StoryFutures and StoryFutures Academy: The National Centre for Immersive Storytelling
We're all about placing innovative storytelling at the heart of next generation immersive technologies and experiences, to fuel the growth of the sector and ensure the UK is leading the way.
Both projects are closely linked: StoryFutures is focussed on R&D projects with businesses to the west of London, while StoryFutures Academy is focussed on delivering cutting edge training for the national screen industries.
StoryFutures is led by Royal Holloway, University of London and is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s unprecedented Creative Industries Clusters Programme. Funded by the government’s industrial strategy challenge fund and based in the ‘Gateway Cluster’ immediately to the west of London it is focused on delivering game changing R&D projects.
StoryFutures Academy is the UK’s National Centre for Immersive Storytelling led by the National Film and Television School and Royal Holloway, University of London. Funded by the government’s industrial strategy challenge fund and part of UK Research and Innovation’s Audience of the Future Challenge. The Academy will develop creative training and research programmes in immersive storytelling to ensure the UK creative workforce is the most skilled in the world in the use of VR, AR and MR.
Meet the team
![Professor James Bennett](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/James-Bennett-11_190607_143545.jpg)
Professor James Bennett
Director, StoryFutures
![Dr Jon Wardle](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Jon-Wardle-portrait-NFTS_190607_143423.jpg)
Dr Jon Wardle
Co-Director, StoryFutures
![Professor Will Saunders](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Will-Saunders-1_190607_143703.jpg)
Professor Will Saunders
Chief Creative Officer, StoryFutures
![Rebecca Gregory-Clarke](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Rebecca-Gregory-Clarke_190607_180139.jpg)
Rebecca Gregory-Clarke
Head of Immersive National Film & Television School and StoryFutures
![Fiona Kilkelly](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/56759/Fiona_Kilkelly_230131_093843.jpg)
Fiona Kilkelly
Immersive Consultant, StoryFutures
![Amanda Murphy](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Amanda-Murphy_190607_143758.jpg)
Amanda Murphy
Senior Executive Producer, StoryFutures
![Professor Jen Parker-Starbuck](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Jen-Starbuck-Parker_190610_152658.jpg)
Professor Jen Parker-Starbuck
StoryLab R&D Lead, StoryFutures
![Professor Adam Ganz](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Adam-Ganz-4_190607_143955.jpg)
Professor Adam Ganz
Co-Investigator & Head of Writers Room, StoryFutures
![Professor Peter Richardson](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/Peter-Richardson.jpg)
Professor Peter Richardson
Head of Virtual Production, StoryFutures & Professor of Creative Industries, Media Arts
![Sarah Smyth](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Sarah-Smyth-2_190607_144532.jpg)
Sarah Smyth
Head of Delivery, StoryFutures
![Sarah Brown](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Sarah-Brown.jpg)
Sarah Brown
Marketing & Communications Manager, StoryFutures
![Renae Moore](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Renae-Moore-profile-photo.jpg)
Renae Moore
Programme Manager
![Kylie Bryant](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/Kylie-Bryant-reduced.jpg)
Kylie Bryant
Senior Producer, StoryFutures
![Professor Polly Dalton](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Polly-Dawson_190607_145252.jpg)
Professor Polly Dalton
Audience Insight R&D Lead, StoryFutures
![Dr John Ellis](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/John-Ellis-3.jpg)
Dr John Ellis
Creative Data R&D Lead, StoryFutures
![Kristina Glushkova](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Kristina-Glushkova-13_190607_145459.jpg)
Kristina Glushkova
Innovation Lead, StoryFutures
![Paul Bulos](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/31447/MAIN-PROFILE-PIC.jpg)
Paul Bulos
Intellectual Property and Research Contracts Manager, StoryFutures
![Dr Claude Heath](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Claude-Heath-5_190607_145622.jpg)
Dr Claude Heath
Creative Data, Senior Research Fellow, StoryFutures
