Lauren Down is the Managing Director of End of The Road - a critically acclaimed, independent music & arts festival in Dorset, UK that achieved a 50/50 gender balance in 2021. She joined the team in 2014 (leaving behind her career in PR, where she worked with Caribou, Angel Olsen and more) as Festival Manager before taking up her position as MD in 2015. End of The Road 2024 (the 18th edition) will be headlined by Idles, Fever Ray, Bonnie Prince Billy and Slowdive. Lauren sits on The AIF Board and contributes heavily to its diversity policies and Safer Spaces Campaign. Lauren has also been published by Loud and Quiet, The Guardian, NME, London in Stereo, Interview Magazine, Crack Magazine, and The Line of Best Fit where she served as Deputy Editor for 5 years.