Gareth Rowlands

Experience

• 

  Horseshoe Theatre Company

  Feb 1979 - Jul 1980

  Stage Casual

  Stage Casual. Theatre scenery Get ins/outs. Fit-ups and Strikes. Sound FX Operator

• 

  BBC

  Sept 1980 - Jun 2007

  I was a supervisory engineer in charge of 6 and 12 camera digital outside broadcast units. I had overall responsiblity for high-quality vision control ("racking") and performance of technical vehicles and fly-aways. I undertook the build and guarantee of combined virtual studio and associated flyaway/mobile production facilities. My stranded series credits included Housecall 2001/2; World Rally Championship (Channel 4) 2002/3; Antiques Roadshow 2004; Watchdog 2004/5.I undertook two acting management roles: (Oct 2002 - May 2003) I took on the Commercial Office Manager job whilst the post-holder undertook project work. This involved line management of 23 OB admin staff including commercial assistants, vehicle allocators, crew schedulers, and the freelance team. I had overall responsibility for a very busy customer-driven environment assigning 350 staff and as many freelancers to programme projects.I resolved scheduling conflicts along with many other issues affecting our service delivery.Commercial project manager (Dec 2005 - Apr 2007), I undertook the technical and SLA management of sports innovation projects and 'Piero' a 'tied to pitch' graphics system. Technical specification and build of BBC 'Blast' tour truck 2006. Day-to-day line management and development of trainees and diversity attachees. Key player in a new costing, scheduling and equipment allocation project. My role was to reconcile the needs of the business teams with what the project was able to deliver and author the new processes and procedures.. Show less After a short period of further training on the engineering reserve 1983-85 became accomplished in vision control, vision systems and electronic maintenance. Guaranteed 8-12 camera mobile control rooms, 15-20 camera flyaways and covert operations. Role included world-class performance in craft whilst at: Live Aid 1985, Barcelona & Sydney Olympics (Host Broadcaster) 1992 & 2000; Eurovision Song Contest 1998; MTV European Music Awards 1999-2001; Numerous FA Cup Finals, Open Golf Championships and Wimbledons. Show less

  • Vision Control & Maintenance Supervisor

    Jan 2001 - Jun 2007

  • Vision Control & Maintenance Engineer

    Jan 1983 - Jan 2001

  • Technical Assistant

    Sept 1980 - Jan 1983
• 

  SIS LIVE

  Jul 2007 - Nov 2011

  Outside Broadcast Unit Manager

  Although deployed on OB's and in base as 'Duty Engineering Manager', I was primarily a studio based technical manager serving live BBC programmes such as 'The One Show', "The Film Programme" as well as other recorded studio programmes and corporates. I had overall responsibility for the staff and studio/post facilities encompassed in a managed service. Handling the day-to-day commercial relationship with our production customer was a major component of the role, just as much as the operational responsibility of ensuring the programme transmission was free of adverse technical issues. Our customers frequently required additional technical facilities on a programme-by-programme basis. Repeatedly delivering uncompromising yet affordable responses at short notice was challenging yet personally satisfying. I designed the original digital SD vision system, then the HD vision system installed in the summer of 2010 and in use until White City was vacated in December 2013. I also owned the company crewing strategy and was responsible for identifying new technical talent along with the succession and development plan. Show less

• 

  Sky

  Dec 2011 - now

  This is very much a combination of what would be the Studio Technical Manager and Studio Vision Engineer roles elsewhere in the UK broadcast industry. The Technical Supervisor is the senior member of the operational technical teams deployed across Sky's television studios. Ensuring our galleries and other control rooms are fit for purpose and correctly configured for the programme in hand, the Technical Supervisor has immediate responsibility for identifying then successfully delivering the required technical facilities. We ensure the floor and gallery crews have the correct information and own the technical liaison with outside sources, recording areas, MCR and transmission areas. We are the "go-to" people for any member of the technical or production crew facing technical issues. We deliver a first-line engineering response in person, providing rapid resolution or mitigation of any technical problems that threaten the well-being of any live or recorded programme. For the past year (March 2020-21), I have mostly worked at Sky's Millbank Parliamentary studio supporting their craft and production teams during the main studio rebuild and introduction of the LED video wall. Show less

  • Technical Supervisor

    Sept 2015 - now

  • Technical Director

    Dec 2011 - Sept 2015
• 

  Buckinghamshire New University

  Oct 2017 - Jul 2021

  Associate Lecturer

  By kind permission of Sky: Specialist sessional teaching of Vision Control & Electronic Camera theory and practice as part of the Film & TV production course.

• 

  Ravensbourne University London

  May 2020 - May 2022

  Sessional Lecturer

  By kind permission from Sky: Occasional short-term engagements teaching 2nd year Broadcast Engineering students