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All appointees to the leaders group are senior industry members, representing media, games and post-production organisations, as well as the education sector, where digital content creation can be a powerful driver of growth.

To ensure the broadest possible coverage of the digital content sector, other industry representatives were involved in working groups that were established to focus on areas such as investment attraction, skills, export markets and research and development.

The findings of these working groups were considered by the leaders group, and have provided key information for the development of the Digital Content Industry Action Agenda Report.

Chair

Mr Tom Kennedy is CEO of Media Zoo P/L a Photon Group Company (ASX- PGA). He is the former CEO of the publicly listed Hyro Limited (ASX–HYO). In 1995 he founded Brainwaave Interactive Pty Limited, as a division of John Fairfax Holdings Limited, before spearheading a management buyout from Fairfax in 1998. From July 1999 to May 2003 Tom was Managing Director of Beyond Online Limited and led the company to a public listing in March 2000. Tom has over 20 years experience in media and technology, software publishing, distribution and interactive content creation and management. He is a board member and past Chairman of the Internet Industry Association (IIA) and past president of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA), where he was a board member for eight years until 2003. He has been an advisor to the Australian Cultural Network, a member of the Digital Television Advisory Group, a member of the Joint Singapore Australia IT Council, a member of the Australian Information Economy Advisory Council (AIEAC) and a member of the National Bandwidth Enquiry.

Leaders

Ms Kim Anderson is the Chief Operating Officer, Southern Star Entertainment. Ms Anderson was the Director of Digital Services for the Nine Network and Director of Marketing and Network Services, Ninemsn. She was responsible for the development of the Ninemsn network content and marketing strategies, including the integration of Channel Nine and Australian Consolidated Press properties. She was the Director of Business Development (Publishing) at Ecorp (formerly PBL Online) and also the head of development for the Australian Multimedia Enterprise, the investment vehicle set up by the Australian Government to invest in and stimulate private investment in multimedia. Ms Anderson is also a member of the Australian Research Council's College of Experts.

Dr Grant Cameron is Director for the Grant Broadcasters Group of commercial radio stations, where his responsibilities include direction for Digital Radio Broadcasting, group ICT and content delivery over IP. He is a member of the Commercial Radio Australia Digital Radio Broadcasting Engineering Committee. For the 12 years prior to joining Grant Broadcasters he specialised in Medical Informatics with a special emphasis on the commercial delivery of medical knowledge content through information systems in Australia, Southeast Asia and the USA.

Dr Terry Cutler is the Managing Director of Cutler and Company Pty Ltd and chair of the Australasian Cooperative Research Centre for Interaction Design, Queensland University of Technology. Dr Cutler has extensive expertise and interest in the arts, multimedia and communications. He is a former Chair of the Australia Council and its New Media Arts Board and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. He has an extensive background in participation in government committees and advisory panels on information and communication technologies at both state and Commonwealth government levels.

Mr Patrick Delany is Executive Director of Content, Product Development and Delivery at Foxtel. Until recently Mr Delany was Director of Digital, Foxtel. Patrick was responsible for development of the Foxtel digital product, all content deals and all coordination of the Foxtel digital rollout. Prior to this he was Chief Executive Officer of XYZ Networks, the owner and distributor of Arena, Channel [V], Lifestyle, Music Max, Discovery Channel and Nickelodeon. Mr Delany has also worked in the TV production industry as Head of Non Drama at Southern Star Entertainment.

Ms Rachel Dixon is Managing Director of Handshake Media Pty Limited which has consulted to most Australian Governments and IT and content developers. Ms Dixon was formerly also the General Manager of Massive Interactive Pty Ltd, a large multimedia production company. She is a director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Computing and Communications (ac3) and the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA). Ms Dixon is a past executive of the Australian Multimedia Enterprise, Film Australia and Film Victoria.

