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Adam Zwar
Writer/ProducerAdam Zwar is a five-time AACTA Award-winning writer and producer who recently created the popular Channel 10 comedy, MR. BLACK, currently being developed in the US by FOX. Adam also co-created the comedy series SQUINTERS (ABC), LOWDOWN (ABC, BBC) and WILFRED (SBS, FX). His factual writer-executive producer credits include, THE AGONY OF LIFE, which ran for six seasons on the ABC, and the seminal cricket documentaries UNDERARM: THE BALL THAT CHANGED CRICKET and BODYLINE: THE ULTIMATE TEST. Other writing credits include DARBY AND JOAN (Acorn), NO ACTIVITY (CBS), MEDIA STREET (Channel 7), and the feature film RATS AND CATS (MIFF, SXSW). Selected acting credits include SCRUBLANDS (Stan), TOP OF THE LAKE (Foxtel), PARTY TRICKS (Network Ten), RAKE (ABC), HOWZAT (Channel Nine), RUSH (Channel 10) and THE WEDDING PARTY (MIFF). Adam remains one of Australia's leading voice-over artists, and his first book, TWELVE SUMMERS, is out through Hachette.
Alex Sangston
Executive Manager at Screen TasmaniaATTENDING VIA ZOOM
Alex Sangston has headed up Screen Tasmania since February 2016; luckily enough joining the team just in time for the releases of Lion, The Kettering Incident and Rosehaven, which lasted 5 seasons. Tasmanian screen production is growing significantly in scope, scale and capacity and is now able to host projects such as Netflix’s The Survivors, Amazon’s Deadloch and Bay of Fires for the ABC, and has a burgeoning video game development sector..
Before moving back to Tassie (as a born and bred Tasmanian), Alex was at Screen Australia, running the Producer Offset and Co-production Unit from the agency’s inception in July 2008. In that role, Alex was responsible for certifying films for the Producer Offset and approving projects as Official Co-productions.
Alex has also worked at the Commonwealth Arts Department in Canberra on international screen production policy and programs, and in broadcasting and online content policy.
Amanda Duthie
Head of Originals at StanATTENDING VIA ZOOM
With over 20 years of experience in the Australian screen industry, Amanda is a passionate advocate for Australian storytelling.
Amanda Duthie is the Head of Stan Originals, encompassing scripted series and features, entertainment and factual features and series content.
Stan Originals has commissioned critically acclaimed and award-winning fiction content including Black Snow, Bump, Population 11, The Tourist, Bad Behaviour, Prosper, Caught, Ten Pound Poms and Wolf Like Me. Across the Revealed slate of feature documentaries, titles include Renee Gracie: Fireproof, Otto by Otto, Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes, Amongst Us: Neo Nazi Australia and The Cape.
Amanda has been Head of Arts & Entertainment at ABC TV, a/g Head of Drama SBS, Head of Production, Development and Studios at the South Australian Film Corporation and Creative Director/CEO of the Adelaide Film Festival, leading both the festival and its investment fund and Creative Director/CEO of Adelaide Festival of Ideas.
Anna Kaplan
Producer at Regen StudiosAnna Kaplan is Co-Founder and Head of Impact Production at Regen Studios. With two decades of experience as a screen producer and impact strategist, she has worked extensively in production and distribution in the UK and Australia, including roles at BBC Documentaries, ITV Factual, Granada Productions, VicScreen and Madman. In 2015, she devised and led the impact campaign for the high-impact feature documentary THAT SUGAR FILM inspiring audiences to change their relationship with sugar. She then produced the climate solutions feature documentary 2040 and led a global impact campaign that mobilised audiences to directly support the solutions featured in the film. Both films sit in the top-ten highest grossing Australian theatrical documentaries of all time at the domestic box office.
In 2020, Anna co-founded Regen Studios with Damon Gameau to focus on storytelling that inspires and activates audiences. Recent credits include producing Regenerating Australia, a high-end short film created in partnership with WWF-Australia and executive producing Rachel’s Farm directed by Rachel Ward and the upcoming Future Council directed by Damon Gameau.
Anna is a recipient of the Natalie Miller Fellowship and Co-founder and Co-Chair of Sustainable Screens Australia, an industry-led organisation working to reduce the environmental impact of local productions.
Ben Steel
COMPANY DIRECTOR / FOUNDING PARTNER of Screen WellBen is passionate about improving wellbeing for the screen sector, and he has spent the last eight years speaking to arts & entertainment industry leaders and experts in mental health about the wellbeing challenges and solutions creative practitioners experience, an exploration which culminated in him making the acclaimed ABC documentary The Show Must Go On released during mental health week 2019.
Ben is an accredited Mental Health First Aid instructor who brings this training with his knowledge and 30 years of work experience in the screen sector, alongside his personal lived experience with anxiety & depression to the Screen Well team.
Belinda Chayko
WriterBelinda Chayko is an award-winning screenwriter and director. She was the co-creator and showrunner on FIRES, which won the AACTA for Best Miniseries or Telefeature and a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie. Belinda was co-creator and showrunner on SAFE HARBOUR, winner of the 2019 International Emmy for Best Television Series and an AACTA for Best Screenplay. Her recent writing credits for television include PROSPER (Stan), as well as STATELESS (ABC) and FIGHTING SEASON (Foxtel). Belinda co-wrote two seasons of the political drama SECRET CITY (Foxtel), and the miniseries BARRACUDA (ABC), which won an AWGIE Award in 2017. She wrote the telemovie SAVED (SBS) which also won an AWGIE award. Belinda’s feature film LOU, which she wrote and directed, starred John Hurt and screened in competition at a number of international festivals, including Busan and Rome. Her debut feature, CITY LOOP, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2000.
Blake Northfield
Co – Founder and CEO of Bronte PicturesBlake Northfield is the Co – Founder and CEO of Bronte Pictures Pty Ltd, Co – Chairman of the Asian Alliance Film Corporation. With fourteen years working experience in the film and television industry, Blake started out as an actor and runner. Training in Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne for acting. Blake’s acting credits include Home and Away, Please Like Me & The Story of Us. Working in Management under mentor, Mark Byrne, in Sydney. Blake spent two years working in the administration side of the business. Co – Founding Bronte Pictures Pty Ltd in 2015. Since then Blake has produced multiple feature films and one documentary TV series. Which all have been sold to multiple countries all over the world and domestically to Netflix, Stan & Redbull.
Brooke Satchwell
Actress/Producer- What Makes a Viable Regional Screen Industry
- Regenerative Storytelling to Inspire Change. Damon Gameau and Anna Kaplan in conversation with Brooke Satchwell
- Case Study: While the Men are Away
Brooke has been working as an actress across film, television and theatre for close to three decades.
Her recent work includes three seasons for FX Networks’ Mr Inbetween, Canneseries and AACTA award-winning Over and Out, The End for Foxtel/Sky UK/See-Saw Films, Nakkiah Lui’s Preppers for ABC, Rachel Griffiths’ debut feature Ride Like a Girl, the revamped SeaChange for Channel 9 and Live On The Reef as a co-host for ABC’s live broadcast of the largest orgy on the planet.
Brooke’s career has (somewhat curiously) spanned most formats and 2019 saw her earn her first producing credit alongside Team Captain duties on Show Me the Movie for Channel 10.
Brooke is most honoured to contribute as narrator to the magnificently heart-driven and deservedly multi-award-winning Employable Me (ABC), Love On The Spectrum (ABC) and Turban Legend for SBS as part of Untold Australia.
She is currently filming The Twelve for Foxtel/Warner Bros. and has worked on two features due for release in 2022 and beyond. If she disclosed what they were, she’d have to kill you.
Brooke’s storyteller heart lies in the regions having grown up on the Mornington Peninsula pre traffic lights. She is in the process of migrating to Bellingen and emerging as a writer/producer.
Catherine Marciniak
Co-Creator at Planet Fungi- What's Cutting Through, What's Next and What's Regional: Unscripted
- Fungi Fever: How Planet Fungi Conquered Global Screens and Hearts
Co-creator of Planet Fungi, has had a successful international career as a documentary director and cinematographer. She is now focused on making documentaries about people who inspire, and the extraordinary, beautiful and sometimes bizarre world of fungi. She has been an Independent Documentary filmmaker, Series Producer of the ABC’s Religion and Ethics program Compass and a Features Reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Her credits include STEEL CITY, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, THE LIFE SERIES, AFTERMATH, GREY VOYAGERS, HOSPITAL-AN UNHEALTHY BUSINESS and more.
