When I was asked to accept the invitation to be an Honorary Fellow, I thought they must’ve made a mistake. I looked on the UCM website, and noticed all the previous fellows were doctors or professors. So thank you UCM for honouring a creative, goofy and just plain passionate woman who cares about doing great work and hustles to make it happen. My two years at college were the making of me so I'm genuinely, genuinely grateful to be recognised in this way.
Academic Background
- Central Saint Martins University Of The Arts, BA Hons Graphic Communication
- Isle of Man College, National Diploma in Multimedia
Professional background
- Meanwhile - Creative Director
- BBC Creative - Senior Creative
- Ogilvy - Mid-Weight Creative
- BMB - Junior Creative
- Universal Pictures - Trainee AD: Dracula Untold
- BBC / Plum Pictures - Trainee AD: James May Toy Stories
- Pinewood Pictures / Isle of Man Film - Trainee AD: Our Robot Overlords
- Pinewood Pictures / Isle of Man Film - Trainee AD: Belle
- VCCP - Creative placement
- CinemaNX / HanWay Films - Trainee AD: The Decoy Bride
Awards
- Campaign start-up agency 2024
- BAFTA Television Craft - Titles & Graphic Identity 2022
- D&AD - Wood Pencil
- Cannes Lions - Silver, Bronze & Shortlist
- British Arrows – x2 Gold, x3 Silver, x2 Bronze
- Creative Circle - x9 Gold, x3 Silver
- Creative Review Annual x3
- Campaign BIG x2
- Vimeo Staff Pick
- Campaign in-house agency of the year x2
- Kinsale Sharks, Gold & Silver
- Outdoor Media Awards 2022 – Grand Prix, Gold, Silver
- Promax - x6 Gold, x3 Silver, x3 Bronze
- New York Festival - Silver
- Roses - Grand Prix, x7 Gold, x4 Silver, x2 Bronze
- AICP - Gold
- Campaign Top 15 Film Ads 2022
- Campaign Top 15 Film Ads 2021
- Broadcast Sport Awards 202 - Sports Commercial of the Year
- #1 in most-recalled ads, in association with TNS and Ebiquity
Charity / philanthropic work
Rachel uses the power of creativity to address social issues and to make things better for others.
- In 2023, Manchester hosted Chanel's annual Métiers d'Art fashion show, but for the 7,400 homeless people in the city, clothes aren't a luxury, they're a necessity. So, Rachel reached out to Manchester’s oldest homeless charity, Lifeshare, to create a fashion collection that wouldn't cost thousands, but would help thousands. The campaign launched the same day as the Chanel fashion show with Lifeshare ambassador Maxine Peake appearing on the BBC Breakfast sofa. The collection saw 60% increase in clothing donations, 90% increase in cash donations, 1,800 items handed out and counting. It became the most important fashion event happening in Manchester that day.
- In her spare time, Rachel helped launch BBC Creative U, an ad school to help improve diversity of talent entering the advertising industry. She oversaw the branding and structure of the 10-week course. Since the launch of the programme in 2021 the advertising industry has become less imbalanced.
Involvement with UCM
- For over a decade, Rachel has volunteered her time at UCM to support our Art & Media students. She’s given talks about her adverts and how they were made. She’s also brought in scripts, casting videos, costume designs and even a call sheet to help inspire students and show how many roles are out there.
- Rachel is keen to continue sharing her experience in the creative industry, and demonstrating why creativity matters. She wants more students to be made aware of the diverse and exciting opportunities within the industry, so that the Isle of Man can keep producing incredible young talent. She believes that “if you have passion and drive, thoughts really can become things”.