Media Release

Screen Producers Australia (SPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Keely as Chief Operating Officer.

Chris joins SPA with extensive executive experience spanning media, telecommunications, law and government, bringing a wealth of strategic, commercial and organisational leadership expertise to the organisation.

As Chief Operating Officer, Chris will oversee SPA's operations, finance, people and organisational performance, strengthening member services and ensuring the organisation is well positioned to deliver its strategic objectives.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner welcomed Chris to the executive team.

"Chris brings an exceptional combination of executive leadership, media expertise and operational efficiency. His proven track record of leading organisations through change, strengthening operational performance and delivering strategic outcomes will be an enormous asset to SPA.

"As Chief Operating Officer, Chris will help ensure SPA continues to evolve as a strong, member-focused organisation, delivering excellent services while supporting the long-term success of Australia's independent screen production sector. We're delighted to welcome him to the team."

Chris has built a distinguished career spanning law, media, telecommunications and government, with executive leadership experience across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. His work has included leading commercial and operational functions, driving organisational transformation and delivering strategic outcomes across both the public and private sectors.

As Executive Director of Create NSW, Chris led the organisation through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the delivery of critical support for the arts and screen sectors while maintaining organisational performance and adapting services to meet rapidly changing industry needs.

Most recently, Chris was Deputy Director of Australia's leading not-for-profit organisation driving meaningful change for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Australian workplaces. He was responsible for improving operational effectiveness and ensuring the organisation continued to deliver high-quality services and value to its members and stakeholders.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris said:

"I'm delighted to be joining SPA. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen our organisational capability, enhance the services we provide to members, and ensure initiatives such as SCREEN FOREVER continue to evolve and deliver exceptional value for our members, partners and the broader screen community."

Link to media image HERE.