Our Team

Discover our Team of Experts.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Neville Smith

Founder and Executive Director of Production

Neville Smith

Founder and Executive Director of Production

Neville Smith is the founder of In Touch Productions. He brings to the table over four decades of live broadcasting experience. Including thirty years as producer, director, and the Head of Rugby League for Sky Sports.

Outside of Sky Neville has a wealth of experience, including the Olympic Games in Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo, along with directing Hong Kong Rugby 7’s and US Major Golf Championships.

He produced and directed over 4,000 live weekly Rugby League broadcasts for Sky Sports, including 21 Super League Grand Finals, the World Cup Final in 2000, Ashes series, home Tri-Nations series, along with four Great Britain and England tours of Australia and New Zealand.

Neville initially trained as a camera operator, and spent ten years in that field both in Australia and the UK.

His industry honours include:

2010 | RFL Roll of Honour for Outstanding Services to the Game

2013 | Geoffrey Lofthouse Award from the All Party Parliamentary Group Lifetime Achievement

2014 | Honorary Life Member of All Party Parliamentary Group

2019 | Invited to be a Trustee of RL Cares, the charity taking care of the welfare of players, past and present

Lachlan Smith

Creative Director

Lachlan Smith

Creative Director

Lachlan has grown up in the world of Live Broadcast Television. Throughout his childhood, he would often attend Outside Broadcasts. Pestering operators in all areas, gaining a vast working knowledge of Live TV. Now with over a decade of professional experience. Lachlan works to ensure that quality and standards are met, in all facets. From the creative look of In Touch’s broadcasts. To the innovative technology that we use.

Lachlan works along side our facility partners to establish new production tools. Whilst maintaining the high quality look and feel of an In Touch Productions Broadcast.

Sarah Cheah

Production Supervisor

Sarah Cheah

Production Supervisor

Sarah is the prime example of the In Touch ethos; to identify and embrace young talent.

Despite having no prior experience in television. Sarah has become an invaluable asset to the company. Researching, sourcing, and producing all graphics content for the live-streamed productions.

In addition, Sarah has undertaken the crucial responsibility of signal and stream delivery. Ensuring that images from the venue are received in Gallery. And the final production delivered seamlessly to the clients.

Neville Smith

Founder and Executive Director of Production

Outside of Sky Neville has a wealth of experience, including the Olympic Games in Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo, along with directing Hong Kong Rugby 7’s and US Major Golf Championships.

Neville initially trained as a camera operator, and spent ten years in that field both in Australia and the UK.

His industry honours include:

2010 | RFL Roll of Honour for Outstanding Services to the Game

2013 | Geoffrey Lofthouse Award from the All Party Parliamentary Group Lifetime Achievement

2014 | Honorary Life Member of All Party Parliamentary Group

2019 | Invited to be a Trustee of RL Cares, the charity taking care of the welfare of players, past and present

Lachlan Smith

Creative Director

Lachlan works along side our facility partners to establish new production tools. Whilst maintaining the high quality look and feel of an In Touch Productions Broadcast.

Sarah Cheah

Production Supervisor

Sarah is the prime example of the In Touch ethos; to identify and embrace young talent.

Despite having no prior experience in television. Sarah has become an invaluable asset to the company. Researching, sourcing, and producing all graphics content for the live-streamed productions.

OPERATIONAL LEADS

Chris Sandeman

Director of Operations

Chris Sandeman

Director of Operations

Chris looks after the complex role of planning venue and gallery technical operations for all of In Touch Productions’ projects, covering the Premiership Rugby Union and all Rugby League events.

As Sky Sports’ RL Production Manager for eleven seasons from 1997 to 2007, responsible for technical, operational and budgetary management of all Sky’s RL, including all Internationals in the UK, RLWC2000 and the 2006 Tri-Nations tour of Australia and New Zealand. During this time Chris and Neville worked side by side, forming a close bond that has carried over into In Touch Productions.

Also in his time at Sky Sports Chris had responsibility for Darts World Championships, PPV Boxing, US Open Tennis and for six years was Senior Production Manager for Golf, including all the US Major events.
Since leaving Sky Chris has worked on ICC Cricket World Cup, WTA Tennis, Tokyo Olympics and the DP World Golf tour.

With well developed communication skills and a broad outlook spanning Content, Production, Tech and Operations, Chris is well-placed to be the principal link between Venue, Governing Body, Rights Holder, Host Broadcaster and RHBs, Principal and Sub-contract Facilities and all associated stakeholders.

Among his pre-sports credits, is the invention of the then ground-breaking NTV segment of BBC Entertainment’s Noel’s House Party where unsuspecting viewers in their own homes were cut live to (up to) 18 million, and the creation of many of the famous Gotchas – each one planned in complete secrecy with the highest possible attention to detail.

Ian Brash

Technology and Innovation Consultant

Ian Brash

Technology and Innovation Consultant

A skilled TV professional with extensive experience across a range of roles in Live Sports and News production in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia – Director/Senior Director on Studios and Outside Broadcasts. Slo-Mo Replay/Playout operator on Sports and Light Entertainment.

Broadcast Innovation Consultant – Commercially and financially astute with a proven track record of innovative and highly effective delivery of significant and critical elements of high profile projects to enhance the quality of output for Broadcast channels and Digital Media. Bonded Cellular streaming specialist.

Chris Sandeman

Director of Operations

Chris looks after the complex role of planning venue and gallery technical operations for all of In Touch Productions’ projects, covering the Premiership Rugby Union and all Rugby League events.

