Tickets available at: www.wonderwomentv.com
15 September 2026: Wonder Women, the pioneering network dedicated to advancing diverse women in Television, Film and the Creative Industries, has today announced the speaker line-up for the 2026 Wonder Women Conference, bringing together senior leaders, creatives and influential voices from YouTube, Amazon MGM Studios, Aardman, 5, Channel 4, UKTV, Fremantle and more. The event will be held at BAFTA on Thursday 1st October, welcoming 250 mid-to-senior-level women from across TV, film, and the broader creative sector.
Now in its fourth year, the annual Conference will lead bold, necessary conversations about the future of the industry and the experiences of women working within it, alongside career-advancing insights, community building, immersive AI training to upskill attendees and networking. The one-day programme features a dynamic mix of senior executives, thought leaders, creatives, and changemakers, all committed to championing inclusion, representation, and meaningful progression for underrepresented women in the industry. Throughout the day, attendees will hear from speakers in a series of sessions including ‘Women at the Top in TV’, ‘Positive Disruptors’, AI for Creative Storytelling Masterclass, ‘Women & Money’ and ‘How to Rise’, exploring leadership, career progression, financial empowerment and the changing creative landscape.
The 2026 speaker line-up includes:
- Alison Lomax, Managing Director, YouTube UK & Ireland
- Amelia Brown, CEO Fremantle UK
- Ayshah Tull, Presenter & Journalist, Channel 4 News
- Claer Barrett, Finance Journalist & Broadcaster, Financial Times
- Deborah Joseph, Journalist, Editor and Content Creator
- Denise Parkinson, VP Sales & Marketing Global, Variety
- Diane Kenwood, Women of the Year Chair
- Dr Anne Marie Imafidon MBE
- Emma Hardie, Executive Commercial and Brand Director, Aardman
- Gemma Bird, Money Mum Expert
- Gillian Joseph, Broadcast Journalist, Sky News
- Hilary Rosen, Director of Commissioning, UKTV & BAFTA Chair
- Katharine Sacks-Jones, Chief Executive, Young Women’s Trust
- Maike Currie, VP Personal Finance, PensionBee
- Margaret Parvin, Head of International Business Affairs, Amazon MGM Studios
- Manori Ravindran, Journalist & International Correspondent, The Ankler
- Marverine Cole, Journalist & Broadcaster, ITV
- Neila Butt, Head of Creative Equity, Channel 4
- Olulaide Sadiq, Director (Grenfell: Uncovered)
- Poorna Bell, Author & Journalist
- Rebecca Hodges, General Manager, UK, Nordics & Japan, Audio Network
- Reemah Sakaan, President, 5
- Remel London, Broadcaster & Podcast Host
- Sadie Clayton, Copper Wellness Artist & Cultural Commentator
- Stephanie Ronan-Chlond, AI Specialist & Coach
- And Ria Hebden, Broadcast Journalist, Entrepreneur, Wonder Women CEO
Ria Hebden, Founder of Wonder Women | Image credit: Garry Carbon
Ria Hebden, Founder, Wonder Women said: “The Wonder Women Conference has been meticulously designed to deliver an informative, insightful and joyful experience to leave people feeling empowered about their careers. For freelancers, the last three years have been unwavering. This is a day where women, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, can come together in a positive and welcoming space – to upskill, connect and feel part of something bigger than themselves. As businesses merge and the tech, media and advertising sectors converge, representation is only part of the story; we also need to look at who remains, who is progressing, who is being given access to opportunity and who gets to have a seat at the decision-making table.”
She added: “The Conference was created to provide a space where women can be honest about the realities of building a career in this industry, learn from those who have navigated the path before them, and build the networks, confidence and connections to take their next step. We know that talented women, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, can face additional barriers to progression and retention, so creating opportunities to connect, learn and be celebrated is more important now than ever. Ultimately, we want attendees to leave feeling that they belong, are supported and, importantly, energised by what’s possible – helping to build a stronger, more inclusive pipeline of women in leadership across television, film and the wider creative industries.”
