Tutors | Australian Film Television and Radio School

Anna Howard ACS

Anna Howard ACS started in the Australian Film Industry in 1981. After studying cinematography at North Sydney Tafe, she quickly became a camera assistant, working for some of Australia’s best cinematographers, including Peter James ASC, ACS and Academy Award winners Russell Boyd ASC, ACS, Andrew Lesnie ASC, ACS, and John Seale ASC, ACS.

In 1996 Anna started shooting her own projects and established herself as a highly sought after Director of Photography in her own right. She’s well known for her ability to work with actors. Her subtle lighting and eye has caught the attention of many of the top directors in New Zealand and Australia, including that of Ray Lawrence and Gillian Armstrong.

In the last 18 years Anna has been busy working on many commercial and film projects in both countries, winning awards for her lighting and images in advertising and film. Including feature films South Solitary, Errors of the Human Body, Television programs like Rake, Marking Time and documentaries, Women He’s Undressed, and Girl in a Mirror.

Anna was granted an ACS Accreditation in 2004.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School’s decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

 

Anna Howard ACS

Anna Howard ACS started in the Australian Film Industry in 1981. After studying cinematography at North Sydney Tafe, she quickly became a camera assistant, working for some of Australia’s best cinematographers, including Peter James ASC, ACS and Academy Award winners Russell Boyd ASC, ACS, Andrew Lesnie ASC, ACS, and John Seale ASC, ACS.

In 1996 Anna started shooting her own projects and established herself as a highly sought after Director of Photography in her own right. She’s well known for her ability to work with actors. Her subtle lighting and eye has caught the attention of many of the top directors in New Zealand and Australia, including that of Ray Lawrence and Gillian Armstrong.

In the last 18 years Anna has been busy working on many commercial and film projects in both countries, winning awards for her lighting and images in advertising and film. Including feature films South Solitary, Errors of the Human Body, Television programs like Rake, Marking Time and documentaries, Women He’s Undressed, and Girl in a Mirror.

Anna was granted an ACS Accreditation in 2004.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School’s decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

 

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors

Link to Carolyn Constantine ACS

Carolyn Constantine ACS

Carolyn Constantine ACS began her career in Sydney, and having risen through the ranks of the camera department, now works as a freelance director of photography both in Australia and the US.

Carolyn’s reputation was solidified with her notable work as DP alongside Australian directors such as Cate Shortland and Carla Drago, and on films suchs Pentuphouse (Kodak and Dendy Award winner), Somersault, Beginnings (Dendy Award winner) and Boomerang (Tropfest Best Cinematography). She has equally made a mark on US projects such as the feature Night Owls of Coventry by the Sundance Award winning director Laura Paglin.

Carolyn has lensed a number of high profile documentaries: Yajilarra which screened at the UN; the highly-acclaimed Smoke & Mirrors show at the famous Spiegeltent; a number of arts documentaries including Yoko Ono at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia; the recent cinema release Wide Open Sky (winner Sydney Film Festival 2015 Audience Award); and her own award-winning film, Madhattan.

Carolyn’s TV drama credits including Wildside, Young Lions, All Saints, Rake and Please like Me among others. Her commercial clients include VW, Nike and Kellogs.

As someone currently working in the mainstream industry, Carolyn feels it’s important to pass on the skills, craft and protocols to future filmmakers.

Carolyn Constantine ACS

Carolyn Constantine ACS began her career in Sydney, and having risen through the ranks of the camera department, now works as a freelance director of photography both in Australia and the US.

Carolyn’s reputation was solidified with her notable work as DP alongside Australian directors such as Cate Shortland and Carla Drago, and on films suchs Pentuphouse (Kodak and Dendy Award winner), Somersault, Beginnings (Dendy Award winner) and Boomerang (Tropfest Best Cinematography). She has equally made a mark on US projects such as the feature Night Owls of Coventry by the Sundance Award winning director Laura Paglin.

Carolyn has lensed a number of high profile documentaries: Yajilarra which screened at the UN; the highly-acclaimed Smoke & Mirrors show at the famous Spiegeltent; a number of arts documentaries including Yoko Ono at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia; the recent cinema release Wide Open Sky (winner Sydney Film Festival 2015 Audience Award); and her own award-winning film, Madhattan.

Carolyn’s TV drama credits including Wildside, Young Lions, All Saints, Rake and Please like Me among others. Her commercial clients include VW, Nike and Kellogs.

As someone currently working in the mainstream industry, Carolyn feels it’s important to pass on the skills, craft and protocols to future filmmakers.