In her role as ABC Senior Features Reporter, she produced over 60 hours of feature news programming, digital articles, and radio packages. She also led social media projects for local and national ABC. She was a Finalist in the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism in 2019 for her work on the documentary LEAGUEABILITY and one of the winning ABC NSW team in 2020, that covered the ‘black summer’ fires. Catherine is an Executive Producer and co-writer of the iMax documentary FUNGI – A WEB OF LIFE and is the co-producer, director, writer and editor of FOLLOW THE RAIN.
Charlie Aspinwall
Co-Founder/Director of Ludo StudioMulti Emmy® Award winning co-founder of Ludo Studio. Charlie is currently producing the animated series, BLUEY (ABC TV/BBC Studios), co-creating and co-producing the animated series THE STRANGE CHORES (ABC TV), co-producing the Stan Original series THOU SHALT NOT STEAL and developing a slate of live action, animation, drama and comedy projects for international broadcasters.
Chris Hilton
CEO / Executive Producer of Tilt MediaChris Hilton is one of Australia’s most prolific and award-winning producers who has made films and television across a broad spectrum of genres with many of the world’s major broadcast platforms and distributors.
Previously co-founder and CEO of the Essential Media Group and a founding partner and managing director of Hilton Cordell Productions, Chris has financed, executive produced or produced over 500 hours of content from feature films and television drama through feature docs, true crime, CGI driven series and lifestyle programming.
For the past decade he has produced for broadcast clients in the US and internationally including Disney, Fox, Discovery, National Geographic.ViacomCBS, A&E Networks, PBS, BBC, Channel Four and Arté France as well as all Australian television networks.
Scripted highlights include the feature film Saving Mr. Banks (Tom Hanks & Emma Thompson), comedy- drama Rake (5 seasons for ABC starring Richard Roxburgh and a US adaptation for Fox with Greg Kinnear) and crime series Jack Irish (3 telemovies and 2 seasons for ABC starring Guy Pierce).
Unscripted highlights include Dealing with the Demon, Shadowplay, Dying to Leave, My Brother the Serial Killer, The Floating Brothel, The Grammar of Happiness and Living Universe.
Chris Oliver-Taylor
Chief Content Officer at ABCChris began his career in London working at BBC Sport, BBC Music Entertainment, BBC Entertainment and BBC News, in both radio and television, before working in various senior roles at the ABC, including Head of Television Production in 2005 and then Head of Television Business & Operations in 2008.
In 2011 Chris moved to the independent production sector as Managing Director of NBC Universal’s Matchbox Pictures, building the business into a creative juggernaut and garnering numerous Australian and international awards. These included 20 AACTA awards, an International Emmy, three Kidscreen Awards, a Prix Jeunesse, nine Logies, four Australian Directors Guild Awards, six Australian Writers Guild Awards and nine Screen Producers of Australia Awards, including three-time Producer of the year.
In 2018 he joined Fremantle as CEO Asia Pacific, responsible for the creative output of one of the biggest production companies across the Asia Pacific, including executive producing Netflix’s series Heartbreak High and Wellmania.
In late 2021 he was appointed Director of Production for Australia and New Zealand for Netflix where he took production responsibility for every series and film produced across the region.
In March 2023 Chris rejoined the ABC as its first Chief Content Officer, responsible for all of its creative content across radio, television and digital (non news).
Oliver-Taylor is a current Board member of AFTRS, The Melbourne Theatre Company and Screenworks and a former Board member of VicScreen, Council member and President of Screen Producers Australia, Board director and Deputy Chair of Screenrights and Global Operating Board member of Fremantle.
Cody Greenwood
Cody Greenwood has spent the last decade working alongside some of Australia’s most prominent storytellers to create authentic and thought-provoking content.
In 2023 Cody was the recipient of Screen Australia’s Enterprise funding, a 200K grant designed to identify and support business proposals that drive change in the Australian film industry. Cody is using the funding to join forces with Dan Joyce of Projector Films on a new partnership that will leverage each other’s expertise, track records and their pool of creatives and strategic relationships to produce into premium international documentary production.
Cody is currently being mentored by industry heavyweights Liz Watts (Animal Kingdom, The King) and Sue Maslin (The Dressmaker, Japanese Story). Likewise, she has been involved in mentoring young West Australian producers as part of her commitment to support and guide the next generation of local talent. Cody began her career in London over a decade ago, before moving to LA to join production company The Masses, which was founded by the late Heath Ledger. While there, she production managed music videos, short film content for the Museum of Contemporary Art and developed TV projects for leading US Networks including MTV. Cody is a strong advocate for the Australian screen industry and has served on as Co-President of Women In Film & TV (WIFT) Western Australia and on the Advisory Board of the Screen Forever Conference.
Cody began her career in London, before moving to LA to join production company The Masses, which was founded by the late Heath Ledger. While there, she production managed music videos, short film content for the Museum of Contemporary Art and developed TV projects for leading US Networks including MTV. Returning to Australia, she production managed 15 documentaries by first time indigenous filmmakers for National Indigenous Television (NITV), which remains a career highlight.
Cody is a strong advocate for the Australian screen industry and has served on as Co-President of Women In Film & TV (WIFT) Western Australia and on the Advisory Board of the Screen Forever Conference.
Damon Gameau
Co-Founder of Regenerators (Regen Studios)After 10 years as an actor in which he appeared in several feature films and television shows, including receiving an AFI nomination for best supporting actor in the film Balibo, Damon turned to directing and activism.
As a director he wrote, directed, and performed the vocals for the 2011 winning Tropfest short film, ANIMAL BEATBOX.
In 2015 he released his first feature film THAT SUGAR FILM which became the highest grossing Australian documentary across Australia and New Zealand of all time. It has received awards from across the world including the 2015 AACTA Award for Best Documentary. The accompanying book, ‘That Sugar Book’ was a best seller in Australia and has since been released in over 20 countries and 8 languages around the world. That Sugar Guide is his latest release.
Damon then completed the documentary ‘2040’ in 2019 with an accompanying book called ‘2040: a handbook for the regeneration’. The film now sits in the top 4 highest grossing documentaries at the Australian cinema. Damon was nominated for the 2020 NSW Australian of the Year for this work.
Damon then co-founded Regen Studios with Anna Kapplan where together they work with philanthropists and NGO’s to build comprehensive impact campaigns for the films to raise money for ecological solutions and awareness in classrooms, board rooms and in Parliaments around the world.
His recent projects were REGENERATING AUSTRALIA and the soon to be released FUTURE COUNCIL feature documentary. Damon also spoke at TEDx Sydney and his talk ‘went viral’ when posted on the global TED platform.
Daniel Krige
Screen Investment Manager at Screen NSWDaniel Krige works as a Screen Investment Manager at Screen NSW. He is part of a team who assess Development and Production Finance applications and any bespoke initiatives that the agency may run. This requires him to work with a wide range of practitioners and stakeholders. Daniel is also an award-winning filmmaker with more than 20 hours of Australian television to his credit. His features WEST and INHUMAN RESOURCES were released to wide acclaim internationally, and were picked up by HBO and Amazon for North America. His short-form comedy series, THE AGENT, won a slew of awards around the globe and continues to delight audiences. He is currently collaborating with producer Kristin Burr (CRUELLA, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT) on a comedy feature and with director Elissa Down (THE BLACK BALLOON, WHILE THE MEN ARE AWAY) on a returnable crime drama among numerous other projects.
Danielle Ah Boo
Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program at Screen QueenslandDanielle Ah Boo is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman, born and raised on Thursday Island. Ms Ah Boo is Screen Queensland’s first Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit, a new leadership role created to uplift First Nations voices across the state’s screen industry.
Ms Ah Boo has previously worked in production for First Nations-founded agency Carbon Creative and more recently as a financial accountant with Arrow Energy. She has also served as Treasure and now Co-Chair of Reconciliation Queensland.
