Monash University head of film and screen studies Olivia Khoo and SBS scripted commissioning editor Loani Arman are the new co-chairs of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN), taking over from Michelle Cheng and Kelrick Martin.
Khoo, who has a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of Melbourne, is a member of the Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts and chair of the Asian Australian Studies Research Network, which she co-founded in 2006. She is also the author/co-editor of seven books, including Transnational Australian Cinema: Ethics in the Asian Diasporas and Futures of Chinese Cinema: Technologies and Temporalities in Chinese Screen Cultures.
Her co-chair Arman is proud Indonesian-Australian woman that joined SBS last year and works across the development and production of scripted content, while also overseeing the broadcaster’s short-form drama slate and other talent development initiatives. Arman was an executive producer on Latecomers, the winner of SDIN Award at Friday’s SPA Awards, and Appetite, which screened in competition at Canneseries. Prior to SBS, she was a content director at Screen Queensland where she led their development programs and initiatives. Her experience also includes serving as a drama associate for Showtime Australia.
Khoo and Arman said they were both excited to contribute to the next phase of the organisation’s future.
“With the second iteration of the Everyone Counts report to start working on, Australia’s screen industries are well placed to make significant strides in improving diversity and inclusion and I’m looking forward to working with our screen organisations, research and educational institutions, and my co-Chair Loani Arman to make this happen,” Khoo said.
Arman added: “I’m thrilled to be working closely with Olivia and the SDIN membership to continue the work we need to do across the industry, building on The Everyone Project and seeking out and developing talent from historically excluded backgrounds through long-term measurable programs and funding.”
Friday’s presentation of the SDIN Award at the SPA Awards brought an end to the two-year term of Martin and Cheng, whose tenure included welcoming the SAFC as the new host organisation of the SDIN, as well as the release of Everyone Counts, a national report featuring preliminary data on diversity in the Australian screen industry from The Everyone Project.