Deborah Williams OBE

Since 2016, Deborah has been the Chief Executive of Creative Diversity Network, the membership body funded by the UK’s major broadcasters, and production community. Its aims are to support the UK television industry to promote, celebrate and share good practice around the diversity agenda.

With over 30 years’ experience working above and below the line in television, film and theatre, as well as policy development across the wider creative and cultural industries. She is the architect and designer of the BFI Diversity standards that were adopted by The Oscars and BAFTA in 2020.

As well as sitting on panels and steering groups for a many organisations, Deborah is known in her own right as an artist provocateur having won awards and nominations nationally and internationally. Her work in theatre is acknowledged as a catalyst for challenge and change in perceptions of disability and difference.

In 2019 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award from Inclusive Companies for her body of work in the area of diversity and culture. She is a Disabled Powerlister 2018, 2019 & 2022. In June 2022 Deborah was awarded an OBE in the Queens Platinum Jubilee Birthday honours, for services to diversity in arts and creative industries.