Who We Are

Emily Smith Associates

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Founded in 2018, Emily Smith Associates specialise in developing digital, cultural and creative partnerships to achieve market growth and audience engagement. We love connecting people to ideas, cultural objects, stories and experiences in innovative ways and believe in the power of great experiences to grow audiences.

We have a strong international network across museum, creative and digital sectors and experience of bringing together creative and commercial disciplines to deliver projects.

Meet the Team

Emily Smith, Director

Emily is a culture and heritage professional whose 25-year career spans museum, cultural and creative sectors in leading organisations including the Natural History Museum, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Atlantic Productions, Royal Court Theatre and the National Gallery.

For leading production company Atlantic Productions, Emily led the winning tender to deliver a 24’ digital diorama featuring SUE, the Field Museum, Chicago’s celebrity T. rex and worked with London’s Science Museum to implement Space Descent VR with Tim Peake, a virtual reality descent from space enjoyed by visitors across the world in VR lounges.

She led the programming of temporary exhibitions, events, digital strategy and marketing for London’s Natural History Museum where highlights included the virtual reality experiences David Attenborough’s First Life VR and David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef Dive VR with Atlantic Productions, redevelopment of the museum’s website and CRM system and ground-breaking partnership with Sky and Atlantic Productions: David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D.

She sits on the advisory board of Experience UK, the trade body for UK companies working in the Museum, Gallery and Attractions sector.

Our Network

We collaborate with consultants and organisations to bring critical thinking and specialist expertise to Emily Smith Associates projects:

Jennifer Anafi-Acquah

Jennifer Anafi- Acquah is an experienced and thorough Researcher and Story Producer and has provided specialist research consultancy on Emily Smith Associates projects.

Her credits include Welcome to Earth, an original series with Will Smith on an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world for National Geographic/Disney +, Gino & Fred’s Roadtrip for ITV and Travel Man for Channel 4.

Jane Ellison 

Jane is a consultant and experienced creative leader specialising in public engagement, digital communication and stakeholder engagement. She was a programme maker, journalist and Radio 4 commissioning editor. As BBC Head of Partnerships, she led the WW1 Centenary programme.

Jane has worked with teams at cultural institutions like The National Archives, Imperial War Museums and The British Academy. She advises on content strategies, delivering ambitious projects, shaping communication plans and building effective partnerships.

Helen Green

Helen Green brings Marketing and Communications insight from a long career in museum, creative and third sector organisations. 

Her experience encompasses high-level event management for Atlantic Productions where events include a VIP film premiere  and media launch of Judy Dench: My Passion for Trees with RBG Kew.  She brings deep experience of working with excluded and vulnerable communities through her work with the Alzheimer’s Society and Safer London and is passionate about the power of sharing lived experience to build a better society.

Dr Janet Owen

Janet Owen runs the Earth Museum, a global learning platform where anyone explore, create and share stories embedded in the World’s cultural and natural heritage.

With experience across the culture and museum industry, including direction of cultural and museum services for Hampshire County Council/ Hampshire Cultural Trust; Janet specialises in cultural sector strategic planning, industry insights, public sector transformation, and cultural heritage research.

https://theearthmuseum.co.uk/

Ivan Teague

Ivan Teage runs a technology consultancy company specialising in making digital, data and technology work better within the third sector.

With experience across a number of charities and cultural institutions, including 6 years overseeing digital tech teams at the Natural History Museum, Ivan has led teams, initiatives, and digital transformation projects in many forms, and likes to focus on a ‘people-first’ approach to technology problems.

www.harmonicaction.com