AFTRS has appointed art director and production designer Juliet John as MA screen program convenor, while also announcing seven new discipline lead roles.
An AFTRS graduate, John has since gone on to balance industry work with teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development, having previously worked as the convenor of the master of production design program at VCA, and contributed to screen production units at universities such as Swinburne, Deakin, and WAAPA.
Working alongside her will be discipline leads Pearl Tan (directing), Roland Gallois (editing), Natalie Beak (production design), Tara Lomax (screen studies), Kate Stone (screen writing), Stephen Murphy (sound), and Andrea Ho (radio and podcasting) in roles that replace the previous head of discipline positions.
AFTRS senior lecturer for masters producing Bethany Bruce and cinematography lecturer Steve Arnold are acting discipline leads for producing and cinematography, respectively. Richard Welch (documentary) and Cameron Patrick (screen music) will continue in their current positions as discipline leads.
Ho and Lomax are new hires for the institution, while Stone, Tan, Galois, Beak, and Murphy were already members of staff.
Ho joins AFTRS from the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, where she was the director of education. She has previously worked as head of planning at ABC Regional and Local, manager of ABC Radio Canberra and ABC Radio Hobart, and founder and co-director of the Economic Media Centre.
Lomax is a screen studies researcher, educator, and creative practitioner with expertise in contemporary entertainment industries, transmedia and multiplatform production, media franchising, world-building, and digital visual effects. Her career has included teaching stints at The University of Melbourne and VCA (Collarts).
AFTRS director of teaching and learning, David Balfour, said the new roles represented the energy and innovation the school was hoping to carry past its 50th anniversary this year.
“AFTRS is delighted to welcome these seven brilliant educators and creatives to their new roles,” he said.
“Working hand-in-hand with industry, AFTRS represents excellence in education and future-looking learning experiences.
“These exceptionally talented individuals will contribute enormously to the school and the quality of its teaching.”