Industry Mentors
The Dame Changer mentors are leaders in the screen industry who share a commitment to advancing the careers of women.
International Mentors
Hilary Davis, Sales Agent
Local Mentors
Jane Allen, Script Editor
Kingston Anderson, CEO of the Australian Directors’ Guild
Christina Andreef, Director
Gillian Armstrong, Director
Linda Aronson, Screenwriter
Mike Baard, Managing Director of Universal Pictures International 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, ACMA
Pauline Chan, Director & Producer
Leah Churchill-Brown, Producer
Colleen Clarke, Post Production Supervisor
Rachel Clements, Producer
Ian Collie, Producer/CEO Easy Tiger Productions
Jennifer Collins, Head of Factual and Culture, ABC
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
Claire Dobbin, International Script Consultant
Peter Drinkwater, CEO of House of Brand Group and Screen Audience Research Australia
Amanda Duthie, SAFC Head of Production Development
Fiona Eagger, Producer
John Edwards, Producer
Bonnie Elliott, Cinematographer
Kylie du Fresne, Producer
Nick Forward, Head of Originals, STAN
Posie Graeme-Evans, Director and Producer
Ben Grant, Producer
Amanda Higgs, Producer, Writer and Executive
Alexandra Hodgkinson, Executive producer, freelance journalist, media trainer
Anna Howard, Cinematographer
Justine Kerrigan, Cinematographer
Ana Kokkinos, Director
Samantha Lang, Film Director and Screenwriter
Debbie Lee, Executive Producer
Troy Lum, Producer/Partner, Hopscotch Features
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 and Comedy, SBS
Beverly McGarvey, Chief Content Officer And Executive Vice President, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand
Giselle McHugh, Head of Legal and Business Affairs, Playmaker Australia
Catriona McKenzie, Director
Jocelyn Moorhouse, Screenwriter & Director
Mary-Ellen Mullane, Commissioning Editor, Children’s Content, ABC
Rachel Okine, Head of Features and Development Executive, Stan
Chris Oliver-Taylor, CEO Asia Pacific, Fremantle
Rena Owen, Actress & Writer
Helen Panckhurst, Producer
Jennifer Peedom, Producer & Director
Sally Riley, Head of Scripted Production, ABC TV
Jo Rooney, Drama Executive Producer/Producer
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 Content Officer, Hoodlum
Rachel Ward, Director
Deanne Weir, Media Entrepreneur, Company Director and Philanthropist
Caitlin Yeo, Film Composer
Sophia Zachariou, CEO, Bunya Productions
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.