Born in UK & resident in New Zealand, Jake splits his time between NZ, Australia and Europe.
His obsessions are understanding the future, new stuff and meaningful communication. Two websites reflect Jake's current interests:
1. Generation C (digital natives) & innovation at www.jakepearce.com
2. Referral Marketing www.thevillagesq.com
Jake worked at Added Value (the first dedicated brand strategy company), moved to Amsterdam to help set up 'consult, specialist marketing arm of Y&R, then to NZ which, with its cultural vibrancy and can do attitude, he sees as a global incubator for innovation.
Auckland, New Zealand
Gabriela Pedranti is a communicator and cultural analyst. She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a MA in Contemporary Film and Audiovisual Studies (UPF, Barcelona, Spain). Along with semiotician Ximena Tobi, they own Semiotica Studio. Gabriela was the general coordinator of Semiofest 2013 Barcelona, and currently coordinates the BA Fashion Marketing and Communication at IED Barcelona, validated by the University of Westminster (UK). Since 2016, she's also been a lecturer at UPF.
Barcelona, Spain
Charles Leech is a partner at ABM Research (www.abm-research.com). Since his PhD in Applied Semiotics from QUT, he’s been an active commercial semiotician for over 13 years, working on projects for clients from AB-InBev to Nestlé to Unilever. Charles has helped ABM deliver profound, penetrating analyses on everything from tampons in Sao Paolo to light beer in Xiamen. He’s also worked tirelessly on commercial semiotics evangelism to clients, marketing and research organizations, and pretty much anyone else who’ll listen.
Toronto, Canada