August has been a month of expansion as Collective Wisdom welcomes 5 new joiners to the team, bringing with them an array of expert skills and experience from the world of PR, Marketing, and Social Media. In addition, we’ve been working on some exciting projects, embracing culture in all forms and preparing for an autumn extravaganza.
New Joiners:
Peggy Bain is a PR and marketing professional from London. She has worked with an array of consumer and corporate clients including a PR campaign at Wembley Park for Taylor Swift’s concerts, the launch of The London Tunnels tourist attraction in Holborn and the Lunar New Year Festival at Royal Docks. She also was the Campaigns Lead at the non-profit organisation, Communities 1st, who managed a small team delivering marketing activities across email marketing, social media, PR and updates to the website and the blog. Peggy is currently seconded to Welcome to Wandsworth, London Borough of Culture.
Julie Holman brings 12 years of experience as a senior communications professional across a multitude of sectors including: Arts, heritage, entertainment, cultural placemaking, theatre, literature, festivals, awards, film & TV, property, consumer brands and not for profit. She is highly experienced at creating, managing and delivering high profile, complex and striking multi-partner strategies, leading a team to create campaigns that are creative and get results. Recent clients include the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sotheby’s International Realty, Norwich Theatre and Cheltenham Science Festival.
Hamza Jahanzeb is a marketing and communications specialist alongside being a theatre critic. With over 14 years of experience, Hamza runs multi-channel marketing campaigns and an Authenticity Reading Editorial consultancy offering access to an impressive rolodex of over 2,000 global professionals who can ensure books’ due diligence is as accurate as can be. In 2020, he was spotlighted as a Bookseller’s Rising Star. In a Trustee capacity, Hamza sits on the Boards of The Postal Museum in London and Blaze Arts in his home county of Lancashire. He is also the co-author of The Rise and Rise of Chappell Roan, which is published by Cassell on 4 September.
Nadia Mladenova is a communications consultant working at the intersection of art, architecture and big ideas. Her experience leading communications for world-renowned architects has shaped her belief in creativity as a force for social good, from launching landmark buildings to driving thought leadership and cultural programming. Since becoming a freelance consultant in 2022, her work has included projects for the Venice Architecture Biennale, the launch of the Bidi Bidi Refugee Music & Arts Centre in Uganda, and the inauguration of a year of cultural celebrations for Croydon London Borough of Culture. Nadia trained in journalism and mass communications.
Hannah Twigg is a social media, content producer, digital marketer and a podcast producer specialising in book and literary-based projects. She scripted, produced, and edited the Jacqueline Wilson Raised Us podcast in partnership with Penguin Books and Cosmopolitan UK. She also founded both Sophia Tuxford’s Fully Booked Book Club, and Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Book Club, the latter of which she continues to manage. Her work as a social and content strategist includes collaborations with authors and talent such as Dr Federica Amati, Francis Bourgeois, Jemma Solomon, and Jane’s Patisserie. In addition, she has managed social media accounts for global-brands such as Rimmel London and as a creative lead she has managed the launch of high-profile Substack newsletters for the likes of Reggie Yates and Cat Sims.
Last month saw Croydon’s streets filled with live music, outdoor arts and workshops for Croydon Gladi Gladi to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Black British composer and conductor, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. A Victorian style bandstand hosted musical performances over the celebratory from many cultures and genres, featuring Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Cable Street Rag Band, Rhythm Generation. Coleridge-Taylor, who spent most of his life in Croydon, was at the time considered the most famous man of African heritage in England and recognised as a musical genius. Over time his work began to be forgotten, but in recent years he has had a revival, especially within the borough, celebrating the rich cultural heritage.
The team worked with Culture Croydon to announce the fun-filled weekend, securing listings in the Londonist and Croydonist, a news story highlighting the year’s celebrations in The Voice and Gramophone and an interview with musician Collins Pratt on BBC Radio London on Jacqueline Shepherd’s Show.
Stratford Literary Festival announced the 2025 Autumn line-up earlier this month, featuring big names such as John Cleese, Graham Norton, Lyse Doucet and Sir Phillip Pullman. Running from 30th October – 2nd November, the programme features over 70 events, featuring broadcasters, politicians, actors, bestselling authors, celebrities, comedians and leading experts.
Collective Wisdom are working with Stratford Literary Festival on both PR and social media. Since the announcement there has been a 307% increase in viewings on Instagram and 180.7% on Facebook and reaching new audiences with 60.8% of Instagram views from people who aren’t currently following the account.
