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Who We Are

Who We Are

SPA’s mission is to foster a thriving environment that supports independent film, television, animation, and digital production.

Leveraging our expertise and resources, SPA staff strive to establish a robust and sustainable position for practitioners within the industry.

By cultivating relationships with key stakeholders and fostering collaboration and unity amongst members, we empower a dynamic industry that fosters creativity, cultural enrichment, and commercial success within Australia and overseas.

Refer to our Strategic Plan and Annual Reports below for further information.

Who We Are

Learn more about the Screen Producers Australia team. Click headshots to see bios.

Picture of Matthew Deaner
Matthew Deaner Chief Executive Officer

Matthew Deaner is our Chief Executive Officer. Matthew sits across all aspects of Screen Producers Australia's advocacy work, industrial negotiations, events and operational issues. He also works closely with our Council to set the strategic direction of the organisation as well as identify and execute new business development opportunities.

Picture of Sarah Melrose
Sarah Melrose Chief Operating Officer

Sarah is our Chief Operations Officer ensuring a smooth running of the organisation and looking after all operational matters including People, Partnerships, Governance and Finance. Prior to joining SPA, Sarah has an extensive background in media and screens advertising, having ran a successful media agency for 5 years prior.

Picture of James Malcom
James Malcom Chief Financial Officer

James is our CFO and responsible for planning, governance activity and the organisation's finance function.

Picture of Zoe Angus
Zoe Angus Director of Industrial and Commercial

Zoe Angus is the Director of Industrial and Commercial at Screen Producers Australia. Prior to this, she was the National Director of Actors Equity at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance. She graduated with honours in politics from the University of Queensland in 1989 and holds a Master of Industrial Relations and a Juris Doctor of Law from Melbourne University. Zoe has extensive experience in and knowledge of employment law and the Australian screen industry.

Picture of Samantha Gill
Samantha Gill Director Marketing Events and Partnerships

Samantha Gill is the Director of Marketing, Events and Partnerships at Screen Producers Australia, focused on the organisations partnerships with screen agencies, industry and corporate partnerships and overseeing the delivery of meaningful courses and events for our members including SCREEN FOREVER. Prior to joining Screen Producers Australia, Sam has held previous roles in the sponsorship and events industry for many years working across sporting, corporate and major events.

Picture of Jane Mulligan
Jane Mulligan Director of Policy

Jane has previously worked at senior levels of government for Ministers and Shadow Ministers as well as a Senior Government Lawyer in the Department of Education and in other government agencies across a range of policy areas, including communications matters.

Picture of Andy Barclay
Andy Barclay Director of Industry Growth

Andy Barclay is the Director of Industry Growth at Screen Producers Australia, focusing on expanding global opportunities, increasing investment, and building industry skills within the Australian screen sector. With extensive experience in business affairs, he previously served as SPA’s Business & Legal Affairs Manager, where he provided key commercial and industrial advice and helped support the organisation’s policy and advocacy efforts.

Picture of Renée Richardson
Renée Richardson Senior Finance & Operations Manager

Renée is our Senior Finance and Operations Manager. She oversees the financial operations of SPA, as well as the planning, management and implementation of operational projects and activities for the organisation.

Picture of Brad Taylor
Brad Taylor Membership Manager

Brad Taylor is our Membership, Licensing & Diversity Manager and is responsible for managing membership and stakeholder relations. Brad is the primary contact for enquires regarding membership and levies.

Picture of Jessica Giacco
Jessica Giacco Industry Programs Manager

Jessica's role as Industry Programs Manager includes program curation for SCREEN FOREVER, leading conference and SPA Connect Market strategy, as well as spearheading SPA initiatives such as GENR8, Ones To Watch, Pitch On Demand and building future initiatives and opportunities within Screen Producers Australia both domestically and globally.

Picture of Aidan McLaughlin
Aidan McLaughlin Communications and Marketing Manager

Aidan oversees SPA's marketing, communications and public relations for our corporate activity and the annual SCREEN FOREVER conference and SPA Awards.

Picture of Bee Yurdakul
Bee Yurdakul Event Producer

Bee oversees event production, leading design and planning, production and delivery of all physical, digital and hybrid industry events.

Picture of Chrysa Christopher
Chrysa Christopher Partnerships and Events Specialist

Chrysa is a Partnerships and Events Coordinator at Screen Producers Australia, supporting corporate and government partnerships and managing sponsor relationships for SCREEN FOREVER.

Picture of Emily James
Emily James Digital Content Producer

Emily is our Digital Content Producer. She creates and promotes content across SPA's social media channels, website, email campaigns, and newsletters.

Picture of Sharmini Caldwell
Sharmini Caldwell Executive Assistant to CEO & Office Manager

Sharmini is our Office Manager and Executive Assistant and provides extensive support to the SPA team.

Picture of Michelle Hardy
Michelle Hardy Industry Programming

Michelle works with Screen Producers Australia (SPA) across their industry programs and as a course convenor.