Phillipa McDermott: paving the way for Indigenous representation

As a former radio broadcaster and leader at the ABC, she significantly boosted staff Indigenous representation. With her strong emphasis on education, truth-telling and reconciliation, Phillipa is committed to establishing a more equitable society and ensuring diverse voices are heard and valued in all areas.

In 2013, Phillipa led the ABC in exceeding its 2% Indigenous employment target for the first time. Her leadership and vision have been pivotal in promoting diversity within the Australian media and corporate landscapes. Her influence extends to senior roles at Deloitte and CBA, and as chair of Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Before her role at the ABC, Phillipa worked as a radio broadcaster, significantly impacting the representation and inclusion of Indigenous voices in media. Today she serves as Executive Manager in the Centre of Excellence, Indigenous experience at CBA. 

“My goal is to get as many Indigenous and diverse people working in the media industry as possible. The Australian media and entertainment landscapes do not often represent diversity, so we must push hard to make those industries look and sound like Australia. We need our stories to be told by us.”

Inspiring change through education

Phillipa’s journey began with her education at UTS, where she earned a Bachelor of Communication in 1998. Reflecting on her time at UTS, Phillipa emphasises the importance of meeting deadlines and the value of the skills and friendships she developed during her studies.

“When I was 21, I travelled overseas for about a year and met so many people my age who knew so much about their country, their political system, their rights and general civics. I was embarrassed that I didn’t. So that motivated me to go to university and study communications and journalism, as well as social and political theory.”

This experience inspired her to pursue higher education and better understand the socio-political landscape of Australia.