NCACE Research Associate
Deborah has been selected as an NCACE Research Associate, part of a pilot programme recognising independent researchers and arts and cultural practitioners.
Deborah Williams OBE is a researcher, consultant, executive leader, manager, artist and producer, known for her ground-breaking work in challenging inaction and creating tangible systemic change in the arts and creative industries. She is the architect of BFI Diversity Standards adopted by The Oscars, BIFA and BAFTA since 2020. As a leader in disability arts, Williams played a significant role in the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act.
She is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Queen Mary University, an associate lecturer at Goldsmiths ICCE, a three-time power lister of The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 and a keynote speaker. In 2022 she was awarded an OBE for services to Diversity in the Arts and Creative Industries. At the 2023 Diversify TV Awards at MIPCOM in Cannes, she was presented with the ‘Behind The Scenes Impact’ award. In 2024 she was awarded the Reelscreen Action Award.
From 2016 to 2024 she was the Chief Executive of Creative Diversity Network introducing greater accountability towards diversity in the TV Industry. She is responsible for developing Diamond, CDN’s world-leading diversity data monitoring which reports annually on the diversity picture in the broadcasting industry. This data monitoring model has since been replicated in the EU and Australia.
She has over 30 years of experience in television, film and theatre and policy development across the wider creative and cultural industries. Deborah Williams has led the UK broadcasting industry charge to bring disability to the diversity conversation introducing CDN’s ‘Doubling Disability’ programme in 2019 which is inspiring change not just in the UK but in Hollywood, Germany and Australia.