ACTRA National has created a new role to oversee strategies related to enhancing diversity on Canadian screens.

The organization has appointed the former executive director of Pride Toronto, Olivia Nuamah, as its director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

In the role, Nuamah will be tasked with improving the working lives of ACTRA National’s 27,000-strong membership and ensuring more diverse representation for the performers it represents.

Nuamah served as exec director at Pride Toronto from 2017 until January 2020. During her tenure, Nuamah oversaw sponsorship investments including $10 million for national arts programs and $8 million for LGBTQ+ community-based initiatives, according to a statement from ACTRA National. Nuamah is also the former executive director of the Atkinson Foundation, where she oversaw policy initiatives including All-Day Kindergarten, Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and The Black Experience Project study of Black communities across the GTA.

Nuamah will report to ACTRA National’s executive director and chief negotiator Marie Kelly. “We look forward to working together to advance the work opportunities and conditions of our professional performers, while increasing the diversity of our on- and off-screen talent,” said Kelly in a statement.