Speakers
James Cameron
Director, Writer, Producer
As a director, writer, and producer, Cameron is responsible for some of the most memorable films of the past four decades, including THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS, THE ABYSS, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY, TRUE LIES, TITANIC, AVATAR, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, and the AVATAR sequels he is producing here in New Zealand.
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Ngaire Fuata
Producer, Tagata Pasifika
Ngaire has been in the television industry for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in production. Starting in the Maori & Pacific Programmes Department at TVNZ in the late ‘80s working with the late Ernie Leonard and Whai Ngata she worked on productions from the 1988 Telethon, and 1990 Commonwealth Games right through to presenting on shows like Tagata Pasifika, Town and Country, NZ Living and going on to production work with Tagata Pasifika. While working at...
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Jon Kroll
Executive Producer, Avocado Entertainment Ltd
Jon Kroll has produced TV shows for more than 30 years, including “The Amazing Race,” for which he was honored with a Primetime Emmy Award. He is currently the Executive Producer and Showrunner of “Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins” for National Geographic. He performs the same roles on the network’s enduring hit, “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” which he has run since its inception. These projects feed into Kroll’s love of global exploration, and his travels ha...
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Tom Sainsbury
MC
Tom is an Actor/Director/Comedian/Influencer, Creator, and much more, and this year he is SPADA Conference's Master of Ceremony.
Active in the industry for many years, Tom exploded onto the mainstream media stage in 2017 after using Snapchat and short-form video content to satirise New Zealand politicians during the 2017 election. He continues to work extensively in this area, parodying New Zealanders from all walks of life in short clips released almost daily on Instagram an...
Cameron Harland
Chief Executive, NZ On Air
Cameron Harland is the Chief Executive of NZ On Air. Cameron has a long and varied career in the screen and entertainment industries including running Park Road Post Production and Stone Street Studios in Wellington.Prior to working at NZ On Air he was involved in advertising, working for Saatchi & Saatchi in London and Wellington, and before that Head of Professional Rugby at NZ Rugby. Cameron is a former Board member of the NZ Film Commission and was Deputy Chair of TV...
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Amie Mills
Tumuaki o ngā Take Pūtea / Head of Funding - NZ On Air
Amie Mills is the Head of Funding at NZ On Air where she is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and has overall responsibility for the Scripted, Factual, and Platforms streams of the NZ Media Fund. Amie has worked in the media industry in Aotearoa and abroad, in a range of creative and digital production roles. Amie is the former Digital & Children’s Commissioner at TVNZ and was co-lead of the New Blood Innovation Programme aimed at reaching non-traditional audience...
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Ian Murray
CEO, 113 Partners Consulting
Ian founded 113 Partners in 2012. 113 Partners is a strategic advisory firm that assists businesses in the creative industries to grow, seek investment, and realise their value. They are strategic advisers to Australia’s most cutting-edge creative businesses and bring a wealth of insights, access to strategic partnerships, and on-the-ground experience to their clients.Ian is an experienced, hands-on media expert who has had senior executive roles in both public and private...
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Paul Muller
Chief Executive Officer, ANZSA
Paul Muller is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australia New Zealand Screen Association (ANZSA), an organisation established to promote and protect the interests of the MPA’s member companies as well as those of Australia and New Zealand’s screen communities.*Paul was the Executive Chairman (Consultant) for the Australian Screen Association Limited (ASA) in 2016 providing the MPA’s Regional President and Managing Director logistical and technical support to ensure t...
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Sharon Menzies
Managing Director, Hinterland
Sharon Menzies is a well-recognised and highly regarded figure in the film industry. With over 25 years’ experience in financing cashflow solutions in film and television for Australasian producers, she has also been involved at the highest level in many key industry bodies across New Zealand and Australia, and in 2021 completed the Institute of Directors in New Zealand course in governance.Sharon’s newest venture, Hinterland, focuses on providing tailored and producer-fr...
