+44 1753 439 289 alex@greatbritishtalent.com
For more details on how Dr. Leon Hawthorne can add value to your event, contact us at Great British Moderators.
Dr. Leon Hawthorne is a Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Media Production at Cardiff University, specialising in GenAI, digital avatars, Large Language Models (LLMs), and “vibe coding”. His work builds on his 2024 doctoral research into the use of generative AI to create anthropomorphic avatars—“virtual humans”—designed to act as intermediaries in human-computer interaction.
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Dr Leon Hawthorne began his career as a World News Anchor for CNN International and CNBC Europe, where he developed a distinctive on-air presence for delivering complex, fast-moving global stories. He went on to found and lead two UK satellite TV channels, The Baby Channel and Simply TV, and later created a portfolio of single-genre web channels, including Health Zone, Book Zone, and Beauty Zone—each designed to curate and guide audience engagement within focused content environments.
Following the sale of his businesses, he advised CEOs at Hearst Magazines, The Independent, the London Evening Standard, and Boots.com, helping them shape digital strategies that balance editorial voice, audience interaction, and commercial outcomes.
He now advises clients on generative artificial intelligence, particularly in how audio-visual content—and increasingly AI-driven avatars—can be used to moderate communication between organisations and their audiences. His expertise lies in designing content strategies that foster trust, clarity, and sustained engagement.
His PhD research was multidisciplinary, spanning Human-Computer Interaction, Business, Journalism, and Social Psychology. His 2024 thesis, “Talking Heads: The Use of Virtual Human Presenters for the Delivery of News Content,” explored how photo-realistic, computer-generated presenters can act as credible, engaging moderators between data sources and users. He highlights that the news was a critical test case due to its demands for authority, trust, and audience connection.
In discussing his work, he frames AI avatars not simply as presenters but as moderators of information—capable of shaping tone, guiding understanding, and facilitating interaction. The implications extend across industries, from customer service and healthcare to education, where AI-driven intermediaries can help structure more human, responsive, and trustworthy exchanges between systems and users.
What The Clients Say:
“Dr. Leon Hawthorne is at the forefront of AI in media. His illuminating research on digital avatars proves that context is everything, identifying where AI succeeds or fails. He combines academic rigour with broadcast-ready delivery”.
– Graham Page – Global Managing Director,Media Analytics at iMotions
“Leon was a first-class World News Anchor for CNBC Europe, a polished professional, providing journalistic rigour, fairness and energy to his broadcasts. His pivot to business and academia makes him a rare commodity as someone who knows his stuff and how to communicate it”. –
– Patricia Falco Beccalli, Founding Partner at Falco Global Partner
“Copenhagen University students gave an enthusiastic response to Leon’s insights on the digital media landscape. From transmedia storytelling to the future of branded content, Leon’s guest lectures provided a sophisticated, forward-looking perspective that challenged and inspired our attendees”.
–Kasper Bering Liisberg. Associate Professor of Communication. Copenhagen University
