Three senior figures from radio and podcasting have been made Fellows of the Audio Academy at its 2026 Festival.
Dr Tony Phillips, Dino Sofos and Perminder Khatkar received the Fellowships during the event at the Royal College of Physicians in London.
The Fellowship is the highest honour awarded by the Audio Academy and recognises contribution to audio alongside a commitment to sharing knowledge and experience with others in the sector.
Tony is a former Commissioning Editor for BBC World Service and Arts Commissioner for BBC Radio 4. He founded production company Sea, Salt and Mango and was previously VP of content for WNYC in the US.
Presenting his Fellowship, former BBC Radio 4 Controller and World Service Director Gwyneth Williams OBE said: “Talented, hardworking and unfailingly kind, this inspiring award winner simply seems to know everyone who ever did anything anywhere.”
Dino is the founder of production company Persephonica and the Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield. His BBC work included Brexitcast, Americast and Newscast.
BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg presented the Fellowship and said Dino had wanted politics coverage “to sound more like people actually talking, rather than a performance”.
Perminder is co founder of True Thought Productions and a former trustee of the Audio Academy. She has also previously served as Co Chair of the Festival.
BBC presenter Bobby Friction said her contribution extended beyond the programmes she has made, adding that she had “helped hundreds of aspiring broadcasters gain access to our industry.”
The Festival returned to the Royal College of Physicians with Audiences as its theme, featuring sessions across four stages and speakers including Mishal Husain, Elizabeth Day, Greg James, Simon Myciunka, Steve Jones and Rhodri Talfan Davies.