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Jai Waite
Producer & Editor
Jai Waite has edited over 300 episodes of television, as well as feature documentaries and online content, including the award-winning series Miss Amazing.In 2014 & 2016 Jai was awarded Best Editor at the Apollo Awards (Asia/ Pacific), and in 2018 & 2019 Best Editor (Australia) at the Asian Academy Creative Awards.As a wheelchair user himself, Jai is passionate about authentic representation of disability and joins us for 'The Authenticity Quotient' panel. Jai is also...
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Richard Fletcher
Producer / MD - Libertine Pictures
Richard has more than 20 years of experience in international film and television production. He has produced and executive produced a range of feature films, documentaries and TV series, including Griff’s Canadian Adventure, The Letter for the King, Rhys Darby: Big in Japan, The Legend of Baron To’a, Griff’s Great Kiwi Road Trip, Daffodils, Yellow is Forbidden, Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses, Wild Survivor, Walking with Dinosaurs 3D, The Last Ocean, Boy, Under...
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Fenella Bowater
Production Manager & Producer - Whitebait Media
With only 5 years of experience in the television industry Fenella Bowater has had a diverse and quick rise to Producer on 'Brain Busters', a children's quiz show created by Whitebait Media.
After starting out with an internship at Sky Sport, Fenella quickly found she had a passion and a skill for organisation, and has allowed this to lead her into the world of television production. While working in London for IMG Studios’ European Tour golf team she found the art of orga...
Irene Gardiner
Ex. Producer / Moderator
Irene Gardiner is a long-time television producer, executive producer, and media commentator. She is a former TVNZ Head of Commissioning and was the founding Content Director for the NZ On Screen website. Irene is the President of SPADA, a board member of RNZ and Able NZ, and a member of the Greenlit NZ steering committee. Irene will be moderating the 'MOVING INTO THE GREEN ZONE' session....
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Craig Gainsborough
Independent Producer & Greenlit Founder
Craig is an independent producer, having most recently won a 2022 International Emmy for the production of Rūrangi.Prior to working as an independent producer, Craig worked as an Executive Producer for NZ Media & Entertainment, Senior Producer for WPP-owned brand agency Designworks, and produced TV commercials for 10 years. Beyond his creative work, Craig is completing his latest degree, a Masters in commercial law.Craig is also the Founder and Chair of Greenlit. Greenl...
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Dan Buckingham
Chief Executive - Able
With a history in production, Dan's current focus is as CEO of Able, Aotearoa’s leading provider of media access services for TV, film, film festivals, and government, including captioning, subtitling, and audio description. Dan is also currently a board member for Drug-Free Sport New Zealand and SPADA.
As interim Chair of the newly formed Disability Media Collective, Dan will facilitate 'THE AUTHENTICITY QUOTIENT' panel, and offer insight for delegates on how to opera...
Nevak Rogers
Acting Director of Content - TVNZ
Nevak Rogers (Māori and Tongan descent) has 25 years of experience in the media since starting out as a print and radio journalist for Mana magazine and RNZ's Mana News before transitioning into television in 2000 – freelance reporting for TVNZ, TV3, and MTS.
Nevak has worked for numerous production companies including Greenstone, Screentime, Eyeworks, Ponsonby, Tūmanako, and Hula Haka Productions (as managing director). She has worked in a range of roles, from resea...
Rachale Davies
Producer & Director - Boxed Media
With a career in the screen industry that began at the age of 16, Rachale Davies (Ngāti Mahanga) has accumulated numerous credits in directing, development, and producing. Her journey commenced with homegrown scripted dramas before taking her to the UK, where she immersed herself in both theatre and television. During her time in the UK, Rachale worked for BBC, and has since worked across the globe for networks and media houses, including Australia's Seven Network, Fremantle...
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Megan Whelan
Head of Digital Content, RNZ
As a journalist Megan has worked in Radio New Zealand News, Sport, and Radio New Zealand International, and hosted holiday programmes. Megan is also the creator of RNZ series 'Diabetes and Me' where she explores her own journey of living with Type 2 Diabetes.
As RNZ's Head of Digital Content Megan joins the Commissioners Roundtable.