BBC leader to make ‘powerful’ addition to Counterculture

Consultancy Counterculture is to welcome a former BBC employee as partner.

BAFTA member and corporate communications expert VANESSA ELLIOTT has spent the last 12 years working as head of public affairs at the national broadcaster.

Counterculture chair JOHN NEWBIGIN, the co-founder and first chair of Creative England, said her expertise would prove a “powerful and welcome addition”.

“With her years of experience in some of the most sensitive and high-profile roles in public service media, Vanessa has an unparalleled understanding of the complex interactions between public policy and the world of culture,” Newbigin said.

In her time heading up public affairs at the BBC, Elliott was responsible for overseeing how the organisation liaised with parliamentarians and stakeholders during key moments like the 2014 transition of World Service funding from government to licence fee payers.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a journalist, producer, and filmmaker for a range of BBC offshoots, including BBC Arts, Radio 5 Live, and Newsround.

Elliott said: “After an exciting and diverse career at the BBC, I am thrilled to be joining the phenomenal team at Counterculture working with some of the best, most experienced culture and arts professionals in the creative industries.

“I look forward to bringing my expertise, experience and enthusiasm to my partnership role, working on a wide range of projects across the industry, the UK and internationally.”