The Grierson Trust has signalled its intent to expand its training offer with a host of new signings to its executive board.
White Nanny Black Child editor Zeb Achonu, Dare Pictures founder Derren Lawford, Workerbee Group chief executive Rick Murray, The Last Musician of Auschwitz director Toby Trackman, Dogwoof chief content officer Oli Harbottle and Netflix documentary production executive Jessica Ross are joining the documentary and factual television organisation.
Chair Lorraine Heggessey said the expansion reflects the Trust’s growth in recent years, having created “successful new training programmes in partnership with streamers, broadcasters and production companies to identify new talent and build the careers of creatives from a wide range of backgrounds.”
She added: "As a result, we’ve decided to expand the Board to support these activities, in addition to chairing juries for the Grierson Awards.”
The Trust’s board currently has 12 members, two of whom – Channel 5 commissioner Guy Davies and media investment executive Rob Stapledon – will stand down in December.
With the new additions, the board will therefore have 16 members, with four of the signings joining this month and Harbottle and Ross succeeding the departing members.
This 2025 Grierson Trust Awards take place on 18 November and are currently open for submissions.
The Trust also identifies and nurtures factual TV talent through its Grierson DocLab training and mentoring schemes in partnership with broadcasters, streamers and more than 20 indies, including Blast Films, Dorothy St Pictures, Twenty Twenty and Minnow Films.
