After six years as chair, including several as acting CEO, Liz Tucker stood down as chair last Thursday, 29 February.
Lix said in her note to all WFTV members last week, “it’s been such an exciting and exhilarating time to see WFTV grow and build its influence across our film and TV industry to support and amplify women’s voices to fight for greater fairness and representation.”
During Liz’s six years at WFTV, the organisation’s membership has more than doubled, the Four Nations Mentoring Scheme has grown from one single scheme to additional schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and this year we launched a sixth scheme focused in the North of England.
WFTV launched the Pat Llewellyn Bursary to provide development funding for TV broadcast proposals, specifically targeted at freelancers and smaller indies to help get projects green-lit. Other initiatives now include the WFTV Fearless Leadership scheme and the Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab.
There has also been a huge expansion in the WFTV events programme, both online and in person, and are continuing to increase our regional events output across the UK – as well as the WFTV Annual Awards ceremony which continues to grow in stature and profile.
Liz also added: “Now I feel it’s time for others to lead the organisation on to its next stage of growth, so I am delighted to say that Isabel Begg, our current vice-chair, will become our new chair.”
Isabel says: “WFTV remains a vitally important organisation – providing inspiration, strength, and knowledge to all women in our industry. I am very excited and proud to be a part of the next chapter of WFTV, helping to usher in awareness and inclusivity across the UK.”
And stepping in to the vice-chair role is Mel Rodrigues.
Mel says: “We are experiencing a moment of incredible change in the way we carve out our careers as women in film and TV. It’s an honour to be part of an organisation that can play such a pivotal role in supporting women across disciplines, backgrounds, and career levels to stride forwards amid these challenges.”
Both Isabel and Mel will be making their first appearances in their new roles this week as the WFTV team will be celebrating International Women’s Day with their members and industry friends across Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester this Wednesday, 6 March, at the annual WFTV IWD networking evening. Isabel will be hosting the London event and Mel will be in Cardiff.
