Media Release – 1st July 2020
ROSEMARY BLIGHT, CHRIS OLIVER-TAYLOR AND RHODA ROBERTS JOIN
SCREENWORKS BOARD AS IT PREPARES FOR POSITIVE FUTURE POST-COVID19
Multi-award-winning Producer Rosemary Blight from Goalpost Pictures (The Invisible Man, Top End Wedding), Fremantle CEO Asia Pacific Chris Oliver-Taylor (Neighbours, Australia’s Got Talent) and Australian Arts Leader Rhoda Roberts AO are amongst the most recent appointments to the Screenworks Board as the organisation continues to increase the number of online events and opportunities for regional Australians to connect with the global industry.
Joining these most recent appointments are also Commercial Lawyer Richard Keenan and Certified Practicing Account Neil Lollback.
“We welcome these new board appointments whose skillset complement and strengthen our board and our organisation” said Screenworks Chair Dustin Clare. “Our focus and priority are, and always will be, on giving regionally and remotely based Australian’s opportunities to develop their craft and connect regional Australians to national opportunities and to an increasingly global marketplace. We are here for you Regional Australia.”
These board appointments follow a detailed review and evaluation that was completed last year that considered the board composition, existing skills sets and gaps, strategic planning processes and governance to ensure the organisation’s ongoing success as they drive the delivery of its national program supporting regional practitioners and connecting them to global opportunities.
Screenworks’ Board has a total of ten positions. These recent appointments will join founding member and Producer Lois Randall, Byron Bay Film Festival Director Jaimee Skippon-Volke, Producer Di Roberston and Business Executive Peter Bowen (along with Dustin Clare as the Screenworks Chair).
After having to cancel its Business of Producing Seminar in March due to COVID-19, Screenworks has been delivering all of its events and workshops online which have not only been well received but will have a positive impact on its future operations.
“When COVID19 forced us to cancel the 2020 Business of Producing Seminar in March, it was an uncertain future that the organisation was facing” explained Screenworks CEO, Ken Crouch. “But over the past 3 months, we have delivered 15 online events that have been attended by over 800 people, with over 220 of those being for one webinar – How to Run an Online Writers Room with Peter Mattessi.
“Some of Screenworks’ online events, like last week’s Creating a Killer Pitch Document, have sold out within days and we are continually receiving fantastic feedback about how our members and attendees are loving the fact that Screenworks’ online webinars and workshops are more accessible for regional Australians.
“Even after all of the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Screenworks is planning to continue to deliver most of its programs online and will take advantage of an industry that is more open to doing business online”.
For more information about Screenworks upcoming online events, go to www.screenworks.com.au/events/upcoming-events/.
