Former Pact chief John McVay joins AI training and skills platform as vice-chair

John McVay OBE, the former long-serving CEO of UK trade body Pact, has joined AIMICI, the UK-based AI training and skills platform advocating for the responsible use of the tech in the screen industry, as vice-chair.

John McVay

The plan is for McVay to eventually take over the board chair position from the incumbent Sir John Lucas-Tooth, when the entrepreneur, portfolio manager and investment advisor steps back from AIMICI.

AIMICI aims to help creative businesses navigate AI and set clear standards for what responsible AI looks like through standardisation and transparency over the use of the controversial tech.

Independent production and distribution champion McVay stepped down from Pact after nearly 25 years earlier this year, having led a number of successful political lobbying campaigns during his time atop the UK screen sector trade body for indies working in film, TV, animation, children’s and digital production.

McVay sits on the Creative Industries Council and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to the creative industries.

This summer, AIMICI launched its Responsible AI training standard, the first AI courses to be accredited by UK screen industry body ScreenSkills. The courses certify competency in line with UK national AI skills and industry standards.

AIMICI received funding through Innovate UK’s Bridge AI programme, part of UK Research and Innovation, in collaboration with Bournemouth University. The course content was developed in consultation with leading researchers and 50 industry professionals.

McVay said: “Before you can manage risk, you need to understand it. Confusion in the market means that responsible rapid adoption of the technology is stalling, and misinformation can cause paralysis.

“AIMICI is addressing this by focusing on standardising AI training and transparency. Having created the first AI competency certification standard for the industry and upskilling the community with the right technology and insights, we can level the playing field and get on with what we do best – telling stories the world wants to hear. The instinct toward transparency is the right one. The execution gap is what the next 12 months need to close.”