Apply to Attend
Speaker
Suzanne Kianpour
Founder, Helmet to Heels
Suzanne Kianpour is an Emmy nominated journalist and former BBC foreign affairs and political correspondent whose work spans war zones and diplomatic corridors. Her documentary on the Iran Israel covert war, titled Out of the Shadows and warning that the conflict was moving into the open, earned her a Presenter of the Year nomination by the Association of International Broadcasters, alongside recognition for her series Women Building Peace. She is also the founder of Helmet to Heels, a platform that blends global affairs with culture to reach news avoidant audiences.
At BRIDGE Summit, Suzanne will discuss innovative ways to tell serious stories to new audiences, how to cover conflict responsibly, and why reframing global affairs through culture and human experience matters.
USA
Media
Creator Economy
Suzanne Kianpourat BRIDGE
- Media Panel 8 December 2:30 - 3:00PM
Are Investment Cycles Too Reactive?
As the media and information ecosystem evolves, funding patterns still swing sharply in response to elections, crises, and short-term shocks. Media often see capital surges around major events, followed by contractions once attention moves on. These cycles mirror the broader volatility of venture investment, where long-horizon innovation can be constrained by short-term sentiment. This session explores how public, private, philanthropic, and venture capital stakeholders can stabilize investment flows, build resilient institutions, and support long-term innovation across the media landscape instead of reacting only when disruption is already at the door.
Central StageSpeakers
- Technology Fireside 10 December 3:20 - 3:35PM
Building with Heartware, Not Just Hardware and Software
As technology races ahead, reshaping economies, borders, and attention itself, what’s often missing is the “heartware”: the human capacity for purpose, dignity, and trust. This session calls for a recalibration. It explores how media, AI, and new financial models intersect and can be used to build more humane architectures for the future. From media ecosystems shaping perception in war zones to digital identity frameworks that can re-establish economic agency, we ask: Are our current models of progress neglecting the soul of society? What does it take to realign our innovation engines with collective wellbeing?
Forum Stage - Picture Panel 9 December 9:30 - 9:50AM
Foresights from a Lifetime in Cinema
Legendary filmmakers share stories of grit, reinvention, and creative survival. From the lowest to highest ranks in television, this session explores the firsthand accounts of storytelling, technology, and ambitions collision with culture; this session identifies the lessons learned across decades of hits, misses, and moments that defined the modern screen, from the first line of a script to the final cut. It’s a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and the art of staying relevant in an industry built on change.
Forum StageSpeakers
What They Say About BRIDGE
“A landmark gathering that will unite media professionals, policymakers, cultural creators, and global influencers.”
“A gateway for knowledge exchange.”
“A game‑changer for the global media industry”
“We are proud to take part in the inaugural edition of BRIDGE Summit”
“We're excited to partner with BRIDGE to create meaningful opportunities for creators and innovators”
