Will Saunders

Will Saunders MBE is a Professor of Creative Industries at Royal Holloway, University of London, where Will serves as Creative Head of the UK's first National Lab for Creative Industries R&D, CoSTAR. As Chief Creative Officer for WPS Ltd's StoryFutures & StoryFutures Academy, Will is at the forefront of pioneering immersive experiences within the UK's Creative Industries, supported by UKRI's substantial investment in the immersive economy. Will's extensive background includes consulting for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, where co-authorship of the Culture Is Digital report occurred, and a notable tenure at the BBC, where management roles encompassed Digital Development and Production, Executive Producer of BBC TV Comedy, and leadership in BBC Radio Comedy. Will's career is characterized by editorial leadership, strategic planning, and innovation in digital and immersive media, coupled with proven expertise in shaping and delivering public output services. Educationally, Will holds a degree in American Studies from The University of Manchester.