Jackie Edwards

Jackie is a children’s media consultant and passionate advocate for high quality content for young people.

Until 2023 she was the Head of the BFI Young Audiences Content Fund, responsible for the implementation of this game-changing UK Government initiative to stimulate the provision of public service programming for audiences of 0-18.

This hugely successful three-year Pilot awarded over £40M of funding supporting 61 brand new productions and the development of a further 157 new projects, over 11% of which translated to broadcast commissions. The Fund was a powerful lever, bringing economic, industrial, societal and cultural value to a sector in market failure.

Jackie joined the BFI in 2019 from BBC Children’s where she was the Head of Acquisitions and Independent Animation, responsible for pre-buying and acquiring live-action and animated programming for CBeebies, CBBC and iPlayer. She joined the BBC in 2008 as Content Manager and Executive Producer for CBeebies.

Prior to the BBC Jackie was an award-winning producer in the Independent Sector, developing, financing and producing specials and series for young audiences.

Jackie is a member of BAFTA, the Children’s Media Foundation Executive Committee and Policy Group, the Children’s Media Conference Advisory Board, and the Manchester Animation Festival Board.

Jackie received the Voice of the Listener and Viewer’s Naomi Sargant Award for Excellence in Broadcasting in 2021.