Ms Jennifer Hughes is currently managing the Australian Film Institute and was formerly Director of the Financial Products division at Macquarie Bank Group, and Macquarie Film Investment and Manager of Macquarie Film Corporation. Ms Hughes managed both Macquarie Nine Film and Television funds which invested in film and television projects including the TV series McLeods Daughters . Ms Hughes was Executive Producer of the feature films Getting Square and Dirty Deeds . In addition Ms Hughes has worked in the Australian music distribution and film distribution businesses since 1980, including Sony Music, Warner Music, EMI Music Publishing and Virgin Vision. Ms Hughes worked for the Southern Star Group for four years, as Head of Video, New Media and Airline Sales.

Mr Nic Jones is the Managing Director of News Interactive. He has over 23 years of experience in print and online businesses in the UK and Australia. Mr Jones held the position of Managing Director for Yahoo Australia & NZ. He has also held senior sales positions with NineMSN and the John Fairfax Group.

Ms Susan Mann is Chief Executive Officer of the Curriculum Corporation and until January 2006, she was the Manager of the Le@rning Federation which is developing interactive curriculum learning objects, supportive infrastructure and education interoperability standards for all primary and secondary schools in Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Lynley Marshall has over 20 years experience in the broadcasting industry. She held a series of senior broadcasting positions in New Zealand before joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2000 as Director of New Media and Digital Services. Previous roles include Director of Independent Business Units for The Radio Network (TRN) with responsibility for The Independent Radio News Network, ‘Stooges' creative production agency and a start-up Internet consultancy business; General Manager of The Radio Bureau; and General Manager TVNZ Enterprises. As Director of New Media and Digital Services for the ABC, she is responsible for the integrated delivery of the ABC's digital content, including ABC Online, broadband services, digital and interactive TV, SMS, MMS and other emerging platforms and leading the development of a cross-platform content production and commissioning model for the Corporation. Ms Marshall manages the ABC's digital strategy and content development, and represents its interests on various industry groups addressing the development of digital broadcasting in Australia.

Mr Zareh Nalbandian is Managing Director and co-founder of Animal Logic. Based in Sydney, Animal Logic is regarded as a leading Australian design, visual effects and animation house and has approximately 350 employees. Animal Logic produces world standard digital animation and visual effects in film, television and television commercials. Recent success stories include The Matrix , Moulin Rouge and Hero . Mr Greg Smith , Director, Communications and Public Affairs at Animal Logic, has represented Zareh Nalbandian on the group.

Mr John Richardson is from Cox Richardson Architects, a national and international practice with projects including the Sydney Superdome and Aquatic Centre, King Street Wharf, Aussie Stadium, Ayers Rock Resort and the National Maritime Museum. Mr Richardson is a Board Member of the Australian Services Roundtable, an industry association for service industries.

Mr John Rimmer , Chairman of Acuity Venture Pty Ltd, is an ICT strategist in both the public and private sector. Until recently Mr Rimmer was the CEO of the National Office for the Information Economy. Mr Rimmer was the founding Executive Director of Multimedia Victoria and has been a member of many boards, including the Australian Broadcasting Authority, the Chair of the New Media Fund of the Australia Council, and the Chair of the Internet services subsidiary VICNET of the Library Board of Victoria. Mr Rimmer also has a background in the health sector.

Mr Greg Siegele was co-founder and CEO of the leading Australian games development company Ratbag, subsequently Midway. Ratbag found great success with its racing car computer games in the United States games market. In the US, their racing simulation games consistently won best racing game of the year awards and the Dirt Track Racing franchise generated a total of US$24 million.

Professor Duane Varan is the Director of the Interactive Television Research Institute and holds the inaugural Chair in New Media at Murdoch University in Perth. Professor Varan is recognised as a global innovator in iTV applied research and is one of Australia's foremost authorities on digital communication and marketing. He has provided iTV consulting and training services for clients including the BBC, BSkyB, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Procter and Gamble, Nike and many other global brands and media platforms. He has also received numerous teaching awards, including the Prime Minister's Award for University Teacher of the Year.

• Document ID: 78191 |
• Last modified: 5 February 2008, 8:29pm