Tolu Stedford has over 20 years of industry experience and has produced, written and associate director credits encompassing television, film, and stage.  As the former CEO of the Independent Film Trust, she supported and developed BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated talent and projects created by underrepresented creatives. Tolu is CEO of Story Compound, a talent development and consultancy business, with an in-house production company that focuses on sharing untold stories from the Global Majority that resonate internationally. 

Tolu was an Executive Producer of The Medallion, a documentary supported by BFI Doc Society. The documentary has gained noteworthy official selections including an IDA Award nomination, a Cinema Eye Honors, and has been acquired by The New Yorker (Conde Nast Entertainment for worldwide distribution). She also pioneered the Creative Corridor programme sponsored by Sony Entertainment Television, developing international co-production opportunities for Global Majority writers from the US and UK.  She then ran, The Residency, a BFI Challenge Fund writer's lab for Global Majority Writers developing action and thriller feature film scripts. Tolu executive produced eight award-winning films for Warner Brothers and the Criminal Justice Alliance, which is currently in the festival circuit. 

Film London has recognised Tolu as a promising industry leader as part of the Breaking Glass Ceiling 23 cohort and has been partnered with Jay Hunt (Apple TV Creative Director) and Eva Yates (Director of BBC Film). Tolu is also a thought leader in the area of advocacy for better representation and access for underrepresented creatives, a BAFTA Connect member, British Screen Forum's FUTURE LEADER, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre 'INDUSTRY CHAMPION', Film and TV Charity IPP panel member, KIFF Film Festival jury member, COMIC RELIEF Pop Culture Funding Body Member as well as a member of the ScreenSkills Film Council.