Kate Carnell has been announced as the inaugural Screen Producers Australia Council Chair. Photo: Liv Cameron.
Former ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell is the inaugural Council Chair of Screen Producers Australia (SPA), with the organisation announcing her appointment this week.
SPA cited Ms Carnell’s “decades of experience championing small and medium-sized enterprises across various industries” as a perfect fit to be the first Chair of the SPA Council.
She is also the former chief executive officer of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; former CEO of the Food and Grocery Council; and is the current Chair of the Australian Made Campaign.
Ms Carnell has had a long-standing engagement with the screen sector, including her participation in SPA’s Screen Export Council, as well as her work as the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman where she represented the interests of more than two million small businesses nationwide – including those in the screen industry.
SPA Council president Tracey Vieira said Ms Carnell’s expertise will be a great addition to the organisation’s ongoing advocacy for Australia’s screen producers and driving forward critical policy initiatives.
“Kate’s unparalleled experience in championing SMEs and deep connection to the screen sector make her the ideal choice as our inaugural Chair,” Ms Vieira said.
“At a time when our industry faces significant challenges – particularly around our industry getting a fair go in the new online streaming era – Kate’s leadership will be critical to ensuring the voices of our members are heard, and Australian stories continue to thrive.”
Screen Producers Australia is an umbrella advocacy group that seeks to unite screen businesses to campaign for a healthy commercial environment.
For more than 60 years, it has supported the interests of large and small enterprises nationwide with a diverse production slate of feature film, television, and immersive content.
SPA has more than 700 members, who employ hundreds of producers and thousands of related practitioners, driving more than $1.2 billion worth of annual production activity for the independent production sector.
It is a founding partner of the Make It Australian Campaign and has worked closely for some time with Ms Carnell as a campaign associate of the Australian Made Campaign.
Speaking about her new appointment, Ms Carnell said she was delighted with it and praised the work of the SPA.
“I am honoured to accept this role and to continue supporting Australia’s screen producers, who are at the heart of Australian cultural and economic storytelling,” she said.
“The screen industry comprises many innovative and hard-working small businesses, and I am committed to ensuring they have the tools, resources, and advocacy they need to succeed – both here and on the global stage.”
SPA’s CEO Matthew Deaner noted the role of SPA Council Chair was a newly created position, and that Ms Carnell was highly qualified to embrace it.
“As a former Chief Minister of the ACT, former CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Food and Grocery Council and current Chair of the Australian Made Campaign, Kate has consistently demonstrated her commitment to supporting the economic development of key Australian industries and the role of small businesses within them,” Mr Deaner said.
“Kate’s appointment is the first of its kind at SPA. She understands the challenge of running small businesses, the power of collective advocacy and the need for Australian-made products and services – which our members deliver.
“I look forward to working with Kate in her role and working to amplify SPA’s voice in public forums.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Riotact.
