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DES POWER AM
CHAIRMAN

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.

Des Power was instrumental in the development and establishment of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the global partnerships with UNESCO and FIAPF. 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.

Des Power’s career covers journalism, film, television and business in Australia and abroad. His early career began in journalism including owning and editing a motoring magazine. In Britain he worked for the British Motor Corporation and the central executive staff of British Leyland Motor Corporation as a senior public affairs executive – business and finance.

He joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1969 and worked as a reporter, producer and executive producer on a number of programs including the radio current affairs programs AM and PM and This Day Tonight and Four Corners on television.

He was appointed a foreign correspondent for the ABC in 1974 covering Western Europe, the Middle East and Persian Gulf and covered events such as the revolution in Portugal and the collapse of dictatorship in Greece.

He returned to Australia in 1980 to form his own production company, Tripod, to produce the original Today Tonight for Channel 9, a nightly public affairs program.

The prime-time investigative program and its staffers won several national awards including Logies. Des has also won international awards for documentaries and feature film.

In 2005, he was appointed by the Australian Government to create and produce the commemorative event for the 90th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, Turkey. He continues as creative director/producer for future years and is producing a documentary for ABC on the making of a symphony for the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing on Gallipoli.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2006, he was awarded an AM in the Order of Australia “for service to tourism development through the identification, facilitation and promotion of major sporting and cultural events, and to the film, television and broadcasting industries and to community.”

In October 2006, he was appointed an Adjunct Professor, Griffith University School of Business.

At the Australia-China Film Industry Forum forum held in Beijing in December 2010, China Film Producers Association (CFPA) Chairman Han Sanping acknowledged Des Power’s contribution to relations between the two countries. Power was given ‘The Honourable Title of Friendship Ambassador’ in recognition of his valuable contribution to promote cooperation between the Chinese and Australian film industry.

Des Power’s films include the feature Dear Claudia (co-producer, Gold Award, Arizona Film Festival, starring Bryan Brown and Aleksandra Vujcic) and the highly successful telemovie The Love of Lionel’s Life (writer/co-producer).

Current films in development include the UK-Australia co-production The Song they Sing in Heaven, which he has written, and Our Son, a Turkey/Australia co-production.

Current positions

  • Senior advisor – Rowland and member of Advisory Board
  • Adjunct Professor – Griffith Business School Industry Advisory Board – Tourism, Real Estate, Property, Hotel & Sport Management – Griffith University.
  • Member of the Board of Trustees, Partners for Livable Communities, ashington DC.
  • Associate Member – Queensland Smithsonian Alumni
  • Member –  Australian Institute of Company Directors

Former positions

  • Director – Pacific Film & Television Commission (now Screen Queensland)
  • Chairman – Queensland Events Corporation
  • Chairman – The Swift Group
  • Director – Brisbane Cruise Wharf Pty Ltd, a Brookfield Multiplex subsidiary.
  • Senior advisor – George Patterson Y&R, Brisbane
  • Reporter, producer, foreign correspondent, executive producer – ABC Television
  • Executive Producer – Today Tonight – Channel Nine.
  • Director of the Brisbane Visitors and Convention Bureau
  • Board member – Starlight Children’s Foundation
  • Deputy chairman of the 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane
  • Chairman – Brisbane International Film Festival
  • Chairman – Film Queensland, the state government’s former film development agency (now Screen Queensland)
  • Member – National Council, Medical Benefits Fund

 

CATHY HUNT

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 cultural consultancy 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 Artistic Programmer of Battersea Arts Centre, London.

Cathy’s expertise includes cultural policy research and planning; feasibility studies for cultural facilities and creative precincts, including consulting to architects Norman Foster + Partners for their recent winning master plan for the West Kowloon Cultural Precinct in Hong Kong.

In Australia, Cathy has worked extensively on policies and strategies for arts and culture for local, state and federal government . Most recently she has been working in the Torres Strait on an integrated cultural policy for the Torres Strait Regional Authority to be launched in 2011; leading the research team into new financing strategies for the arts, including a Foundation for the Artist on behalf of the Australian Government Office for the Arts and researching the characteristics of artistic leadership for the Australia Council for the Arts.

 

DR JUDITH MC LEAN

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 (APSA) (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.

 

CR PAUL PISASALE

Councillor Paul Pisasale was elected to Council in March 1991, elected Deputy Mayor in April 2000, 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, community organisations and employment enterprises and is Patron of over 40 organisations. He strongly believes that care for the community is vital to a growing community.

Paul’s commitment to the region led him to being one of the main instigators in the formation of Global Info Links, Global Arts Links and Ipswich Community Telco, all of which have brought about significant benefits to the western region.

In addition, Paul is currently

  • President of ULGA (Urban Local Government Association of Queensland)
  • ULGA representative on Queensland State Planning Reform Reference Panel
  • Executive member of LGAQ (Local Government Association of Queensland)
  • Board Member of Council of Mayors (South-East Queensland)
  • Member of the State Government SEQ Regional Planning Committee
  • Chairperson of the City’s Economic Development and Sustainability Committee
  • Chairperson of the City’s City Management and Finance Committee
  • Chairperson of the City’s Specific Purposes Committee
  • Ex-officio member of all other standing committees within Council
  • Director of Events Queensland
  • Director of Ipswich City Enterprises Pty Ltd and Ipswich City Properties Pty Ltd
  • Chair of The Bremer Institute Council
  • Member of University of Queensland Ipswich Campus Advisory Committee
  • Member of the Australia Malaysia Business Council
  • Advisor to the Singapore Business Association
  • Trustee of the Ipswich Arts Foundation Executive
  • Member of Ipswich Turf Club Board
  • Member of Ipswich City Rotary Club

Paul’s strong involvement with the many multicultural organisations in the community has resulted in him being awarded

  • Honorary Indian of the Year
  • Samoan High Chief Title – Afioga Lautoamapapafaasasa Paul Pisasale

John Kirby

John Kirby is Chairman of Village Roadshow Corporation (the holding company of Village Roadshow Limited) and Deputy Chairman of Village Roadshow Limited. He was a founding Director of Austereo Group Limited for more than 15 years, the owner of the national Today and Triple M radio networks. He has over 40 years experience in the media and entertainment industry. He is a member of The Salvation Army Territorial Advisory Board and Chairman of the Red Shield Appeal and is responsible for the Red Shield Appeal Development Council and Chairman of The Salvation Army’s Communication and Fundraising Committee. He is also currently a Board member of Progressive Business in Victoria, a Labor Party advisory body, the Jigsaw Foundation at the Craniofacial Unit of the Royal Children’s Hospital and is the 2011 President of the Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers. He is also on the Board of the Surf Life Saving Australia Foundation. He is Deputy Chairman of The Conversation Media Group, an independent academic website journal, funded by Federal and State Governments and major Australian Universities.