After two years at the Met School in London, Neil Peplow returns as CEO, having previously worked at AFTRS as Director of Screen.

Peplow remains on board until 2019 and said at his last graduation ceremony as CEO: “This School was set up in ‘73 precisely because, at that time, few film and TV shows were produced by Australians. Gillian Armstrong once said that when she saw Phillip Noyce’s first film, she felt unsettled and didn’t know why. Then it struck her: the actors were speaking with an Australian accent on a big screen—a rarity in those days. We must ensure that we never lose sight of that progress and evolution. To keep moving forward, Australian stories must still be told; Australian voices must continue to be heard. Above all, your skills must serve that higher goal—to define and defend the values that make this country special.”