CEO

Kate Marks has 20 years’ experience in the film and television industry, including 15 in senior leadership roles promoting Australia as a global powerhouse for screen production.
Kate was appointed CEO of Ausfilm in September 2019 and in that time, Australia has cemented itself as a world leading production destination securing over AU$4.5 billion in direct foreign investment.
Prior to Kate’s appointment as CEO, she was Ausfilm’s Los Angeles based Executive Vice President of International Production and Film Victoria’s General Manager, Incentives, Locations and Production Services.
Kate is a passionate leader and supporter of the Australian screen industry and was President of the Board of Australians in Film (AiF) from 2016 to 2020 in Los Angeles. She is currently a Board Member of Screen Careers and a member of the Australian Government’s Trade 2040 Taskforce which is chaired by Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell.

EVP, International Production

Erin leads the Ausfilm Los Angeles team, with a focus on attracting international productions to Australia, marketing Australia’s production tax incentives and promoting Ausfilm members and the country as a screen destination.
Erin has wide-ranging expertise across screen production in both the United States and Australia. She previously spearheaded development at two Australian state government screen agencies, Film Victoria in Melbourne and Screenwest in Perth. Prior to her work in Australia, Erin served as SVP of Production at Participant Media and Spyglass Entertainment.
Erin is a graduate of Colgate University in New York and is originally from Boston.

Felicity is the Executive Vice President at Animal Logic Entertainment and leads a diverse development slate of Animated, Hybrid and Live Action family content that is committed to honouring Animal Logic’s deep roots as visual innovators alongside premier creative talent.

At the heart of ALE’s success is close filmmaker collaboration and strategic and creative partnerships, developing an ever-evolving slate of eclectic, highly commercial tent-pole feature films with heart and soul.  

Our credits include The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie, Happy Feet and Peter Rabbit 1 & 2 for Sony Pictures Animation. Upcoming films include animated features for DreamWorks, Netflix, Sony and Paramount.

Founder, Creative Director

Stefan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and brings over 34 years of experience in the animation industry. His career began in the UK, where he directed high-profile campaigns for leading global brands such as Smirnoff Vodka, Vodafone, and Cadbury. Transitioning into children’s television, Stefan played a key role in developing and directing several successful series for ITV, including The Jellies (Seasons 1 and 2), narrated by the late Rik Mayall. After relocating to Australia, he continued to collaborate with major clients including Airbnb, Fairy Liquid, and McDonald’s. He went on to create and direct One, Two, Threebies for ABC, which earned a Bronze Award for Best Children’s Show at the Australian Effects and Animation Festival. In recent years, Stefan has directed multiple seasons of Ollie and Friends for Mediacorp and Best Furry Friends (two seasons) for Turner, among many other children’s programs. His work has aired on major networks such as Cartoon Network, ABC, and the BBC. Stefan is also the founder and Creative Director of Armchair Productions, where he continues to lead innovative and engaging animation projects for global audiences.

As an International Sales Manager at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Roberta oversees the global sales and marketing of the ACTF’s catalogue of children’s programs to broadcasters and platforms worldwide.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role.

Co-Founder, Chief Content Officer

Patrick Egerton is Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Cheeky Little Media and an executive producer specialising in the development, financing and production of globally successful animated series and feature films. With over two decades of experience, he has led the creation of internationally successful content for broadcasters and platforms including ABC, BBC, ITV, France Télévisions, Netflix and Disney. He specialises in developing original IP and structuring international co-productions that build distinctive animated brands for global audiences.

Director

Andrew Onorato is an award-winning director and animator based in Melbourne, Australia. Andrew currently runs Chop, an animation studio producing animated work for music videos, commercial films and narrative short films. His commercial work includes directing a music video for Billie Eilish in 2020, as well as work for Childish Gambino and Hunter Schafer. His work has screened internationally at multiple film festivals in France, Japan, USA, UK, Germany and Croatia, last year winning the jury prize at SXSW Sydney.

Producer Braiden Asciak has extensive experience working in major animation and visual effects studios across 2D, 3D and VFX and was most recently Production Manager and VFX Supervisor on the Academy Award-nominated, Annecy and BFI London Film Festival award-winning stop motion feature Memoir of a Snail.

Daisy has over 20 years of experience communicating health information to a range of audiences including healthcare professionals, patients and the public. She has been an educational video and animation producer in Australia for over 10 years, and she appreciates that storytelling is the most effective way to create impact.

Daisy is a lifelong learner, and has completed degrees in Biomedical Science, Business, Health Law and Psychology. If you too are passionate about sharing knowledge with more people through the power of animated storytelling, please get in touch. 

Co-Founder, Director

Ryan Greaves is a producer, screenwriter & co-owner of award-winning animation studio, Cosmic Dino. Recently, he was one of the producers of the 4 x AACTA-award nominated animated feature, Scarygirl and co-writer & one of the producers of the Annecy-selected The Sloth Lane. Currently, Ryan and the Cosmic Dino team are working with Ludo Studio, BBC and Disney on the highly anticipated feature, The Bluey Movie, set for release in 2027.

