CIISA unveils inaugural board

The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) has appointed four members to its first board.

Endorsed by government and leaders across the creative sector, CIISA was founded as a dedicated, independent authority to combat bullying, harassment, and discriminatory behaviour in the creative industries.

Joining chair Baroness HELENA KENNEDY on the Board are Dr KIENDA HOJI, GUY PARKER, JANE PRESTON, and NAZIR AFZAL OBE.

A music industry lawyer, consultant, and academic, Hoji recently served as the deputy vice-chancellor at the Academy of Contemporary Music. He has also held posts as a visiting professor at Peking University in Beijing, a lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, and the Institute of Cultural Studies in St Petersburg, Russia.

Hoji also manages artists and is a founding UK Music Diversity Task Force member.

Preston has worked as a ballet dancer and actress and, for the past 20 years, as a television producer, director, executive producer, and journalist. She also sits on the board of Women in Film and Television.

Chief crown prosecutor for North West England and formerly director in London, Afzal was chief executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners and most recently, national adviser to the Welsh Government. He is the chancellor of the University of Manchester.

As chief executive of the Advertising Standards Authority, Parker oversees the strategy for the UK regulator of ads in all media. He is also president of the International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation, a board member of the Fundraising Regulator and a member of its standards committee.

From 2013 to 2016, Guy chaired the European Advertising Standards Alliance and remains a board and executive committee member. He is currently a member of the UK Government’s Online Advertising Taskforce and its Consumer Protection Partnership Strategic Group.

Afzal said, “ Arts and culture are vital to community development. It contributes economically, fosters social cohesion, enhances education, improves well-being, drives innovation, and plays a significant role in our way of life.

“It is, therefore, essential that safeguarding is everybody’s business, and my career has focussed entirely on amplifying the voices of the unheard so we prevent harm. I am sure that CIISA will do that, too”.

Preston added, “I am honoured to be joining the Board of CIISA and working to help implement a standards framework that will become a blueprint for everyone within the creative industries.

“How creative content is made is as important and significant as the creative content itself. Throughout my career, I have frequently witnessed unacceptable behaviours within the workplace and believe it is imperative we foster a change in culture to ensure bullying, harassment and discrimination is no longer tolerated.”