who we are
Senior Management

CEO - Dr Ruth Harley

Dr Harley has been the Chief  Executive Officer of Screen Australia since November 2008.  Prior to that, she was the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Film Commission from 1997 until November 2008, and has more than 25 years’ experience in the film and television industries. Dr Harley has held other important roles in the sector including Executive Director of New Zealand on Air, Commissioning Editor at Television New Zealand, and the National Media Director of Saatchi and Saatchi in New Zealand. She holds a PhD from the University of Auckland, and is a former Fulbright Scholar. Her commitment to broadcasting and the arts was recognised in 1996 with an OBE and in 2006 she received a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to film.

Chief Operating Officer - Fiona Cameron

Fiona joined Screen Australia at its inception, 1 July 2008, as Executive Director, Strategy and Operations. Prior to this role Fiona was a General Manager with DMG Radio Australia, responsible for launching the new radio brand Nova in Melbourne. Fiona has had a number of senior roles in the state and federal arena including a stint as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Communications in the mid-1990s. Fiona has been a Director of the Australian Film Television and Radio School and Commercial Radio Australia.

Head of Production Investment - Ross Matthews

Ross Matthews spent eight years as the Senior Investment Manager and Investment Manager for the Film Finance Corporation (FFC). At the FFC he was responsible for financing a diverse slate of Australian feature films, adult drama, children’s television and documentary. He worked closely with producers on their funding applications and in negotiating investment structures and production planning. For the three decades prior to this, Ross was an award-winning producer of television drama and feature films. Ross's roles at Screen Australia have been as Senior Investment Manager, Acting Head of Production Support & Investment, and since January 2009, Head of Production Investment.

Head of Development - Martha Coleman

Martha Coleman worked in the United Kingdom for seven years as the Head of Development at Icon Entertainment International, the Head of Creative Affairs at Material Entertainment and as a consultant producer. As Head of Development at Icon, Martha was responsible for the company’s UK development slate as well as being involved in their production investment decisions. At Material Entertainment, she developed projects with some of the UK’s top creative talent and was executive producer on the UK box office hit, Run Fat Boy, Run. Before working in the UK, Martha was an independent feature film and commercials producer based in Sydney where she produced the acclaimed Australian feature film Praise. In January 2009 Martha returned to Australia to take up the position as Head of Development at Screen Australia.

Head of Indigenous - Erica Glynn

A graduate of AFTRS in Sydney, Erica cut her teeth working for the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) in Alice Springs. Erica’s award-winning short film
My Bed, Your Bed was an international success. She’s also made many documentaries including A Walk With Words with Romaine Morton and Ngangkari about traditonal healers of the Central Desert Region.

Head of Marketing - Kathleen Drumm

Kathleen helms Screen Australia’s diverse marketing activities across theatrical and innovative distribution, business facilitation, professional development, online and offline promotion and screen culture. She is responsible for the organisation’s strategic positioning and activities at key international markets and festivals. Kathleen maintains close relationships with local distributors, international distributors, festival directors and international film executives. Previously Kathleen was Head of Sales and Marketing at NZ Film where she was responsible for the international sales and marketing of New Zealand features, including creating an international presence and increasing the focus on domestic audiences. She has been actively involved in devising sales strategies, positioning titles in the marketplace and creating quality international marketing materials. Prior to 2001, Kathleen was the NZ Film Commission’s Short Film Sales and Marketing Manager, where she explored different ways for screen content to reach domestic and international audiences. Before this, Kathleen held various roles in sales and marketing within the book trade, including Random House NZ.

General Counsel - Elizabeth Grinston

Elizabeth joined Screen Australia in April 2009 from Gilbert + Tobin, where she was a Special Counsel in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Litigation Group. While specialising in intellectual property matters, particularly copyright, Elizabeth’s practice at Gilbert + Tobin covered a wide range of other areas, including regulatory and administrative law and general commercial disputes and transactions. Elizabeth has also practised in the public sector as a decision-maker in various specialist State and Federal Tribunals. She was previously a partner with Freehills, where she practised in the areas of commercial/finance law and litigation. Elizabeth has also held a number of non-executive Director positions on Boards in the energy and insurance sectors. She was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2009 Best Lawyers® list for Australia in the specialty of Litigation. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Sydney, where she graduated with First Class Honours and the University Medal in Law.

Senior Manager, State and Industry Partnerships - Chris Oliver

Before the three-agency merger into Screen Australia, Chris was an Investment Manager for feature films and TV drama at the Film Finance Corporation Australia. Recent titles include Bright Star, Balibo, Daybreakers, Beautiful Kate, Underbelly and Sea Patrol. In the late 1980s, he was appointed to the role of Executive Producer at Film Australia where he commissioned/executive produced and financed more than 100 hours of drama and documentary production, including Rats in the Ranks (ABC, CH4, Arte), Admission Impossible (ABC & BBC) and the drama series House Gang (SBS & CH4). Prior to this, Chris produced documentaries (including Witchhunt) and feature films (including Blood Money and Desolation Angels). In Chris' current role he assists Screen Australia in working more closely with the state screen agencies, key guilds and screen practitioners, ensuring that the differing needs of practitioners are met. Chris also manages the Enterprise Program.

Chief Financial Officer – Richard Nankivell

Richard joined Screen Australia in October 2010 from City of Ryde where he was Chief Financial Officer. He has an extensive background in finance and administration from his time in Local Government having held senior management positions in a number of NSW metropolitan and rural Councils including City of Ryde, Parramatta City Council, Willoughby City Council, Corowa Council and Boorowa Council. Richard holds an Associate in Local Government Administration and was awarded the Albert Mainard Local Government Scholarship sponsored by the then Town Clerks Society of NSW in 1982.

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Sally Mynett

Administrative Assistant

Alana Hemens