Head of Production

www.imdb.com/name/nm0666518

Co-Founder, CEO

Lucy is the co-founder and CEO of Elysium Studios a collaborative creative studio. A creative industries leader, producer and post-production producer with over 25 years experience internationally, Lucy has held leadership roles across a variety of industries. As Content Director at Screen Queensland Lucy focused on supporting local projects including Ivan Sen’s feature film Limbo, Ludo Studio’s Bluey, and Ambience Entertainment’s Muster Dogs. Prior to that Lucy was EP and producer at Chop Shop Post, Collider Films, Luminous Pictures, and Babyfoot Productions; producer at Partizan and Sweet Shop, working across projects including Bluey for Ludo Studio, ObDocs for WildBear Entertainment, films and series for LAPC, Universal Pictures, Fox, Altitude, Paramount, Channel 10, Disney, ABC, BBC, Discovery, and Mediawan among others. She has produced global commercial campaigns including Gold Lion winners, branded content and music videos including several ARIA winners. Most recently Lucy oversaw the virtual production tracking for Bronte Pictures’ feature film Beast of War, is EP and Head of Post on the Irish Australian co-production Chasing Millions, is Head of Post on the ABC children’s series Dancing With Tom, Producer on feature doco Te Vaka and children’s series Jungle School, and is developing the animated series Mini & Milo.

Dr Jordan Beth Vincent is the COO and Producer for Elysium Studios, a collaborative creative studio centered around innovation and technology to deliver transmedia content and transform the art of storytelling. Prior to joining Elysium, Dr. Vincent directed research at Deakin University’s Deakin Motion Lab and was the co-founder of Fika Entertainment.
Dr Vincent has produced/ post produced a range of high-quality products for prestige children's content brands including Wildbrain (Teletubbies Let's Go!), Mattel (American Girl 3D content), Minibeast Heroes (ABC) and projects for eOne/Hasbro, Coolabi and more.
She has produced motion capture, Augmented and Virtual reality projects, app design and interactive performance projects, including with partners such as the ABC, Marine Parks Australia, the City of Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Dementia Australia, the Australian National Academy of Music among others. Formerly a senior lecturer and researcher at Deakin University and the University of Melbourne, Dr Vincent is the author of numerous academic journals.

An experienced business leader and strategic growth consultant, with over 20 years working with national and international clients in the public and private sectors, Judy is a valuable addition to the Elysium Studios team.

With a background in Computer Science, Judy floated her first company on the ASX after 12 years. As the CEO of Salt Health Solutions, she ran an aid program in India covering the tenants of health, education, capacity building, women’s empowerment and poverty reduction.

Throughout her career Judy has excelled due to an ability to think creatively and strategically and to convert these ideas into practical solutions. She has a wealth of experience consulting to public and private sector clients in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region, and is equally adept at matching products to markets and driving business culture to realise tangible results. She believes it is not enough to understand the roles of business and government, one must have empathy, passion and commitment. As a woman in business and as a parent, Judy is passionate about justice, sustainability and equal rights.

As Head of Business Development, Judy brings this wealth of experience to help build on Elysium Studios mission to redefine the art of storytelling through technology and innovation.

Chair of Melbourne SIGGRAPH, Access:VFX Advocate, Lecturer IIM Paris

Mark has built an international career at the intersection of creativity, technology and education, driven by a passion for storytelling and community building. Originally trained as an architect in Dublin, he transitioned into 3D art and animation at Ballyfermot College before beginning his career in the UK games industry. His journey has since taken him across the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA through roles at Codemasters, DNEG, ILM, Pixar’s RenderMan Group, Epic Games, Netflix and Animal Logic. Now based in Melbourne, Mark is the Education Manager at CDW Studios, where he helps shape curriculum and champion emerging talent across animation, VFX and games. He also serves as Chair of the Melbourne SIGGRAPH Chapter and is an active Access:VFX advocate, supporting greater inclusion and accessibility across the creative technology industries. A frequent speaker at international events including SIGGRAPH, FMX, VIEW and GDC, Mark remains deeply committed to mentoring and fostering learning communities wherever he goes. He will also moderate several panels at Annecy this year. Curiosity continues to drive Mark’s work, alongside a passion for sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of creatives.

President

Barbara Stephen, President of Flying Bark Productions, has 20+ years experience in the entertainment industry. She manages the studio's global operations and has been key to its success. Flying Bark has produced series like Marvel's What If…?, 100% Wolf, and is working on an animated Stranger Things (Netflix) and Ghostbusters series (Sony/Netflix), and an Avatar Last Airbender film (Paramount). Barbara fosters a creative and collaborative culture and empowers industry professionals. Her leadership has earned her the NSW Women in International Business Award in 2016 and 2024, and the company has won multiple Emmy, Annies, KidScreen, innovation and creative excellence awards. Barbara serves on various industry boards, including the Women in Animation (WIA) Board, and previously served as the Screen Producers Association’s Vice President and Counsellor.