Over the last 18 months, the industry has witnessed a deprioritisation of diversity and inclusion efforts by several organisations, across the creative industries. This, paired with concerns of retention and career progression remain critical issues for women from marginalised backgrounds. In response to this, the 2026 Wonder Women Conference provides an important space for positive discussion and is set to deliver its most ambitious edition yet. With a packed programme of high-impact panels, candid conversations, an immersive AI development masterclass to upskill attendees and meaningful networking, the Conference is primed to support and connect attendees to each other and opportunities to help them build lasting and successful careers in the creative industries.
The Wonder Women Conference 2026 is made possible by headline sponsor Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, with support from Channel 4, All 3 and Banijay UK.
Launched by Broadcast Journalist and entrepreneur, Ria Hebden in 2017, Wonder Women was born out of the industry’s need for structural and holistic support for underrepresented women in TV. Now operating as a Community Interest Company (CIC), the organisation offers a growing ecosystem of support, including live events, a podcast, an online members community and the UK’s only year-long mentoring programme of its kind.
Wonder Women is guided by an esteemed advisory board of senior female leaders across media, law, social impact and TV production, including: Nicole Marie Joseph (Various Artists Limited), Nicola Hill (Orchard Studios), Hayley Brady (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer), Anne-Marie Douglas (Peer Power Youth), Tolu Akinsanya (Media Relations Consultant) and new board member Babita Bahal (Film & TV Talent and Partnerships Consultant).
For more information about Wonder Women and to book tickets for The Wonder Women Conference please visit www.wonderwomentv.com.
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About Wonder Women TV
Founded in 2016 by television presenter Ria Hebden, Wonder Women TV (CIC) is the inspirational women’s network that champions the elevation of diverse women into senior leadership, while positively impacting social mobility, employability and diversity in Television and the Creative industries.
Wonder Women CIC produce a series of events that connects and inspire women, including Wonder Women Live held on International Women’s Day, now in its 9th year, the prestigious day-long Wonder Women Conference held at BAFTA, the newly launched Wonder Women Power Hour monthly online masterclass, and through the inspirational Wonder Women podcast, which features interviews with leading industry trailblazers. In addition to its inspirational live events, each year Wonder Women CIC hosts a year-long mentorship programme for 31 women, who receive free year-long leadership and development training from some of the industry’s most prolific executives and leaders.
Supporters and previous speakers include; Former Channel 4 Head of News and Factual Dorothy Byrne, Fremantle’s Amelia Brown, Broadcaster Charlene White, BBC Head of Entertainment Kalpna Patel-Knight, Broadcaster Lorraine Kelly, Amazon Prime’s Donna Taberer, Sinitta, Producer Madeline Addy, UKTV Scripted Commissioning Editor Sarah Asante, Quay Street Productions COO Samantha McMillon, 72 Films Managing Director Sam Stewart, Box to Box Films Managing Director Samantha Lawrence, BBC Entertainment Commissioning Editor Ruby Kuraishe, All3Media International SVP in Non-Scripted Content Rachel Job, S4C Freelance Executive Producer Kate Thomas, leadership coach Michelle Moore, Script Supervisor Emma Thomas Fremantle UK Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Babita Bahal, BBC Studios Executive Producer Amanda Lyon, Pact Head of Diversity & Inclusion Anjani Patel, Douglas Road Productions Managing Director Angela Ferreira and more.
Founder, Ria Hebden won the British Diversity Awards Media Champion of the Year in 2026 and she received an Honorary Degree from Brunel University in 2025 in recognition of Wonder Women’s impact in supporting working women in Television. Wonder Women has been nominated twice by the National Diversity Awards, and Ria has been nominated for the Influencer Award for her work at the 2023 Rise Awards.
Wonder Women is a Community Interest Company, steered by a distinguished advisory board which includes; Nicole Marie Joseph (Various Artists Limited), Nicola Hill (Orchard Studios), Hayley Brady (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer), Anne-Marie Douglas (Peer Power Youth), Tolu Akinsanya (Media Relations Consultant) and new board member Babita Bahal (Film & TV Talent and Partnerships Consultant).
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