Julie Fitzsimmons
With 30 years of experience, Julie provides strategic direction to clients in leisure and placemaking projects across Europe, the Middle East, and the USA. She helps organisations turn ideas into action, developing business plans, expansion strategies, and sourcing key partners such as operators and investors.
Julie has worked with top clients including Aareal Bank, Hammerson, LandSec, BNP Paribas, Gravity, NAMCO, and the International Council of Shopping Centres. She is also an international advisor to the European Cancer Organisation and Chair of the Revo Educational Trust.
Julie’ s expertise lies in turning creative concepts into successful, operational projects, ensuring growth through the right partnerships and market insights. She will work with Experience UK to leverage her extensive network and knowledge.
Paul Kent
Paul has worked on projects around the world, that have won industry awards and acclaim from the millions of guests that have experienced them. These roles have covered the whole gambit from designer through to site level management, across a range of market sectors, including corporate communications, retail environments, museums, science centres, theme parks, World EXPOs and live shows.
Paul has been part of multiple trade missions to the middle east and other regions, to help secure work for the UK companies working within the Experience Economy Sector. He is a frequent speaker about the industry and champion of using technology well with in the sector.
Dawn Foote
Co-founder and CEO of Katapult which she founded with her business partners in 2001. Since then Dawn has built a team of entertainment industry specialists into a worldwide creative studio designing themed attractions and experiences. Dawn has a wealth of experience in guest destination, the cultural sector and strategic collaborations.
Dawn has worked with IP owners such as LEGO, BBC, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks and has personally activated projects in the Middle East, delivered globally with Merlin Entertainments, as well as locally with The Wildlife Trust. Art Gallery’ s commercial aims with a broad range of expertise. She also represents the cultural sector on the Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board.
Richard Hill
With 35 years of experience in the themed entertainment, manufacturing, and construction sectors, Richard has held roles as a project manager, small business owner, and business development leader. He has worked on major visitor attractions with top brands like Disney and Universal Studios and played a key role in the construction of theme parks including Euro Disney, Motiongate, and the upcoming Universal Epic Universe.
Richard has developed business across the USA, Middle East, Europe, and Japan and is an“ Export Champion” for the Department of Business and Trade, with a focus on helping UK companies expand internationally. He has also served on the Themed Entertainment Industry board for six years, fostering collaboration and networking within the sector.
Richard’ s goal is to promote the UK experience economy overseas, grow membership, and lobby for a new Universal Theme Park in the UK to benefit Experience UK members.
Lizzy Moriarty
Lizzy Moriarty is an independent museum consultant. In the last five years, she has worked with the Southbank Centre, the Science Museum Group, Wellcome Collection and Nottingham University.
Lizzy has worked in the museum sector for over fifteen years, most recently at the British Museum where she was responsible for developing the Museum’ s international partnerships and cultural diplomacy agenda through capacity building and consultancy projects. Prior to that she was Head of International Exhibitions at the Natural History Museum leading the Museum’ s engagement with cultural and governmental organisations internationally.
Lizzy is a member of the Whitechapel Art Gallery Ventures Board which supports the Whitechapel Art Gallery’ s commercial aims with a broad range of expertise. She also represents the cultural sector on the Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board.
Morgan Sim
Morgan Sim is Head of Design and Experience Economy at the UK Department for Business and Trade, leading initiatives that support the growth of the UK’ s creative industries.
With a background spanning policy, business strategy and international engagement, she specialises in fostering innovation, cross-sector collaboration and economic opportunities across the creative economy.
11