Lutz Leichsenring is one of the world’s authorities on protecting creative industries. Since 2009, he has been the spokesman & executive board member for the Berlin Club Commission. He has fought tirelessly for the rights of Berlin’s vast underground club scene by organizing demonstrations, conferences, workshops & by speaking at round tables & parliamentary committees. Mr. Leichsenring focuses on the informal aspects of city life & helps grow grassroots culture as much as possible. Working to strengthen communities from the music scene, to co-working & art spaces, he is on the lookout for collaborative, sustainable & vibrant initiatives. Supporting young club- & festival managers, he identifies local tools to help protect the music & art scene while continuously looking for ways to make all participants benefit. His role with the Club commission & the Berlin Music board has even led Lutz into the city’s Chamber of Commerce, where he frequently votes on development issues that protect creative space affected by gentrification.

Diageo’s global Scotch whisky master has been in the industry for 20 years, promoting Scotch on almost every continent. He tells Matt Evans about the secret of how to deal with jet lag, grain whisky’s bright future and star-studded dinners with Posh and Becks. He has worked in the Scotch industry for 20 years. His first job after university was at Cadenhead, who used to have him go and work in the Springbank distillery, because of which he was able to build an appreciation for every element of whisky production. He moved on to Angus Dundee distillers, and in 2004 moved to Bacardi, working as the US brand ambassador for Dewar’s in New York. In early 2011 he joined Diageo and now holds the position of global whisky master.