Her role at Screen Queensland is to elevate awareness of the cultural significance of First Nations storytelling and amplifying First Nations voices in the screen industry, as truth-telling holds immense significance in shaping our nations’s history.
Danielle McCarthy
Industry and Audience Development Manager at Screen NSWDanielle oversees Screen NSW’s Industry Development and Audience Development funds working with a wide range of stakeholders and practitioners. Previously she worked in Industry Development at Screen Tasmania. Danielle’s background is in screen-related events and festivals - she oversaw the Industry division at the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) in Melbourne for six
editions, and has worked in producing and programming roles at film festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance, and the Melbourne International Film Festival.
She began her career at Australia’s SBS Television.
Debra Richards
Director Studio & Production Affairs, APAC of NetflixDebra has been Director of Studio & Production Affairs at Netlflix since September 2019, covering studio, content and production policy for the Asia Pacific region. She has over 30 years communications, media & screen industry experience, previously 12 years as CEO of the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA), over 13 years with Australia’s broadcasting regulator, then the Australian Broadcasting Authority (& Tribunal) and most recently almost nine years as the immediate past CEO of Ausfilm, attracting major production and post production work to Australia.
Denise Eriksen
Head of Training and Career Development at Screen CareersShe’s what’s politely known as an “industry veteran” or, less politely as “you’re still here then?” She does this work because she bloody loves telly and film and wants everybody to have the career they deserve and work for. She loves teaching, MCing and public performance generally. And a good chat.
Most recently, Denise co-founded Media Mentors Australia with Esther Coleman-Hawkins to share her love of the screen industry with as many people as possible.
Here’s her bio:
Denise has worked as a journalist, producer and Executive Producer around the world - and in brilliant jobs as Head of Factual and Head of Current Affairs at the ABC and Head of Production and Development at SBS.
In tandem with her production and commissioning career, Denise has made it her mission to ensure that talented people access the training and resources they need to forge their careers. Denise has run courses for the BBC, ITV, ABC, SBS, NITV, TVNZ and RTE. Most recently, she trained journalists and producers in Ho Chi Minh and in Fiji.
She’s proudly a Pākehā from Aotearoa NZ and Esther’s mother-in-law.
Erin Good
Screenwriter/Director/ProducerErin Good is an award-winning screenwriter, director and producer. Good is the creator of the TikTok supernatural comedy series KRYSTAL KLAIRVOYANT (co-writer and co-producer Huna Amweero) and the fantasy noir digital series JADE OF DEATH (producer Taylor Litton-Strain).
The hit Australian fantasy digital series JADE OF DEATH amassed over 4 million views online. The series has been acquired by CBC and has won or been nominated for over 60 awards including; Best Drama Series from the International Academy of Web Television; Best Digital Series at the C21 International Drama Awards; and an Australian Directors’ Guild Award. Good is in development on a long-form adaptation of the series with support from Screen NSW. JADE OF DEATH was shortlisted for the 2020 Sundance Episodic Lab.
Good launched her production company Example Content with KRYSTAL KLAIRVOYANT in 2022. KRYSTAL KLAIRVOYANT has some notable award wins including the C21 Drama Award for Best Newform Drama Series and Best International Digital Series at Series Fest 2023. This is what the Jury had to say:
“An innovative use of a new platform… Krystal Klairvoyant has admirable ambition. It’s not afraid to take risks, and more often than not, those risks are rewarded.”
Example Content was nominated for an Australian Screen Producers award for Online Series Production of the Year 2023 and Good won an Australian Director’s Guild Award for her direction.
As a writer, Good works in premium TV development rooms for series with Netflix, Amazon and other streamers. She is also in development on a slate of TV and film projects including what will be her debut feature film I THINK I LOVED YOU BEFORE.
Esther Coleman-Hawkins
CEO of Screen CareersEsther a powerhouse of brilliant ideas and the drive to get stuff done. She’s from the north of England (Accrington, to be precise) and that grit and determination hasn’t left her. She’s funny, smart and very useful. Most recently along with Denise Eriksen, she co-founded Media Mentors to help screen creatives bring their best selves to their work.
Esther is the CEO of Screen Careers and the driving force in taking this not-for-profit initiative to crew looking for career long learning opportunities and to anyone curious about working in the screen industry.
Her official bio:
Esther is a smart, creative and innovative producer with a wealth of worldwide programming experience. From the award-winning Revolution School for ABC1 to the Logie-nominated Last Chance Saloon, her goal is to bring intimate stories to life with insight and humour.
She is also a long-standing, and enthusiastic, veteran of development. She thrive with the challenge of turning an exciting idea into a successful TV series. Alongside two decades of program making, she loves coaching and mentoring people both inside and beyond the media industry, where she has helped people kick start their projects and revamp, restart or change careers.
In 2022 she also successfully completed a post-grad in Career Counselling and is putting it to great use.
Helen Bowden
Managing Director of Lingo PicturesHelen is one of Australia’s most prolific and highly awarded television drama producers. In 2015 she formed Lingo Pictures with Jason Stephens and together they have made ten series in eight years. This includes two seasons of The Secrets She Keeps starring Laura Carmichael and Jessica de Gouw, and two seasons of Upright starring Tim Minchin for Sky and Foxtel.
In 2023, Helen delivered Erotic Stories, an anthology series for SBS and ITV Studios, After the Party, a thrilling drama starring Robyn Malcolm and Peter Mullan for TVNZ, ABC, and ITV Studios, and Queen of Oz, an original comedy created by and starring Catherine Tate for BBC1 and Fifth Season.
Helen was a founder and Managing Director of Matchbox Pictures, which sold to NBCUniversal in early 2014. In 2022 Helen and Jason sold a majority stake in Lingo Pictures to ITV Studios International.
Holly Trueman
CEO of Screen CanberraHolly is the CEO of Screen Canberra. Her mission is to support and grow the local industry in the ACT. Holly’s journey into the TV/Film industry began as a distraction while completing her PhD in Malaria Research in London. She has been working in the industry in the UK and Australia for over 20 years. Starting her TV journey at the Specialist Factual unit at the BBC White City and the ABC in Ultimo. Prior to joining Screen Canberra, Holly served as Head of Production and Executive Producer at Wildbear Entertainment, where she managed people, as well as film and television projects across multiple offices in Australia and New Zealand. Her TV producing credits include Ride: A Brutal Fairy-tale (AFF, BIFF and ABC), Animal Bushfire Rescue (PBS Nature, ARTE), Human Animal (ARTE, ZDF), Great Australian Stuff with Tony Armstrong (ABC), Reefshot (STAN Original), Australia after War (ABC) and Building to the Sky (Discovery Science, Red Arrow).
Imogen Gardam
Development Executive at ScreenaustraliaImogen Gardam is a Development Executive at Screen Australia and has worked in development and production across film and theatre for Entertainment One Australia, Hopscotch Features, Griffin Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare and The Festivalists. She co-founded independent theatre company Montague Basement, producing the group's twenty-one productions; and co-founded and ran independent theatre company FERVOUR., producing and developing the company's theatre and screen work. Imogen was the 2018 winner of the Rose Byrne Scholarship for an Emerging Female Leader in the Arts, and served on the Board and as Deputy Chair for Theatre Network NSW from 2018-2020. She has been published in Lumina Journal, Audrey Journal, Honi Soit and on Four Three Film. A graduate of Media and Communications from the University of Sydney, Imogen is currently completing a Masters of Research in Film Studies.
Isabella Torv
Scripted Development Executive at BINGE & Foxtel GroupBella joined the Foxtel Group Scripted Originals team as their Scripted Development Executive in 2023. In this role Bella works closely with the Head of Scripted Originals, Lana Greenhalgh, to commission and develop bold, brand-defining Scripted television for Foxtel Group.
Prior to Foxtel Group, Bella was the Development Executive at renowned Australian production company Easy Tiger where she worked on multi-award-winning projects such as COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS (Binge/Foxtel), THE TWELVE (Binge/Foxtel), SCRUBLANDS (Stan) and many more in various stages of development.
Ian Lynch
Content Director of Screen QueenslandWhat links Boris Johnson, endangered elephants, crazy architecture, Oklahoma tornadoes, binge drinking, Steve Jobs, Al Qaeda hostages, airport expansion, earthquakes, human rights abuses, ballroom dancing and the Iraq war? They’re some of the topics documented by Ian Lynch in a career that spans two decades in shoots around the world. Polemics, investigations, obdocs and formats have all helped to hone Ian’s skill in the documentary space.