Executive Vice President, Executive Director of Content

Alexia Gates-Foale is the Executive Vice President / Executive Director of Content at Flying Bark Productions, overseeing all projects on the slate, and producing an array of the studio’s original content.

The company is currently working on the highly anticipated animated Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 series (Netflix), an animated Ghostbusters series (Sony/Netflix) and The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender feature film (Paramount).

Lex is currently producing Zac Power, an Australian feature film based on the iconic book series, and recently released a premium animated adaptation of Shaun Tan's Tales from Outer Suburbia (ABC iview / BYUtv).

Other producing credits include feature films 100% Wolf and 200% Wolf, the series FriendZSpace (ABC Me), Maya the Bee Movie, Blinky Bill: The Movie, and the AACTA-nominated series, The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill (Network 7).

Lex has also overseen production on projects including LEGO’s Monkie Kid franchise, Nickelodeon's Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel’s What If...?, and Disney TV Animation's Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which won multiple Emmys, Annie Awards and Kidscreen Awards.

Emmy-award winning Thom Kellar began his career as a professional classical brass musician before trading symphonies for the sound stage at Fox Studios. After honing his skills on the lot, he went on to co-found Folklore Sound with Sam Gain-Emery in 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. Together with their team, they’ve become your faithful co-pilots in taking your audience on an emotional rollercoaster to gasp, laugh, or cry. Always on the hunt for those tiny, elusive details that can make or break a soundtrack, Thom is dedicated to delivering the unexpected, with old-school service built on respect, warmth and compassion.

Gary is an accomplished stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, author and film director.

Gary has performed all around the world from Singapore to Paris, to New York and London and has done comedy shows at the Edinburgh, Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals. Gary is a sought after corporate MC and comedian and has worked alongside some of the biggest companies in Australia.

Apart from a successful stand-up career Gary has ventured into film and TV. He co-wrote and co-directed Happy Feet Two with Academy Award winner George Miller and voiced several characters for the film.

Gary won the world’s largest short film competition, Tropfest, with his short, The Money and took second place two years prior with his comedy short Tragic Love. Eck co-wrote and starred in the cult hit You Can’t Stop the Murders (now being turned into a musical!) and featured in the film Boytown alongside Mick Molloy and Glen Robbins.

​Gary co-created the hit global kids animation series, VEGESAURS which is now in its third season on ABC TV. Logie nominated, it is the number 2 show on BBC, just behind Bluey. Gary also writes and episode directs the series.

Gary has written two children’s picture books, Wake Up Sleepyhead and The Day the Moon Came to Stay which is out now.

Born and based in Sydney, Gerry studied at UNSW Art & Design and the Julian Ashton Art School from 2014 to 2018, where he developed a strong foundation in both classical techniques and contemporary visual storytelling.
In 2022, Gerry began working professionally in the animation industry, joining the team at Studio Moshi. He contributed to the animated reboot of Good Times, which premiered on Netflix in 2024.

Founder, Company Director

Mike Aldrich has worked across the global entertainment industry for more than 30 years, with experience spanning music, sport, television distribution and animation. Beginning his career at Sony Music Entertainment Australia, Mike went on to hold senior international roles in London and Amsterdam before returning to Melbourne to launch Fred Media International Distribution for WTFN Productions, helping expand Australian content into 176 countries. He later founded Greenhills Media, supporting independent producers and international partners across the Asia-Pacific region, and since 2019 has partnered with Toon Boom Animation to support studios across Australia and New Zealand while championing local animation talent and content globally.

2D Animator, Sales Specialist

Lucinda (she/they) is a Toon Boom specialist at Greenhills Media and part time freelance animator. Through her time at Greenhills, Lucinda has assisted in the delivery of workshops in institutions across Australia with their most recent series of Intro to Animation workshops hosted at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). Her freelance experiences have resulted in the successful delivery of animations, from engaging short films to captivating children's TV series. Lucinda has worked for clients such as Animunch, Melbourne University’s Flare Dance Ensemble and The Australian Youth Orchestra.

Founder, Producer

Sophie Byrne is a multi-award-winning film and TV producer with over 30 years of industry experience both in London and Melbourne and is best known for her work on the initial pilot and original music videos for the hugely successful concept band GORILLAZ, the expansion of the cult brand Scarygirl and for producing the Academy Award®-winning animated short The Lost Thing.

In 2024 Jane was selected to undertake the Aardman Academy’s “In Studio Stop Motion Course”. While undertaking the course, she directed and animated her first animated short - Guts. Guts has since been selected for two BAFTA Qualifying Festivals: London International Animation Festival where it was shown in the British showcase on the opening night; and the Brighton International Animation Festivals as part of the “New Generation” programme. Jane comes from a technical background, being a software engineer for most of her career but has since made the switch to animation full time.

