Ian Lang and Georgie McLean.
AFTRS has announced a range of new senior appointments, including Ian Lang in the newly created position of director of curriculum and registrar, and Georgie McLean as the new head of corporate strategy and governance.
Lang comes to the school from China, where he was a visiting professor at the Beijing Film Academy and Communication University of China. He was also the the curriculum director for Reality Learning Sydney. Previously, Lang was professor and head of the Victorian College of Arts (VCA) Film and Television School, and was the founder of the Griffith Film School.
Lang is also documentary filmmaker and has made several productions for both the SBS and the ABC. His Iranian feature-length documentary Fahimeh’s Story received ‘Independent Spirit’ Award at the 2004 IF Awards.
“Ian has a wealth of experience both in Australia and internationally in screen education and in developing and writing curriculums,” said AFTRS CEO Neil Peplow.
“He is also a highly regarded filmmaker. He will bring a strong understanding of the international screen education and production sector to this important new role.”
McClean comes to AFTRS from Screen Australia where she headed strategy and communications and was responsible for shaping the agency’s policy development, communications platforms and research agenda. Prior to that, she was manager of policy and research at SBS. She also runs her own consultancy, The Gist: Strategy + Engagement.
“Georgie will also be an exceptional addition to the Executive team at AFTRS. I have come to know the quality of her strategic thinking through her work with AFTRS on the major research paper Inclusive Pathways Framework, which she authored, and also through working together on the sector-wide Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network,” said Peplow.
Head of AFTRS’ Indigenous department Kyas Sherriff has also been appointed to the school’s executive; the first Indigenous member of the team in the history of the School.
In other appointments, Alicia Gleeson has been appointed as the new senior lecturer, editing; Pearl Tan is the new senior lecturer, directing; Simeon Bryan is the new senior lecturer, cinematography; Naomi Wenck is the new senior lecturer, producing; Gerald Mair is the new senior lecturer, sound, and Caroline Grose is the new senior lecturer, screenwriting.
Lang will take up his position at AFTRS on July 31, while McLean begins August 7.