Ian is an experienced producer, director, and manager of teams in the creative production of network broadcast, online, and streaming content. He joined Screen Queensland after a career in the UK, as well as working on projects for US and Australian broadcasters. His Australian credits include the ABC, SBS and Audible Australia. His international credits include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITN, Sky, Discovery, National Geographic, PBS and HGTV.
Ivan Vukusic
Awards and Industry Development Manager at AACTAIvan Vukusic is the Awards and Industry Development Manager at AACTA. He has over 20 years experience in the entertainment industry, including roles at Festival Mushroom Records, Walt Disney Studios and Umbrella Entertainment. He has an Associate Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing and has studied Script Assessment under Tim Pye at AFTRS. In 2013 he took a Short and Sharp winning pitch to the national Screen Forever final. Through his extensive experience in theatrical acquisition and distribution, and as a regular attendee of MIFF's 37 South, he has seen many feature film pitches. In 2018 he helped develop and launch AACTA Pitch - an initiative that provides emerging creatives with an opportunity to pitch to some of Australia's leading television, film and online executives. Across 3 separate strands, AACTA Pitch has provided a platform for ideas in web series, short film and high concept drama.
Jenny Farrar
Stakeholder Relationship Manager and Education Specialist at Media SuperAs a Stakeholder Relationship Manager and Education Specialist at Media Super, Jenny is responsible for nurturing relationships and identifying opportunities for partners within various sectors of our creative industries.
Jenny has 20 years’ experience as an educator within member-based organisations and 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, including her previous role as Founding Director of community bank Clifton Hill / North Fitzroy Community Bank and working with Media Super and Cbus Super. Jenny has a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, has completed a Diploma in Superannuation and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jenny prides herself on member engagement and providing quality service and support to members, employers and those considering joining the only industry super fund dedicated to the Creative Arts, Media Super.
Jenny can be contacted to discuss any aspect of super. E: jennyfarrar@mediasuper.com.au
www.mediasuper.com.au
Jon Bell
Screenwriter/DirectorJon Bell is one of the most experienced Indigenous Screenwriters in Australia. His television credits, which include THE WARRIORS (ABC); CLEVERMAN(ABC), which won a Screen Producers Australia Award for Best Drama as well as being nominated for an AACTA for Best Television Series in 2017; READY FOR THIS, which earned an International Emmy Kids award nomination, won a Logie Award for Most Outstanding Comedy Program and won an AACTA for Best Children’s Television Series in 2015.
Jon created and wrote the 2014 drama series THE GODS OF WHEAT STREET which won a Screen Producers Award for Mini-Series of the Year, as well as wrote for both seasons of REDFERN NOW, which earned a Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama series in 2013. Jon wrote an episode of the 2021 Endemol Shine/Seven series RFDS, nominated for a Logie Award for Most Popular Drama Series, and nominated for a TV Week Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Program.
Jon has written and directed several short films including THE MOOGAI which won the Midnight Shorts category at SXSW 2021, Best Horror Short at the LA International Shorts Festival 2021 and the Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film at Melbourne International Film Festival in 2020. The Moogai was nominated for an AWGIE award and won Best Director (shorts) at the Brooklyn Horror Festival. It was supported by Screen Australia. THE CHUCK IN screened at the Sydney Film Festival and the ImagiNative Film Festival in Toronto. His other short film credits include TWO BIG BOYS and JUSTICE FOR ONE. Jon wrote short film JARLI in 2021 for Like a Photon.
Jon is currently in development on a number of feature and television projects as both Writer and Director. He’s currently writing Pemulwuy for That’s-A-Wrap Productions with Stan Grant and Phillip Noyce as Executive Producers. Recently Jon made his feature film directing debut from his own script with The Moogai, which received 2020 funding from Screen Australia and is currently in post-production with Causeway Films and No Coincidence Media.
Joseph Maxwell
Head of Unscripted at SBSJoseph oversees commissioning for all unscripted content at SBS Australia. This ranges from cutting edge documentaries, to travel and food shows and big entertainment events. His slate of shows at SBS range from returning series such as WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE to landmark documentaries such as THE AUSTRALIAN WARS and international entertainment events such as EUROVISION. In 2023 he oversaw the commissioning and launch of ALONE IN AUSTRALIA – the highest rating commission in SBS’s history.
Kalita Corrigan
Commissioning Editor, Documentary and Factual at ABCKalita is a commissioning editor for ABC screen - documentary and factual - and is passionate about history, true crime, culture and the arts. After graduating from Byron High, Kalita moved to London spending 10 years learning from the best in the business at Channel 4 and BBC. Previous ABC commissions include WALKEY + AACTA award-winning feature documentary FIRESTARTER: THE STORY OF BANGARRA, Sydney Film Festival feature doc winner I'M WANITA and 3 part series THE WAY WE WORE with Celeste Barber. Current titles include THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG and STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE.
Ken Crouch
Head of Industry Development at Screen AustraliaIn February 2023, Ken joined Screen Australia in the newly created role of Head of Industry Development. In this role, Ken develops and implements national programs to support capacity building and skills development for the Australian screen sector and is focused on building a national strategic framework supporting industry capacity and skills development. He is also responsible for coordinating and managing stakeholder relations with the Office for the Arts, state government agencies, industry partners, local production companies and inbound productions, and collaborating with the First Nations department at Screen Australia and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity committee.
As Screenworks CEO from 2014 to 2023, Ken implemented strategic changes that transformed and expanded Screenworks into the leading regional provider of training and industry development events and initiatives for screen creatives and crew across Australia and internationally. At Screenworks, Ken oversaw 280+ training and industry development initiatives, attended by and supported more than 14,000 regional Australians, and achieved an average annual revenue growth of 32%.
Before Screenworks, Ken was part of the Executive Management team at Clarence Valley Council between 2012 and 2014, where he oversaw multiple delivery units and was responsible for the final stages of delivering the $8M federally funded Sir Earle Page Library and Education Centre. Ken was also previously Business Operations Manager for Australia's largest annual event, Sydney New Year's Eve, and has served on the boards of non-profit organisations and government advisory committees.
Kirsty Stark
Founder Crew HQ/Producer of Epic Films- Building a Strong Australian Screen Industry; Below the Line
- Lunch Time Learnings : How to stand out as a Freelancer
Kirsty Stark is an Emmy award winning producer whose screen credits include children's series First Day (8 international awards including an Emmy), 13x AACTA award winning drama series Stateless (co-producer for Matchbox Pictures), and groundbreaking ABC iview series, Wastelander Panda.
Kirsty thrives on championing the work of highly driven film and TV creatives and crew members. Having come to producing via five years in camera department, she has a strong commitment to change behind the scenes, particularly in areas that promote crew wellbeing, career sustainability and industry diversity.
In 2023, Kirsty launched CrewHQ, an online platform to support freelance crew across their careers. Bringing together her experience in production and camera department, as well as her history of coaching and mentorship, the site combines a nationwide hiring marketplace for freelancers with an annual conference, CrewCon. Kirsty is also Co-Chair of The Mercury.
Kyas Hepworth
Head of Screen NSW at Screen NSWKyas is an accomplished industry leader known for authentic collaboration and agility, ability to bring cultural change and strong stakeholder relations, negotiation skills and execution of government policy.
As the Head of Screen NSW, Kyas spearheads the state’s film and production strategy and advances NSW’s position both in digital games and as one of the leading national and international screen and post-production destinations. Kyas leads a dedicated team to deliver innovative funding programs, services and initiatives that champion storytellers and creative workers in the screen and digital games industry.
Her extensive creative expertise spans across feature films, documentaries, television series, and web series. Prior to joining Screen NSW, Kyas served as the Head of Commissioning and Programming at NITV working within SBS, and has worked with esteemed organisations including the Australian Film Television and Radio School and Screen Australia. Kyas currently sits on the Board of AusFilm and has held positions as a board member for MediaRing and the Australian International Documentary Conference. She was an inaugural member of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN) and was previously an ambassador for the Natalie Miller Fellowship.
