WHAT WE DO
We connect universities, colleges, and events with working professionals from the creative industries.
From guest speakers and panels to mentoring and student feedback sessions, we handle sourcing, matching, and coordination, so you get the right people, to meet your specific needs.
WHAT WE DO
We connect universities, colleges, and events with working professionals from the creative industries.
From guest speakers and panels to mentoring and student feedback sessions, we handle sourcing, matching, and coordination, so you get the right people, to meet your specific needs.
WHY WE DO IT
Educational institutions and event teams often face limited time, budget, and industry connections when sourcing relevant speakers. Traditional speaker agencies can be expensive and often focus on celebrity talent rather than working industry professionals.
Connection Made bridges that gap, offering direct access to experienced creatives at work in the industry today.
Industry engagement is a critical driver for career success, which enhances employability and accelerates professional growth. Engaging with industry professionals and organisations provides a competitive advantage for students and institutions.
Anita Gribble
WHO WE ARE
After spending my early years working in VFX and animation, I was drawn into higher education and became the Relationship Manager and later Head of Industry Outreach for Escape Studios in London. While I was there I grew our industry partners by 95% across VFX, Animation and Games, to include ILM, Blue Zoo and Epic Games among many others.
Through my work across international conferences and industry initiatives, I’ve developed a strong global network of professionals and partners.
I’ve organised guest speakers for presentations, panels, webinars, workshops and podcasts for events such as FMX, VIEW, B’Ars, Comic Con, EGX, THU, AWUK and the VFX Festival. I have also had the honour of participating as a juror for animation and VFX Competition including Siggraph Asia, VIEW Conference and World VFX Day.
Accolades that I have received have included awards from Cannes Lions, Promax, TAG, SCI-FI-London 48-Hour Film Challenge, Phoenix Film Critics Society Award, as well as a BAFTA nomination.
OUR SERVICES
-
Curated professionals matched to your event or curriculum. For online or in person.
Standard price: £250 per confirmed speaker.
Introductory offer: £150 per confirmed speaker.
-
Urgent replacement speakers in under a week.
Price: £300
-
Ongoing support with priority booking.
Price: £400 per month for unlimited requests (negotiable).
-
Flexible delivery, virtual or live. Additional costs may include travel and accommodation.
Optionally speaker may request charity donations (£50–£200 typical).
“I’ve known Anita for years and I continue to be impressed by her professionalism, her warmth, her Rolodex and most importantly her integrity.
Anita is a connector and given her incredible reach across continents, she is a powerful force. If I were still running ILM or Digital Domain, she’d have a slot on my team!”
“The most lovely talented honest sincere decent person I’ve met in a long while.”
TESTIMONIALS
*
TESTIMONIALS *
Scott Ross Founder CEO/Chairman Digital Domain, Former GM ILM & SR VP Lucas Film
“Anita’s passion for animation is obvious. I have worked alongside Anita for a few years, and her engagement with industry goes beyond expectation.
Our students have all benefitted from her outreach, as she continually brings in top calibre industry mentors. All of which have helped to support the growth and development of our multi award-winning student body.”
Alex Williams Dean & Director of Animation & VFX at Escape Studios
“Anita has been a joy to work with due to her enthusiasm and professional approach to everything that she does.
She is a consummate networker and is able to establish productive mutually beneficial relationships to deliver real benefits for the organisations that she works for and with.
Can't recommend highly enough!”
Graham Harris European (ROW) CFO at Boston Ltd
“Over the past decade, I’ve had the pleasure of joining several panels curated by Anita and each experience has been both inspiring and rewarding. Anita has a remarkable ability to bring together diverse voices from across games, VFX, and animation, creating conversations that are innovative, engaging, and genuinely valuable to the industry. What stands out most is her commitment to supporting emerging digital artists. Navigating a career in this industry can be challenging, and Anita consistently creates opportunities for young creatives to connect with professionals, gain insight, and find inspiration for their own paths forward. Her contribution to the creative community has been truly meaningful. If she asks you, you learn just to say yes because it will always be interesting and you will always learn something new.”
Dr. Gina Jackson OBE Founder SKILLfull
LETS WORK TOGETHER
Get in touch to discuss your requirements
