Richard Addy is a Co-Founder of AKAS an international consultancy founded in 2012, delivering impact, audience, corporate, narrative and communication strategies to a wide range of purpose-led organisations predominantly in the media, philanthropy, international institution and NGO sectors. In the media space AKAS has worked with The Guardian, BBC News, BBC World Service, BBC Media Action, Channel 4 News/ITN, EUObserver, Balkan Investigative Reporters Network, Hromadske, CPJ (Committee To Protect Journalists), ICFJ (International Center For Journalists), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Thomson Foundation, Luminate, Adessium, Deutsche Welle Akademie, Rudolf Augstein Foundation, Wellcome, Civitates, Internews, Participant Media and Warner Bros. Prior to setting up AKAS, Richard gained 20 years’ experience working as a Strategist and a Government Economist advising CEOs, Government ministers, and organisational leaders, including being the Chief Advisor to the BBC’s Deputy Director-General who was head of BBC News locally, nationally and internationally. After being a trustee of Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity, for 8 years, Richard was appointed by the Board as Co-Chair of Mind’s Race Equality Committee and as a board advisor. Since 2020, Richard also sits on the Creative Council of Africa No Filter, an organisation that aims to change global narratives about Africa. In 2021, Richard was also invited to join the board of Guardian.org.