In 2021 Kyas was honoured as an Official Competition Jury Member for the 68th Sydney Film Festival, and in 2023 she was selected as a Featured Speaker at the inaugural SXSW Sydney. Her well attended fireside chat ‘Burn it to the Ground- Creative Leadership’ was facilitated by Holly Ransom.
Lisa O'Meara
CEO of ScreenworksLisa O’Meara has been instrumental in building the regional screen industry and is a committed advocate for regional screen practitioners.
Prior to her role as CEO, Lisa was Programs and Operations Manager for Screenworks where she was responsible for initiating Career Pathway Programs, Industry Forums and Professional Development Opportunities that launched the careers and projects of hundreds of regional practitioners.
Before her career with Screenworks, Lisa designed national and international strategies to take a broad range of screen productions to buyers and audiences around the world. She launched the SBS TV series Under the Skin (Tony Ayres, Belinda Chayko) and the Network Nine children’s series Spellbinder (Ron Saunders) to national audiences and international markets. As a Marketing Manager in the distribution of games, Lisa designed national strategies for games including Diabolo (Blizzard) Riven (Broderbund) as well as launching the Disney, Barbie and Hasbro CD rom brands in Australia.
Her roles have included Marketing Executive at Film Australia, Marketing Manager at Tech Pacific, Programs and Operations Manager at Screenworks and National Manager for Careers and Enterprise at SAE Creative Media Institute.
Lisa Shaunessy
Co-Founder of ArcadiaSince Co-Founding Australian production and distribution company ARCADIA, Lisa has built a track record of consistent commercial and critical hits.
Number 1 performing series across the SBS Network, 8-part dramedy WHILE THE MEN ARE AWAY, has been in release since September 2023 and was nominated for Best Miniseries at both the AACTA and SPA Awards in 2024, as well as Best Costume Design at the AACTA Awards. WHILE THE MEN ARE AWAY was also selected to screen at the Berlinale Series Selects, 2024. Lisa produced SXSW breakout hit SISSY (2022), starring two-time AACTA nominee, Aisha Dee. Ahead of its World Premiere, SISSY sold to Shudder in a multi-territory deal and was nominated for three AACTA Awards in 2022, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Lead Actress. It was also nominated at the SPA, ADG and AWG Awards. In 2022, Lisa also produced Sundance Lab sci-fi romance, In Vitro, starring Ashley Zukerman (Succession, The Code) that will premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in 2024.
In 2020 she produced sci-fi thriller 2067 (XYZ/RLJE Films/Netflix), starring Oscar-nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee. 2067 set the record for number of weeks in the Number 1 position for an Australian film on Netflix (ANZ), and was a global commercial success - reaching No 1 on iTunes in North America. 2067 was nominated for AACTA, ADG, SPA, APDG, AEAF, and ATOM Awards in 2021, won the ACS Award for Best Cinematography and opened the Adelaide Film Festival in 2020.
Previously Lisa produced Sundance hit KILLING GROUND (IFC, 2017), nominated for an AACTA in 2017, Shudder No 1, THE FURIES (Shudder/StudioCanal, 2019); AACTA award-winning series HIPSTERS (SBS, 2015); BLACK & WHITE & SEX (IFF Rotterdam, 2013) and ASC award-winning documentary SLAMMIN’ SAM (Foxtel, 2013). She is an AFTRS, TAP and Small Giants alumni.
Lois Cook
Lois Kay Cook is the daughter of Lewis Cook, Elder and custodian of the Nyangbul Country in the Bundjalung Nation. Lois was raised at Cabbage Tree Island in her father’s country, his grandparents Bubba Jack and Susan Cook is recorded as surviving the Massacres of the 1800’s.
As a young girl growing up on Cabbage Tree Island, Lois developed a close relationship with her Grand Uncles and Aunties who passed on important cultural information and historical knowledge about her people who are the traditional owners of her country. Lois became strongly connected and aware of the importance of continuing to maintain the tradition of oral history.
Lois career in the arts includes Black Theatre and film, with roles in the ABC’ “1915”, and “Timeless Land”. In 1978, she was invited by the Principal Choreographer to join Sydney’s NAISDA (National Aboriginal and Islander Dance Association), she taught dance and culture on the Far North Coast and in the late 1989 she joined Bangara Dance Theatre Australia and became their Administrator/Tour Manager and Performer, performing in remote communities in NSW. From 1992 – 2002 she was the Managing Director of Goobah Goobah Koori Theatre Company for 10 years. Lois received a Dolphin Award in 1999 from the Far North Coast Entertainment Industry in recognition of her creative and cultural input within the Region.
Lois has blended this artistic focus with a career in supporting the needs of her people. In 1982 as State Branch Secretary of the National Aboriginal Conference Secretariat for the Northern Territory, she worked to facilitate political and social forums on issues such as mineral and gas line royalties, the formation of the National Aboriginal Broadcasting Association, Inter-Agency partnerships to solve health, housing, education, employment and social issues.
In the Northern Rivers Lois was involved in the formation of Local and Regional Aboriginal Land Councils and was a founding secretary. She worked as the Administrator for the Jali Local Aboriginal Council on Cabbage Tree Island. During that time, Lois again reconnected with her Grand Uncles who took on the role of educating her.
Lois was politically active expressing the Senior Custodian’s views on cultural and significant sites within her country. Upon gathering this information, Lois strengthened her passion for local Indigenous history and protection of our beautiful country. She has taught in schools, as a consultant she worked tirelessly protecting Aboriginal Sacred Sites of Significance, Community Development and Infrastructure programs. She has since studied Arts Law at UNSW and more recently completing a diploma in Community Development at Tranby Aboriginal College.
Lois has a Diploma in dance, Dramatic Arts, Diploma in Community Development and studied Arts /law to improve her knowledge and passion for cultural retention, maintenance and continuation.
Getting behind the camera is a recent passion for Lois. She sees it as a way to share more of her people’s stories, culture and raise debate about the issues that impact on them.
She is the producer of “Babe in the reeds” that won the 2015 Byron Bay International Film festival ‘ best local film.
Over the last 10 years Lois has successfully run her small business Aboriginal Cultural Concepts delivering cultural programs, workshops and heritage tours from Byron Bay to Ballina and the surrounds.
Lois Randall
Founder/EP/Producer of Magpie PicturesFounder, EP and Producer Lois Randall: Lois is an award winning Producer who was most recently Executive Producer/Producer on Magpie Pictures’ new series SWIFT STREET for SBS in association with Fifth Season. Starring Tanzyn Crawford and Cliff Curtis, SWIFT STREET had it’s world premiere in competition at Canneseries 2024. Previous credits include Producer on the 6 x one hour Goalpost Pictures mystery drama series BLACK SNOW, starring Travis Fimmel, that premiered on Stan and Sundance Now/AMC+ early 2023, and Co-Producer on the Dollhouse feature film SERIOUSLY RED starring Rose Byrne, Krew Boylan and Bobby Cannavale, that premiered at SxSW and Sydney Film Festival in 2022. In 2019 she produced the 8 episode drama series SEACHANGE, an ITV and Every Cloud co-production that premiered on the Nine network as the highest rating Australian TV drama for the year. Through Magpie she was Producer and EP of the Prix Jeunesse, UNESCO Prize, AACTA and LOGIE nominated 13 episode live-action children’s series GRACE BESIDE ME, that screened on NITV, ABC, Disney Channel and CBC, and which was awarded Children’s Series Production of the Year at the 2018 SPA Awards. She was also Producer of THE GODS OF WHEAT STREET, Miniseries of the Year, 2014 SPA Awards, and EP on the 2018 AACTA Award winning web series DEADLOCK, both Every Cloud Productions for ABC TV. Lois has also produced acclaimed short films, and was line producer on John Weiley’s Imax documentary feature SOLARMAX. Lois is a creative producer with a Masters of Fine Arts degree (COFA/UNSW), and BA Communications (UTS).
Mackenzie Lush
Manager, Development at VicScreenVIA ZOOM
Mackenzie Lush is the Manager, Development for VicScreen and is responsible for the development, management, and delivery of Victoria’s fiction development programs and related initiatives.
