Empowering the next generation of diverse, female leaders in Television & the Creative Industries
The Wonder Women Mentoring Programme
The Wonder Women Mentoring Programme is the TV industry’s only year-long, nationwide mentoring programme that supports diverse women (cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, LGBTQ+, abilities, geographic origin, socioeconomic status) at mid-senior level in their careers in Television and the Creative Industries, bringing mentees together with leading industry executives.
Supporting social mobility, employability and diversity & inclusion in TV, the game-changing programme is designed to aid industry retention and to develop the next generation of female leaders.
This year’s mentors are:
Angela Ferreira, Executive Producer, Banijay UK
Babita Bahal, Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Fremantle UK
Beth Pattinson, Executive Producer, New Regency
Camilla Lewis, CEO, Curve Media
Caroline O'Neill, Assistant Commissioner, Daytime & Early Peak, BBC
Clare Mottershead, Head of Factual and Formats, Orchard Studios
Daisy Scalchi, Head of Religion and Ethics, BBC
Dawn Beresford, Director of Talent & Skills, BBC Commissioning
Emma Bell, Executive Producer and Media Consultant
Emma Thomas, Freelance Continuity Script Supervisor
Fatima Salaria, Executive Producer, Dancing Ledge
Fliss Williams, Freelance Line Producer
Fozia Khan, Head of Unscripted, UK Originals, Amazon Studios
Helen Alexander, Managing Director, Formosa Group UK
Helen Veale, Freelance Development Executive
Kate Devlin, Director of Development, Boom
Katie Benbow, Director of Strategy – Factual, BBC Studios
Kirsty Hanson, Senior Commissioning Editor, UKTV
Lara Akeju, Executive Coach & Executive Producer
Lauren Ellis Jones, Managing Director, Picture Shop Bristol
Liz McIntyre, Director, ScreenCraft Works
Mandy Chang, Freelance Executive Producer
Natascha Cadle, Co-Founder and Creative Director, ENVY
Nicola Hill, Managing Director, Orchard Studios
Sarah Asante, Commissioning Editor, Scripted, UKTV
Seetha Kumar, Non-executive Director/ former ScreenSkills CEO
Soleta Rogan, Managing Director, Rogan Productions
Sophie Leonard, Creative Director, Samphire Films
Sue Walton, Commercial & Development Executive, ITV
Tara Erer, Head of Northern Europe Originals, Prime Video & Amazon Studios
Vicky Bennetts, Head of Talent, Wall To Wall & Twenty Twenty Productions
The 31 mentors have been paired with mentees in their field, with 31 women in roles including Series Producer, Screenwriter, Producer, Development Executive, Director, VFX Editor, Director of Photography, Editor, Content Producer, Script Consultant, Actor, Assistant Producer, Presenter, Edit Producer.
The 2025 mentees are:
Amit Kaur, Produce/Director
Anna Chacko, Producer
Anna Thomson, Series Producer
Bisola Elizabeth Alabi, Screenwriter
Carol Harding, Producer
Chantal Barnes, Development Executive
Clare Fisher, Series Producer
Claudia Sermbezis, TV Reporter/Presenter
Despina Ladi, Screenwriter
Ella Natalia Hopkins, Senior Producer
Ellie Durak, VFX Editor, GFX Editor
Eva Edo, Screenwriter and Film Writer/Director
Gail Jenkinson, Director of Photography
Grace Viora, Storyteller, Writer, Creative Producer
Jessica Boyd, Screenwriter/Director
Julia Bond, Senior Development Producer
Kath Pick, Series Producer / Senior Content Producer
Leanne Chuter, Producer/Director
Misan Aviomoh, Assistant Producer
Nadine Tayar, Series Producer
Paula Hines, Script Consultant, Editor & Writer
Rachel Ivy, Online Educator / Teacher / Presenter
Rosa Rogers, Director
Saleyha Ahsan, Freelance Broadcaster and Filmmaker
Shakira Akabusi, Presenter / Speaker / Women’s Health Expert
Sobha Bhatia, Senior Edit Producer
Tamsin Eames, Producer/Director/Reporter
Vanessa Coates, Series Producer
Venita Kidza, Senior Producer
Vicky Matthews, Producer Director
Zuelika Brown, Series Editor
“Without a doubt, it has been utterly glorious in providing the most incredible, intelligent, supportive and creative network.”
“The Wonder Women Mentoring Programme is a brilliant example of the best kind of collaboration – with a wide variety of industry stakeholders coming together to give women access to opportunities that they often do not have, for a host of different reasons. Having met some of the mentees and mentors at the launch, I feel incredibly proud that the Film and TV Charity’s Reel Impact programme was able to support Wonder Women with an award that will elevate women from all areas of the industry. I am also pleased to accept the invitation to join the organisation’s “sisterhood” - an amazing group of women - and I’m very much looking forward to hearing how the mentees’ progress and thrive as a result of the programme. I wish Ria and the team at Wonder Women every success as they help to build women, sustain their careers in the industry and create lasting legacy.”
As the industry’s ONLY year-long, nationwide mentoring programme that supports diverse women at mid-senior level. Wonder Women supports social mobility, employability and diversity & inclusion in TV.
Thanks to our industry partners the Film & Television Charity and ScreenSkills, Wonder Women CIC is proud to offer our game-changing, transformational programme (with a market value of over £7000 per person) exclusively complimentary, to 31 women to retain and super-charge the next generation of female leaders.
The 2025 MENTORS
The 2025 MENTEES
THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible to apply for the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme female applicants from all walks of life and those who identify as such, are welcome to apply but must meet the following criteria;
Must have a minimum of 15 years paid experience working in Television, Film or the Creative Industries
Must not already be committed to another mentoring or career development programme
Must be available and committed to fulfilling the year-long commitment
Must be a UK resident and work in the UK
Preference will be given to women who come from the most marginalised groups who are most at risk of leaving the sector in the current climate.
WHAT WE OFFER - THE PROGRAMME
Successful applicants will receive the following with a market value of £7000 throughout the programme:
Access to attend the welcome event in-person in London
Complimentary access to the Wonder Women members site & community hub
12 x hours of 1-2-1 mentoring with a senior female leader who works in Television, Film or the Creative Industries (1 hour every month)
18 x hours of online masterclasses taught by senior leading executive coaches
1 x discounted ticket to attend Wonder Women Live!
Access to attend the Graduation Event to celebrate the completion of the programme in December
Become part of the Wonder Women community!
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAMME
You must ring-fence time to commit to yourself, to your mentor and fellow mentees to do the work (minimum 6 hours per month, anything beyond that you will get the most out of the opportunity by investing in yourself)
Attend every 1-2-1 mentoring session with your mentor
Attend all masterclasses + Complete feedback surveys after every learning circle
Complete the annual evaluation upon completion of the programme
Attend the welcome and graduation events in person
To support the sustainability of the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme, all participants will be required to pay a fee of £100. As we are a Community Interest Company, all funds go towards delivering our activity.
Together, We Rise!
Together, we rise!
Together, we rise!
We would like to thank our industry partners Screenskills and The Film & TV Charity for their ongoing support of the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme.