Tanya Denning-Orman (photo credit Claudine Thornton).
SBS has elevated Tanya Denning-Orman to director of First Nations to lead a network-wide strategic approach to Indigenous content across all SBS channels and platforms.
As well as building on the network’s growth in First Nations storytelling and coverage, she will lead strategies to further embed Indigenous cultural perspectives throughout the organisation.
The new role will also be focused on enhancing organisational capability, supporting community engagement and partnerships, and driving the ongoing development of Indigenous staff and the employee experience.
Denning-Orman moves into this new role after almost five years on the SBS Executive team as SBS’ director of indigenous content, and 12 years of running National Indigenous Television (NITV) as part of the SBS network.
Under her leadership, SBS has significantly increased its Indigenous content output and grown audience consumption of Indigenous content across its platforms, while NITV has experienced increasing TV audiences, growth in commercial revenue, and has continued to increase investment in the Indigenous production sector delivering award-wining programming.
With her new appointment, Denning-Orman will now step back from the management and operations of NITV, while continuing to work closely with the team in the delivery of the network-wide Indigenous Content Strategy.
NITV will recruit a new position of GM with editorial and operational responsibility for NITV. Jason Oakley, head of business, relationships and community impact at NITV, will be acting GM with a process to be undertaken for the role ongoing.
SBS MD James Taylor said indigenous content, cultures, and leadership holds an integral place in SBS' network today and in its future.
"We’re proud at SBS to have a strong record of championing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and perspectives, and Tanya’s appointment as Director, First Nations reflects our commitment to continuing to grow that legacy," he said.
“As well as leading the evolution and expansion of the Indigenous content strategy across SBS, Tanya will play a critical leading role in continuing to evolve and transform SBS as the national, contemporary public broadcaster for all Australians. She will further embed Indigenous cultural perspectives in our strategy, impacting how we meaningfully engage with communities and how we operate and innovate as a network.
Denning-Orman said this marks another chapter for SBS in bringing Australians together to benefit from increasing understanding and connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, cultures and history.
"It demonstrates the vital role First Nations perspectives have as part of a network that has a history of being a pioneer in ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have an authentic voice and a platform in the national media, and an ambition and commitment to reach higher, and continue to do more," she said.
“Since joining the channel in 2007, I’ve been a part of its evolution into the loud and proud voice for mob it is today, and seen the growing influence it has as part of SBS and the wider media sector.
"This has been possible because of the trailblazing work of those who paved the way decades ago for the right for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have our unique stories, languages, cultures and aspirations accurately reflected and celebrated in the national media landscape, and because of the dedicated NITV team today who are continuing the work, guided by a strengthened leadership team taking the channel to new heights."
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