Sandra Walters co-founded Kapow Pictures with Mark Gravas in 1997, a Sydney based production company producing primarily animation.
She works as a producer and executive producer on animated tv series, short films and feature films.
Sandra started work in animation as soon as she left art school. She worked on commercials and pop videos in Soho in London in the 1980's for companies like Film Garage and Passion Pictures.

Founder & Creative Director

Robertino is a Filipino-Australian, Oscar-shortlisted animator, director and producer, specialising in hybrid animation techniques. He is the founder of KAPWA, a Sydney-based animation studio. His debut short film, Love in the Time of March Madness, won Best Online Short the Tribeca Film Festival, screened at Annecy, was nominated for an AACTA, and shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2016. In 2019, his TED-Ed poetry animation Accents, won the Cristal for Commissioned Films at Annecy. Most recently Robertino directed Billie Eilish’s music video Not My Responsibility, as part of the Grammy-nominated Disney+ concert film Happier Than Ever (2021).
He has created work for Titmouse, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, a title sequence for Netflix's Tijuana, and has made Official Selection in Annecy three other times for his commissioned works, Red Room Poetry, TED-Ed: Stage Fright, and Steven.
Robertino is currently developing Fish Boi, the first adult animation being created under the SBS & Screen Australia Digital Originals initiative, and is a recipient of the 2024-25 Screen Australia Enterprise Business Program. In 2025 Robertino was invited to join the Annecy Festival Jury for the TV & Commissioned Films and VR Works categories.

Head of Production
Dulce boasts a decade of experience working across live action and animation production, including producing animation for the Webby-nominated Simone Biles animations (Washington Post), From Vietnam, a hybrid live action and animation documentary series (NBC Universal), and Fizzy & Suds (ABC Kids). Dulce is also the Co-Creator and Executive Producer on Fish Boi, a SBS Digital Original. Her directorial and producing work has also screened in multiple festivals and on ABC iView for her films Welcome to the Family and My Stomach is a Dartboard. Dulce is also a co-recipient of Screen Australia’s coveted Enterprise Business program, and leads Kapwa’s Film & Episodic development activities with Kapwa founder Robertino Zambrano.

Production Coordinator

Maristelle bridges a wide range of skills and passions across the studio, managing day-to-day operations and supporting both the production and creative teams. More recently Maristelle has been a pivotal contributor to the development team and writers rooms for KAPWA’s first animated comedy drama, Fish Boi—an SBS Digital Original—and is a key team member of KAPWA’s film and episodic team, developed under Screen Australia’s coveted Enterprise Business Program.

Nicholas Colla is a producer of film, television & digital content, working across both animation and live action.
Through his production company LateNite, Nick is committed to investing in emerging creatives with strong, unique voices, helping them tell their stories in a creatively supportive and collaborative environment.
Nick’s producing credits include fantasy comedy series The Wizards of Aus featuring Guy Pearce (SBS), children’s adventure comedy The Legend of Burnout Barry (ABC) and the AACTA nominated Rebooted, which had its world premiere at Annecy. Nick has produced units for Lingo Pictures AACTA award winning drama Lambs of God (Foxtel) and Princess Pictures sketch series The Slot (Comedy Channel).
His more recent projects include Munch Rexford: Legendary Poacher!! (Adult Swim), mystery comedy Ruby Rai P.I. (ABC), the AACTA nominated animated anthology The Future of Everything (Grouse House) and Australia-Canada-Singapore Co-Production Andrew the big BIG Unicorn with Pirate Size Productions, Mainframe Studios and Infinite Studios for ABC, SRC & CBC.

Leela Varghese (she/her) is a writer and director known for telling joyful and impactful stories. She co-wrote and directed her debut feature, Lesbian Space Princess, which was selected for the Panorama section of Berlinale 2025, where it won the 39th Teddy Award and placed second for the Panorama Audience Award. The film was developed through the South Australian Film Corporation's Film Lab: New Voices initiative, with funding from SAFC, Screen Australia, and the Adelaide Film Festival. Leela’s short film, “I’m the Most Racist Person I Know,” premiered in the Narrative Short Competition at SXSW Austin 2025, where it won the Special Jury Award and was selected for the Redbreast Unhidden campaign, curated by actor Andrew Scott.

Emma Hough Hobbs (she/they) is a queer artist from Adelaide. They're a filmmaker, animator and production designer. They co-wrote and co-directed their Teddy Award winning debut feature film Lesbian Space Princess, which placed 2nd for the Panorama Jury prize in the 2025 Berlinale. Lesbian Space Princess was also nominated for 7 AACTA awards including “Best Film”. Emma's previous short, the inaugural Hanlon-Larsen fellowship film On Film was in competition at SXSW Sydney 2023 and won best animation at the South Australian Screen Awards. Basically, Emma is a huge nerd for all things animation & genre and this passion translates directly into their love for also creating new and exciting genre projects.

