The people behind Podfest North
Mick Ord is a media consultant based in the North West, specialising in media and crisis communications training.
He produces and co-presents the successful 'Misadventures in Music' podcast with the musician Ian Prowse.
He spent more than 25 years in the BBC, the majority as Managing Editor of BBC Radio Merseyside.
He went on to work as an editor for BBC Learning at Media City in Salford and left in 2015 where he set up Mick Ord Media.
“The thing I'm most looking forward to at Podfest North is seeing the reaction from delegates to some of the amazing speakers and workshops we've got lined up - particularly from people who want to get into podcasting but have yet to take the first step!” Mick said. “Hopefully we can help to put them on the right track for an exciting career!"
He added: "The podcasts I'm most listening to at the moment include 'The David McWilliams podcast" - he's a refreshingly frank and funny Irish economist who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'stuffy'. His shows are always entertaining, informative and irreverent. As a music fan/anorak I also love 'A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs'. Incredible research and genuine revelations from Andrew Hickey."
Nigel Thompson is a freelance journalist, broadcaster and media trainer based in the north west. A BBC journalist and correspondent for 20 years, he worked in local and national radio and TV. More recently he has produced and hosted podcasts for universities, the NHS and National Trust as well as working on the Buried podcast for BBC Radio 4.
In 2025 he set up a podcast about ships and shipping. Full Ahead has just started a second series and is listened to in over 70 countries. Another project, The Morecambe Bay Podcast, recently marked five years on air.
“When Mick and I first had the idea for Podfest it was to try and bring together the kind of people who know how to make the most of podcasting. It’s a fast developing sector and we’re as keen to learn more as the delegates who we hope will love this event!”
At the moment Independent Thinking by Chatham House is my first choice to get behind the headlines - and The Moment with Miles Jupp for some light relief!
Chris Brown is a vastly experienced marketeer and place maker with a record of achievement in destination promotion and marketing working with both the private and public sector.
He has undertaken extensive work in tourism, leisure and investment marketing, management and branding across the UK.
Having spent the early parts of his career as a hotelier Chris was responsible for setting up both Marketing Cheshire (2003 – 2013) and Marketing Liverpool the latter of which he was Director from 2014 – 2023. Over that time, he built the organisation into a Place Marketing Agency that promoted Liverpool and wider City Region as a place to visit, invest, live, work and do business.
Chris was also actively involved in the management and delivery of several high-profile international events including the City Region’s presence at MIPIM, Expo Real and UKREiiF, the G7 leaders meeting, Eurovision and the preparation and submission of Liverpool’s bid for EURO 28
Chris also oversaw a huge growth in Liverpool’s Hospitality sector and enjoyed a close working relationship with the Department of Business and Trade, Visit Britain and Visit England,
Now semi-retired he is a trustee and deputy chair at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot, trustee at La Salle Hotel School in Croxteth and a trustee on the trading Board at the Bluecoat. He enjoys spending time with his family and following the Scotland football team hoping that one day they will win something!
Stephanie Power is a journalist, writer and podcast maker. She worked as a producer and reporter for BBC Radio 4 for many years, and now focuses on long form narrative non-fiction for organisations including Audible and the BBC. She worked on Wondery's Flesh and Code, an eight part series about AI companions. Last October, she started her own podcast with her husband, a Professor in AI and Spatial Computing. Called Married To The Machine, it helps listeners get to grips with AI in the real world.
Favourite podcasts at the moment include: The Mishal Husain Show (Bloomberg), Today In Focus (The Guardian), and she can't help but listen to The Rest Is Politics. When she wants a break from news, she listens to Have A Word. Best recent narrative non-fiction podcast: The Foundling by Tortoise Media.
She lives in the city and is really looking forward to finding the podcast community in Liverpool.
Ngunan Adamu is a well-known scouse voice across the city, and across Europe, as one of the co-hosts of Eurovisioncast, a popular BBC podcast which celebrated everything about the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 being hosted in Liverpool.
She also hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio Merseyside, having learnt her craft during her journalism studies with LJMU from 2001 to 2004.
Not only is she a successful broadcaster, presenter and producer, Ngunan is the CEO and Founder of iWoman a programme which helps women in the region develop the skills and confidence to get into media. She's also been involved in training other journalists for the BBC World Service.
She is a passionate equality, diversity and inclusion champion, and a specialist in driving forwards cultural change