Ian Douthwaite

Ian is CEO of Dubit, a global youth research and digital agency

He has 20 years of experience in the world of kids' entertainment and education, having established Dubit to better understand the behaviours of young people and keep their voices at the heart of any production or development. To that end, he set up the company with young people as shareholders, who are in the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest directors ever.  Now, his team includes 70 research and digital professionals who research and create strategies and products for brands such as Facebook, Discovery, Masha and the Bear, Mattel and LEGO, through offices in Leeds, London, Washington DC and Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to strategic advice in creative youth engagement, much of Ian’s time is spent on child protection and ethical marketing issues, including COPPA, GDPR, age verification and advertising standards.

Ian is passionate about new technologies and the emerging possibilities for children’s media, and how we can adapt business models to accommodate an increasingly digital world.