Job title:

Tutor

Division:

Tutors

Link to Gareth Tillson

Gareth Tillson

Gareth Tillson has pursued a career in cinematography since he saw the light during a shoot at New York Film Academy in 1998. Graduating from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (MA Cinematography) in 2004 with the AFTRS High Achievement in Cinematography Award, Gareth has since established himself as a freelance cinematographer in Sydney. He shoots shorts, docos, commercials and music clips. His debut feature as cinematographer, LBF, premiered at SxSW Film Festival in 2011 and has played at Perth Revelations and Sydney Film Festivals.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Gareth Tillson

Gareth Tillson has pursued a career in cinematography since he saw the light during a shoot at New York Film Academy in 1998. Graduating from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (MA Cinematography) in 2004 with the AFTRS High Achievement in Cinematography Award, Gareth has since established himself as a freelance cinematographer in Sydney. He shoots shorts, docos, commercials and music clips. His debut feature as cinematographer, LBF, premiered at SxSW Film Festival in 2011 and has played at Perth Revelations and Sydney Film Festivals.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors

Link to Kate Ayrton

Kate Ayrton

Kate is a digital transformation specialist with over ten years’ experience delivering end-to-end digital platforms, products and services across government, education and the creative industries. Working as a Senior Project Manager and Digital Producer, she leads multidisciplinary teams to design and deliver complex digital ecosystems that balance organisational objectives with real user needs. Her expertise spans digital transformation initiatives requiring strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and structured delivery across content, technology and service design within established governance frameworks.

Starting her career producing TVCs for leading agencies in New York, Los Angeles and Sydney, Kate has evolved her practice alongside a rapidly changing digital landscape. She is a strong advocate for effective project management workflows and is particularly interested in how emerging technologies can support creative storytelling and digital experiences. Her work spans AI, VR, 360° video, websites, apps, games and interactive media. With a background across creative production, interactive media and digital delivery, she brings a holistic perspective that bridges strategy, technology and storytelling to create digital services that are accessible, sustainable and meaningful. Notable projects include the Good Design Award-winning Destination NSW website and Songlines 360, a virtual reality experience developed for Vivid Sydney’s Lighting of the Sails at the Sydney Opera House.

Kate holds a BFA in Film & Theatre Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Master’s in Interactive Multimedia from the University of Technology Sydney. She is also an experienced industry educator and accredited trainer, having taught digital development, screen business and interactive media across AFTRS, UTS, the University of Sydney and Torrens University. In addition, she delivers industry workshops for organisations including ABC, SBS and Screenwest, supporting teams to build capability in contemporary digital practices and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Kate Ayrton

Kate is a digital transformation specialist with over ten years’ experience delivering end-to-end digital platforms, products and services across government, education and the creative industries. Working as a Senior Project Manager and Digital Producer, she leads multidisciplinary teams to design and deliver complex digital ecosystems that balance organisational objectives with real user needs. Her expertise spans digital transformation initiatives requiring strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and structured delivery across content, technology and service design within established governance frameworks.

Starting her career producing TVCs for leading agencies in New York, Los Angeles and Sydney, Kate has evolved her practice alongside a rapidly changing digital landscape. She is a strong advocate for effective project management workflows and is particularly interested in how emerging technologies can support creative storytelling and digital experiences. Her work spans AI, VR, 360° video, websites, apps, games and interactive media. With a background across creative production, interactive media and digital delivery, she brings a holistic perspective that bridges strategy, technology and storytelling to create digital services that are accessible, sustainable and meaningful. Notable projects include the Good Design Award-winning Destination NSW website and Songlines 360, a virtual reality experience developed for Vivid Sydney’s Lighting of the Sails at the Sydney Opera House.

Kate holds a BFA in Film & Theatre Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Master’s in Interactive Multimedia from the University of Technology Sydney. She is also an experienced industry educator and accredited trainer, having taught digital development, screen business and interactive media across AFTRS, UTS, the University of Sydney and Torrens University. In addition, she delivers industry workshops for organisations including ABC, SBS and Screenwest, supporting teams to build capability in contemporary digital practices and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Job title:

Tutor

Division:

Tutors

Link to Liam Branagan

Liam Branagan

Liam Branagan has worked for over twenty years in television and feature film as an Assistant Director both in Australia and in the UK, which has provided him with extensive international industry experience and professional contacts. Liam has worked on a great variety of productions, from features such as Backyard Ashes to TV drama such as McLeod's Daughters, comedy, reality TV, docu-drama, short films and commercials. He has also worked as a teacher of both Creative Producing and Assistant Directing.

Liam Branagan

Liam Branagan has worked for over twenty years in television and feature film as an Assistant Director both in Australia and in the UK, which has provided him with extensive international industry experience and professional contacts. Liam has worked on a great variety of productions, from features such as Backyard Ashes to TV drama such as McLeod's Daughters, comedy, reality TV, docu-drama, short films and commercials. He has also worked as a teacher of both Creative Producing and Assistant Directing.

