Duncan Wardle,
HND Hospitality & Catering Management, 1986
“I have great memories of being a student and it was Peter Shill, who
gave me the bug for innovative and creative thinking that inspired
me throughout my 25 year journey at The Walt Disney Company.
“As a student I was lucky enough to be chosen to spend a year at
Walt Disney World in Florida, and after graduating I joined Disney on
a one year program representing the United Kingdom Pavilion at
Epcot in Florida.
86
“From there I joined Disney in London in the PR office and went on to
Paris to oversee the European PR team for the opening of Disneyland
Paris in 1992. In the late 1990s I took on the role of Director, PR, in the U.S, based in Florida, and early in the
new Millennium I was asked to head up our International Marketing team. In 2004 I was promoted to Vice
President of Global PR and moved to Los Angeles. This was a very special year as I got to oversee the plans
for Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary.
“Four years ago I was asked to head up an internal agency, Creative inc, overseeing innovation and
creativity. We have spent the past few years delivering “freshness” into the organisation via an open source
site called Creative Lab that allows our cast members to post any interesting buzz from around the world of
innovation and build that buzz into innovative ideas for Disney.
“I am delighted that several innovative projects undertaken at Edinburgh Napier have been submitted
to our Creative Lab as great examples of innovation. There is clearly a culture of innovation that will
serve students well as they prepare for life in today’s working environment, which demands creative new
approaches to existing business models.”
Nichola Taylor,
BA Photography, 1987
“Since graduation, I have enjoyed working in professional theatre for
over 20 years.
“The education I received at Napier was obviously key to my degree, but
instrumental in my career was a week’s work experience in London with a
large production agency, Caribiner, in my final year. This was arranged by
my lecturer, Peter Lloyd. It turned into a month long internship and after
graduation a full-time position. They gave me a life-changing opportunity
to go to their New York office – I stayed with the company for five years
before starting my own production company, Taylor-Made Shows Inc.
87
“Nearly 25 years later, I’m currently Production Stage Manager for Concerts & Events at the iconic Radio
City Music Hall in New York City. It’s the largest indoor theatre in the world. My career experiences have
been many and varied, including televised award shows (MTV Awards, the Tony’s, the Emmy’s), concerts
with rock & roll stars (Rolling Stones, Madonna, Beyonce), sports and entertainment (Oprah, Muhammad
Ali), specialty companies (Cirque du Soleil, Riverdance) and this summer, the national broadcasts of
America’s Got Talent.
“I have travelled more than four million miles for work; from Bali to Beijing, Carnegie Hall to The White
House; and I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented, creative and successful
people all around the world.
“What I have learned is that with a relentless commitment to excellence and a passion for your craft, you
have to take chances, follow your talents and dreams, and you never know where you might end up.”