Previously serving as Vice President, Development and Production for Toronto-based First Generation Films’ television division, Mackenzie oversaw the acquisition, development, and production of new scripted series. During her time with FGF, she launched an expansive television slate spanning all genres in both prime time and children’s content. She developed, packaged, and lead the creative team resulting in the greenlight of FGF’s first series, the Emmy award-winning PINECONE & PONY, which she Executive Produced in partnership with DreamWorks Animation for Apple TV+. She also served as producer on ESSEX COUNTY by celebrated graphic novelist and author, Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), for the CBC.
Prior to her work as an independent producer, Mackenzie was the Director, Creative Affairs for global studio Entertainment One Television, where she spearheaded the development of the CW/CBC legal drama BURDEN OF TRUTH, smash hit P.I procedural PRIVATE EYES for Global Television/ION starring Jason Priestley, and MARY KILLS PEOPLE for Global/Lifetime.
Mackenzie continues to collaborate with writers and producers both in Australia and abroad across scripted live action and animated development and production.
Maha Ismail
Head of Member and Industry Services at ScreenrightsMaha Ismail directs all aspects of Screenrights' service delivery to over 5K+ members internationally to support a vibrant and sustainable screen industry. Maha has also overseen the launch and operation of the Screenrights Cultural Fund, a grant program that supports innovative and diverse Australian screen projects. She has over 15 years' experience facilitating partnerships between Australian content creators and international market players and delivering services and opportunities to the screen industry.
Margaret Ross
Investment and Development Manager, Online at Screen AustraliaMargaret Ross, a Dunghutti/Gumbayngirr woman hailing from regional NSW (currently living and working on Gadigal/Bidjigal land, Sydney), with over 15 years of expertise in developing and crafting broadcast and screen content.
A recent addition to the Online team at Screen Australia, Margaret previously served as Executive Producer of Scripted and Factual in the Children’s & Family commissioning team at the ABC, boasting a vibrant diverse slate including Turn Up The Volume, Beep & Mort, The Ninganah Lullaby, and innovative TikTok series The Disposables, alongside International Emmy Award winning factual series Built To Survive. Formerly, Margaret was Executive Producer at ABC Indigenous, contributing to initiatives and ground-breaking productions like Preppers and All My Friends Are Racist, as well as spearheading ABC Indigenous’ social media strategy from grassroots through to the thriving platforms for elevating First Nations talent and stories they are today. Margaret holds a Master of Arts in Screen Business from the Australian Film, Radio and Television School (AFTRS), and is passionate about championing emerging talent and advocating for diverse and inclusive representation across the screen industry, driven by her own identity as a Queer, First Nations screen practitioner.
Mark Morrissey
Founder and Managing Director of Morrissey ManagementCelebrating his 35th year in the entertainment business, Mark Morrissey is the founder and Managing Director of Morrissey Management, one of Australia’s most successful and leading talent agencies. As a manager, Mark has nurtured some of the biggest names locally and internationally to fame including Chris Hemsworth, Liam and Luke Hemsworth, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Jai Courtney, Yerin Ha, Luke Bracey, Keiynan Lonsdale, Kate Ritchie, Georgie Parker, and Rebecca Breeds to mention a few.
Mark has also Executive Produced some of Australia’s leading film and television projects including MOLLY (Winner LOGIE Best Drama Award - Channel 7 mini-series, 6.5 million viewers cumulative) and THE LAST TIME I SAW RICHARD (Winner AACTA Award for Best Short Film 2014) and the feature BOYS IN THE TREES, THE GLOAMING an International TV series shot in Tasmania and SARAH'S CHANNEL groundbreaking International Web series.
Mitchell Stanley
ProducerMitch started his producing career with ABC3 Kid’s show, MOVE IT MOB STYLE, then four series of COLOUR THEORY with Richard Bell and Tony Albert. He wrote and produced SERVANT OR SLAVE, produced Warwick Thornton’s documentary television series, THE BEACH, which premiered on SBS in 2020 and A24 in the USA, the first Indigenous official co production between Australia and New Zealand, WE ARE STILL HERE, which opened the Sydney Film Festival, had it’s North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to win the Best Narrative Feature film at Toronto’s ImagineNative Film Festival. Mitch’s recently produced societal thriller and psychological horror, THE MOOGAI with first time director Jon Bell and Causeway Films (THE BABDOOK, CARGO) where the short film as a proof of concept with the same title has won several festival awards including best horror at SXSW and best short at Melbourne International Film Festival, and the feature now officially being selected for competition in the Midnight Section of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival for 2024.
Monica Davidson
Director of Creative Plus Business Group Pty LtdMonica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries. She started as a freelance writer, performer, and filmmaker, and after launching her production company, she began sharing her entrepreneurial learnings by mentoring and teaching other creatives. In 2013 she consolidated her knowledge with a Master’s degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and shortly after was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor. In 2016 Monica founded Creative Plus Business, a social enterprise that educates creative practitioners about business, money and marketing. Monica also continues her own work, releasing her feature documentary/musical Handbag on SBS in 2023.
Nakul Legha
Commissioning Editor of Scripted at Special Broadcasting Services, SBSNakul is Commissioning Editor of Scripted at SBS, responsible for developing and commissioning bold, original Australian originals for the network.
Before this, Nakul was at Netflix where he helped grow the platform’s local content strategy in Australia & New Zealand. As Creative Executive, he worked across Netflix’s pipeline of Australian content overseeing scripted and unscripted developments and productions, including Boy Swallows Universe, Wellmania, Surviving Summer and Onefour: Against All Odds.
Nakul also led local film & TV licensing, co-productions and programming for the global platform, which saw Australian content reach huge global audiences and a first ever co-commission with NITV, Eddie’s Lil’ Homies.
Along with experience as an entertainment lawyer and Business Affairs executive, Nakul also has an enduring commitment to creating a more inclusive sector, which has seen him work across industry initiatives supporting emerging and underrepresented creatives. Nakul serves on the board of the Griffin Theatre Company.
Nathan Anderson
CEO and Executive Producer of New CanvasNathan Anderson is a distinguished immersive media executive and entrepreneur based in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. With a career spanning over two decades, Nathan has become a prominent figure in the field of digital development and transmedia content creation. He began his career in the film and television industry in the 1990s and seamlessly transitioned into the digital realm during the dotcom bubble era.
Nathan currently holds the role of CEO and Executive Producer at New Canvas, an immersive media studio he founded in November 2020. At New Canvas, he is responsible for overseeing executive functions, development, production, and the self-publishing of projects across various XR platforms. His recent projects include the award-winning LUSTRATION which premiered at SXSW 2022 and was selected at Venice Film Festival in the ‘Best of 2022’ category. In the last 12 months, he has worked with VR studio, Toast Interactive, as an Executive Producer developing their latest VR title, Max Mustard.
Over his career, Nathan has worked with a host of prestigious brands and companies such as Foxtel, Disney, Viacom, ABC, BBC, and NBCUniversal, crafting digital projects that span all known platforms. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America and has served as an elected councillor with Screen Producers Australia. Nathan is also a regular speaker at industry conferences worldwide, sharing his insights and experiences to foster the growth of immersive media.
Nerida Groth
Industry Programs Coordinator at ScreenworksNerida has a wealth of talent and experience in film, television and the live performing arts arena spanning two decades. Her start in television came as an in-house Production Coordinator for Essential Media, working across lifestyle, documentary and drama. She found a passion in drama and left to pursue a career as a freelance Assistant Director. Since then she has developed strong relationships and continually built her skill set to become a highly sought after Assistant Directors, working on large scale Australian and International productions including: Pirates of The Caribbean, Wolverine, Top of the Lake, Aquaman, The Great Gatsby, and ELVIS.
Nerida is based on the Gold Coast and has her own company called The Big Kids Production House, which is creating original content ideas across television and events. Nerida enjoys sharing her skill set across different mediums and is passionate about providing opportunities and training for regionally based crew to find long lasting careers in this thriving industry.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2525769/
Nick Hayes
Head of Sales and Acquisitions at Umbrella EntertainmentNick Hayes, Head of Sales and Acquisitions, Umbrella Entertainment
Nick has spent his entire career in the film business, working across both exhibition and distribution. Prior to Umbrella, Nick has been Head of Sales and Acquisitions at Icon Films for a decade. He has also been Head of Dendy Cinemas and held senior management roles at the Sydney Film Festival and Hoyts Cinemas.
