pm - 1pm
Speakers Include:
Claire Oakley, Writer and Director
Bryony Kimmings, Playwright, Performer, Documentary Maker and Screenwriter
Chair: Maleena Pone, Founder, StoryTell-Her Studios
In Conversation: Claire Oakley x Bryony Kimmings
Crime drama Under Salt Marsh and thriller The Rapture tackle climate themes and reach mainstream audiences. Hear honest insights and guidance from writers Claire Oakely and Bryony Kimmings as they explore the inspiration, craft and graft that brought these stories to life.
1pm - 2.30pm
Lunch
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Speakers Include:
Sarah Mosses, Founder & CEO, Together Films
Catherine Ellis, Head of Climate Content, BAFTA Albert
Lunchtime Workshop: Impact Producing 101
Join BAFTA Albert and Together Films for a hands-on impact production workshop. Meet members of the Impact Producer Accelerator cohort and learn the basics of impact production for climate stories. Limited spaces available, registration will be released closer to the event.
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Speakers Include:
Claire Hookway, Commissioning Executive, UKTV
Iona Mackenzie, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Reality & Daytime, ITV
David Mayes, Project Manager, Nesta Greener Homes
Leanne Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Daytime & Entertainment, ITV
Namrata Sharma, Director, Impact and Partnerships, Civic Studios
Tim Hancock, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4
Melissa Hardinge, Senior Commissioning Editor 7 to 12, BBC Children’s and Education
Sarah Stack, Head of Scripted, Climate Spring
David Leach, Head of Unscripted, Climate Spring
Rob Holloway, Commissioning Executive, Warner Brothers Discovery
Lunchtime Meet-up: Meet the Commissioners and Funders
Meet commissioners and funders from BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Climate Spring, Nesta and more. Find out what climate stories they’re excited by, how they feature climate themes across their slate and ask any burning questions.
2.30pm - 3.30pm
Speakers Include:
Sonali Bhattacharyya, Playwright and Screenwriter
Louis Chan, Writer/Director
Shehroze Khan, Content Producer & Film Director
Danyele Seignoret, Development and Production Executive, Channel 4
Chair: Sarah Asante, Founder & Chief Creative, Asante Space Ltd
Who Gets to Tell the Climate Story?
An exploration of power, privilege and representation in UK climate storytelling. This session is proudly produced in collaboration with Fully Focused Productions.
3.30pm - 4.30pm
Speakers Include:
Joseph Bullman, Writer and Director, Dirty Business
Rita Daniels, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4
Ash Smith, Founder/Chair of Trustees of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP)
Aysha Rafaele, Executive Producer and Writer/Director, Halcyon’s Heart Films
Chris Hines, Owner, A Grain of Sand
Chair: Laura Tobin, Meteorologist
Masterclass: Dirty Business
A 360 degrees examination of Channel 4’s landmark series Dirty Business. Hear from the campaigners who inspired the story, the commissioners who took a chance on it and the creative team that brought it to life.
2025 ignite: Climate Content Summit
In 2025 speakers included Jack Thorne and Annabel Jones (Toxic Town), Kayleigh Llewellyn (The Dream Lands), Ashok Sinha (Ashden Climate Solutions), commissioners from Channel 4, BBC, ITV, UKTV as well as many more brilliant speakers from across the TV industry and beyond!
2024 ignite: Climate Content Summit
In 2024 speakers included Emma Pinchbeck, Energy UK; Suzanne Dhaliwal, Climate Reframe; Nish Kumar, comedian and speakers from Climate Spring; WaterBear; Netflix; BBC; Channel 4; ITV; Sky among many, many more.
2023 the Climate Content Summit
In 2023 speakers included Chris Stark, Committee on Climate Change; Richie Metha, director; Laura Tobin, ITV; Charlotte Moore, BBC; Thimali Kodikara, Doc Society; among many many more.
cLIMATE STORYTELLING HUB
Ready to get more and better climate stories on the screen?
Explore our Climate Storytelling Hub to discover the organisations that can help bring your climate content ideas to life.
We would like to thank our Climate Consulting Committee for all their support bringing this event together: Charly Conquest, Claire Hookway, Catherine Ellis, Danusia Samal, Gaby Hornsby, Gary Stubbs, Jeremy Mathieu, Jessica Edwards, Laith Elzubaidi, Matt Nida, Sarah Stack, Siobhan Williams-Mourgue, Steve Smith and Will Attenborough