2D Animator, Sales Specialist

Lucinda (she/they) is a Toon Boom specialist at Greenhills Media and part time freelance animator. Through her time at Greenhills, Lucinda has assisted in the delivery of workshops in institutions across Australia with their most recent series of Intro to Animation workshops hosted at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). Her freelance experiences have resulted in the successful delivery of animations, from engaging short films to captivating children's TV series. Lucinda has worked for clients such as Animunch, Melbourne University’s Flare Dance Ensemble and The Australian Youth Orchestra.

Chloe Hume heads up the development slate for Ludo Studio, working across drama and comedy series, feature films and animation including Bluey.
Chloe works closely with the writing and creative teams to take projects from pitch through to production and loves getting into the weeds with passionate creators on every story she is a part of.
Chloe has previously worked within development teams both in the UK and Australia producing documentaries for the BBC, CBBC, ABC and theatrical release, and has also produced a handful of award-winning short films for broadcast and the festival circuit.

Marieka has received five Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA) nominations including one win as well as two Australian Director's Guild (ADG) nominations.
Animated Films that Marieka has directed/co-directed have been shown at festivals Annecy, SXSW, Berlinale, Palm Springs, Aspen, TEDX, MIFF and SFF.
In 2024, Marieka worked with Fremantle to direct animation on a two-minute stop motion for the Emmy award winning Netflix series Heartbreak High S2 (Ep8) as well as writing, co-directing, animating a felt stop motion film in the kids feature Magic Beach.
In 2016, her Screen Australia funded stop motion The Crossing (writer/director/animator) won 'Best Short Animation' at the Sydney Film festival and screened at Annecy.
Marieka is a Visual Arts graduate with an Honours degree in Media Arts. Her animation/video installations have screened at major galleries including ACMI. She began her career in post-production/film editing before shifting to animation.
Her current slate includes an animated documentary hybrid series, a pre-school series, a feature film and a live action climate fiction drama series.

Mike Greaney is an award-winning writer and cartoonist based in Melbourne. Across his 15-odd years in the art mines he’s made animated videos for Green Day and Neil Young, directed on series for Adult Swim, screened short films at festivals across the world and his comics have racked up millions of likes, comments and shares on social media. He is currently developing shows with people he’s not sure he’s allowed to talk about right now.

He’s very nice and chill and some say funny and this is definitely not him writing in the third person.

Millie's animated web series, Long Head, premiered in Nov 2024, gaining 4,000,000+ views in the first three weeks of release.
Her recent shorts, Munch Rexford: Legendary Poacher!!, were produced with LateNite Films for Adult Swim Smalls.
In 2023, her pilot was shortlisted for the prestigious Australian Writers’ Guild Monte Miller Award and acquired by Princess Bento. In 2025, the project received Screen Australia Development Funding.  She is a writer/creator of AACTA-nominated web-series, Descent (2024).
In 2025, Inside Film named Millie one of Australia’s ‘Rising Talents.’
Millie is represented by The Gotham Group. 

With a focus on building effective teams, talent management, and career development, Caitlin is currently a Senior Artist Manager at Netflix Animation Studios, Sydney.
With over 15 years’ experience, she has worked at Rising Sun Pictures, Double Negative (London and Vancouver) and Animal Logic, managing teams across the pipeline, from Camera Tracking to Compositing, and everything in between.
Collaborating with production and supervision teams she has supported the successful delivery of projects from TVC to feature film across both VFX and Animation.
Throughout her career Caitlin has fostered new talent and industry connections, partnering with educational institutions, and facilitating internship initiatives.

Tony Thorne graduated from the Tasmanian School of Art in 1984, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Diploma of Art Teacher Education. He has illustrated books of Tasmanian Aboriginal poetry and stories, as well as doing work for Redback Graphix and Streetwize Comix, disseminating information to local communities.

In 1998 he completed a masters in computer animation at the Australian Film Television & Radio School, and his animated student film was nominated for an award in England, where he secured a job in visual effects. His film credits include Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince and District 9.

In 2015 he became the director and designer of Australia’s first contemporary indigenous children’s cartoon show, Little J & Big Cuz. Tony’s endearing character design and vivid sense of place for Little J & Big Cuz is the culmination of his rich and diverse experiences as an animation director, illustrator, visual artist, and comic book illustrator. Tony is a trawlwoolway descendant from north east Tasmania.

Head of Studio, Development Producer

Sebastian Gonzalez is Head of Studio and Development Producer at Pixel Zoo Animation Studios in Brisbane, where he helps lead a team of more than 150 artists and creatives across animation production and development. With more than a decade of experience in the animation industry, Sebastian has overseen the delivery of over 1,000 minutes of animation and more than $20 million in production value across the past three years, working with global partners including Hasbro, MGA Entertainment, Moonbug Entertainment, Spin Master and Moose Toys. His credits include projects such as The LOL Surprise Movie: Skate Dance, the LEGO DUPLO series and Cozy Coupe in Space. Originally from Venezuela, Sebastian relocated to Australia in 2013 to pursue a career in film and media, bringing expertise across production, development and children’s content for film, streaming and digital platforms.

