Meet your careers team

Mel is Head of Careers & Employability for BIMM Group, negotiating industry partnerships with some of the UK’s biggest record companies, publishers, agents, promoters and trade organisations in the UK to ensure that every possible opportunity is available for BIMM students.  Mel also looks for the best business talent for employer partners and ensures that students are ready to join the music industry after engaging with a wide range of careers support, industry mentoring and work experience.

She brings to the role over 20 years’ experience, first working in press at major labels, and as Head of Press at a digital PR agency, before setting up her own PR company. Each of these roles involved training a large number of young interns, which is where a passion started for teaching, training and professional development.

Best gig or festival:
Flaming Lips, Live at Jodrell Bank.

Favourite album:
King for A Day by Faith No More.

Anthony manages our BIMM Connect Community and Alumni Services for BIMM Group. As well as the day-to-day operation of BIMM Connect, he works to engage our community of students, alumni and staff/faculty on the site, as well as providing the first point of contact and connection to services for alumni who are looking for further career advice and assistance.

With over 20 years’ experience in Music and Education – as a performer, writer, manager, artist, designer, promoter, event manager, booking agent, teacher, project manager, careers adviser and marketing campaign manager – Anthony is also a BIMM Alumni, one of the first group of Graduates from BIMM Brighton in 2005.

What was your first gig?
Korn, Limp Bizkit, Pitchshifter at Brixton Academy, 1997.

Ever been in a band?
Loads!

A highly experienced recruiter, Catriona joined BIMM as the head of  ‘Talent Match’ – a recruitment service which matches final year students and alumni to jobs across the music and creative industries.

Catriona has been recruiting into Music, Media and the Arts for over ten years. At Handle Recruitment, she specialises in sourcing talent for Artist Management, A&R, Live, Labels, Distribution and Publishing positions.

In a previous life, she could be found hosting and programming various North and Central London club nights and presenting the odd music documentary. Most recently, she has been working on an exhibition that is currently at The Grammy Museum in LA.

Catriona works closely with the Amy Winehouse Foundation on the ‘Amy’s Yard’ programme, whose aim is to support the personal development of disadvantaged young people through music.

Favourite album?
A Donny Hathaway Collection

Favourite film?
Alice in Wonderland (1951 version)

Leo heads up the Careers and Industry team at BIMM Institute London, bringing both budding and seasoned executives into BIMM to inspire the next generation of music professionals. His team help students become ‘work-ready’ by providing a programme of regular CV surgeries, application training and careers guidance. He also uses his team’s extensive network of industry contacts to offer students exclusive work experience opportunities across the industry to run alongside their studies.

Leo’s experience includes his role as Director of Marketing for Universal’s hard rock/metal imprint, Spinefarm Records, where he led campaigns for global artists including Anti-Flag, Korn, Ghost, Protest The Hero, Rammstein and Volbeat, among many others.

First job in the music industry?
Intern at Atlantic Records.

Charity recently supported:
Skydiving for Teenage Cancer Trust in 2019!

As Head of Careers, Industry Liaison & Events, Ann-Marie uses her vast industry connections to source the best work opportunities for BIMM students and graduates.

With a resumé that includes tour manager, music publishing, music supervision, as well as experience working at major labels, Ann-Marie has extensive and in-depth knowledge of the music business, which allows for strong connections to be made between BIMM and the music industry.

First job in the music industry?
Tour managing My Bloody Valentine, first for the West Coast of America (’89) and then a World tour in 1990/1991.

Favourite album:
Bone Machine by Tom Waits.

Kris supports BIMM Institute Birmingham students by drawing from his wealth of industry experience, having run his own indie label and worked as a music agent, promoter of DIY gigs and artist manager.

Kris has been a key part of many commercial and underground successes and has built a reputation for developing live bands and musicians across the world on the live circuit.

Favourite album:
Colour of Spring by Talk Talk.

First job in the music industry:
Live Music Agent.

Damian oversees BIMM Institute Manchester’s liaison with the wider music industry, providing links to the external music business and events professionals, sourcing career opportunities, internships and placements. He is also responsible for events strategy alongside the events coordinator, booking of Masterclasses and guests, and BIMM Institute Manchester’s program of Artist Development.

Outside of BIMM Institute, Damian (born and raised in Manchester) has worked in the music industry for over 20 years. He has worked as a self-employed live booking agent and manager, representing members of Happy Mondays, The Smiths, Oasis and The Specials. He currently co-owns Interior Presents and manages Heavenly Recordings signees, The Orielles.

What was your first gig?
The Specials at Manchester Apollo (1980).

Ultimate karaoke song?
‘Let’s Dance’ by David Bowie.

As head of all things artist development and music industry at BIMM Institute, Mark helps artists find their direction, work out strategies and hone their business craft. Mark’s door is always open to students and he is dedicated to ensuring they are equipped with all they need to make their way into this ever-changing industry.

Mark’s role is fuelled by his absolute love for new music. He has over 15 years’ experience in the industry, ranging from running his own management company to being a national promoter at Metropolis Music. Most recently, Mark became the head of the new management arm of Crosstown Concerts. He has been privileged enough to work with some of the world’s very best acts from Oasis to Emeli Sandé and Netsky.

Best festival:
Exit Festival.

First job in the music industry:
Working at The Fleece venue in Bristol.

Andy’s role helps BIMM live performance students to secure gigging opportunities. His work encompasses many live performance aspects of life at BIMM, including end of term gigs, showcases and performance recommendations.

Andy is also the drummer and co-songwriter for 90s hit band Sleeper, enjoying three UK Top 5 albums and nine UK Top 40 singles. The band recently reformed to perform a series of critically acclaimed large-scale shows around the UK.

Favourite album:
Transformer by Lou Reed.

Charity recently supported:
As the drummer in Sleeper, we played Islington Academy for CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Michelle’s Artist Development role encompasses a wide variety of projects and tasks, ultimately providing up and coming artists and musicians with real-life industry experience. This includes creating opportunities for new talent to develop their performance skills and enhance their online presence through to the organisation of video shoots, studio sessions, single/album recordings, acoustic sessions, gigs, networking and A&R events.

Michelle also works closely with major labels, management companies and booking agents to organise auditions and showcases specific to any new talent they are looking for.

Best festival:

The Great Escape and Glastonbury (I’m the world’s worst camper, but I make the exception for Glasto once in a while!).

Charity recently supported:

I put on a BIMM charity gig for Australian Red Cross in aid of the Bush Fires. I also ran the London Marathon for Blind Veteran’s UK.

Prior to joining BIMM Institute Berlin, Nora has worked in various areas of the music industry, including streaming & distribution services such as Juke in Berlin and INgrooves in London, promoting live music events and working with an artist booking agency. Additional previous experience includes working in Public Relations within the German film industry, including representing a variety of commercial and independent film distributors at the Berlinale Festival (Germany’s biggest film festival).

David is responsible for the development of an industry-aligned Education curriculum across all of BIMM Institute’s faculty areas of Music, Performing Arts and Screen & Film.

He is also responsible for the  development of a group-wide employability strategy, based on industry needs and insights

First gig:
Half Man Half Biscuit at Liverpool University.

Charity recently supported:
BIMM’s official charity partner is Teenage Cancer Trust and in 2019, myself and two colleagues raised £1840, cycling the London to Brighton bike ride.