Film Victoria
Film Victoria Board
Our board consists of not more than 11 members and not fewer than seven members as appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister - as articulated in the Film Act 2001. The majority of our board members bring extensive experience from the film, television and digital media industry, and the business and finance sector.
Current members:
Ian Robertson - President
Ian Robertson is a corporate and media lawyer who heads the media and entertainment practice of national law firm, Holding Redlich. He is also the managing partner of the firm’s Sydney office. Ian has worked in and for the media and entertainment industries for most of his career, including in the 1980s as in-house counsel for David Syme & Co Limited, publisher of the The Age newspaper in Melbourne, and as a senior executive of the video, post-production and facilities company, AAV Australia in South Melbourne. He became a partner of Holding Redlich in Melbourne in 1990 and established the firm’s Sydney office in 1994. He is also the deputy chair of the Australian Government film agency Screen Australia and a director of the ASX-listed production and distribution company, Beyond International Limited. Ian's former appointments include board member of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, director and chair of Ausfilm, director and deputy chair of Film Australia Limited, and director of the predecessor agency to Film Victoria, Cinemedia. Mr Robertson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Debra Allanson
Debra has more than 20 years' screen industry experience, and specialises in financing new media projects and ventures. She is Victorian President of the Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association (AIMIA). As managing director of Ish Media, she has helped the company build a reputation for creating distinctive and innovative cross platform shows and marketing strategies that address the changing needs of broadcasting, online, marketing and content production partners.
Ann Darrouzet
Ann is an award-winning independent producer with projects such as children's dramas HORACE & TINA, RAW FM and BLABBERMOUTH & STICKYBEAK, and feature film TRUE LOVE AND CHAOS, many of which have been recognised with industry awards. She is a former project manager at the Film Finance Corporation Australia (now Screen Australia).
Jo Dawson
Jo is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in financial services and wealth management developed through senior roles at National Australia Bank and Deloitte. Jo has excellent management and strategy experience, and brings a strong corporate governance background to the Board through experience developed in a range of environments, including CFO of National Financial Management. She is Managing Director and adviser with Executive Wealth Strategies, a financial planning practice established in 2002, and is also a director of the general insurance company Catholic Church Insurances Limited.
Dan Fill
Dan is an independent producer of television and other emerging digital platform projects, and has been a partner in production company The Chocolate Liberation Front since May 2009. Mr Fill was head of multi-platform production at ABC TV from 2007 to 2009, and head of development for the ABC's New Media and Digital Services Division.
Lyn Maddock
Lyn Maddock has more than 25 years of experience as an executive in the public and private sectors, with a background in research and economics. For the past decade she has worked within the government and media sectors, including with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) from 2005-2009 and as the Interim CEO of Screen Australia in 2008. Lyn has served on various Boards including Deputy/Acting Chair of ACMA and Deputy/Acting Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Authority.
Kim McGrath
Kim McGrath joined the Board in 2010. She has over 20 years experience in public policy development and implementation in a range of portfolio areas, including the screen industry and governance. She is currently engaged by the United Nations Development Program on the former Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks' Timor- Leste Governance Project. Kim also serves on the Board of the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Michael McMahon
Michael McMahon joined the Board in 2010. A former lawyer with extensive experience in arts and entertainment law, Michael was Director of the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the National Indigenous Arts Advocacy Association, and has served on boards of several arts and cultural organisations. He commenced producing film and television projects in 1997 and is a Director of Matchbox Pictures.
David Parker
David is a highly regarded cinematographer, producer and writer, whose recent productions include feature film MATCHING JACK and the television feature HAWKE. He wrote, shot and produced the acclaimed MALCOLM and THE BIG STEAL among others, and he shot the low budget feature MR B SAYS NO, which won a Golden Camera Award at the Chicago Film Festival. He started his career as a still photographer for feature films including A TOWN LIKE ALICE, THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER, PHAR LAP, and BURKE AND WILLS.
Jan Sardi
Jan Sardi is one of Australia's eminent screenwriters. In 1997 he received an Academy Award Nomination for his screenplay for SHINE, as well as nominations for BAFTA, the Writers' Guild of America, and the Golden Globes. Jan has also won numerous awards for his work in film and television in Australia, including best screenplay for SHINE. In 2003 he wrote and directed the award-winning film LOVE 'S BROTHER an Australian/UK production. He also adapted the hit films THE NOTEBOOK and MAO 'S LAST DANCER for the screen. Jan's current projects include adaptations of THE SECRET RIVER by Kate Grenville, and REMARKABLE CREATURES by Tracy Chevalier.
Daryl Talbot
Daryl Talbot is Managing Director of WTFN Entertainment - an independent television production company based in Melbourne which produces shows such as Bondi Vet and the award winning story of conjoined twins Trishna & Krishna: The Quest For Separate Lives. Daryl started at WTFN in 2001 after nearly 20 years working as a news reporter and producer for network television in Australia and the UK. This included 15 years at Australia's Nine Network producing news, documentaries and lifestyle shows. Under his leadership WTFN has grown to be one of Australia's most dynamic independent television production companies. Daryl is now focused on growing WTFN internationally by creating a new range of programs with broad appeal to global audiences.