Founder, Creative Director, Managing Director

Paul Gillett is the Founder, Creative Director, and Managing Director of Pixel Zoo Animation Studio in Brisbane, Australia. He began his career as a classical animator on Disney and Warner Bros. series before spending many years as a lead animation director on high-profile advertising campaigns. In 2013, Paul launched Pixel Zoo Animation Studios, which has grown to a team of over 130 artists who specialise in both 2D and 3D animation, with a keen focus on children’s content. Paul’s depth of animation experience and ability to deliver for clients makes Pixel Zoo a preferred studio for clients around the world, including MGA Entertainment, Spinmaster, eOne, Moose Toys, Moonbug Entertainment and many more His recent credits include Rainbow High, LOL House of Surprises, Mia’s Magic Band, LOL Surprise - The Big Picture, Go-Buster - Buster Saves Christmas, Lellobee City Farm, Let’s Go Cozy Coupe, Heroes of Goo Jit Zu, Mermaid High, Thomas the Tank Engine, Magic Mixies, Shopkins and more.

CEO, Executive Producer

Carmel Travers is one of Australia’s most experienced multi-genre media industry professionals, with a strong focus on international co-productions across childrens, family and adult, scripted and factual. She is a highly sought after show-runner on a diverse range of narrative film projects, including animated kids and family content, and is a successful collaborator and partner with some of the world’s most prestigious producers, distributors and platforms. A former journalist, foreign correspondent, and television network general manager, Carmel is the founder and executive producer of several successful private and public media companies. She is currently CEO of an award-winning multi-genre production and financing company most recently focused on animated and live action theatrically released feature films and scripted series for which Carmel is credited as Producer, Executive Producer and Co-writer. Recent credits include Being Betty Flood, The Correspondent, Alien TV, Bubble Bath Bay and Sydney Sailboat all of which have sold worldwide. Specialising in original content, her latest company, Pop Family Entertainment, has a broad slate of projects, including Tilly, The Arvee Chronicles - Princess of Zan and Winchflat, all of which are at an advanced stage of financing.

Executive Producer (Princess Pictures), Co-Founder (Princess Bento)

Mike Cowap is an Executive Producer at Princess Pictures and Co-Founder of Princess Bento Studio. He recently produced the breakout Sundance horror feature Together (Dave Franco, Alison Brie), which sold to NEON in one of Sundance’s biggest-ever deals and released theatrically in 2025. He is currently in production on feature film Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel for A24, starring Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya. In animation, he executive produced Koala Man for Hulu/Disney+ (Hugh Jackman, Sarah Snook), cult Adult Swim hit Smiling Friends, and three seasons of YOLO: Crystal Fantasy for HBO Max. He also produces live-action comedy Superwog - a viral YouTube phenomenon with hundreds of millions of views - which spawned Netflix Original Son of a Donkey, which launched at #1 on the Netflix chart. A true cross-platform producer, Cowap has also produced three original Audible series. Prior to Princess, he held senior roles at the Australian Film Commission, South Australian Film Corporation, UK Film Council, and Screen Australia - leading landmark initiatives including Skip Ahead and Fresh Blood - and remains a vital champion of next-generation talent. Mike currently sits on the Expert Advisory Group for Screen Tasmania.

Head of Production (Princess Bento)

Laura DiMaio is the Head of Production at Princess Bento, where she oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of all productions. With over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Laura has built a reputation for her exceptional organizational skills, creative vision, and leadership. She is instrumental in guiding teams through the production process, ensuring that each project runs smoothly from concept to completion. Before taking on her current role, Laura worked as a senior producer, managing a diverse portfolio of projects in television, online and film. Her keen eye for detail, paired with her ability to lead teams under pressure, has made her a key asset in delivering complex productions on time and within budget. At Princess Bento, Laura's strategic approach to production has helped elevate the company’s output, enabling it to continue expanding its presence in the industry. Her collaborative nature and strong communication skills have fostered an environment of creativity and innovation, allowing the team to push boundaries while maintaining the highest production standards. Laura DiMaio’s commitment to excellence and her passion for storytelling make her a driving force behind the success of Princess Bento’s projects.

Rumi Yoshida plans and executes events that deliver brand identity in an impactful and meaningful way to participants across the globe. From initial concept development and logistical coordination to on-site management and post-event analysis. In parallel, Rumi cultivates mutually beneficial strategic partnerships, whether through co-promotional activities, content creation initiatives or shared artistic ventures.
She relishes the privilege of championing individual creative artists, understanding their unique needs, and connecting them with opportunities that help foster their growth. She thrives on bringing people and ideas together and transforming visions into reality through impactful events and lasting partnerships.

