24/03/2010

The UK Film Council (UKFC) has appointed Mary FitzPatrick Head of Diversity. She will take charge in May and report directly to UKFC CEO John Woodward.

FitzPatrick was Editorial Manager, Cultural Diversity at Channel 4 before joining the BBC in 2006, where she worked as a director and producer on award-winning series such as Horizon and Inside Story. As an Executive Producer in the independent sector she made factual programmes including Trouble at the Top, Britain’s War Heroes and Hidden Identities. She is also a Council Member of the National Youth Theatre, a member of the RTS Diversity Committee, a member of the BAFTA Education Committee, and Director of the Arts Club.

Woodward said, “Mary joins the UKFC with an impressive track record in tackling the challenges around diversity and inclusion in the creative industries. She will lead on practical initiatives with filmmakers to help the industry become more diverse.”

Gail Egan, UKFC Board Member responsible for diversity, said, “Her success in achieving real progress in the diversity of both BBC and Channel 4 output is not only hugely respected but also stands her in very good stead to take a leading role in the diversity of the UK film industry.”

FitzPatrick said, “I have achieved a lot in my time at the BBC and I shall be leaving safe in the knowledge that diversity will continue to be strongly championed at the heart of commissioning and across all parts of production. I look forward to working with John Woodward and his team to ensure that, through continuing to develop and support a broad range of new voices, cinema audiences will experience and connect with a wide variety of exciting films.”