CIISA Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 9
I felt it was important
to contribute to
raising standards
and strengthening a
culture of integrity
Nazir Afzal OBE
Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief
Crown Prosecutor for North
West England and formerly
Director in London. During
a 30 year career, Nazir has
prosecuted the most highprofile cases in the country
and advised on many others,
leading nationally on several
legal issues including
Violence against Women and
Girls, child sexual abuse, and
honour-based violence. He
is currently Chancellor of
the University of Manchester
– the largest one site
university in the U.K. – and
Chair of Salford’s Lowry
theatre.
What drew you to serve on
CIISA’s Board?
What kind of impact do you
think CIISA will have?
I believe the creative industries
thrive on collaboration,
imagination, and trust – and those
values can only be sustained when
people feel safe, respected, and
supported in their work. Having
seen both the incredible potential
of these industries and the
challenges around accountability
and behaviour, I felt it was
important to contribute to raising
standards and strengthening a
culture of integrity.
CIISA will make a real difference
to the everyday lives of people
working in the creative industries.
Too often, talented individuals
have felt they had to put up with
unacceptable behaviour or leave
the industry altogether because
there was nowhere safe to turn.
By offering an independent and
trusted place to turn to, CIISA gives
people the confidence that they
will be listened to and treated
fairly. That support can be lifechanging – it means people can
focus on their work, their creativity,
and their careers without fear.
In the long run, this will help
build healthier, more respectful
workplaces where everyone has
the chance to thrive.
How does your professional
experience inform your work
with CIISA?
My career has been about
amplifying the voices of the
unheard, of bridging the
accountability gap, of tackling
the trust deficit and upholding
decency and integrity in public life.
My time with CIISA is an extension
of that.
CIISA ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25
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