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Former SA Premier Mike Rann appointed new SAFC Board Chair
16 March 2023
The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) will be strengthened by the appointment of former South Australian Premier The Hon Mike Rann AC CNZM as the agency’s new Board Chair.
As Premier of South Australia and Minister for Economic Development from 2002 to 2011, Mr Rann has been instrumental in the long-term growth of South Australia’s screen sector. Among his ground-breaking initiatives were the establishment of the South Australian Film Corporation’s Adelaide Studios production facilities in Glenside, which he opened on his last day as Premier in October 2011, as well as founding the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) and the AFF Investment Fund.
Mr Rann is also the longest serving Arts Minister in South Australia’s history, and was an adviser to two previous Premiers who were also Arts Ministers, Don Dunstan and John Bannon.
Mr Rann will be joined on the SAFC Board by prominent South Australian lawyer Brian Hayes KC. Mr Hayes has an Honours Degree in Law from London University, is a practising Senior Counsel and has specialised in Planning Administrative and Environmental law for 50 years across Australia. He has also been active in the film industry for over seven years as a producer, with his credits including Co-Producer of 2018 South Australian feature film Hotel Mumbai.
Both appointments take effect immediately and will continue to 15 March, 2026.
Minister for the Arts Andrea Michaels MP said: “Congratulations to Mike Rann on his appointment as SAFC Chair, and Brian Hayes on his appointment to the SAFC Board.
“Mike has always been a passionate advocate for the screen sector in South Australia and notably established the Adelaide Studios in 2011 as Premier as well as Minister for Arts.
“South Australia has been recognised globally as a powerhouse of film and TV in recent years and I look forward to working with Mike and Brian to continue growing our screen industry and telling South Australia’s stories to the world.”
Mike Rann AC CNZM said: “I have been closely involved with the SAFC in many ways over the decades, nearly since its inception over 50 years ago – both as Premier and through working on staff for Premier Don Dunstan, who established the agency in 1972.
“It has been wonderful to see South Australia’s screen sector continue to go from strength to strength with record breaking years of production activity, soaring economic impact and strong employment growth, as well as recognition and success both nationally and internationally.
“Now encompassing film, TV, post production and visual effects, video games and more, the cultural value and importance of our screen industry has never been more significant. I am thrilled about this new role and look forward to supporting SAFC CEO Kate Croser and her team to grow and support South Australia’s screen industry.”
SAFC CEO Kate Croser said: “On behalf of the entire SAFC team, I am delighted to welcome Mike Rann as SAFC Board Chair, and Brian Hayes as a Board member, and look forward to working closely with them both to grow and develop the South Australian screen sector.
“Mike Rann’s initiatives as Premier have contributed greatly to our industry’s strengthened position and growth and built a lasting legacy for the sector, not least being the Adelaide Studios screen production facility, established by him in 2011, which is a significant enabler of screen production activity in our state.
“I would like to thank long-serving SAFC Board Member Miriam Silva AM, who has steered the agency with continued stability as Interim Chair during this period.”
About Mike Rann AC CNZM
Mike Rann AC CNZM is Chair of the Climate Group, headquartered in London, and is CEO of Rann Strategy Group. He was Premier of South Australia and Minister for Economic Development for almost 10 years from 2002 to 2011 and is the longest serving Arts Minister in South Australia’s history. He was an adviser to two previous Premiers who were also Arts Ministers, Don Dunstan and John Bannon.
He founded the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) and AFF Fund, and established the South Australian Film Corporation’s Adelaide Studios production facilities in Glenside, which he opened on his last day as Premier in October 2011.
Following his career in politics Mike Rann was appointed Australian High Commissioner to the UK and later Ambassador to Italy, San Marino, Albania and Libya. For five years until July 2022 he chaired the international children’s charity Power of Nutrition and is a Visiting Professor at the Policy Institute of King’s College, London.
About Brian Hayes KC
As a practising lawyer, Brian Hayes KC has over the last 50 years been involved as a principal in major reviews of environmental, heritage and land use planning and other legislation and has acted as a consultant to Federal, State and Local Governments on the drafting of environmental land use planning legislation and local government legislation.
Mr Hayes is a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and is a former Chairman of the Bar Council of South Australia, former President of the National Environment Law Association of Australia, former Chairman of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies, and former National Chairman of the Australia India Business Council.
He has been active in the film industry for over seven years and his credits include Co-Producer of Hotel Mumbai, Producer of Emotion is Dead, and Co-Producer of Coconut. Mr Hayes is also President of the Friends of the South Australian School of Art.
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