![Dr Niki Strange](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Nikki-Strange-9_190607_144856.jpg)
Dr Niki Strange
Executive Producer, StoryFutures
![Professor Mark Lycett](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Mark-Lycett-18_190607_145028.jpg)
Professor Mark Lycett
Business R&D Lead, StoryFutures
![Dr Laryssa Whittaker](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Laryssa-Whittaker-10_190607_150041.jpg)
Dr Laryssa Whittaker
Senior Audience Researcher, StoryFutures
![Dr Andy Woods](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Andy-Woods-19_190607_150122.jpg)
Dr Andy Woods
Audience Insight Senior Research Fellow, StoryFutures
![Chris Hogg](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Chris-Hogg-15_190607_144241.jpg)
Chris Hogg
Digital Engagement Officer, StoryFutures
![Johnny Johnson](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/team/_teamImage/Johnny-Johnson_190610_152752.jpg)
Johnny Johnson
Senior Technician, StoryFutures/National Film Television School
![Neil Smith](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/Neil-Smith.jpg)
Neil Smith
Senior Technician, StoryFutures
![Beatrice Sutcliffe](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/32559/IMG_3356.jpg)
Beatrice Sutcliffe
Events Producer & Comms Coordinator, StoryFutures
![Anne McNeil](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/48245/Anne.jpg)
Anne McNeil
Centre for Digital Creativity Administrator, StoryFutures
![Helen O’Neill](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/helen-scarlett-o-neill.jpg)
Helen O’Neill
Senior Immersive Mobile AR Producer
![Christos Dexiades](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/Christos.jpg)
Christos Dexiades
Doctoral Researcher in Human Geography
![Jack Morton](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/Jack-Morton.jpg)
Jack Morton
Doctoral Researcher in Procedural Audio
![Rich Hemming](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/Rich.jpg)
Rich Hemming
Doctoral Researcher in Procedural Audio, StoryFutures
![Åste Amundsen](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/16595/Aste.jpg)
Åste Amundsen
Doctoral Researcher in Personalised Interactive Performance, StoryFutures
![Angela Chan](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/40538/Angela-Chan.jpg)
Angela Chan
Head of Inclusion, StoryFutures
![Dr Maruša Levstek](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/55726/sf_head1.jpg)
Dr Maruša Levstek
StoryFutures Audience Insight, Research Fellow, StoryFutures
![Michelle Rumney](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/59643/Michelle-Rumney.jpg)
Michelle Rumney
Audience Producer, StoryFutures
![Lisa Pearson](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/60999/Lisa-Pearson-SFA-Headshot.jpg)
Lisa Pearson
Co-Production Coordinator, StoryFutures
![Hannah Wills](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/76475/hannah-wills.jpg)
Hannah Wills
R&D Producer, StoryFutures
![Destiny Lawrence](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/destiny-lawrence.jpg)
Destiny Lawrence
Tech & Showcasing Coordinator, StoryTrails
![Nina Brown](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/nina-brown.jpg)
Nina Brown
Producer, StoryTrails
![Emma Burke](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/77057/Untitled-design-4.jpg)
Emma Burke
Administrator, StoryFutures
![Jodie Pearton](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/77057/Untitled-design-4.jpg)
Jodie Pearton
Research Assistant, StoryFutures
![Sarah-Jane Southgate](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_teamImage/77057/Untitled-design-4.jpg)
Sarah-Jane Southgate
Finance Assistant, StoryFutures
![](https://www.storyfutures.com/assets/images/team-placeholder.png)
Emeka Njoku
Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Partners
![Nexus](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_partnerImage/16534/Nexus-2.jpg)
![Discovery](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_partnerImage/16519/Discovery.jpg)
![BBC3](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_partnerImage/16523/BBC3.jpg)
![Arcade](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_partnerImage/16527/Arcade.jpg)
![Valkyrie Industries](https://www.storyfutures.com/uploads/images/_partnerImage/16531/Valk.jpg)