Industry Mentors
The Dame Changer mentors are leaders in the Australian screen industry who share a commitment to advancing the careers of women.
Anni Browning and Rolf de Heer on location
“There is a saying that women hold up half the sky. Well Dame Changer is here to help with the heavy lifting so that can become a reality in the film, tv and screen world.”
Anni Browning
Managing Director, Film Finances Australasia
Jane Allen, Script Editor
David Anderson, Director of Entertainment & Specialist, ABC
Kingston Anderson, CEO of the Australian Directors’ Guild
Christina Andreef, Director
Gillian Armstrong, Director
Linda Aronson, Screenwriter
Mike Baard, Managing Director of Universal Pictures Australasia
Deborah Balderstone, Producer
Helen Barrow, Director & Producer
Rosemary Blight, Producer
Helen Bowden, Producer
Bryan Brown, Actor, Producer & Writer
Anni Browning, Managing Director of Film Finances Australasia
Fiona Cameron, Chief Operating Officer of Screen Australia
Pauline Chan, Director & Producer
Leah Churchill-Brown, Producer
Colleen Clarke, Post Production Supervisor
Rachel Clements, Producer
Ian Collie, Producer
Jennifer Collins, Head of Non-Fiction at Screentime
Carolyn Constantine, Director of Photography
Dany Cooper, Editor
Jane Corden, Managing Director of Moneypenny Production Accounting Services
Lynn-Maree Danzey, Television Director
Kris Darmody, Lawyer & Business Affairs Professional
Hilary Davis, Sales Agent
Claire Dobbin, International Script Consultant and Chair of MIFF
Peter Drinkwater, CEO of Cowlick Entertainment & Screen Audience Research Australia
Amanda Duthie, Festival Director & CEO of Adelaide Film Festival
Fiona Eagger, Producer
John Edwards, Producer
Bonnie Elliott, Cinematographer
Kylie du Fresne, Producer
Rob Gibson, Head of Originals, STAN
Posie Graeme-Evans, Director and Producer
Ben Grant, Producer
Therese Hegarty, Director, Content Distribution & Rights, Seven Network
Amanda Higgs, Producer, Writer and Executive
Alexandra Hodgkinson, Executive producer, freelance journalist, media trainer
Anna Howard, Cinematographer
Justine Kerrigan, Cinematographer
Ana Kokkinos, Director
Simon Lake, CEO of Screenrights
Samantha Lang, Film Director and Screenwriter
Debbie Lee, Executive Producer
Troy Lum, EVP, International Production at Entertainment One
Catherine McDonald, Lawyer
Marion Macgowan, Producer
Jane Maguire, Post Production Supervisor
Tracey Mair, Screen Industry Publicist
Sue Maslin, Producer
Sue Masters, Executive Producer of Drama, SBS
Beverly McGarvey, Chief Content Officer, Network Ten
Giselle McHugh, Head of Business Affairs, Playmaker Media
Catriona McKenzie, Director
Jocelyn Moorhouse, Screenwriter & Director
Mary-Ellen Mullane, Senior Commissioning Editor at NITV
Rachel Okine, VP of International Acquisitions, STXinternational
Chris Oliver-Taylor, Managing Director of Matchbox Pictures
Rena Owen, Actress & Writer
Helen Panckhurst, Producer
Jennifer Peedom, Producer & Director
Sally Riley, Head of Scripted, ABC TV
Jo Rooney, Co-Head of Drama, Nine Network
Sandra Sdraulig AM, Executive Coach and Mentor for Women
Corrie Soeterboek, CEO of FACB
Pearl Tan, Actress, Writer, Director & Producer
Sue Taylor, Producer
Jenni Tosi, Screen Production Executive and Business Consultant
Caroline Verge, principal of Verge Whitford & Co
Tracey Vieira, Chief Executive Officer, Screen Queensland
Rachel Ward, Director
Deanne Weir, Media entrepreneur, company director and philanthropist
Caitlin Yeo, Film Composer
Sophia Zachariou, Director of Sector Investment at Create NSW
Be a Mentor in your Career
No matter who you are, you can start having an impact by recognising women for their achievements and actively promoting the advancement of your female colleagues.
Women are less likely to toot their own horns, so help make sure your colleagues get the credit they deserve. Look for opportunities to acknowledge women when their ideas are implemented, both publicly and to people in senior positions. When you introduce female coworkers, emphasise their accomplishments.
And say something. When an appointment doesn’t appear to be based on merit – call it out. Do it politely and with discretion, but don’t accept that it has to be that way. You may not change the outcome of the appointment, but you may cause a decision-maker to reflect and think twice next time.
This is how change will be achieved. Through small conversations and incremental shifts in thinking.
Be the change you want to see.