Wonder Women, the inspirational women’s network that champions the elevation of diverse women into senior leadership in Television and the Creative industries, has announced that its one-day The Wonder Women Conference will return on 21st September taking place at BAFTA in London.
Featuring senior industry executives in a series of keynotes, panels and masterclasses, the day focusses on inspiring and providing a skills uplift to 250 women currently working in mid-level senior roles in the industry in an aim to challenge systemic industry issues which sees women from underrepresented and marginalised groups disproportionately leaving the industry.
Founded in 2017 by television presenter Ria Hebden, Wonder Women was born out of an industry need to build a diverse and supportive community among women from underrepresented and marginalised groups and to share the collective wisdom from the most experienced women in Television and the Creative Industries. Wonder Women’s vision is to inspire, empower and connect the next generation of diverse, female leaders from all backgrounds and identities, through a unique, intersectional approach, that supports their professional and personal development through a series of live events, an inspirational podcast and year-long, nationwide mentoring programme.
With recent figures showing that only 13% of people from ethnic minority groups are currently in senior manager positions in the sector (Ofcom equity, diversity and inclusion in broadcasting report, Dec 2023), there is an urgent and continued need to find practical solutions to the diversity divide in senior leadership within the television industry. This is further compounded by the ongoing unstable conditions in the industry and the current economic downturn, with diverse women disproportionately more likely to leave their jobs before reaching senior leadership levels, with Bectu reporting that women and Black people being up to 50% more likely to leave the industry in the next five years.
Founder of Wonder Women Ria Hebden
Wonder Women provides a strategic intervention to retain those most at risk of leaving the sector before reaching senior leadership levels, by providing practical support and tackling deeply ingrained and long-standing systemic barriers that continue to hold back women from underrepresented groups.
The one-day Wonder Women Conference assembles highly influential industry leaders and trailblazing talent from across the sector and on-screen talent together with women at mid-senior level (in both permanent and freelance roles) to share their wisdom, experiences, and insights for a day of shared learning, inspirational talks, masterclasses and networking, with the belief that specific and targeted discussions can raise awareness of the issues and drive meaningful change.
With a holistic approach to self-development, the Conference is an immersive and empowering day also offering insightful keynote speakers and inspiring panel sessions from diverse voices outside of the sector to inspire new ideas alongside leadership skills masterclasses and networking activities to build connections, as well as helping to reignite passion for the industry during difficult times and provide them with a community within the industry.
Founder of Wonder Women Ria Hebden:
“History and research have consistently shown us that whenever there is industry disruption or an economic downturn, we lose the most marginalised people. Despite leading, influential women flagging their concerns on how the freelancing structure doesn’t serve women or working parents, over decades these cries have been widely ignored which is why the industry urgently needs to come together to support those who are most at risk of leaving the sector. There is power in acknowledging the systemic barriers that no longer serve us, as through productive discussion we can find positive solutions to reform and revolutionise a broken system.”
The Wonder Women Conference is an extension of the Wonder Women brand, which also includes the annual Wonder Women Live! event, the Wonder Women TV Podcast, the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme and the newly launched Wonder Women Power Hour, a monthly online networking event.
Wonder Women is a Community Interest Company (CIC), steered by an exceptional advisory board of female leaders: Studio Lambert’s Senior Production Accountant Nicole Marie Joseph, Orchard Studios MD Nicola Hill, Systemic Leadership Coach Remi Olajoyegbe, Media Relations Expert Sharon Ezzeldin, Legal Counsel Hayley Brady from Herbert Smith Freehills and Anne-Marie Douglas, Founder & Co-CEO Peer Power Youth.
For more information about Wonder Women and to book tickets for The Wonder Women Conference please visit www.wonderwomentv.com.