Women Flip the Script at National Media Conference
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
Miles Franklin winner joins Australia’s top screen talent to reimagine who gets to tell the story
Women are changing the way we tell stories – and who gets to be at the centre of them.
In a stand-out session presented by SBS at the 2025 Women in Media National Conference, some of Australia’s most acclaimed women creators take centre stage to reveal how they’re transforming social perceptions of women – one character, script and storyline at a time.
Titled ‘Flipping the Script: Women Shaping the Story’, the panel features:
Shankari Chandran, Miles Franklin Award-winning author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and Song of the Sun God – both now being adapted for the screen
Amanda Duthie, Head of Stan Originals
Jodi Matterson, CEO of Silent Firework Group and producer of Penguin Bloom, The Dry, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Wolf Like Me, Nine Perfect Strangers and The Last Anniversary.
Moderated by Dilpreet Kaur Taggar, Executive Producer and Co-Host of SBS Spice.
Together, they’ll explore how women across writing, producing and performance are crafting stories that challenge stereotypes, reflect real lives, and resonate with audiences around the world.
“This isn’t just about good books and entertainment – it’s about agency and representation," said Kym Middleton, General Manager of Women in Media.
“When women lead the storytelling, outdated tropes give way to richer, more complex portrayals that shift how we see women – and ourselves.”
From big-budget screen hits to award-winning literature and podcasts, these creators are reshaping how we see ourselves – on screen, on the page, in our earbuds, and in public life.
Shankari Chandran is a Sydney-based lawyer and author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Her acclaimed novel, set in a Western Sydney nursing home, unpacks contested histories with honesty and care. This, and her debut novel, Song of the Sun God, are currently being adapted for the screen. Her writing explores race, identity, and postcolonial trauma.
Amanda Duthie is Head of Stan Originals, overseeing development and commissioning of scripted series, films, entertainment formats and a ground-breaking slate of investigative documentaries. Under her leadership, Stan Originals has delivered more locally produced drama than all global streamers combined. Her slate includes Bump, Black Snow, Invisible Boys, Lord of the Flies, Wolf Like Me, and films The Surfer, Nitram andWindcatcher. Amanda has also led slates at ABC TV, Adelaide Film Festival and SBS.
Jodi Matterson is one of Australia’s most successful film producers and CEO of Silent Firework Group. Her recent credits include The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, The Dry, Wolf Like Me, and The Last Anniversary, which is based on Liane Moriarty’s NYT best seller. Jodi’s productions have topped global streaming charts, premiered at major festivals, and featured stars like Sigourney Weaver, Nicole Kidman and Eric Bana. She also serves on the Screen NSW Advisory Committee.
Dilpreet Kaur Taggar is the Executive Producer of SBS Spice, SBS’s flagship podcast for South Asians in English. It shares stories of identity, culture, and change in Australia. Her work spans digital media and in-depth interviews, with added experience at Al Jazeera and ABC News. Born and raised in India, she brings a clear, thoughtful approach to storytelling on gender, migration, identity, and the ties that shape how we live.
The Women in Media National Conference takes place 15 August at ICC Sydney and features leading voices fromPR, communication, journalism, broadcasting, film, digital, publishing, tech and public affairs.
It brings together women and gender-diverse professionals from across the country for a power-packed day of connection, ideas and career-shifting conversations. If you work in media, you must be in the room.
