WIA welcomes WIA UK, announces first mixer with Locksmith Animation
Skwigly
Image: WIA
Today, WIA, the global advocacy organization championing equity for women and people of underrepresented gender identities in animation, VFX and gaming, welcomes WIA UK as an official WIA Community Collective — the first WIA global Community in the UK. The launch comes as WIA continues its global expansion, strengthening its network of international Collectives to support and connect underrepresented talent globally.
To mark the occasion, the group will host its first mixer as a WIA Collective on May 28, 2026, in partnership with BAFTA-nominated animation studio Locksmith Animation.
The WIA UK leads said in a statement:
After a successful year as a Connect group, we are excited for WIA UK to continue building and engaging with our newly formed community as a Collective. We believe that lasting change comes from fostering genuine connections, which is why we’re dedicated to building a network where we can uplift and support one another. The Locksmith mixer will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our first year together as WIAUK and share our launch as a Collective.
WIA UK is led by animation professionals Tanya J. Scott, Lauren Orme and Amy Ashton. Scott is an award-winning, London-based director and creator with more than 15 years of experience within the animation industry. Orme, an award-winning filmmaker and founding director of the Cardiff Animation Festival, runs Picl Animation, while Ashton is an animation producer and co-founder of BlackFrame, a newly launched initiative championing Black talent in animation.
L-R: Amy Ashton, Lauren Orme & Tanya J. Scott
We’re thrilled to officially welcome WIA UK as a WIA Collective. At a time when the industry is facing real challenges, building strong, connected communities matters more than ever. We’re grateful to Locksmith Animation for hosting and for their continued support as a Leadership Global partner.
-Hayley Porter (WIA Executive Director)
WIA UK’s first WIA Collective event will take place at Locksmith Animation’s London studio (113 Regents Park Road) on Thursday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. GMT. The in-person mixer is a WIA-member exclusive gathering that brings attendees together to build new relationships and grow their creative networks in a welcoming, collaborative space.
WIA Global offers members a variety of events to network, build skills, and expand their connections. Some upcoming offerings include:
- PR 101: How to Market Yourself on May 7 (online)
- Flying Bark Mixer on May 21 (Sydney, Australia)
- ANIMATED! Masterclass on May 23 (Los Angeles, California)
- Blender: From Default Cube to Full-fledged Creation on May 28 (online)
- Building AI Fluency in Animation, VFX and Gaming series in May (online)
- Monthly WIA virtual Networking event (online)
- Monthly Independent Studio Owners Connects (online)
For more information on WIA events, visit their Events Calendar.
WIA Global Communities connect members from local geographic areas, schools, and even
areas of industry expertise and interest to build a hyper-local network of support and learning in
order to:
- Create a more profound sense of belonging within the industry.
- Expand opportunities for career mobility.
- Promote meaningful relationships and trust between members.
There are currently more than 40 global WIA Communities, including Connects, Collectives, Chapters and Student Collectives.
For more information or to join WIA, please visit wearewia.org or follow them on Facebook, BlueSky, LinkedIn or Instagram.