Ian Brash

Technology and Innovation Consultant

PRODUCTION OPERATORS

Jonah Bates

Replay Operator

Jonah Bates

Replay Operator

Jonah is an In Touch original, having been involved in the development of the touchscreen productions from day one. A natural and talented replay operator Jonah has worked extensively on the Premiership Rugby and Rugby League streams that In Touch has been producing since the summer of 2020.

Combining his In Touch work with studying marketing at Loughborough University, Jonah has also found plenty of time to indulge his passion for water skiing, where he excels to instructor level, and to follow his passion for all sports.

Chris Moore

Operational Trainee

Chris Moore

Operational Trainee

Chris is serving a part time operational apprenticeship with In Touch whilst studying Sports Science fulltime at Leeds University.

An elite athlete in his own right Chris is a sports tragic and is loving the opportunity to get an all round grounding in the world of sports broadcasting. From doing replays and constructing complex analysis packages in the Remote Operations Centre, to on the ground camera operation at matches Chris is learning the business from the ground up.

Amongst his many skills Chris is a qualified ski instructor, giving him a built in discipline that he applies to the job of broadcasting. Chris is a prime example of the In Touch philosophy of blending youthful enthusiasm with experienced mentors to create a modern production.

Molly Rebanks

Operational Trainee

Molly Rebanks

Operational Trainee

Having already established a successful fulltime career as a mechanic, Molly is busy forging a second part time profession as part of the In Touch team.

Molly has proven herself to be a natural to the business of sports broadcasting, specialising in the difficult role of a hand held camera operator, needing a steady hand and a good eye for framing. Additionally, like all the In Touch Academy team Molly is training in the gallery operation to do replays and construct analysis, as well as learning the graphics and connectivity side of the productions.

Jonah Bates

Replay Operator

Chris Moore

Operational Trainee

Chris is serving a part time operational apprenticeship with In Touch whilst studying Sports Science fulltime at Leeds University.

Molly Rebanks

Operational Trainee

Having already established a successful fulltime career as a mechanic, Molly is busy forging a second part time profession as part of the In Touch team.

Anouska Mason

Operational Trainee

Anouska Mason

Operational Trainee

Anouska is a recent recruit to the In Touch team, and brings with her an enthusiasm for live production and a great capacity to learn quickly.

After graduating from the University of Sussex with a degree in Drama and Film Studies, much of Anouska’s early career work was heavily involved in producing and directing live theatre and creative arts productions, including producing plays for The Camden Fringe Festival and The Rose Theatre.

For the past five years, she was a Production Coordinator for Purple Vogue Events, live directing and producing an annual event called F.A.M.E (Fashion Art Music Entertainment), which aimed to provide a platform to showcase the talent of young adults with learning difficulties in the UAE. Consequently, she is a huge advocate for promoting disability awareness and inclusion.

Anouska is currently studying at The National Film and Television School completing a Diploma in Sports Production, as she moves her career from live theatre to combine with her passion for sports.

Anouska Mason

Operational Trainee

Anouska is a recent recruit to the In Touch team, and brings with her an enthusiasm for live production and a great capacity to learn quickly.

Anouska is currently studying at The National Film and Television School completing a Diploma in Sports Production, as she moves her career from live theatre to combine with her passion for sports.

IN TOUCH ACADEMY

Will Matthews-Stroud

In Touch Productions is all about giving young people the chance to learn the business in a vibrant live production environment, working with professionals who have extensive experience in the broadcast industry to create an Academy of broadcasting. Fundamental to this ethos is to encourage them to further their careers in the wider industry and take advantage of their training.

Will Matthews-Stroud and Charlotte Cottle both got their first industry experience with In Touch and have gone on to become Engineering Trainees with Euro Media Group, one of the largest Outside Broadcast facility companies in the world. At In Touch we are particularly proud of their achievements, and are delighted to have provided a launchpad for their careers.

Charlotte Cottle

Will Matthews-Stroud

Charlotte Cottle

PAWFESSIONAL SERVICES

Bear Cheah-Smith

Head of Security

Bear Cheah-Smith

Head of Security

Specializing in aerial surveillance Bear ensures that no aircraft or other airborne creatures can invade the In Touch production zone, and also that any visitors are thoroughly screened before being allowed on the premises.

Amongst his many other skills Bear also regularly confirms the often asked question about his namesakes and woods.

Archie Smith

Health and Fitness Co-Ordinator

Archie Smith

Health and Fitness Co-Ordinator

Archie is a master at ensuring that the In Touch management team takes regular exercise and maintain a monitored diet.

He employs a motivational morning routine that is timed to perfection, setting internal alarms that are flawless in the execution of mealtimes and walks. No member of the team is exempt from Archie’s call to attention.

Archie and Bear work as a team to employ a deceptive degree of cuteness, in order to contribute to, and maintain the mental health of the senior management.

Bear Cheah-Smith

Head of Security

Amongst his many other skills Bear also regularly confirms the often asked question about his namesakes and woods.

Archie Smith

Health and Fitness Co-Ordinator

Archie is a master at ensuring that the In Touch management team takes regular exercise and maintain a monitored diet.

Archie and Bear work as a team to employ a deceptive degree of cuteness, in order to contribute to, and maintain the mental health of the senior management.

PRODUCTION PARTNERS

In Touch Productions are proud to be associated with all our facility partners, EMG UK providing gallery and OB facilities, In Record Media who provide venue crews and equipment for bonded cellular productions, and Seconds Count offering floor managing and stadium liaison services at all matches.