Mandy Chang.
In this wrap:
- ABC head of arts Mandy Chang departs for the BBC
- Sally Regan joins Create NSW
- Screenwest announces board of directors
- Screen Forever advisory board unveiled
Mandy Chang departs ABC for the BBC
ABC head of arts and acting head of non-scripted TV Mandy Chang will depart the broadcaster in September, heading to the BBC to take up the role of commissioning editor for the documentary series Storyville.
Chang – a documentary filmmaker whose credits include The Mona Lisa Curse and The Camera That Changed the World – joined the ABC almost five years ago, first as arts commissioning editor. She then became head of arts last January, and more recently has also served as acting head of non-scripted TV.
In her time at the ABC, Chang has been responsible for the arts programming across the broadcaster’s linear channels and ABC iview, including programs such as David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema, Stop Laughing…this is serious (series 2), and documentary strand Artsville. She has helped to instigate initiatives like Art Bites and Love Bites.
Chang has also continued to advocate for the HIVE funding initiative – an joint project between ABC Arts, Screen Australia, Adelaide Film Festival and the Australia Council for the Arts – which commissions artists to make their first films. It has resulted in films such as Spear and Girl Asleep.
ABC director of television David Anderson thanked Chang for her contribution to the broadcaster and arts community, calling her a “fantastic advocate” who has delivered vibrant and engaging content.
“She is highly regarded across the industry and brought a creative and innovative edge to the ABC Arts team. Mandy is taking up a brilliant opportunity and we wish her the very best with this next stage of her career.”
Chang thanked her ABC colleagues, stating: “Over the past four and a half years I have been at the ABC, I have had the great privilege and pleasure of seeing and engaging with the best of the arts that this country has to offer and of working on an incredible slate of arts programming with some very talented people,” she said.
“I am extremely proud of the work our passionate and hardworking little Arts Department has commissioned, made and overseen. I’m very sad to be leaving the ABC at this exciting and crucial time in its history, but I’m also looking forward to a new challenge.”
Sally Regan joins Create NSW
Sally Regan.Sally Regan is set to join Create NSW as senior manager, sector investment (screen), where she will lead and manage the team responsible for funding decisions in screen development and production.
Regan, who has worked in the screen production sector for over 30 years, joins Create NSW from Screen Australia, where she was a drama investment manager. Prior to that Regan worked as a development and production executive at Screen NSW, and from 1999 to 2003 was the business affairs manager of documentary production at Film Australia. She is also a producer in her own right, with credits that include Forbidden Lie$, The Colour Of War, National Treasures, Korean ANZAC, Peter Berner’s Loaded Brush and Road To Tokyo and Nerves of Steel.
Create NSW director sector investment Sophia Zachariou said: “Sally is highly regarded for her expertise and professionalism across the screen sector and she brings considerable experience both in screen agencies and as a producer to this senior role at Create NSW. I’m thrilled she’s joining us.”
Screenwest announces board of directors
Screenwest, which officially became a non-profit in late July, has announced its new board of directors.
The funding body’s move to become a non-profit means it is no longer an incorporated association of the Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts, rather is a company limited by guarantee. Its registered business name is Screenwest (Australia) Limited.
The previous board will carry over, joined by new members Sally Carbon, John Gardner and Michael Ottaviano.
Carbon is the owner and managing director of Green Eleven, a company that provides strategic business planning advice; John Gardner is the co-founder and managing director of strategic communication advisory firm Citadel-MAGNUS Corporate and Financial Communication; and Ottaviano is managing director of Carnegie Clean Energy Ltd, a solar, wave and battery renewable energy development company.
Other board members include Amanda Higgs, Bryce Menzies, Carol Innes, Catherine Ferrari, Chris Holman and chair Janelle Marr.
“During this time of change, the board of directors will bring to Screenwest (Australia) Ltd stability and strong corporate knowledge with a focus on establishing a best practice governance framework from the outset,” said Marr.
“The Board will work closely with the recently announced screen Industry Advisory Group, to assist Screenwest to engage with the sector and provide advice on trends and issues impacting the Western Australian screen industry.”
Screen Forever advisory board announced
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has assembled a team of industry heavyweights to help it put on its annual conference, Screen Forever.
To be chaired by AFTRS CEO Neil Peplow, the Screen Forever Advisory Board consists of CEO Film Victoria Jenni Tosi; Jon Casimir, CEO Legacy Media; Kate Croser, producer, Kojo Entertainment; Kylie Munnich, senior vice President, Sonar; Nathan Mayfield, CEO Hoodlum; Michael Carrington, head of kids TV, ABC; Tracey Vieira, CEO, Screen Queensland; Mike Cowap, investment manager, Screen Australia; Therese Hegarty, director, content distribution & rights, Seven Network and Jason Byrne, producer, Guilty Content. Simmone Overend will be a special international consultant.
SPA CEO Matt Deaner said: “We are very fortunate to have the contribution and expertise of these exceptional screen executives and creatives from across the content industry and chaired by AFTRS CEO Neil Peplow. We thank them all for their commitment, ideas and inspiration for Screen Forever and the development of the platform that it represents in uniting our sector in progressive ways.”
Screen Forever will take place in Melbourne November 14-16.