Tim Soutphommasane to lead Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network

Professor Soutphommasane will lead the industry body with Co-Chair Tracey Vieira, CEO of Screen Queensland.

SDIN was established in 2017 with the aim of fostering a more inclusive screen industry via workforce, talent development, training and partnerships. Its members include each of the broadcasters, the guilds, the state screen agencies, Screen Australia, AFTRS, FreeTV and MediaRING.

Professor Soutphommasane said he was excited to lead SDIN.

“We’re a multicultural society, and it’s important we see who we are on our screens. We should be striving to reach our potential and to unleash the cultural energy that comes with diversity,” he said.

Departing SDIN chair Courtney Gibson, the CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, said: “Tim and Tracey are both passionate about diversity and representation and bring with them quite different but very complementary experience and skills. SDIN members and our industry will benefit from them working together as Co-Chairs.”

Professor Soutphommasane re-joined the University of Sydney in January this year as the inaugural Professor of Practice (Sociology and Political Theory).

Prior to this, he served as Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner from 2013 to 2018.

He is the author of five books, including the recently-released On Hate, and is a member of the advisory board of Media Diversity Australia.