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BEHIND THE SCENES - THE APSA TEAM

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government through APSA parent company, Queensland Events Corporation Pty Ltd. Governed by a board of directors, APSA is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.

APSA employs a small team of staff located in its Brisbane office who are responsible for the year-round operations including awards administration, television production and publicity and promotion. APSA also engages contractors across a number of areas including translators and production services in the delivery of the Awards and television programs.

In 2009, APSA was awarded the Australian events’ industry’s highest accolade in marketing, winning Best Marketing Campaign at the inaugural Australian Events Awards, announced in Sydney on October 8, 2009. In November 2008, the APSA team was bestowed Australia’s most prestigious multicultural marketing award, winning the National Multicultural Marketing Awards, Export Category.

 

CHAIRMAN & DIRECTORS



DES POWER AM
APSA CHAIRMAN 
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Award-winning filmmaker, former journalist and foreign correspondent, and chair of a number of prominent boards in the film and events industries in Australia, Des Power AM is Chairman of Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ltd and leads APSA’s production of the Scene By Scene series, a joint production in association with CNN International.
Des Power was instrumental in the development and establishment of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the global partnerships with CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF - International Federation of Film Producers Associations.  During APSA’s detailed four-year feasibility stage (2003-2006), he conducted more than 100 face-to-face meetings with international film industry, broadcasters, governments and cultural organisations, and has lead the APSA team since its inception in 2007. Read Des Power’s biography.


 

cathy-huntCATHY HUNT
DIRECTOR, POSITIVE SOLUTIONS

Cathy Hunt has over 25 years experience of working in the arts and creative industries in Australia, Hong Kong and the UK. She is one of the founding Directors of Positive Solutions. Her previous professional experience was in the management of art centres, touring performing companies, and festivals including Founding Director of the UK Liverpool Festival of Comedy and Assistant Manager and Artistic Programmer of Battersea Arts Centre, London.

Cathy’s expertise is in the areas of cultural policy research and planning, creative industry development, feasibility studies for cultural facilities and creative precincts, business planning, and public art implementation. In Australia, Cathy has worked extensively on arts and cultural planning strategies for local government (Bundaberg, Darwin, Townsville, Gladstone, Gold Coast) and Queensland State Government (policies for cultural facility development, public art, and art and industry). She has undertaken a major review of Indigenous Art Centres in Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands on behalf of Arts Queensland and the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA) and is currently working with the Torres Strait Regional Authority on their cultural policy and plan.

 

DR JUDITH MCLEAN

Dr. Judith Mc Lean has extensive experience in the Performing Arts, Education and Health sectors. Her responsibilities include: Chair Sothern Cross Soloists (2010 -); Company Director, Asia Pacific Screen Awards (ASPA) (2009-);  Inaugural Chair Major Brisbane Festival (2003-2007); Chair, Queensland Theatre Company (2000-2003); Chair, Queensland Minister for Justice and the Arts Cultural Advisory Council (1999-2002); Member, Theatre Board & Promoting the Value of the Arts (PVA) Strategy, Australia Council (2000-2002); Member, Steering Committee, Review of the Program of Assistance - QLD Parliamentary Inquiry (2000).

Judith works as leadership coach and consultant and has published in the areas of aesthetic education  and the nature of collaboration in the development of successful teams. Her research interests include leadership and aesthetics, arts and cultural policy, neuroscience and emotionality in the corporate world. She is currently working with Queensland Health facilitating a series of workshops for senior staff on strategic direction and leadership. She is also an adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology (Creative Industries) and teaches leadership studies (MBA, Complex Project Management, Canberra) for the Australian Defence Force.

 

Paul-PisasaleCR PAUL PISASALE
MAYOR, IPSWICH CITY COUNCIL

Cr Paul Pisasale was elected to Council in March 1991, elected Deputy Mayor in April 200, Elected mayor in March 2004 and re-elected as Mayor of the City of Ipswich in March 2008.

Paul’s dedication to and pride for the City of Ipswich, as well as his drive and enthusiasm, are very evident to all that come in contact with him. He is passionate about working at a regional level, breaking down barriers and ensuring that people are the number one priority for local government. He is also strongly determined to work together in partnership with the community, private enterprise and all levels of government to meet the challenges ahead as the City of Ipswich continues to prosper and grow.

Paul has an active interest in business and youth initiatives, many business and community organisations and employment enterprise and is patron of over 40 organisations. He strongly believes that care for the community is vital to a growing community.

 



APSA STAFF 


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RICHARD WATSON
GENERAL MANAGER
As General Manager, Richard Watson oversees the substantial financial and operational requirements of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He brings more than 10 years commercial experience with sports and entertainment companies including senior management roles with International Quarterback and Octagon. He joins the team from his roleas Manager, Major Events, Queensland Events Corporation. He joins the team from his role as Manager, Major Events, Queensland Events Corporation.  

