New appointments bring fresh perspectives from music, equality, law, security and city leadership
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has appointed six new Board members, bringing together influential voices from across the industries and communities that shape life after dark.
Joining the Board are Dr Charisse Beaumont, CEO and Co-Founder of Black Lives in Music; Judge Jules, DJ and music lawyer; Graeme Park, DJ and Senior Lecturer; Simone D’Antonio, urban researcher and night-time economy specialist; Michael Stewart, Belfast City Centre Night Czar; and Satia Rai, CEO of the International Professional Security Association.
Their combined experience spans club culture, live music, equality, licensing, security, hospitality and city policy. The appointments strengthen NTIA’s ability to speak for the full breadth of the night-time economy as venues, artists and businesses contend with rising costs, regulatory pressure and changing consumer habits.
Sacha Lord, Chair of the NTIA Board, said:
“The strength of nightlife has always been its people. It takes artists, promoters, venue teams, security professionals and whole cities working together to create the places and experiences we value.
“That breadth is reflected in these appointments. Charisse, Jules, Graeme, Simone, Michael and Satia each bring a different perspective and a record of getting things done. I’m delighted to welcome them to the NTIA Board.
“The sector is at a critical point. We need strong voices who understand the pressures on businesses and workers, but who can also see the opportunities ahead. This Board has the experience and energy to help us make the case for a thriving night-time economy across the UK.”
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said:
“The night-time economy is one of the UK’s most diverse, dynamic and culturally important industries, and the challenges facing it cannot be addressed by looking at hospitality, music, culture, security or city policy in isolation.
“These appointments bring an extraordinary breadth of experience to the NTIA Board. Each of our new Board members understands the night-time economy from a different perspective, but they share a commitment to protecting, developing and championing the people, businesses and communities that make our towns and cities come alive after dark.
“As NTIA continues to grow its influence and strengthen its engagement with government, cities and industry, having this depth of expertise around the table will be incredibly important. It gives us an even stronger platform from which to advocate for meaningful change and to ensure the night-time economy is recognised as an essential part of the UK’s economic, social and cultural future.
“I am delighted to welcome Charisse, Jules, Graeme, Simone, Michael and Satia to the Board and look forward to working with them as we enter the next stage of NTIA’s development.”
Dr Charisse Beaumont
Dr Charisse Beaumont is CEO and Co-Founder of Black Lives in Music (BLiM). Her work combines research and advocacy to tackle racial inequality and improve opportunities for Black and Global Majority musicians and music professionals. She brings a focus on evidence, representation and fair access to the NTIA Board.
Dr Beaumont said:
“I am incredibly proud to be joining the NTIA Board at such an important time for our night time economy.
“NTIA has been a powerful voice for venues, operators, promoters, artists and businesses across nightlife, and I am excited to contribute to that work as we look at how we protect, strengthen and grow the sector.
“Through Black Lives in Music and our work on the REMEL report, we have seen clearly how licensing, regulation and decision making can create very different experiences for different communities. We now have an opportunity to take that evidence and turn it into meaningful change.
“I am particularly excited about working with NTIA, its members and partners across the sector to help remove unnecessary barriers and create the conditions for artists, promoters, venue owners and operators to thrive.
“Nightlife is one of the UK’s greatest cultural and economic assets. Its future must be one that works for everyone. It should be a space where people can create, perform, invest, build businesses and succeed, regardless of their background.
“I am looking forward to bringing my experience, my passion for equality, evidence based insights and working collaboratively to help build a stronger, safer, fairer and more inclusive night time economy for all.”
Judge Jules
Judge Jules, also known as Jules O’Riordan, brings more than three decades of experience as a DJ, broadcaster and music industry professional. A former BBC Radio 1 broadcaster and now a partner at Sound Advice (Legal), he brings both nightlife and legal expertise to the Board.
Judge Jules said:
“From the DJ booth to promoting events and working as a music lawyer, I’ve seen just how much goes into making a great night happen. You need talented people and brilliant venues, but you also need a framework that gives them a fair chance to succeed. I’m delighted to join the NTIA Board and bring both sides of my experience to the table. Club culture has given me a career I could never have imagined when I started out. I want the next generation to have that opportunity too.”
Graeme Park
Graeme Park is a pioneering DJ closely associated with Manchester’s Haçienda and the growth of UK house music. As a Senior Lecturer, he also works with the next generation of creative talent.
Graeme Park said:
“Nightlife and music culture have been at the heart of my life for decades, so I’m delighted to be joining the NTIA Board after working with them for a number of years. I’m looking forward to drawing on my experience to help champion, protect and support an industry that continues to enrich people’s lives culturally, socially and economically.”
Simone D’Antonio
Simone D’Antonio brings experience in urban research and night-time economy strategy, including work connected with URBACT and Global Cities After Dark. He will help NTIA connect the needs of operators with wider decisions about transport, public space, safety and city development.
Simone D’Antonio said:
“Cities do not stop when the working day ends, yet transport, public space, culture, safety and other urban policies are still too often planned without considering the night.
Across the cities I work with, I see the social, cultural and economic value of a vibrant night-time economy and the importance of listening to the people who make it happen.
I’m pleased to join the NTIA Board and contribute a European and international urban perspective, connecting the experience of the sector with research, policy and practices emerging from cities around the world. Together, we can make urban life after dark more inclusive, sustainable and welcoming”
Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart is Belfast City Centre’s first Night Czar. With more than three decades in hospitality, he works across venues, transport, policing and public agencies to address the practical challenges of running a city after dark. He is also Director of Common Market Belfast and a former President of Belfast Chamber.
Michael Stewart said:
“Working in Belfast has shown me what can happen when venues, businesses, transport providers and public agencies get around the same table. It has also shown me how much practical work remains, especially on safe, reliable ways for workers and customers to get home. I’m delighted to join the NTIA Board and bring Belfast’s experience into the wider conversation. Our night-time economy supports jobs, culture and communities. If we give the people behind it the right support, our cities can thrive long after dark.”
Satia Rai
Satia Rai is CEO of the International Professional Security Association (IPSA). His experience spans frontline security, risk, leadership and workforce development. He brings a focus on professional standards and public safety to the Board.
Satia Rai said:
“I am honoured to join the Board of the Night Time Industries Association. The night-time economy is about people, communities, culture, creativity and livelihoods, and I look forward to bringing my experience in leadership, strategy, inclusion and stakeholder engagement to help build a safer, stronger, more sustainable and thriving night-time economy, one that puts people and communities at its heart and becomes a global beacon of innovation, leadership and best practice.”
