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)

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.

Mark is Head of Music Careers for BIMM University, leading a top team of creative career managers in each BIMM and negotiating industry partnerships with some of the worlds biggest record companies, publishers, agents, promoters and trade organisations to ensure that every possible opportunity is available for BIMM students.

Mark’s role is fuelled by his absolute love for creative development and new music. He has over 18 years’ experience in the industry, ranging from running his own management company to being a national promoter at Metropolis Music. Most recently, Mark also became the head of the new management and PR 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.

Best festival:
Exit Festival.

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

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).

Jo is the Careers Manager at BIMM Institute Bristol. She provides ongoing career support to students throughout their studies – from CV & cover letter tutorials to personal and professional development.

Jo focuses on the effective use of reflective practices in order to increase student confidence, understanding of self and ultimately employability, so students are then able to secure work within the creative industries.

Best gig: Nao on her 2019 Saturn Tour!

First Gig: My parents took me to see Status Quo when I was about 10 years old.

Andrew Garfoot is the Careers Manager for BIMM Manchester, and also Lead Lecturer for the Working in the Creative Industries module. He has over ten years of experience in supported employment and education, and is currently part of the AGCAS Creative Industries Task Group, providing advice, resources and research to careers professionals across U.K Higher Education. His specialisms include creative career paths, postgraduate study, employment with a disability, professional online interactions, speculative applications and interview preparation.

Music is a huge part of Andrew’s life, and being able to provide careers guidance in this area gives him the opportunity to combine his professional and personal interests. He has been in bands and worked with singer/songwriters since he was a teenager and plays guitar, dobro and lap steel.

First Gig:

Alice Cooper on the Brutal Planet Tour, 2000

Favourite album:

I Am the Moon – Tedeschi Trucks Band

Fiona is Head of Careers for Creative Futures at Screen and Film School, initiating and developing a wide range of career enhancing initiatives for all students. She hosts a number of high-profile masterclasses bringing a range of diverse and inclusive industry guests to BIMM university. Fiona also secures exciting partnerships with a large number of film, TV and digital media companies providing multiple work experience and employment opportunities for students and graduates – giving them the tools and information that puts students in the best possible position for success in the industry.

Fiona’s experience starting out as a producer’s assistant in features, moving onto producing music videos for Creation Records and then to directing and shooting documentary films for the BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 gives her a full overview of the industry and enables her to identify employment trends and opportunities developing in the industry for the benefit of students.

Best Film:

Moonrise Kingdom – one of many Wes Anderson delights

Best Job:

Runner on Deacon Blue music video at the legendary Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom

Judith Suckling is Head of Careers and Industry at Screen and Film School Manchester. Having worked in various Production Management teams in the TV & Film Industry in Manchester for more than 10 years, she has a wealth of experience and knowledge to call upon.

She has previously worked in a variety of genres and for several different companies throughout her career. These include feature films (Hush, Goal III), drama (Shameless, Paradox, Little Crackers), documentary (Making Bradford British, Coach Trip) and also children’s television (Hacker Time, Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind Up, Marrying Mum and Dad).

Judith has just completed her Master’s in Creative Writing. She has also written a YA (young adult) novel and has numerous articles published in a variety of publications.