London-based creator talent agency FARQ hosted the first event in a new industry series called “Collective Influence,” bringing together more than 70 creators, brands and agencies to discuss diversity and representation gaps in the Creator Economy.

The sold-out, free-to-attend event took place October 15 at The Drum Labs in Shoreditch. It centered on three panel discussions: “The Opportunity Gap,” “Beyond the Guestlist” and “Who Has the Creator’s Back?”

Panelists included Charlotte Stavrou, founder and CEO of SevenSix Agency; Courtneay Mann, talent director at Insanity Group; Lauren Stretch Lefevre, director of Capsule Comms; interiors and DIY creator Medina Grillo; and Chanaley Alleyne, social media and Influencer Marketing lead at Corston.

Georgia Farquharson, CEO and founder of FARQ, said the event was designed to surface practical steps rather than resolve every issue in a single session. “The ambition was never to solve every challenge in one morning,” she said. “It was to bring together people with different lived experiences, industry expertise and the ability to influence change, and to identify practical actions that could be taken forward.”

Farquharson said a central theme emerged from the discussions: “Meaningful inclusion requires more than good intentions. It requires better decisions, clearer processes, more representative teams and a willingness to challenge established ways of working.”

Alleyne, one of the panelists, called the range of perspectives in the room notable. “Getting to hear so many different perspectives in one room was such a gift,” she said. “I’m in awe of the courage and generosity all the speakers and audience members came prepared to share.”

Creator Naomi Native, who attended the event, said she hopes to see more equitable treatment of creators of color across the industry. “I look forward to an industry where Black creators and creators of colour feel that the playing field is truly level; from fair and equitable pay to feeling genuinely considered and catered for,” she said.

“Collective Influence” marks the start of an ongoing FARQ initiative.

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