Women in Media has expanded its board of directors, welcoming Bridget Fair, Nicole McInnes, and Pooja Patel to its ranks,

The not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to supporting women in the media industry said the trio will each serve a three-year term, effective immediately. This follows the appointment of Kym Middleton as the inaugural General Manager in January.

Fair, the CEO of Free TV Australia, brings a wealth of experience in media and television including senior management experience at Seven West Media, ABC and SBS. She's also worked in private legal practice. Fair is a current board director for Women in Media, was former chair of Screenrights, has held non-exec roles at iSelect, and was a director at OzTAM.

"I'm proud to join the Women in Media board and to have the opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of professional women in the industry. Our programs aim to enhance networking opportunities, skills development, and career advancement for women in media. Women have come a long way in the media sector but there is always more to be done," Fair said.

McInnes is currently the Managing Director of Digital Wellness and has a strong background in commercial management and digital leadership, having worked with companies such as WW, Dell, Amex, Pandora and eHarmony.

Patel, an audit partner specialising in media and technology at Deloitte, brings her financial and governance skills to the board.

Founder and co-chair of Women in Media, Victoria Laurie, expressed her delight at the new appointments. "We are delighted to welcome Bridget, Nicole, and Pooja to our board of directors. Each of them brings extensive networks and industry expertise that will enrich our efforts to support women working in the media sector across Australia.”

The Women in Media Industry Insight Report 2023 indicates 54% of women continue to be either unsure or explicitly dissatisfied with the progress of their careers in the media industry. The addition of these three leaders to the board of Women in Media is a positive step towards addressing these concerns and advancing the cause of women in the media sector.