The Audio Academy will host a social networking event in Birmingham on July 1, 2026, featuring a conversation between BBC Asian Network presenter Nikita Kanda and Lauren Redfern, according to event details published on the organization’s website.
The event, held in collaboration with Punch Records, aims to bring together audio professionals working across radio, podcasting, and music production in the Midlands region. The gathering will include a moderated discussion followed by informal mingling time for attendees to connect with peers in the industry.
Kanda, who relocated to Birmingham in April when BBC Asian Network moved its operations to The Mailbox in the city center, will discuss her transition from London and share insights about adapting to life in the Midlands. According to the event description, Kanda will address initial reservations about leaving London, concerns about missing television and entertainment opportunities in the capital, and the new professional doors that have opened since her move to Birmingham.
The conversation will explore themes relevant to audio professionals considering relocation or career transitions, including workplace culture changes and regional industry networks. Kanda’s experience navigating a major broadcaster’s regional shift positions her as an informed speaker on the evolving landscape of audio production outside London.
The event welcomes audio professionals across all sectors and roles, including those working in independent production, BBC operations, commercial radio, hospital radio, student radio, community broadcasting, and online audio platforms. Participants work in various capacities including engineering, presenting, production, and related technical and creative roles.
The Birmingham Social takes place Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Old Library in Zellig, located at Gibb Street in Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AT. Admission is free for Audio Academy members, while non-members may register for £4. The event is part of the Audio Academy’s Summer Socials series.
The Audio Academy, a registered charity established to support radio and audio professionals in the United Kingdom, organizes the event as part of its mission to foster community and professional development within the sector. Membership fees, donations, and ticket revenues support the organization’s work with entry-level and early-career talent in audio production and broadcasting.
