ALAN FINNEY - CHAIR

Alan Finney has an extensive background in film production and distribution, first becoming involved in the industry in the early 1960s.

In 1971, he joined Roadshow Film Distributors and brought the movie Stork to Roadshow's attention. This acquisition led to the formation of Hexagon Productions, the first ongoing joint venture between production and distribution entities in contemporary Australian history producing such movies as Alvin Purple, Alvin Rides Again, Petersen, End Play and Eliza Fraser. During his time with Roadshow Film Distributors, Finney supervised the release of many Australian titles including Mad Max, Breaker Morant, My First Wife, Proof, Romper Stomper, The Piano, Bad Boy Bubby, Muriel's Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Dead Heart and The Castle.

Alan joined Buena Vista International (now Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) in 1998 as Vice President and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand. Since then he has overseen the theatrical releases of The Sixth Sense, Pirates of the Caribbean, Chicago, Whalerider, Mallboy, The Man Who Sued God to name just a few and most recently, the record breaking Finding Nemo from Pixar Studios and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. He left the Disney Company in April, 2010. Finney has also served on the board of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and as Chair of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia and was previously on the board of AFI.

In 2002, Alan was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to Australian film. In November 2010, Alan received the Screen Producers' Association of Australia's Maura Fay Award for Services to the Industry.

SIGRID THORNTON

One of Australia's leading and best loved actresses, Sigrid Thornton has starred in many of the films which are now regarded as classics of the Australian cinema, including, George Miller's box office hit, The Man From Snowy River, (Fox Classics), The Lighthorsemen, (RKO), directed by Simon Wincer, Slate Wyn And Me, (Hemdale) and The Man From Snowy River II, (Disney – Touchstone) In addition, she has starred in several very successful mini-series including The Boy In The Bush for Channel Four / ABC, co-starring Kenneth Brannagh and The Far Country co-starring Michael York and 1915 for BBC / ABC.

In recent years, Sigrid has played starring roles in some of Australia's finest television dramas, namely SeaChange and Underbelly: The Golden Mile. Sigrid has worked extensively behind the cameras on behalf of the film and television industry, the arts and various charities.

Sigrid was appointed to the Commercial Television Production Fund in 1995 for a three year term. Sigrid has served on the board of Film Victoria and was the keynote speaker at the "Arts Angels" program for the Victorian Arts Centre Trust which raised millions of dollars for the arts. Sigrid continues to do extensive work with children and World Vision. Additionally Sigrid has served as the patron for Woman in Film and Television

Sigrid lives in a converted stable with her husband, son and daughter.

JENNIFER HUBY - PARTNER

Jennifer Huby is a partner of TressCox Lawyers. Jennifer is a commercial lawyer practicing primarily in the media and entertainment industry.

Jennifer has worked extensively in the film, television and music areas for the last 20 years commencing since working as in-house lawyer at the Australian Film Commission. Throughout the 1990’s she was, at TressCox, one the panel solicitors for the Film Finance Corporation Australia and for many years acted for the FFC in relation to its investment in various projects. She has also acted and continues to act for numerous film and television producers, both Australian and overseas, making productions in Australia and has personal credits on many films. She has also acted for the BBC and its commercial arm BBC Worldwide for over 15 years and is currently working on the large budget 3D animated film of ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ to be made in Australia for BBC Earth and Evergreen Films.

In the music field, Jennifer acts for artists, managers and record companies has represented one of the major record companies for many years.

Jennifer also practices in the area of advertising and marketing law which includes advising on intellectual property and trade practices matters including trade marks, copyright, character and concept protection, and confidential information.

MORRY SCHWARTZ

At the age of 22, Morry Schwartz started a film distribution business, and in 1973, at the age of 25, with 3 friends, he started the pioneering publishing company Outback Press. A year after this he set up Aardvark Concreting Company, to financially support the publishing. Aardvark soon became a property development company. He has remained a publisher and property developer, under various entities, until today. For the past several years Schwartz Publishing has published books under the Black Inc imprint and the journal Quarterly Essay. He also launched The Monthly magazine, which covers Australian politics, society and culture.

His company Pan Urban develops property including residential projects such as Liberty Tower and Watergate Towers as well as retail projects including the redevelopment of Melbourne's GPO.

AMANDA HIGGS

Amanda produced the first three series of the television drama The Secret Life of Us. It was the most watched Australian drama in its target demographic of 16-39 year olds three years running. In 2004 Secret Life won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Drama Series for the third year in a row. It also picked up three Outstanding Actress’ Awards. The series was nominated for 14 AFI Awards, winning three for performance; it also garnered two AWGIES and a Bronze Medal at the NY Festival Awards for Best Television Program. Amanda was also the recipient of one of the AFC’s Distinctly Australian Fellowships and undertook an internship with David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television in L.A. Amanda’s script editing credits include Police Rescue, Fallen Angels, High Flyers, WildSide and Water Rats, and the feature films Praise, Walking on Water, Somersault and the short feature Jewboy. In 2004 Amanda was recipient of the Cecil Holmes Award for services to directors from the ADG. Amanda is currently on contract to the ABC as an Executive Producer in TV Drama.

ROBERT SESSIONS

Robert Sessions has been involved with Australian book publishing for over forty years.  Among the first authors he published in the 1960s were Thomas Keneally, George Turner and Ruth Park. He joined Penguin Books in Australia in 1971 as editor, then managing editor.  Leaving Penguin in 1976, he became Publishing Director of Thomas Nelson Australia, where he published, among others, Christopher Koch, Thea Astley, Graeme Base and Patsy Adam-Smith. In 1987 he rejoined Penguin, becoming Publishing Director in 1988. During the last 20 years he has published a wide range of adult and children’s authors, including Donald Horne, David Ireland, Elizabeth Jolley, Paul Jennings, Manning Clark, Rodney Hall, Bryce Courtenay, Tim Winton and, more recently, Steve Toltz and Nam Le. He has negotiated film rights for a number of his authors, and is a strong proponent of the Australian film industry. He has held executive positions on a number of industry committees and is Chair of the Course Advisory Committee for the Graduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing at RMIT University.

MIKE BAARD

Director of Universal Pictures International Australia (UPI), Mike brings 20 years of experience in film distribution.

Prior to joining Universal, Mike was involved in a number of start-up ventures in the Australian market. These included the establishment of niche Distribution business Ninth Dimension and the establishment of Theatrical Entertainment Services, a division of TNS Media Intelligence.

Mike previously enjoyed 13 years with the Nu Metro Group; Africa's largest integrated Entertainment Company, serving as Managing Director of Nu Metro Film Distribution which represented amongst others, 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Mike served on the Board of Nu Metro Theatres - Africa's second largest exhibitor with more than 250 screens; Nu Metro Home Entertainment – representing under license The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros, the BBC, Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures; and Nu Metro Licensing – the Consumer Products arm of Nu Metro representing under License MGM Consumer Products, Universal Studios Consumer Products, the US PGA Tour and many more.

Mike is currently the Chair of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.