Deborah Williams OBE has received the ‘Behind the Scenes Impact’ award at the Diversity TV Awards.
The award recognises Deborah’s thirty-year career, driving change in perceptions of disability and increased inclusion across television, film and theatre, as an artist, activist, policy maker and CEO of the UK broadcasting industry membership organisation Creative Diversity Network (CDN).
Deborah Williams’ work to create change began in the 1980s as a disabled artist and theatre producer, challenging perceptions of difference and diversity.
Her vision and determination led her to increasingly influential positions, from implementing Arts Council England’s Creative Case for Diversity, to creating and implementing the BFI Diversity Standards that were adopted by The Oscars and to contributing to UK Government policy.
Since 2016 her work as CEO at CDN has led the UK TV industry charge to bring disability to the diversity conversation and greater accountability on diversity reporting and positive action on and off screen.
"As someone who has fought long and hard to highlight how attracting the best talent from the widest range of backgrounds can only make our industry more creative and more successful, it means a great deal to see this work recognised with an incredible award,” said Deborah, receiving her award in front of an international audience of TV and entertainment executives at MIPCOM CANNES in France.
“Increasing diversity on and off-screen is a global challenge, so I take great pleasure in this first international recognition of work that is having a global impact.
“There is so much going on behind the scenes to make change, and so many are committed to that change, but at the moment the spotlight is on me. Thank you to the jury and MIPCOM for this recognition of that work.”
CDN is a non-profit membership organisation focused on increasing diversity on, and off screen in the UK broadcasting industry. Its members are the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Paramount, Sky, S4C, UKTV, Warner Bros. Discovery, BAFTA, Pact, ScreenSkills and British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust.
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