CedarBough Saeji is an assistant professor at Pusan National University, where she researches contemporary culture in media and performance contexts. She co-edited Invented Traditions in North and South Korea and has contributed to over 15 articles on the topics of South Korean culture, K-pop, and Korean music and entertainment.

Many Ameri is the co-founder of Yadastar, an independent consultancy with more than 20 years of experience in building creative communities around the globe. His partner, Torsten Schmidt, and Many are best known for developing the Red Bull Music Academy. Since launching it in 1998, they have grown the Academy into a worldwide culture programme with workshops, festivals, creative hubs, and events in 60 countries. Many is a member of such prestigious organizations as BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders, NEXUS - Next Generation Philanthropy, and Leaders For Climate Action, and is committed to building an institution and global community for those who have the potential to shape the future of their fields.

Jay-Ann Lopez is the founder of Black Girl Gamers, an online safe space and platform that heightens the visibility of Black Women in Gaming and advocates for diversity and inclusion. Lopez is also a co-founder of Curlture, a platform boasting over 50,000 followers that empowers women to embrace their natural hair and culture via beauty, lifestyle, and travel content. In addition to winning awards as an influencer, Lopez co-authored KINK – a collection of poetry and photography to empower Black women against colourism and texture discrimination.

Anastasiia Fedorova is a senior insights editor at Canvas8. A writer, curator and cultural strategist, she specialises in art, fashion, design, technology and visual culture. Her personal work explores sexuality, identity and queer communities while interrogating our place in a world shaped by rapidly changing technologies. As an avid sci-fi fan since teenage years, she is always interested in thinking about multiple and diverse futures.

Rebecca Smith is the Head of Toolkit at Canvas8. With a background in psychology, she has worked with global clients such as Google, Nike, and Mars, exploring everything from what people want from a fake tan to Gen Z’s relationship with social media. Outside of work, you’ll find her binge-watching reality TV, listening to hyperpop, or with her nose buried in a fantasy novel.

Alex Strang is a senior insight editor at Canvas8 who used to be in a punk band that was signed, shaped, and spat out. He enjoys using his experience of being the product to help brands understand how to sell theirs. After studying philosophy and critical theory, he found his feet in the market research world and has been over-analysing consumer behaviour ever since, including his own. He can usually be found playing board games, watching Seinfeld, or trying too hard to make his daughter laugh.