Diversity: How it was, how we're doing, and how we can do more?
Sponsored by RTE
Location: The Factory
Time: Wednesday 16th November, 1pm
The demand for authentic voices telling individual stories has grown and continues to grow, providing wider audiences with resonance, perspective, inspiration and celebration. This panel assembles a collection of unique personalities, talking openly about the stories, struggles and successes of diversity in all areas of the creative industries: how it was, how we're doing, and most importantly, how we can do more.
Babita Sharma
Broadcaster/Journalist/Author
Babita Sharma is a Broadcaster, Journalist and award-winning Author.
Babita is the author of the critically acclaimed book The Corner Shop published by Two Roads (2019/2020). The book charts the social history of this unsung hero of British life. Growing up above a corner shop in 1980s Britain, Babita gives a fascinating perspective of the political and economic climate during her childhood through the lens of corner shop life. The Corner Shop was awarded a Business Book Award in 2020.
Babita has presented across BBC Global News where she spent a decade as news anchor for Newsday covering global news events including Covid-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement, US Elections 2020, Brexit and the Trump-Kim Summit in Singapore.
As a documentarian, Babita has presented several television documentaries, including her landmark series Dangerous Borders: The Story of India & Pakistan on BBC Two took her to the India/Pakistan border 70 years after partition. Here she followed in the footsteps of her family who were directly affected at the time of partition.
She is passionate about diversity and mental health issues; mentoring BAME journalists and also working with charity Mind to raise mental health awareness in schools. Alongside the FCO and BBC Media Action, Babita has developed presenter-training programmes for young aspiring journalists in London, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Naomi Sesay
Head of Creative Diversity, Channel 4
Naomi Sesay has been the Head of Creative Diversity at Channel 4 since February 2022. With ZIA SANDS Lead Acquisitions, Partnerships and Coproductions Kids & Family, Warner Bros Discovery over 20 years’ experience in television and media, Naomi has devoted her career to serving as a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion, and trail-blazer for social enterprise.
Her previous roles include On Screen Diversity Executive and Interim Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Channel 4. She also worked as Head of Innovation and Diversity for Media Trust.
Emma-Rosa Dias
Managing Director, Afro-Mic Productions
With over 25 years’ experience in TV production, both in front and behind the camera, Emma-Rosa Dias is now a key industry player across the UK.
Since founding Afro-Mic Productions in 2014, Emma-Rosa and her ever-growing Belfast-based company have produced a range of high-quality programming from short-form digital and branded projects to long-form factual and factual entertainment series.
An award-winning factual production company and most recently nominated for Small Indie of the Year2022 atEdinburgh TV Festival.Currently, Emma-Rosa and her team are overseeing multiple series productionsfor Afro-Mic, including Adrian Dunbar’s Coastal Ireland (C5), Made Up In Belfast (BBC Three),B&B By The Sea (BBC 2) and K7's top-tipped 2022 new dating format Mini Matchmakers (BBCNI).
Emma-Rosa received an Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) nomination and an RTSshortlist for her first short drama production, Cry Rosa which was based on her own story ofgrowing up as mixed-race in 1980’s Belfast.Emma-Rosa is also a dedicated member of the PACT Council and ScreenSkills Council.
Emma "Emzii" Rose
Esports Pro/LGBTQ+ Rights Campaigner
Emma "Emzii" Rose is a loud proud transgender woman from Northern Ireland. This summer, she took home the gold medal for eFootball at the inaugural Commonwealth ESports Championships.
A champion for diversity, equality and LGBTQ+ rights, Emzii is hell bent on tackling online hate against women and marginalised genders.
William Thompson
Comedian
William Thompson is a Belfast-based comedian, with over 8 years of experience performing stand-up comedy, despite only being 25. He has performed at some of the largest venues in Northern Ireland, such as the Waterfront Hall and the SSE Arena, supporting some of the biggest names in Northern Irish comedy, including Paddy McDonnell and Shane Todd.
In November 2021, William performed at the BBC New Comedy Awards final which was held in the Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle. The final was broadcast on BBC One and made available to watch on the BBC iPlayer. Although unsuccessful in the final, reaching that far in the competition made him the first Northern Irish comedian to do so.
He is the co-host of The Mudblood Podcast with Paddy McDonnell which has amassed over half a million downloads in under a year, and subsequently embarked on a sell-out live tour of the podcast in November/December 2021.
