Maureen Barron is stepping down as CEO of Screen NSW on August 7.
The highly-regarded screen industry executive and former lawyer has held the post since March 2012, succeeding Tania Chambers.
Barron informed staff today, who reacted with surprise and disappointment. She indicated she intends to spend time with family in the US and to pursue other projects.
The NSW Government is undertaking a recruitment process designed to ensure a smooth transition to a new CEO.
“Since 2012, Ms Barron has led NSW efforts to grow and develop the State’s screen industry helping secure projects that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars investment and supported thousands of jobs,” Arts NSW executive director Mary Darwell said.
“Under Maureen’s leadership, Screen NSW has successfully marketed the strengths of our screen industry globally and provided support for international and local screen projects including feature films, factual productions, TV series, short films and television commercials.”
Chair of the NSW Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee Helen Wright said: “Maureen brought energy and purpose to her role as Screen NSW CEO as well as intellectual rigour to ensure its operations were streamlined and efficient and its decision making effective."
From 1991 to 1995 she was business affairs manager and company secretary at the Film Finance Corporation and she served as chair of the Australian Film Commission for more than 10 years.
She spent 12 years with Southern Star Group as head of business affairs and later general manager, corporate and company secretary.
In 2009 she was appointed as CEO of Screen Queensland. In 2010 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia..