Marcus Ryder

Journalist and Academic, Birmingham City University (UK)

Marcus Ryder is an award-winning journalist and academic. In 2020, Sir Lenny Henry founded the Centre for Media Diversity at Birmingham City University to increase diversity across the industry including journalism, acting, film, television and radio in front-of-house and behind-the-scenes roles. He has spent over 25 years working in media around the world including the UK, China and Malaysia; and eight years as a senior fellow at the BBC, winning a number of industry awards – from the Baftas to the Royal Television Society Awards and the Foreign Press Association Awards. He is also President of rada (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), britain's leading acting school. Last but not least, he is also an avid amateur runner, having completed 20 marathons on all continents except Antarctica.