Rhys Graham is an award-winning writer and director whose work spans fiction and documentary.
His debut feature film Galore premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, following a Panorama Special Mention for his earlier short film. His documentaries have received numerous accolades, including the Grand Prix at Seminci and FIFO Tahiti, along with six AFI/AACTA nominations and a United Nations Peace Award.
Rhys was the writer and director of Netflix’s The Unlisted, which won the 2020 Youth Jury Prize at Prix de Jeunesse. He was also a writer on the Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series Nowhere Boys, as well as its spin-off feature, The Book of Shadows.
He is currently in postproduction on the feature documentary Dance of Language and in financing on Paradise, a feature film with Aquarius Films. His recent film Rewards for the Tribe premiered at the Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide Film Festivals.
Rhys other work in development includes writing the adaptation of The Girl with Glass Feet with Clouds and Spheres, the crime series The Outer Dark with Rhapsody Pictures, the series Golden with Film Camp, and the feature adaptation of 7½ by Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap), supported by Screen Australia.

Co-Founder, Director

Samuel Leighton-Dore is a screenwriter, producer and co-director of Sad Man Studio, a boutique animation and creative studio based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. He is the co-creator and writer of 10-episode coming-of-age animation Willy, which is in development with Ludo Studio (Bluey) and Penguin Random House, with a YA graphic novel being released in early 2027. He is the writer, director and co-producer of animated sketch series Finally, A Show About Men!, set for release across YouTube and comedy streaming platform Grouse House in June 2026, with a 10-episode second season going into production at the end of the year. He has a slate of live action feature films, including teen sex comedy Blowies, which is currently in the works with Brouhaha Entertainment (Boy Swallows Universe).

Jake Duczynski is a proud Gomeroi and Mandandanji Writer and Director who is committed to First Nations representation on-screen and fortifying a space for Indigenous voices in the Australian animation industry. Jake graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Animation (Honours) from UTS, and formed Studio Gilay in 2021 with James Hackett. The studio employs at least 40% Indigenous staff.

Close collaboration is a key component to Jake’s process, working meaningfully with fine artists, communities, composers and companies to give each project a unique design presence and honest perspective. In 2021, Jake co-wrote and directed the satirical comedy series Cooked (2021) as well as the documentary series Un-locked (2022) for NITV and SBS VICELAND. Jake is also in development with ABC Australia on the family animation series about megafauna, GALI.

Jake’s approach has won multiple accolades, from Walkley’s & Webby’s, to Best Direction at the Australian Directors Guild awards. His work has been projected across the sails of the Sydney Opera House, Australian National Maritime Museum, installed at the AGNSW & MCA, broadcast on the ABC, SBS/NITV and streamed on Netflix.

For decades, James has run an independent studio and guided countless design and animation productions. His work has been printed into books, projected at cultural institutions, watched on TikTok and broadcast around the world. In 2021, James formed Studio Gilay with Jake Duczynski in Sydney, Australia. He always mentors and nurtures new talent and strives to make space for under-represented Indigenous voices.

James co-wrote and co-directed the gritty and compelling animated documentary, Un-Locked (2022) for SBS Australia and NITV; and co-wrote with Jake the irreverent adult animation series, Cooked (2021), for ABC Australia. He is also in development on the megafauna family animation series, GALI with the ABC.

James has worked with musical artists such as U2, Silverchair and Cold Chisel to help bring their on-stage visuals to life; as well as had his animations projected at the Sydney Opera House and atop the Australian National Maritime Museum

James is passionate about stories that deal with identity, technology, psychology and how humans relate to the natural world; and is always keen to innovate with animation, having pioneered the visual look of dirtgirlworld series (2010).

Ivan has fifteen years experience in the animation industry and has written, directed and produced content for a lot of different people including music videos for Childish Gambino, Elton John, Surfaces, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Gotye, idents for HBO, Disney, Hulu and Adult Swim, original pilots for Hulu and Cartoon Network, 2D segments for Fallout 4 and Wolfenstein 2.
Ivan co-directed pixelated title sequences to The Simpsons, Rick & Morty and Adventure Time.
Lately Ivan has self-published his comic called Muscles McQuack.

Sean has directed over 20 hours of television and produced 4 long form television series for clients such as the BBC, Warner Bros, ABC and Channel Seven.
He is a strong believer in board-driven story development and is dedicated to building a collaborative studio environment. Being able to straddle the realms of production and creative is his real strength, allowing him to problem solve whilst understanding situations from many different perspectives.
Sean recently directed on Cartoon Network’s new series Monster Beach.

Madisson Everitt is a writer/producer leading development at Studio Spud.
With a strong background in 2D production, she creates daring, emotionally grounded stories that challenge the medium’s expectations. As adult animation enters a new era, Madisson and her team aren’t chasing trends—they’re sketching what comes next.

