Meet the Team
Rich O’Donoghue – Voice Director & Producer
My journey began in the mid-90s dreaming about becoming a globetrotting DJ. My DJ/sound engineering work led me onto my path to University and working in radio as a commercial producer.
Working with voice overs and creatives to produce some amazing soundscapes and commercials is rewarding. The most enjoyable part about what I do is being able to bring the best out of people.
I’ve always wanted to work for myself and so building io Audio has really been a lifelong ambition. Being able to work alongside some great coaches, writers, voice overs and producers is a real privilege.
I have 2 children (The Bosses) and we run an allotment! I love getting out on the bike and going off to watch the sun come up. We love travelling especially through India, a place close to my heart. Funnily enough io Audio started as a saving fund to pay for the kids first trip to India. The ‘io’ part is how Scarlett used to say ‘Hello’ 😊
Justine Harris – Voice Coach & Writer
Hello – I’m Justine. I’ve been a Voiceover for mumbles under breath nearly 30 years. The first 10 years alongside radio presenting all over the UK. I’ve voiced recent campaigns for Natwest, Sure deodorant, Mercedes, M&S and HSBC.
I’ve recorded eLearning for Prada, Bank Suisse, Deloitte and many others and won awards for promo work for BBC/The Apprentice and live event voiceover.
These days I still voice daily for top brands alongside coaching, writing,and getting the best out of new talent as well as experienced voices who are feeling a bit stuck.
Aside from work, the midlife crisis is going well. I joined a steelband in 2019 until lockdown interrupted things. My family would say that it was one the main highlights of lockdown.
Dian Perry - Voice Coach & Director
Hi, I’m Dian, I’m a seasoned U.S. voice actor, teacher, voiceover coach and author based in the UK. I conduct one-to-one coaching sessions from my studio in East London and online with students in the UK and abroad.
I bring a wealth of experience, accumulated wisdom and a wicked sense of humour to all of my teaching. I have been a voice actor for over two decades and my work has been heard on television, radio, video games, in soft toys, animation series’ and films worldwide.
I have been nominated 3 times for the prestigious SOVAS Voice Arts ® Award and walked the red carpets in Hollywood and New York.
Emily Jardine - Voice Coach
Hi, I’m Emily, an award-winning voice artist, actor & coach with 25 years’ experience.
As a VO, I’m represented by 35 agents across 12 countries, and over the years I’ve voiced nearly 1,000 projects across almost every genre.
While my performance career began when I was small, by the age of 27 I was also a headhunted producer, casting director & voice talent manager, managing multi-million-pound VO campaigns around the world.
This combined experience means there isn’t one aspect of the industry I haven’t seen. As a coach, this gives me an exceptionally unique perspective.
In 2022, I also won the One Voice Inspiration Award for coaching.
Rachel Kershaw – Commercial & Narration Writer
Ey up! I’m Rachel, a freelance copywriter, voiceover and blogger. I started my business in 2019 after spending 14 years working as a creative writer and producer for one of the UK’s biggest radio groups.
I loved working in a radio station, but I craved more creative freedom, I longed to develop my voiceover career and I was desperate to own a dog.
Now I have the perfect work/life balance, as well as a pesky fox terrier named Pat! It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the team at io Audio, I love hearing my scripts being brought to life by Rich and the talented voiceovers he works with!
Frankie Wakefield-Harrey – Gaming Writer
Hi, I’m Frankie Wakefield-Harrey and I have been writing scripts and creating characters professionally for many years.
I started working at a games company called Fusebox Games as an intern whilst at university studying English and Creative Writing. I am now a Senior Narrative Designer at Fusebox Games working on the hit mobile game Love Island. Outside of my gaming career I am Script Reader for Finborough Theatre where I am responsible for reviewing solicited and unsolicited scripts!
It probably goes without saying that I am an avid reader, writer, and gamer. I’ve been playing games and writing stories since I was just 3 years old. I also love going to the theatre (can’t wait for them to open!), hiking, walking my dog, and attempting to skateboard.
Sarah Hart – Commercial & Narration Writer
Hiya, I’m Sarah! I’m an award-winning creative copywriter, and voiceover, based in the wet and wild Isle of Man.
I started my media career as a Broadcast Journalist before sashaying into commercial copywriting for a huge UK radio group – which was way more fun, obviously!
My passion for wandering the world and desire to level up my creativity led me to now write for my own clients whilst finding inspiration looking out over the Irish sea with a purring rescue cat on my lap, on a bullet train soaring past city lights, kicking back on elegant snow-white sands or at the top of extravagant snow-capped mountains.
With my weird and wonderful mind, your incredible vocals, along with Rich’s powerful direction, music and SFX, I’m excited to create something to really show off your strengths.
Luke Mason – Commercial Writer
I’ve been an ‘official’ advertising copywriter for almost 10 years. Unofficially? Donkey’s years longer, scribbling bad-lines & tag-lines since my student days!
Print copywriting…web copywriting…Sorry, but RADIO has always been where the fun is for me. Finding infinite ways of saying 50% off, 0% APR, and all-sorts of different messages for brands that often want to say the same thing!!
I ALWAYS find an angle, make a tone, and write it for your ears. And that is what I love doing with Rich and IO Audio – working with Rich and great voiceovers to produce radio ads that break some of the white-noise adverts that you hear far too much on commercial radio.
So…get in touch and let’s make something!!!
Laura Catlow – Commercial & Narration Writer
As well as being a freelance creative writer with a background in commercial radio, I love nothing more than thrashing around a grimy stage with my band.
I love writing anything from radio and TV scripts, to punk songs and poetry. I’m based by the sea in Blackpool where I run a monthly open mic night – or did before 2020 struck!
Other than that I’m a running, reading, coffee drinking, pizza eating, music loving vegan, living with my partner and massive ginger cat.
Liz Solar - US Based Commercial & Narration Writer
Hi, I’m Liz, a voice actor and writer and coach who once upon a time, worked as a popular radio broadcaster. Over 15 years ago, I booked five commercials on my first audition and have since been hooked on voiceover. Commercials, eLearning, corporate narration and documentaries are all in a day’s work. I have staged and participated in storytelling events and produce and host the Embark podcast.
My mission is to share stories – both personal and universal – whatever the genre, and to elevate brands, help clients connect to the listen and sound a little more human.
Reluctant speakers discover how to show up in a genuine, effective and moving way while we craft your presentation from page to stage – or mic. It’s a pleasure to see students surpass their own expectations.
A founder and contributor to the writer’s blog Acts of Revision, I’m revising my first novel.
I consider surviving my children’s adolescence one of my crowing achievements.
Sandy Thomas - US Based Commercial Writer & Producer
Sandy Thomas has literally been on a microphone his whole professional life, since leaving the radio broadcast programming department at the University of Florida, Gainesville. After a 7 year run as an in-house Production
director and on air disc jockey at some of the markets top Pop, Hot AC, and Rock stations including Hot 105, Heritage rock station Zeta 4 and market heritage Hot AC Love 94. Along side his radio agenda Thomas become one
of the top Union freelance VO talent in the market joining both SAG and AFTRA in his early 20’s voicing National accounts for years like Office Depot, Burdines, the image Voice of the National video channel The Box and many
other regional Union VO accounts.