Nick has also served as a board member of Independent Cinemas Australia from 2010-2023 and Vice President of the Australian Independent Distributors Association 2017-2023.
Nicole Dade
Writer and Story DeveloperNicole Dade is a screenwriter, story developer and script producer for tv and film. She is Development Producer for Leah Purcell and Bain Stewart's company, Oombarra Productions. Highly regarded as an international story consultant and script editor, her recent production credits include script editor: Jonathan Ogilvie's IFRR opening film, Head South (2024,) script producer: Barrumbi Kids (SBS/NITV 2023) and associate producer and script editor: Leah Purcell’s AACTA award-winning feature film, The Drover’s Wife the Legend of Molly Johnson (2022.) Having segued into screenwriting, several of Nicole’s own TV and film projects are under option, she has been commissioned to write for film and TV, and she regularly contributes to writers’ rooms. As senior creative executive, Nicole developed a significant slate of projects at Screen Australia. Passionate about empowering storytellers of diverse experiences to reach the heart of their screen story for an audience, Nicole offers consultancy and story training on story principles, tools and techniques, using her own programme, Elements of Story. www.deptofstories.com
Paul Wiegard
Co-founder and CEO of Madman EntertainmentPaul Wiegard co-founded Madman Entertainment in 1996, a leading independent distribution and rights management company for feature film with offices in Melbourne, Auckland & Berlin.
Films distributed by Madman include over 100 Academy Award® nominees and winners. Headlined by 2020’s historic Best Picture win for PARASITE.
On the home front Madman has distributed over 20 AACTA (The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards) nominated films for Best Feature Film including NITRAM, HIGH GROUND, JASPER JONES, SNOWTOWN, THE HUNTER, ANIMAL KINGDOM, NOISE and KENNY; and Best Documentary Film winners including GURRUMUL, THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM, THAT SUGAR FILM, MOUNTAIN and RIVER. In New Zealand films distributed by Madman rank amongst the highest grossing local films of all time including HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, THE BREAKER UPPERERS, SAVAGE recently adding classics SIONES WEDDING & WHALE RIDER to the catalogue.
Paul has executive produced 40+ feature and documentary films. Established streaming VOD platform DocPlay, a curated documentary platform. Graduate of the AFTRS Master of Screen Art and Business. Current, President – Australian Independent Distributors Association (AIDA), Board Member of Screenrights, Australian Centre of The Moving Image (ACMI) and Co-Chair of Australian International Documentary Conference ( AIDC ).
Pilar Perez
Head of Acquisitions at DCD RightsPilar Perez Roel is currently Head of Acquisitions at DCD Rights and is responsible for all acquisitions, across factual and drama.
Pilar works with producers and partners to find, develop and invest in programming that has international appeal. Recent dramas are multiple seasons of The Secret She Keeps; Love Me, My Life is Murder and Hidden Assets alongside the current production of Thou Shalt Not Steal. She is currently spearheading an exciting new slate of projects at various stages of development, finance and production.
Prior to joining DCD Rights, she worked in various production roles starting her career at Planet 24 and soon after landing at multi-genre producer Zenith Entertainment, one of the biggest independent factual and drama producers in the UK at the time.
In 2013 she graduated from the NFTS with a Diploma in Script Development.
Throughout her career she has worked alongside emerging as well as established filmmakers, writers, directors and producers engaging at all levels of the creative process from idea to script into production, helping deliver compelling stories.
Rebecca Anderson
Commissioning Editor, Scripted at ABCWith a career spanning nearly 30 years in Television, Rebecca is a highly experienced Scripted Television Executive with a proven track record of developing and overseeing the production of quality, award-winning and high-rating Drama and Comedy for Australian audiences.
With over 150 hours of commissioned/broadcast comedy and drama under her belt, Rebecca has worked across Hollywood films, live broadcasts, soaps, and exceptional scripted content. She has executive produced many award-winning dramas and comedies for the ABC including: MYSTERY ROAD, AUSTIN, THE LETDOWN, SAVAGE RIVER, THE MESSENGER, IN LIMBO, BARONS, AFTERTASTE. She has helped developed many more.
Rebecca champions content that not only receives critical acclaim and wins awards, but appeals broadly to audiences and has something to say. She has been fortunate enough to work with some of the best talent in the industry helping create Australian stories for contemporary audiences. Many of the shows she works on come from regional experiences and are shot on location (MYSTERY ROAD, SAVAGE RIVER) and as the ABC’s charter is to tell stories for all Australians, the regions and smaller capital cities are a feature of many others.
Robbie Miles
Head of Industry & Alumni Engagement at Australian Film Television and Radio SchoolRobbie Miles is an AFTRS alumnus (Graduate Certificate: Screen Drama – Directing & Screenwriting, 2009) and an experienced producer and development executive. Robbie spent several years working in Los Angeles and New York as a Development Executive for Full Clip Productions on projects such as Deadline Gallipoli and Danger Close, as well as producing branded content for Bonds, Coca-Cola and Australian fashion label Kahlo.
He returned to Australia to produce his first feature film, Crushed, with fellow AFTRS alumni Megan Riakos, and develop a diverse slate of feature film and television projects, including the Nicholl Fellowship-winning Great Falls. Robbie produced the ABC iView series Sarah’s Channel starring Claudia O’Doherty and also worked for Animal Logic’s genre label, Truant Pictures, as Development & Production Executive.
After several years as Subject Leader for Producing & Production at AFTRS, Robbie is now Head of Industry & Alumni Engagement, consulting with companies, guilds and agencies to support the future of screen & audio storytelling in Australia.
Robbie has a passion for story development and inept protagonists and has presented everywhere from El Dorado Film Festival in Arkansas to the Australian Comic Arts Festival Canberra, Oz Comic Con and the San Diego Comic Con.
Rosemary Blight
Founding Partner and Producer at Goalpost Pictures- Developing Slates for Global Audiences
- What's Cutting Through, What's Next and What's Regional: Scripted
- Investing in Creatives
Rosemary Blight is a founding partner of Goalpost Pictures and one of Australia’s most experienced producers. Rosemary’s credits include THE SAPPHIRES, which premiered at Cannes; TOP END WEDDING, co-written and starring Miranda Tapsell which premiered at Sundance, both films directed by Wayne Blair; I AM WOMAN, the story of Australian international singing superstar Helen Reddy, directed by Unjoo Moon and the internationally acclaimed drama series CLEVERMAN. Rosemary Executive Produced Leigh Whannell’s UPGRADE and the worldwide box office hit THE INVISIBLE MAN both co-produced with US independent production powerhouse Blumhouse. FELONY, directed by Matthew Saville and starring Joel Edgerton & Tom Wilkinson and the Julien Temple-directed opera THE ETERNITY MAN. She is the Executive Producer of HOLDING THE MAN; THE TREE starring Charlotte Gainsbourg which was the closing night film at the Cannes Film Festival; and the drama series FIGHTING SEASON.
Rosemary is Executive Producer of the drama series NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN for SBS & All3media.
Sam Moor
Producer at Ludo StudioSam has extensive experience producing original Entertainment, Drama, Comedy and Children's content having previously worked at the BBC and with London based production companies. With a passion for a well-run and happy production, Sam is currently producing BLUEY for ABC and BBC Studios, and THOU SHALT NOT STEAL an original live action series for Stan. She continues to be across all commercial activity for the brand and Ludo's live action slate currently in development.
Stephen Axford
Co-Creator at Planet FungiStephen is co-creator of Planet Fungi, has an international reputation as a specialist in macro fungi photography with a unique expertise in time-lapse photography of fungi. His photographs have appeared in articles, books, magazines and science journals across the globe. His works are in the permanent exhibition of Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra Australia, Nature Museum Slovakia, Natural Museum Chile. Stephen’s fungi time-lapses have featured in award-winning science documentaries, including Planet Earth 2, The Kingdom: how fungi made the world, Fantastic Fungi, Hostile Planet, Islands, Blue Planet, Australian Odyssey, Kangaroo Valley, Giants and in the fungi safari documentaries he co-creates with his filmmaker partner, Catherine Marciniak. Stephen is an Executive Producer of the iMax documentary FUNGI – a Web of Life, which also features his time-lapses. He is the co-producer, presenter and co-writer of Follow the Rain.
