Mike Rann AC CNZM

Board Chair

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.

Clara Reeves

Board Member

Clara Reeves is an award winning games creative and CEO of Hipster Whale.

A veteran of the industry, Clara started her games career at Atari and has worked in many titles across console, PC and mobile as a Producer and Designer. As Manager of Games, Digital Content and Animation at VicScreen, Clara established and managed various funds and programs to support the local industry, encourage and foster funding opportunities for diverse applicants and advocate for growth investment into the sector.

Clara is currently CEO of Hipster Whale, the multi-award winning Melbourne game development studio behind indie arcade game Crossy Road, a runaway viral success that has amassed more than 250 million downloads and which continues to grow into new games and platforms.

She also holds a position on the Board of IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) and takes part in various international mentorship programs and advisory groups. In 2022 Clara was recognised with the prestigious Adam Lancman Award at the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs) for her contribution to the Australian games industry.

Through her career Clara has strived to ensure that Australia grows a robust ecosystem for creativity and business opportunities that allow local content from all kinds of voices to have a strong presence on the international stage.

Rachel Gardner

Board Member

Rachel Gardner has Produced and Executive Produced a wide range of award-winning film and scripted television in both Australia and New Zealand, with recent credits including two major South Australian-shot productions.

Rachel produced writer/director Thomas M Wright’s film The Stranger, shot in South Australia with stars Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris. The film premiered in Un Certain Regard competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival followed by its Australian premiere at MIFF, before breaking all ratings records for an Australian film on global Netflix.

She was creative lead producer on Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher’s South Australian-made First Nations vampire hunter series Firebite which launched AMC+ in Australia.

Other credits include producer of John Maclean’s Sundance Film Festival jury winning film Slow West starring Michael Fassbender and Ben Mendelsohn alongside SA’s Kodi Smit-McPhee, Executive Producer of Sam Strauss’ acclaimed series The End for Foxtel, Showtime and Sky and both seasons of Netflix original The New Legends of Monkey.

Rachel is Creative Director of critically acclaimed production company Curio Pictures, where she oversees all creative aspects of their scripted slate. Backed by Sony Pictures Television, Curio has a focus on delivering clearly authored, compelling and entertaining projects for premium local and international commissioning platforms. Previously Rachel spent seven years at See-Saw Films, most recently as Head of Drama, and was Head of Drama at Great Southern Film and Television, based in New Zealand, which she co-owned.

Brian Hayes KC

Board Member

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.

Angela Heesom

Board Member

Angela Heesom is a multi award-winning film industry veteran who in 2000 established South Australia’s first and only accredited casting agency, Heesom Casting. She has around 100 casting credits to date including Mortal Kombat, Aftertaste, Storm Boy, and the Wolf Creek movies and TV series, as well as commercials, and has worked closely with Australian and international producers and directors as well as highly-regarded local film makers and emerging short film makers.

Angela trains, coaches and mentors South Australia’s emerging acting talent, helping to spring board their careers, and is proud to have employed and mentored scores of film industry professionals and trainers, many of whom continue to flourish in today’s vibrant local film industry.

In 2014 Angela was listed by The Advertiser as one of South Australia’s 50 most influential women.

Lauren Hillman

Board Member

General Manager of Channel 44 Lauren Hillman has over 17 years of screen and media industry experience. Recently, in collaboration with Channel 31 Melbourne, Lauren spearheaded the rollout and launch of the new national community TV streaming platform and app CTV+. Lauren is also on the national community broadcasting roundtable sector delegation.

Lauren’s factual TV producing credits for ABC TV include Gardening Australia, Restoration Australia- Series 1, Poh’s Kitchen, Poh’s Kitchen On The Road, Poh’s Kitchen Lends a Hand, Christmas with Poh, Maggie Beer’s Christmas Feast, Dream Build, Cook and the Chef and Talking Heads. In 2014, Lauren wrote, directed and produced observational documentary series The Daters for ABC TV, currently streaming on ABC iview, and co-produced international award winning 2020 documentary series, You Are Not Alone, supported by Screen Australia and the SAFC.

In 2015 Lauren was the series producer of the Channel Nine Team Kids Easter Appeal, the first and only 6.5 hour live event of its kind in over 30 years in SA, raising more than $2.2 million for the WCH foundation. She has also produced two award winning, sold out Adelaide Fringe shows with Annabel Crabb, Leigh Sales, Adam Liaw, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, former MP the Hon Christopher Pyne and former Senator Nick Xenophon, and produced Brooke Boney and Tilda Cobham-Hervey’s In Conversation show for Adelaide Fringe 2020.

In 2018 Lauren was named as one of Adelaide’s inaugural top 40 Under 40 business leaders.

Shouwn Oosting

Board Member

Shouwn is a Waanyi Garrwa descendent and has over 20 years’ experience working in both the Federal and State public sectors with a strong focus on First Nations affairs policy coordination and program delivery.

Shouwn is passionate about Reconciliation and improving outcomes for Australia’s First Nations peoples and has worked across key portfolios including Aboriginal health workforce development, health, further education and employment, Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, Aboriginal engagement, and public sector employment.

Shouwn currently works as a consultant with KSJ Consulting Service to deliver Aboriginal engagement consultancy services to a diverse range of clients across industry sectors including the South Australian Government, construction, water, training, community, arts and screen sectors.

Shouwn has extensive experience in the development and delivery of Aboriginal engagement plans, Aboriginal employment and workforce development policy and programs, Aboriginal engagement plans, cultural capability training programs, Reconciliation Action Plans and public participation plans. He has also participated on numerous local, State and National committees and working groups on Aboriginal employment, workforce development and Reconciliation.

Shouwn is a trained facilitator and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Management), a Bachelor of Laws and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Austin Taylor OAM

Board Member

Mr Austin Taylor OAM is the Founder and former Managing Partner for Meerten Chartered Accountants and is an accomplished company director who has reconstruction/turnaround networks and practical business experience and is well versed in governance and risk management.

Mr Taylor holds Bachelor Degrees in Economics and Accounting. He has an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University and was formerly a member of the Flinders University Executive Committee and University Council.