Transform Your Future with Creative media academy
Bringing together the creative industry with higher education
Transform Your Future with Creative media academy
Bringing together the creative industry with higher education
Who we are
Creative Media Academy offers specialised business and creative courses for the creative and innovative industries. Whether you aspire to start a creative business or already thriving, by bridging the gap between creative industry expertise and higher education, we empower entrepreneurs and professionals to navigate the unique challenges faced by creative and innovative businesses.
Our courses some of which are accredited by the Chartered Management Institute are delivered in both Leamington at the creative Fold Studios and Banbury's super innovative JunctionEleven Studios, this enables us to provide a dynamic learning environment which fosters innovation and growth. We are home alongside other major brands, creative and innovative businesses as well as professionals so lots of opportunities to build networks and grow as a professional. Our collaborative approach means a number of these businesses often teach some of our modules which enables students to directly connect with industry experts.
Our Values fundamentally drive how we operate the business, our values are:
Our board of directors
Professor Jonathan Liu - Chair
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
Professor Jonathan Liu is a renowned academic and leading scholar of global management with over 40 years of experience at several British universities including Middlesex University, Regent’s University London, and Global Banking School. He has served at governance levels, including in the roles of Dean and Associate Dean. Professo
Professor Jonathan Liu is a renowned academic and leading scholar of global management with over 40 years of experience at several British universities including Middlesex University, Regent’s University London, and Global Banking School. He has served at governance levels, including in the roles of Dean and Associate Dean. Professor Jonathan Liu is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Ming-Ai (London) Institute and he researches in Entrepreneurship, Venture, Heritage and Performance Management. Jonathan is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Business Performance Management with Inderscience Publishers. He is on the Council of the National Conference of Universities Professors, a Council member of the Universities China Committee in London, and a Council member of the British Academy of Management where he is also the Chair of the Special Interest Group in Performance Management.
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
A little about me:
Christopher is currently Principal and CEO of Bird College where he is responsible for the overall effectiveness of the academic provision at Bird College; the formulation and delivery of the College’s academic and corporate strategies; and for working with external partners to enhance the College’s brand and reach.
A little about me:
Christopher is currently Principal and CEO of Bird College where he is responsible for the overall effectiveness of the academic provision at Bird College; the formulation and delivery of the College’s academic and corporate strategies; and for working with external partners to enhance the College’s brand and reach. Christopher sits on the Board of Directors of Bird College and the Board of Trustees of the Doreen Bird Foundation.
Prior to joining Bird College, Christopher had a 20-year career in higher education, starting as a law lecturer at BPP University. During his time at BPP University, Christopher became a senior lecturer and took on module and programme management, eventually joining the University’s executive team as Dean of Academic Quality. During Christopher’s time at BPP University he led almost a dozen successful external regulatory visits and wrote BPP University’s successful permanent degree-awarding powers application, the first in the country. Following his tenure at BPP University, Christopher was appointed to the executive team of Ravensbourne University London as University Secretary and Director of Strategic Delivery where he was responsible for governance, academic quality, and strategy and change management. During Christopher’s time at Ravensbourne, the University more than doubled in size, largely through internationalisation, tripled in revenue and went form loss-making to surpluses of over 10% per annum.
Outside of work Christopher has been active in the sector speaking at numerous conferences held by the QAA, OIA and specialist networks such as the Academic Registrars Council. He sat on the Board of Directors of the University College of Osteopathy, and chaired the joint merger board with AECC University College, the two institutions later merging and becoming Health Sciences University. Christopher currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the University College of Estate Management (since 2017), where he chairs the Audit Committee.
Nav Chouhan - Director and Board Member
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
Nav Chouhan - Director and Board Member
A little about me:
With over a decade of senior leadership experience within Higher Education both across the UK and wider afield, recent roles have included Dean of a large faculty and Director of Degree Programmes. I have vast experience in working with a range of university providers across both public and private sectors which sparked
A little about me:
With over a decade of senior leadership experience within Higher Education both across the UK and wider afield, recent roles have included Dean of a large faculty and Director of Degree Programmes. I have vast experience in working with a range of university providers across both public and private sectors which sparked my passion for working with Creative Media Academy who aim to be the best creative and innovative provider in the sector.
Why am I involved with Creative Media Academy?
