Channel 4 fills creative diversity roles

Commercial public broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed two creative diversity executives for the UK’s nations and regions.

Neila Butt

Neila Butt joins as creative diversity lead for the nations and regions and Stacey Olika is creative diversity coordinator for the nations and regions. They will be based in Leeds and Bristol respectively.

Reporting to Channel 4’s head of creative diversity Babita Bahal, Butt and Olika will work with independent producers, regional hub leads and commissioning teams within Channel 4 to increase opportunities for talent from underrepresented backgrounds on- and off-screen.

They will also help achieve targets set out in Channel 4’s Commissioning Diversity Guidelines and ensure the inclusion and progression of off-screen talent on Channel 4 productions at all levels.

Prior to joining the broadcaster, Butt worked at the BBC in editorial roles across radio, TV, news, and nations and regions, and has also led a number of inclusion and diversity projects.

Stacey Olika

Olika joins Channel 4 from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, where she was a production management assistant.

The appointments brings the number of appointments to Channel 4’s creative diversity team this year to three, after Ally Castle was hired in January as the channel’s disability lead.

Bahal said: “Representing unheard voices is at the heart of our Future4 strategy as we continue to deliver increased representation and inclusion across the UK. Our two excellent hires bring a wealth of experience and understanding of creative communities outside of London and this is crucial in helping us to deliver our ambitions and commitments in the nations and regions.”