Senior Lecturer

Andrew Howells is an animator, illustrator, artist and educator with 25 years' experience in industry and academia. As a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, Australia, Andrew works across animation, illustration, and visual communication design. He holds a PhD in Design from the University of Newcastle, where his research explores drawing as inquiry at the intersection of art, science, and visual communication. Andrew has an extensive professional background working with museums and cultural institutions, producing interpretive visual materials that support public engagement with collections and research. With a professional background in the animation industry, he is currently teaching 2D animation and illustration courses within Visual Communication Design at the University of Newcastle, Australia

Lecturer

Jack McGrath is a filmmaker, stop-motion animator, director and lecturer with over 20 years’ experience producing visual content across animation, documentary and screen media. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Sydney and has lectured in film and animation for more than a decade. His short films have screened internationally, and he is the Director of Conceptavision, a Newcastle-based production company specialising in animation and video. Jack teaches animation within Visual Communication Design at the University of Newcastle, Australia, with a focus on stop-motion and model-making. He is also a practice-led researcher whose work examines the relationship between scale, materiality and perception through the lens of miniatures. His research explores how miniature environments operate both as physical objects and as cinematic worlds, with a particular focus on how scale shapes audience experience. Working at the intersection of traditional stop-motion and emerging digital technologies, he develops hybrid animation workflows that integrate handcrafted models with contemporary tools, positioning miniatures as both a creative method and a critical framework for understanding animation.

Helen Bucknall is a veteran 3D animator whose career began in 1995 after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales. Since then, she’s brought characters and stories to life for leading studios in Sydney and London, including Flying Bark, Jellyfish Pictures, Lola Post, and Mighty Nice. Her animation work has featured in award-winning series, documentaries, and high-profile campaigns for Disney, Marvel, Lego, Discovery Channel, the BBC, and ABC and many more.
With a portfolio spanning children’s television, games, documentaries and advertising, Helen combines artistic vision with technical expertise. In 2024, she joined the University of Technology Sydney as an animation lecturer, where she now shares her industry experience and creative insight with emerging talent.
https://www.helenbucknall.com

Laurent is a French-Australian writer for the stage and screen, with more than 15 hours of scripted animation screenwriting credits as a writer since 2013, including international animation co-productions Vic the Viking, Heidi, Tashi and Pfffirates along with the iconic Australian live-action serial Home and Away.
He is also a Lecturer at UTS, Sydney, in the Bachelor in Animation Production and since2022, Laurent is the co-creator and curator of the Anim’Action Film Festival in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, under the patronage of the French Embassy in Australia and in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
As a writer, Laurent has feature scripts in development, three of them accolated in various international script competitions (including Best Australian Screenplay at the 2020 Australasian Film Festival of Time), and he has four produced plays under his belt, including French Letters and Leather Cleaner performed at WorldPride Sydney 2023.
In 2025, he launched his nonsensical comedy web series Party Couch and his first musical, PrEP - The Musical, in collaboration with composer Miles Horler, had its first showcase.
He also published four illustrated books for young readers along with a collection of 12 dystopian/sci-fi short stories, and one children's picture book.
http://www.laurentauclair.com/

Caroline Pitcher is the Chief Executive Officer of VicScreen.
A dynamic and accomplished leader, Caroline has more than 22 years’ experience in the screen industry.
Caroline has held management, marketing and business development roles in both government and private sectors. These roles include General Manager of Commercial and Marketing at Federation Square; General Manager of post-production businesses, DDP Studios and StageOne Sound; Marketing and Business Development Director at Omnilab Media; Chief Executive Officer of Ausfilm; and General Manager of the Melbourne Film Office at VicScreen (then Film Victoria).
Caroline is a Board member of Ausfilm and served on the Board of VicScreen from 2013 to 2017.
Caroline also has extensive destination marketing experience which was developed over a 10-year period working in organisations such as Parks Victoria and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

Alan Dickson is an Emmy-nominated animation director, producer, and EP with thirty years of experience.. He founded boutique studio Yukfoo in 1997, with bases in Auckland and Melbourne.

"I've spent my career protecting the spark that got me into animation, that moment when a scribble becomes something alive, making people laugh or cry. Running a studio, pitching shows, all the business stuff, that’s the scaffolding to support that moment of magic." 

Recent credits include: 

• Producer on the 2D sequences in Plankton: The Movie (Nickelodeon and Netflix)

• EP on children's series What Will I Be Today (NZ on Air).

• Director animated sequences on Escaping Twin Flames (ITV America and Netflix)

• Director/Producer animated sequences for feature doc Let Me Be Me (Wavelength Productions NYC and Greenwich Entertainment)

• Animation director The Wonder Gang (ABC Australia)

Historically Alan’s short Preferably Blue screened at Tribeca, SXSW, Annecy, and Stuttgart. Underscoring the film's international appeal. His feature project, Shirley and the Hungary Bear, is an adult animated story exploring grief, friendship, and music. A Bittersweet Tale of Glory featured in the Annecy Creative Focus selection 2010.

Alan is currently developing the Martians Vs Roughnecks IP, a transmedia franchise with feature and series potential.