Dan Lawson Email and Phone Number

I took up the role of Chief Operating Officer at Escape Studios, the premier institution for animation, games, and VFX education in the UK, in November 2023. Escape Studios is on an exciting journey under new ownership, and my role has included overseeing the transition to standalone infrastructure, developing and implementing plans for growth, and working with the board on strategic planning.Before joining Escape, I served as COO at the London Film School, where I successfully managed Finance, HR, IT, and Facilities. Collaborating with the CEO, management team, and Board of Governors, I played a crucial role in securing the school's position among the Top 15 International Film Schools by Hollywood Reporter and obtaining World-Leading Specialist Provider status from the Office for Students.During my tenure, I prioritised sustaining growth while preserving the school's unique pedagogy, advancing estate and facility improvements, and implementing new strategic planning. I also ensured LFS successfully navigated unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.Prior to my role at the London Film School, I led a multimillion-pound film and TV investment fund, earning accolades such as BAFTAs and Golden Globes for projects like Line of Duty, Dancing on the Edge, and Nativity! 2. I also fostered new British filmmaking talent by commissioning over 50 short films with the UK Film Council/BFI, contributing to the development of emerging writing, directing, and producing talent.I am a member of BAFTA and the Royal Television Society, and a Fellow of the RSA. I am a trustee at Flatpack Projects, makers of the Flatpack Festival amongst many other wonderful things, and the Pace Centre, a school and charity working with babies, children and young people with neurodisabilities, motor disorders and cerebral palsy.