Deborah Williams is Executive Director of The Creative Diversity Network (CDN), the body funded by the UK’s major broadcasters, which brings together organisations across the UK television industry to promote, celebrate and share good practice around the diversity agenda. As Executive Director, Deborah is responsible for delivering all aspects of the organisation’s activities, including the ground-breaking Diamond diversity monitoring scheme, Doubling Disability – the broadcaster-backed initiative to double the number of disabled people working off screen in British television by 202, diversity talent databases, online resources and the Television Diversity Awards.

Prior to joining CDN, Deborah was Diversity Manager at the British Film Institute (BFI), where she opened and managed a £1m lottery fund for diversity, designed the BFI diversity standards for film and contributed to the BFI business plan and strategy. Before joining the BFI Deborah was the Senior Officer for Equality and Diversity at Arts Council England. Deborah is an award winning actor, as well as being a writer and theatre maker with 20 years’ experience in creating and presenting distinctive, high quality work that challenges ideas of difference and diversity.

Speaking on: Food for Thought: Making Diversity and Inclusion a Priority