Report:TheDirectorsUKAGM2020

This week saw Directors UK conduct its first ever hybrid AGM, carried out online via video conference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The format may have changed, but we were still able to meet to discuss issues pertinent to our membership, hear messages from the Chair and CEO, reveal the results of online voting on various motions, and go over the contents of our annual report. 

Read our 2019-20 annual report, presented alongside photos, video, audio and links to lots of other great content.

If you weren’t able to attend the evening, you can read a full report below. Alternatively, click here to listen to an audio recording of the event.

The evening began with an introductory message from Steve Smith, who was conducting his last AGM as Chair of Directors UK, as he will be stepping down in 2021 having served his maximum term. Steve started by welcoming our new Board members, Jan Genesis, Christine Lalla, Lisi Russell and Deborah Stones, who were announced earlier this year. His speech then went on to acknowledge that while our annual report, and therefore this AGM, covers the period ending in February 2020, there have obviously been huge unexpected difficulties that have developed in the months since; in particular, the coronavirus pandemic.

Steve highlighted the gaps in government support for freelancers, and acknowledged the outsize impact the pandemic has had on our industry. “The fact that the Government has not provided the support we know our members so desperately need has been utterly frustrating, but we haven’t – and we won’t – give up… As our industry slowly gets back to work, Directors UK will continue to support members through the new reality of working safely whilst navigating the various COVID protocols.”

Steve was also able to report another year of growth for Directors UK across the March 2019 – February 2020 period, indicated by some of our largest ever distributions and our membership size increasing to over 7,500. Members were also updated on the restructuring of the Board, and the introduction of our new committee structure – including a recently established Directors of Colour committee. If you are interested in becoming involved with any of the Directors UK committees, you can find out more here. 

After an overview of our campaigning, events and career development work, Steve addressed the uncertainty caused by Brexit and the ever-changing media landscape: “In order to face these changing times together, Directors UK has been working closely with other organisations that represent creatives across the globe. But it shouldn’t stop there: we need to work together within the directing community too.”

Finally, Steve paid tribute to Andrew Chowns, who departed as CEO earlier this year, before welcoming new CEO Andy Harrower to the role.

Read a full transcript of Directors UK Chair Steve Smith’s speech here.

The next stage of the evening saw Distribution Committee Chair Dan Zeff guide us through another strong year in distributions, and Financial Director Guy Gibbons followed up by talking us through the audited accounts and Annual Transparency Report.

As this was a hybrid AGM, there was no in-person voting held at the event itself. Instead, voting was conducted online in advance, and we’d like to thank all the members who took the time to cast their ballots this year. The final results — revealed at the AGM — showed that motions to accept the audited accounts for the financial year, to appoint Berg Kapow Lewis LLP as auditors, to approve the Annual Transparency Report, and to adopt the new Articles of Association of the Company, were all overwhelmingly supported.

It was then time to remember the Directors UK members who had sadly passed away over the last year, and Directors UK CEO Andy Harrower introduced a memorial presentation, which allowed us all a moment of contemplation. Andy thanked the members who contributed to writing obituaries and tributes to their fellow members.

Andy Harrower then addressed his first AGM as Directors UK CEO. The address began by paying tribute to Andrew Chowns, and the strong position he left Directors UK in, before moving on to the subject of coronavirus and its impact on the industry and – in particular – on our membership. Andy explained that Directors UK prioritised the timely processing of distributions to provide much-needed financial support for members, and provided an update on our lobbying efforts alongside fellow organisations in the industry. 

We have also been putting the director at the centre of any return to work, and Andy’s speech referenced the recent COVID-19 update to our intimacy guidelines and the director-specific resources that we will be producing in the coming weeks. Alongside this, the profile of the freelance workforce was also discussed, with Andy stressing the importance of improving working conditions by collaborating with groups across the industry. “One thing the pandemic has done is to raise the profile of the freelance workforce and thrown a spotlight, not only on the precarious nature of being a freelancer in this industry, but also the critical role freelancers play in its success.”

Looking ahead to the future, Andy also provided his honest assessment that royalties will be affected by the delay in production, and this could have an impact Directors UK’s income and the services we can offer – but reassured members that our strong position means that we are well-equipped to face any potential challenges. He added that preparations and plans are already underway to make sure that Directors UK can continue to work for our members during these uncertain times. As the media landscape continues to change, Andy highlighted his focus on continuing the work of protecting creators’ rights, ensuring creators are paid what they deserve, and securing new licensing agreements with other platforms.  

Andy then addressed the systemic racism that exists in the film and TV industry, and how Directors UK can play its part in dismantling it. “Directors UK has been working through the issues raised by our directors of colour and is developing a strategy for change that runs through everything we do as an organisation – from our own governance, HR & recruitment, through to our partnerships, communications and activities. We have set up a Directors of Colour Committee and we will be working with this Committee, the Board and the senior management team to progress this work and ensure that this approach is embodied in our company culture and our actions.”

Finally, Andy reiterated that Directors UK exists to support and serve its members, and thanked everyone for the warm welcome as CEO: “Directors UK is here to support directors so that you can continue to make the brilliant and world changing work that you do. The work that has kept people entertained and informed during this unusual time.”

Directors UK members were then given the opportunity to feed back or ask any questions they may have. We discussed Directors UK’s response to our exit from the EU, and Andy Harrower and Steve Smith both stressed the importance of international co-operation with organisations like FERA and the SAA in helping with the transition. In the long term, Directors UK are working with other UK-based CMOs to influence an agenda that protects copyright and royalties for creatives post-Brexit. We also discussed how Directors UK is working with organisations like BECTU, Equity and Pact in handling developments in the freelance market, with Andy highlighting our participation in regular cross-industry meetings and the new Coalition for Change. 

Following the Q&A session, Directors UK Chair Steve Smith drew the AGM to a close.

We’d like to thank all the members who attended and voted on this year’s motions, and to everyone who presented on the night. If you have any questions about the AGM or any of the subjects discussed, please email us at [email protected].