Many current courses across the sector do not offer the practical exposure to businesses expected by students and employers often focusing too much on theory alone. Creative Media Academy aims to challenge this status quo. Our courses provide the right balance between theoretical understanding and practical application providing students opportunities for students to grow and succeed. We deliver courses in creative physical environments allowing students to be able to fully embed themselves into their studies.
Rav Bhurji - Director and Board Member
Christopher Costigan - Non Executive Director
Nav Chouhan - Director and Board Member
A little about me:
With over 12 years of experience as a professional photographer, the passion started with weddings which provided the perfect opportunity to progress technically and also to communicate effectively with clients. More recently, I have successfully launched two large photography studios across the UK and built a strong soc
A little about me:
With over 12 years of experience as a professional photographer, the passion started with weddings which provided the perfect opportunity to progress technically and also to communicate effectively with clients. More recently, I have successfully launched two large photography studios across the UK and built a strong social media presence with specialisms in portraiture for the consumer markets and business to business development. Recent work includes fashion, re-branding and monochrome projects.
Why am I involved in Creative Media Academy?
As a professional running my own business within industry, it is clear to me our current and future students and graduates will be entering a tough marketplace. I believe students should have direct access to industry, whether they are looking at setting up a creative business or already operating within one, students should be able to apply their learning to real world businesses in real time. That's why I am keen to develop our network of businesses across a range of industries and professional bodies to offer students the maximum opportunities to thrive and grow.
Our senior team
Nav Chouhan - Director
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
Nav Chouhan - Director
A little about me:
With over a decade of senior leadership experience within Higher Education both across the UK and wider afield, recent roles have included Dean of a large faculty and Director of Degree Programmes. I have vast experience in working with a range of university providers across both public and private sectors which sparked
A little about me:
With over a decade of senior leadership experience within Higher Education both across the UK and wider afield, recent roles have included Dean of a large faculty and Director of Degree Programmes. I have vast experience in working with a range of university providers across both public and private sectors which sparked my passion for working with Creative Media Academy who aim to be the best creative and innovative provider in the sector.
Why am I involved with Creative Media Academy?
Many current courses across the sector do not offer the practical exposure to businesses expected by students and employers often focusing too much on theory alone. Creative Media Academy aims to challenge this status quo. Our courses provide the right balance between theoretical understanding and practical application providing students opportunities for students to grow and succeed. We deliver courses in creative physical environments allowing students to be able to fully embed themselves into their studies.
Rav Bhurji - Director
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
Nav Chouhan - Director
A little about me:
With over 12 years of experience as a professional photographer, the passion started with weddings which provided the perfect opportunity to progress technically and also to communicate effectively with clients. More recently, I have successfully launched two large photography studios across the UK and built a strong soc
A little about me:
With over 12 years of experience as a professional photographer, the passion started with weddings which provided the perfect opportunity to progress technically and also to communicate effectively with clients. More recently, I have successfully launched two large photography studios across the UK and built a strong social media presence with specialisms in portraiture for the consumer markets and business to business development. Recent work includes fashion, re-branding and monochrome projects.
Why am I involved in Creative Media Academy?
As a professional running my own business within industry, it is clear to me our current and future students and graduates will be entering a tough marketplace. I believe students should have direct access to industry, whether they are looking at setting up a creative business or already operating within one, students should be able to apply their learning to real world businesses in real time. That's why I am keen to develop our network of businesses across a range of industries and professional bodies to offer students the maximum opportunities to thrive and grow.
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
A little about me:
Professor Donald Pennington has over 40 years experience of higher education in the UK. He was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Coventry University, Director of Quality and Academic Standards at the UCL Institute of Education and a QAA Reviewer for over ten years. Professor Pennington has built up extensive and depth of expe
A little about me:
Professor Donald Pennington has over 40 years experience of higher education in the UK. He was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Coventry University, Director of Quality and Academic Standards at the UCL Institute of Education and a QAA Reviewer for over ten years. Professor Pennington has built up extensive and depth of expertise in higher education quality assurance and academic standards. Donald is working closely with Creative Media Academy to ensure our academic standards and practice meet and exceed sector expectations.
Rest of the Team include:
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
Professor Donald Pennington - Quality Director
Creative Business Lecturers:
Dr Matide D'Amelio
Dr Bentil Oduro
Dr Evans Akwasi
Kristina Risley
Campus Leader:
Govind Singh
Quality Manager:
Dr Samandeep Chouhan
Academic Coaching Lead:
Claire Hold
Head of People
Danielle Hubbard