 

 

 

maxine_w

MAXINE WILLIAMSON
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
A specialist in independent and foreign language film, Maxine Williamson joined APSA in its inaugural year bringing with her 11 years experience in cinema exhibition. Maxine was General Manager, Dendy Cinemas Brisbane, and after successfully opening the Dendy Portside Cinemas joined the APSA team in 2007, its inaugural year.

Maxine was a long-standing member of the Brisbane International Film Festival Programming Advisory Panel and board member of QPIX (Queensland’s Screen Industry Development Centre).  Maxine is a member of NETPAC, an international network for the promotion of Asian cinema.  An experienced film moderator, Maxine has conducted interviews and moderated many in-cinema Question and Answer sessions with elite film practitioners from around the world. Maxine has a Bachelor Degree in Film and Television Production from the Queensland University of Technology majoring in writing/directing. Maxine produce’s the Awards Competition for the APSAs and is also a producer on the APSA documentary series Scene by Scene promoting the films and filmmakers of Asia-Pacific.

 


 
Lung_Ong

LUNG ONG
AWARDS COMPETITION COORDINATOR
Lung Ong was born in Malaysia and lived in Hong Kong for 10 years before moving to Australia.  He has a Bachelor of Film/Television Production from Queensland University of Technology and has worked in film production as a director, cinematographer, assistant director, co-producer and actor. Lung has been an English teacher in Japan, a volunteer at the Brisbane International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Male Actor, Queensland New Filmmakers Awards 2008, for the short film, Scarlet.  He is also a talented artist, receiving a High Commendation in the Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art (2000) for works produced by metal etching. 


 


Jill_Robson

JILL ROBSON
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
Film and entertainment marketing and publicity specialist, Jill Robson joined the APSA team from her most recent roles consulting to leading film distributors and festivals and heading publicity and marketing in Queensland for Australia’s leading independent cinema chain, Dendy Cinemas.

Jill has implemented theatrical marketing and publicity campaigns for many highly acclaimed independent, foreign language and Australian films over the past five years for clients including Dendy Films, Hopscotch Films, Footprint Films, Icon Films Distribution, Gil Scrine Films, the Flickerfest International Short Film Festival and the inaugural Windows on Europe Festival. Prior to this, Jill worked in television commercial production preceded by a stint in the fashion industry. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Griffith University with a double major in Film & Television Studies and Journalism. Jill originally joined the APSA team in the role of PR and Media Manager and is now responsible for overseeing all marketing, publicity and public relations requirements of Asia Pacific Screen Awards.



Brett_McDougall

BRETT MCDOUGALL
MARKETING COORDINATOR - DIGITAL & NEW MEDIA
Brett has a Bachelor of Business Communications majoring in marketing and information systems as well as formal qualifications in printing and graphic arts. Over the past eight years, Brett has implemented strategies, campaigns and brand development on a
local, national and international scale.  He was President and CEO of Ipswich
Music Incorporated charged with creating a vibrant and sustainable music
culture for the regional city.  The role involved the operations, management
and marketing of the organisation and its many events, festivals, performers
and musicians. Brett also oversees the marketing activities of Queensland
Events Corporation.

 
Patricia_Laksmono

PATRICIA LAKSMONO
MARKETING COORDINATOR
Patricia Laksmono is responsible for the coordination of marketing services including APSA’s Award vessels, graphic design, advertising, brand, sponsorship, promotion and administration duties for the marketing, film and event departments.

Indonesian-born, Patricia has a Masters’ Degree in Film/Television Studies (Honours) and a Bachelor in Visual Communication Design. Prior to joining APSA, she volunteered at Brisbane International Film Festival in 2006 and 2007 handling graphic design and film-prints.  
 

  

 

ALEXANDRA TUCKER
EVENT MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN
Alex Tucker joins the APSA team after more than a decade of experience in film production, festival and events management. A Queensland University of Technology film school graduate with Post Graduate Degrees in both Arts Management and Sustainable Development Policy, Alex’s passion for the filmmaking process coupled with her ongoing involvement with the independent arts community has allowed her to enjoy the best of both industries. Her Production Coordinating roles in film production across television series, music videos, television commercials and feature films includes large scale international productions Sanctum, Flipper, House of Wax, K9 and Scooby Doo, Australian-Danish co-production At World’s End, several Australian feature films and telemovies including Gettin’ Square and Through My Eyes and the Bollywood feature film Singh is King.

Alex production managed the ‘Nextwave Festival’ Youth & Cultural Program for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and has held event management positions with the Australian Cinematographers Society Awards and Brisbane’s Valley Fiesta. Alex’s role as Event Manager for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards is the culmination of her two areas of expertise. Her film industry background coupled with her experience in facilitating arts and cultural events management and logistical and technical coordination equips her well to manage the complex logistic, creative and financial requirements of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

 

TM

TRACEY MAIR
PUBLICITY CONSULTANT
Tracey Mair has been one of Australia’s leading film and television publicists for more than 15 years.  Her company has extensive experience across film and television production, film distribution, television broadcast and State and Federal Government screen agency media relations.  Among Tracey's most
recent projects is publicity for the Bruce Beresford-directed feature film, Mao’s
Last Dancer, based on the international best-selling book.