SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive team update
3 February, 2025
Media releases
Tanya Denning-Orman takes on expanded senior role as Director, First Nations, reflecting the national broadcaster's commitment to amplifying the voices and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the network.
A proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman, Tanya Denning-Orman has been announced to lead an elevated network-wide strategic approach to Indigenous content across all SBS channels and platforms as Director, First Nations, for SBS.
Tanya Denning-Orman SBS Director, First Nations.
(photo: Claudine Thornton)
In addition to building on the network's growth and success 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.
SBS Managing Director, James Taylor, said: Indigenous content, cultures, and leadership holds an integral place in our 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.
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.
This reflects our ambition as a network to continue to deepen our approach, and builds on the achievements Tanya has been instrumental in driving across the network, her extensive experience and expertise, as well as SBS's role and responsibility as an Elevate RAP partner, and the growth and success of NITV.
Denning-Orman added: 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.
We are seeing more Australians connect with our content - we're sharing more First Nations stories than ever before across SBS's news and current affairs, and in more than 60 languages across SBS Audio. But the opportunity ahead for SBS is not only in building on our unique content and coverage, but in how we operate as an organisation, the way we support our people and work with each other, how we engage and partner with communities, how we collaborate across our industry, and as an innovator in an ever-changing media landscape.
Denning-Orman moves into this new role after almost five years on the SBS Executive team as SBS's 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 and critically-acclaimed 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.
This shift will also continue to support NITV's trajectory, Denning-Orman continued. 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. I look forward to working with the NITV team, along with colleagues across SBS, in more exciting work ahead.
NITV will recruit a new position of General Manager with editorial and operational responsibility for NITV, a role that recognises the strength of the NITV senior leadership team across the channel's strategy and day-to-day operations.. Jason Oakley, Head of Business, Relationships and Community Impact at NITV, will be Acting General Manager, with a process to be undertaken for the role ongoing.
For a pdf copy of this media release, click here.
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
03/06/2026
Clarification: SBS's position on definitions of antisemitism
3 June, 2026
Media releases
Statement by Mandi Wicks, SBS Director of News and Current Aff...
03/06/2026
Do not read this media release! Andy Lee's smash-hit show returns to ABC thi...
01/06/2026
SBS confirms its broadcast sponsors for FIFA World Cup 2026
1 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has secured Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Com...
28/05/2026
Get fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with new SBS On Demand features for the ult...
28/05/2026
Six films, one unmissable collection. First Facts documentaries debut on 10 Stre...
28/05/2026
Emma Watkins brings all-new Emma's Dance Club to ABC Kids 28 May 2026
Emmas Dance Club. Image credit: Sarah Wilson.
The ABC, Screen Australia and Screen N...
26/05/2026
Three new kids' digital series set to hatch from ACTF and Screen Australia i...
25/05/2026
SBS announces exclusive TV broadcast schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026
21 May, 2026
Media releases
Luke Wilkshire, Tommy Oar, Andrew Redmayne, Sarah Walsh ...
22/05/2026
Statement regarding 2026 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award for the late...
21/05/2026
2026 delegation for Partner with Australia (UK) initiative announced 21 May 2026
Screen Australia and Ausfilm have today announced the delegation for the 2026 ...
20/05/2026
From Gulkula to the nation: Yothu Yindi Foundation and NITV deepen national acce...
20/05/2026
SBS appoints David Fernandez as National Manager, Digital & TV Sales
20 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS has appointed David Fernandez as National Manager, Dig...
20/05/2026
First Nations Factual Co-production Development Fund launched to elevate Indigen...
18/05/2026
Delta Goodrem shines for SBS as more than 3.27 million Australians tune in for E...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
14/05/2026
SBS Board appoints Jane Palfreyman Managing Director
13 May, 2026
Media releases
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Board of Directors is pleased to an...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns
14 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia have announced ...
14/05/2026
Australia Uncovered Returns to SBS with Bold New Season Featuring John Safran on...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns 14 May 2026
Top (L-R): Bronte Gosper (Musket), Mema Munro (Rogue One), Nathan ...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
11/05/2026
You're not meant to look at an Eclipse, but you won't be able to take yo...
04/05/2026
It's Andrew! stomps onto screens this June 4 May 2026
The ABC and Screen Australia are delighted to announce that brand new preschool series, It's Andr...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
29/04/2026
Surgeon Dr Jasmina Kevric wins 2026 Les Murray Award
29 April, 2026
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Dr Jasmina Kevric...
23/04/2026
Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026
Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
21/04/2026
Applications open for 2026 AISF and Screen Australia Writer/Director Virtual Ses...
20/04/2026
Register now - Market & Audience Department Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 11 February 2026
Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley
Talking to...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces funding for 44 documentary projects that reflect a s...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia appoints Tanya Phegan as Narrative Content Head of Development 17 March 2026
Tanya Phegan
Screen Australia has today announced the appointmen...
20/04/2026
Applications Open for Skip Ahead 11 19 March 2026
Past Skip Ahead recipients (L-R): Macfarlane Bros, Rainbow Bop, Lyanna Kea.
Screen Australia and YouTube Aus...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia empowers the next games generation, including new creatives fro...
20/04/2026
Official Co-production Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 26 March 2026
Image (L-R): Mix Tape, Michele McDonald, Flower & Flour.
Interested in international Co-pro...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces Narrative Content funding for 91 projects, including ...
20/04/2026
Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) pinpoints four key workfo...
20/04/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia Announce the 2026 Participants in the T...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia relaunches website with new tools and improved user experience 16 April 2026
Screen Australia relaunches website
Screen Australia has relaun...
16/04/2026
SBS reveals all-star alumni team to celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Co...
02/04/2026
SBS Welcomes Back Cup Fever! For The Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
2 April, 2026
Media releases
Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee and a host of special guests retur...
02/04/2026
Truth. Power. Perspective: NITV's Flagship Current Affairs Programs Return t...
27/03/2026
NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...
21/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnect highlights how we all deserve t...
21/03/2026
Statement regarding Rhoda Roberts AO
21 March, 2026
Media releases
SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Na...
20/03/2026
Feast for cycling fans as SBS extends road cycling broadcasts to include all Gra...
SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive team update 
