SBS has appointed Mandi Wicks as director of news and current affairs. Wicks is currently SBS’s director of audio and language content and will take on the new role in late September 2020.
Mandi will replace outgoing director of news and current affairs, Jim Carroll, who announced his retirement in March and will work with Mandi to ensure a smooth transition prior to his departure later this year.
Wicks has an extensive experience working in news, editorial and management roles, including a decade at SBS.
Wicks began her career as a journalist before moving into news management roles, working at the Macquarie Radio Network and Southern Cross Austereo. Prior to joining SBS, Wicks was General Manager of DMG Radio Australia (now Nova Entertainment) in Sydney, where she assisted in launching the Nova Network.
SBS managing director James Taylor said: “Mandi is an exceptional leader and innovator, with an unimpeachable commitment to news, broadcasting and to serving Australian communities. Mandi demonstrates an unrelenting dedication to SBS’s purpose in everything she does. Mandi’s leadership of a diverse and complex team of over 300 staff – and their unrivalled connections with communities – is critical to SBS’s unique offering in the Australian media landscape. Her pursuit of excellence, trusted leadership and digital expertise will continue to be invaluable to SBS as we continue to strengthen our commitment to communities.”
On her appointment, Wicks said: “It is a great privilege to lead the SBS News and Current Affairs team – a talented and dedicated team that delivers world-class and award-winning journalism, comprehensive and trusted coverage of local and international news and events, and distinctive stories that are inclusive of contemporary Australia. There is no other news provider that understands and reflects Australia like SBS, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to ensure we continue to play a crucial role in providing diverse perspectives from Australia and around the globe, in service of the SBS Charter.”
On Jim Carroll’s retirement, James Taylor added: “I’d like to once again thank Jim Carroll for his role in cementing SBS as one of Australia’s most trusted media organisations during his time as Director of News and Current Affairs over the last seven years. This position has been amplified in recent months as Australians have turned to SBS for reliable and