BBC Studios has appointed BBC commissioner Sreya Biswas to the newly created position of Director of Programmes for the Natural History Unit.
She will report to Jonny Keeling, the NHU’s Head, and work closely with its Creative Director Mike Gunton.
She will lead a team of executive producers and series editors to support the NHU in its position as the world’s biggest natural history content producer, whilst expanding into new creative areas of focus including adventure, travel and documentary programming.
Biswas joins the Natural History Unit from the BBC, where she is currently Head of Commissioning for Natural History and oversees series including Planet Earth III, Asia, Kingdom and Blue Planet III, as well developing and delivering a range of Natural History content including Big Cats 24/7, Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles, Spy in the Troop and An Hour on Earth.
She also oversees feature docs including multi award-winning Silverback and Orphan and environmental thriller On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace. Biswas is a Grierson Trustee and is on the Edinburgh TV Festival and Wildscreen Bristol and Tanzania advisory boards.
Prior to her BBC commissioning role, she was an Executive Producer at Naked Television based in the U.S, where she oversaw and self-shot the Emmy Award Winning Series The Day I Picked My Parents for A&E.
Jonny Keeling, Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, says: “Attracting someone of Sreya’s calibre and creative expertise to spearhead our delivery, development and expansion into new content territory is incredibly exciting. Her role will be pivotal in diversifying the NHU’s slate, winning new business, whilst maintaining our global reputation for much-loved, ambitious, blue-chip programming. Our mission to inspire audiences to love and protect the natural world has never been more important and I can’t wait to see how Sreya brings this to life in thought-provoking and compelling new ways both for the BBC and our global clients.”
Sreya Biswas added: “I’m delighted to be joining the Natural History Unit and to be working alongside the incredible people that bring the natural world to life for our audiences. The NHU’s long history of world class programming has inspired people around the world. To be part of the evolution of the unit and genre, taking it in new and exciting directions and growing opportunities, while maintaining the amazing heart of the NHU will be a real privilege.”
Biswas will take up her new role this summer.
Jon Creamer
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