The ABC Board has announced the appointment of Fiona Cameron as ABC ombudsman.
Cameron brings 30 years of experience in media, public policy and complaints processes as well as a wide range of skills essential to the newly created role.
Cameron was most recently a full-time authority member at the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) where she was the consumer lead on the board. In the role she was responsible for a wide range of consumer matters related to the broadcast and telecommunications industries.
Before her role at ACMA, she was the chief operating officer at Screen Australia. She held that role for a decade and was responsible for implementing new programs and a new organisational structure.
Cameron’s other previous roles include general manager at DMG Radio – Nova 100, general manager and director of corporate affairs at Australian Radio Network, CEO at Aurora Community Channel and Board positions at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).
In her early career, she has also worked in various political adviser roles at the state and federal level.
ABC chair Ita Buttrose said the new ombudsman role was an important one for both the ABC and its audiences.
“We are fortunate to have an experienced media executive like Fiona take on this important role and I am looking forward to the ABC benefitting from the experience she will bring.
“The ABC ombudsman role has been created following the Independent Review of ABC Complaints Handling Procedures and will help strengthen the existing complaints handling processes that reflect the trust placed in the ABC by our audiences.
“We already have the highest standards of complaints handling in place of any Australian media organisation and Fiona’s appointment will assist us in maintaining those standards,” Buttrose added.
The ABC ombudsman role strengthens the existing two-tier model of in-house complaints handling and external review by the ACMA. This approach supports editorial independence and is consistent with other public media organisations, including the BBC, CBC and SBS.
The ABC ombudsman will head an expanded Editorial Complaints Unit (currently known as Audience and Consumer Affairs) and will have the power to review a complaint finding.
The complaints review was commissioned by the ABC Board in October 2021 and was conducted by former Commonwealth and NSW ombudsman professor John McMillan and former SBS director news and current affairs Jim Carroll.
ABC managing director David Anderson said Cameron’s appointment to the role will help the broadcaster maintain the strong bond of trust and confidence with audiences.
“The ABC ombudsman will be key to us maintaining the high standards Australians know and expect from the ABC,” Anderson said.
Cameron said of her appointment: “This is an important and challenging role and strengthens the ABC’s commitment to its audience. I look forward to getting my feet under the desk and grappling with all the many and varied issues.”
Cameron will start as ombudsman of the broadcaster in late September.
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Top image: Fiona Cameron