Mary-Ellen Mullane.
The ABC has hired Mary-Ellen Mullane as executive producer of children’s content.
In her new role, starting 8 October, she will commission for the ABC’s two dedicated children’s entertainment networks ABC KIDS and ABC ME, for distribution across television, radio, digital and third-party platforms, and oversee primary school-age content produced by the ABC.
Mullane joins the broadcaster from NITV, where she has been a senior commissioning editor since 2015. Prior to this, she worked as an investment development manager at Screen Australia and as a producer at Film Australia. Her credits include the Prix Jeunesse-nominated drama Grace Beside Me , Logie Award-winning Little J & Big Cuz, UN Media Award-winning documentary We Don’t Need a Map and VR project Future Dreaming (Tribeca Film Festival).
At the ABC, Mullane will work with independent producers, broadcasting partners and distributors on series and one-off projects across multiple genres and build on the ABC’s relationships with Australian screen agencies to maximise opportunities for co-productions and financing.
ABC head of children’s production Libbie Doherty said: “Mary-Ellen is a leading creative commissioner and will bring her passion for children’s content and excellent leadership skills to oversee our innovative and diverse offering. She has the drive and experience to lead the ABC Children’s team in producing relevant, thought-provoking and high-quality premium programs for young audiences here and overseas. We are delighted to welcome her to the team.”
Mullane said: “To be part of the team at ABC Children’s – where some of the world’s best content is created – is a tremendous privilege. Children’s content is the most dynamic area in television today, not just in its engagement with emerging platforms and technologies but also in terms of the bold, brave and diverse storytelling it undertakes to meaningfully engage with the lived experience of children. It’s an exciting time to join ABC Children’s, with its long history of quality content production.”