Matīss Kaža is an Academy Award-winning Latvian producer, director and writer. He is best known for co-writing and producing the animated feature film “Flow” (2024) by Gints Zilbalodis, which won the first ever Golden Globe and Oscar for an independent animated feature. Recent producing credits include “Sisters” (2022, Warsaw Film Festival 1+2 Competition Winner) by Linda Olte, “Drowning Dry” (2024, two awards in the Locarno Main Competition) by Laurynas Bareiša. Matīss has directed and written for live action, documentary and the theatre, including  “Neon Spring” (2022, Edinburgh Intl. Film Festival) and critically acclaimed performances at the Latvian National Theatre, like “The Soft Power” (2023) and “The National Channel” (2025). He teaches film directing at the Latvian Academy of Culture.

John Newbigin OBE has worked in the film, television and theatre industries. As Special Advisor to the UK Minister for Culture he was at the centre of the team that developed the world’s first definition and valuation of the creative industries, adopted by the UK government in 1998.  He was co-founder and first Chair of Creative England and for five years was Chair of the British Council’s Advisory Board for Arts and Creative Economy.  He is  a member of the International Steering Committee of the World Conference on Creative Economy and is the Mayor of London’s Ambassador for the creative industries. He is Chair of the Global Creative Economy Council and of the Counterculture Partnership. He is a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Jennie Schaeffer, PhD, is a museum director, researcher, and lecturer in design. Her research focuses on public engagement through participatory methods. Her work explores how museums can serve as platforms for transformative learning, environmental responsibility, and broader social change. She will be giving a lightning talk, on the role of museums in society — with a focus on the concept of ‘the participatory museum.’

Birgitta Ralston is a Swedish designer, curator and entrepreneur. She practices regenerative design as a method, and often creates physical products and spaces. ALong with her partner, Alexandre Bau, she has taught at universities in Bergen, Norway and Marseille, France  where they currently live. Birgitta and Alexandre co-founded the Bioregion Institute in 2020, to pursue a deep dive into biomaterial development. In 2025, they are creating yet another company, that will be dedicated to scaling up bio-based products to market. Her talk will break down the role design can play in delivering regenerative solutions that help protect planetary boundaries.