Stuart Page
Writer and Executive ProducerStuart is an experienced writer and EP who co-created, produced and led the script team on all three seasons of the ABC series TOTAL CONTROL. He was nominated for Australian Academy of Cinema and Television (AACTA) Awards for Best Drama and Best Screenplay for his work on the second season of that show. Stuart won an Australian Writers a Guild (AWGIE) Award for Best Screenplay for his writing on the cult Foxtel prison series Wentworth . In addition, Stuart wrote for the acclaimed ABC/Sundance TV sci-fi drama Cleverman, and script produced and was head writer on the first two seasons of the ABC murder mystery THE DOCTOR BLAKE MYSTERIES. Other television credits include Nine Network’s HALIFAX: RETRIBUTION; ABC’s JANET KING AND CROWNIES, Seven Network’s SECRET DAUGHTER and BLUE HEELERS; and Channel 10s serial NEIGHBOURS. Stuart is currently in development on a number of his own projects for TV and film.
Suzanne Ryan
CEO, Executive Producer of SLR ProductionsSuzanne is the Founder, CEO and Executive Producer of SLR Productions, a company she established in 2000 to follow her passion and love of screen content. With over three decades immersed in the screen industry, she's not only crafted but invested in hundreds of hours of globally acclaimed content, reaching an impressive 160 countries. An Emmy Award winner and recipient of prestigious accolades like the Premier’s NSW Export Awards and Screen Producers Australia's Children’s Producer of the Year and Winner B&T Women in Media Producer of the Year, Suzanne's achievements continue.
As Vice President of Screen Producers Australia Council, Chair of the NSW North Coast Screen Advisory Board, member of the Australian Children’s Producers group and a longstanding member of influential industry bodies, including SPA and The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, Suzanne is a leading advocate for the children’s screen sector. Her involvement extends beyond boardrooms to judging panels at esteemed events like the Asian Academy of Creative Arts, AACTA Awards, Logies, and the International Emmy Awards.
In 2023, Suzanne launched the Australian Children’s Content Summit, a testament to her commitment to advancing the industry. Her recent credits as Executive Producer and Producer reflect a diverse portfolio, ranging from the successful timeless classic "Guess How Much I Love You – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare" to cutting-edge series like "Space Nova" and "Sam Fox – Extreme Adventures" to the animated movies “Alice-Miranda”.
Tig Terera
Writer, directorBorn in Zimbabwe and raised in Australia, Tig Terera is a compassionate young writer/director focusing on human emotions and targeting the cinematic moments in stories. Tig has made music videos, TVCs and film projects in London, Paris and Singapore as well as scripted shorts and television in Australia. Keeping his ear to the streets and staying at the forefront of Melbourne culture, highlighting bold individuals within minorities, is a feature of all of his work.
Tig was Creator, Writer and Director of Swift Street, Magpie Pictures’ 8 episode drama series for SBS that had its world premiere in competition at Canneseries 2024. Tig wrote episodes 1 and 2, co-wrote episodes 4 and 7, and directed episodes 1- 4 of the series that stars Tanzyn Crawford, Cliff Curtis and Keiynan Lonsdale, and was described in The Guardian as “an absolute blast”. He previously created several short films including Chenge, Solibet and Charlotte. His short drama, Tinashé, premiered as a finalist for Best Live Action Australian Short at Sydney Film Festival 2021 and won a Special Mention award at the 2022 Berlinale in the Generation section.
Tracey Mair
Director of Tracey Mair Publicity- Welcome to Regional to Global Screen Forum
- Developing Slates for Global Audiences
- Investing in Creatives
Tracey Mair has been one of Australia’s leading film and television communications specialists for almost three decades. Tracey has extensive strategic communications, issues management, marketing and PR experience across the screen sector, including in film and television production, film distribution and television broadcast. She has provided strategic advice to various screen organisations, including Screen Australia, Screen NSW, SPA and the ADG, and production companies including Goalpost Pictures, See-Saw Films and Screentime. Tracey has acted as unit publicist on dozens of Australian and international film and television productions and has managed the national PR campaigns for high-profile Australian and international feature films, including – most recently – The Power of the Dog, Lion, Ride Like a Girl and I Am Woman and TV shows such as Warwick Thornton’s The Beach and New Gold Mountain.
Tracey grew up in country Victoria and, after establishing her business in Sydney and several years in Byron Bay where she raised her family, is now back in the Northern Rivers, in East Ballina.
Tracey Vieira
Chief Content Officer at HoodlumTracey Vieira is the Chief Content Officer for Emmy® and BAFTA Award winning film and television production company Hoodlum. Hoodlum operates between Australia, the US and the UK.
Since joining Hoodlum in 2019, Tracey has produced the 2022 Netflix number one global hit A PERFECT PAIRING, a romantic comedy feature film starring Adam Demos and Victoria Justice, produced feature film CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM for Stan which was released in December 2021, Executive Produced action-thriller feature LAND OF BAD, starring Russell Crowe and Liam and Luke Hemsworth due for release in early 2024 and the ABC series IN OUR BLOOD which premiered in March 2023.
Prior to Hoodlum Tracey was the CEO of Screen Queensland where she led the organisation through significant cultural change and growth from February 2014 to August 2019. Vieira was named in the 2018 Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence and is the 2016 Telstra Queensland Businesswoman of the Year. Vieira is currently the President of Screen Producers Australia, Chairs the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Chair of Griffith Film School’s Advisory Board.
Tracey is a passionate animal advocate and spent four years as a company director for RSPCA Queensland.
Will Gammon
Founder/CEO & VFX Supervisor of Cumulus VFXA proud Visual Effects Society (VES) and Ausfilm member, Will brings over 2 decades of industry experience to the table; with shots from multiple HARRY POTTER and THE LORD OF THE RINGS films on his personal reel. As a VFX Supervisor he has gained recognition internationally and earned the trust of clients such as Bazmark (ELVIS), Netflix (MAN VS BEE, LOCKWOOD & CO), and Disney (NAUTILUS).
As Cumulus’ CEO, Will has accomplished the steady growth of the business and team, just this year opening a second premises on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Cumulus now fosters two studios for over 40 crew; who blend innovative solutions with leading edge tech to deliver industry-standard results from regional destinations.
Cumulus VFX’s sister company, Byron Studios, was founded in 2020 when an opportunity arose to gain consistency of locally-based work for the community of Northern Rivers screen practitioners. The Byron Studios team converted a disused basketball court into a sound stage capable of successfully hosting filming of a full season of Netflix episodic, GOD'S FAVOURITE IDIOT.
Through Cumulus VFX and Byron Studios, Will is challenging the narrative that screen production needs to be backed by ‘capital city’ services to compete on the global stage, and that arts practitioners need to base themselves in large cities to pursue their craft.
Zoe Angus
Director, Industry & Commercial of Screen Producers AustraliaZoe Angus is the Director, Industry & Commercial at Screen Producers Australia and is responsible for SPA's industrial negotiations as well as providing advice to SPA members on commercial and industrial matters. Zoe previously held the role of National Director of Equity at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance for six years and has more than two decades experience in employment law and industrial relations. She holds a Juris Doctor and a Master of Commerce (Honours) degree from Melbourne University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Politics from Queensland University.
Yeesum Lo
Head of Development - Paramount ANZ- What's Cutting Through, What's Next and What's Regional: Scripted
- What's Cutting Through, What's Next and What's Regional: Unscripted
Yeesum joined Network 10, now Paramount ANZ, in 2020 in the newly created role of Head of Development. In this role, Yeesum is responsible for identifying and developing locally produced Australian content across all channels and platforms including Network 10 and Paramount+.
A Hong Kong native, Yeesum Lo started her career in entertainment at NBC Universal in New York City and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Motion Picture Producing from the University of Southern California’s renowned Peter Stark Producing Program.
With a keen interest in global content, she was appointed Manager of Business Development for Endemol Shine Group in Los Angeles before transferring to Sydney in 2013. At Endemol Shine Australia, Yeesum was the Director of Digital, working across key global formats with a focus on creative content and commercial strategy.
In 2016, Yeesum was named as a B&T Magazine 30 Under 30 winner in the Media category.