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors

Link to Luciano Marigo-Spitaleri

Luciano Marigo-Spitaleri

Luciano is a freelance Colourist with a wealth of experience in long-form documentaries, factual programmes and drama. The films he worked on won many prestigious awards including a BAFTA Award in the short film category and the prestigious ‘Focal International Award’ for David Attenborough’s Life on Earth & Trial of Life for best grade and restoration for the BBC.

Luciano Marigo-Spitaleri

Luciano is a freelance Colourist with a wealth of experience in long-form documentaries, factual programmes and drama. The films he worked on won many prestigious awards including a BAFTA Award in the short film category and the prestigious ‘Focal International Award’ for David Attenborough’s Life on Earth & Trial of Life for best grade and restoration for the BBC.

Job title:

Tutor

Division:

Tutors

Link to Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca Edwards is a highly experienced online editor and colourist, and an Avid Certified Instructor (ACI). She has credits on some of the industry’s biggest and fastest turnaround TV formats for the Australian, UK and USA markets. Rebecca has worked in a diverse range of genres including reality TV, children’s TV, and documentary, making shows about a wide range of subjects from cooking to losing weight, and from serial killers to drunken monkeys. The location highlight of her career to date was when she worked on a fully-catered TV show in the Costa Rican jungle.

In addition to television, she has credits on various short films including a screening at Cannes. Rebecca has a Graduate Diploma in TV Editing from AFTRS, a Graduate Diploma in Media Arts from UTS, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Goldsmiths College (UK) and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Exeter University (UK). She is an Avid Certified Instructor and has been teaching assistant editor and Avid Courses at AFTRS for several years.

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca Edwards is a highly experienced online editor and colourist, and an Avid Certified Instructor (ACI). She has credits on some of the industry’s biggest and fastest turnaround TV formats for the Australian, UK and USA markets. Rebecca has worked in a diverse range of genres including reality TV, children’s TV, and documentary, making shows about a wide range of subjects from cooking to losing weight, and from serial killers to drunken monkeys. The location highlight of her career to date was when she worked on a fully-catered TV show in the Costa Rican jungle.

In addition to television, she has credits on various short films including a screening at Cannes. Rebecca has a Graduate Diploma in TV Editing from AFTRS, a Graduate Diploma in Media Arts from UTS, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Goldsmiths College (UK) and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Exeter University (UK). She is an Avid Certified Instructor and has been teaching assistant editor and Avid Courses at AFTRS for several years.

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors

Link to Thomas Wilson-White

Thomas Wilson-White

Thomas is an award-winning director and screenwriter. He wrote the smash hit series HEARTBREAK HIGH for Netflix which won an International Emmy and was #1 in Australia and top 10 in 45 other countries within a week of its release. HEARTBREAK HIGH won 5 AACTA awards, was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New Series and Thomas’ episode was shortlisted for the Betty Roland Prize in Scriptwriting at the 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Thomas’s other credits include HEARTBREAK HIGH S2 and Paramount+’s PAPER DOLLS. He is currently writing his second feature film WILDFLOWERS with script editor Anna Seifert-Speck (Ammonite, Supernova, Gods Own Country) and adapting a best-selling novel for TV.

His debut feature film THE GREENHOUSE premiered at BFI: Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival and Frameline. It won Best Direction in a Feature Film (budget under $1M) at the 2021 Australian Directors Guild awards, multiple Best Film awards and the Audience Choice Award at 2021 Mardi Gras Film Festival. The Greenhouse was then acquired by Netflix ANZ.

Thomas is the creator, writer and executive producer of his autobiographical TV series SICK TO DEATH with the support of Screen Australia and Screen NSW and in collaboration with Rhapsody Films, Easy Tiger and Invention Studios.

He is a graduate of the VCA and AFTRS, where he completed his Masters of Screen Arts in 2017, specialising in queer theory and the future of queer stories on screen, something he is wildly passionate about. His short film BACK TO EARTH played at festivals around the world and is currently on ABC iView. ST. AUGUSTINE, a short proof of concept, premiered in competition at MIFF 2019 and can be viewed online at Film Shortage.

Thomas Wilson-White

Thomas is an award-winning director and screenwriter. He wrote the smash hit series HEARTBREAK HIGH for Netflix which won an International Emmy and was #1 in Australia and top 10 in 45 other countries within a week of its release. HEARTBREAK HIGH won 5 AACTA awards, was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New Series and Thomas’ episode was shortlisted for the Betty Roland Prize in Scriptwriting at the 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Thomas’s other credits include HEARTBREAK HIGH S2 and Paramount+’s PAPER DOLLS. He is currently writing his second feature film WILDFLOWERS with script editor Anna Seifert-Speck (Ammonite, Supernova, Gods Own Country) and adapting a best-selling novel for TV.

His debut feature film THE GREENHOUSE premiered at BFI: Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival and Frameline. It won Best Direction in a Feature Film (budget under $1M) at the 2021 Australian Directors Guild awards, multiple Best Film awards and the Audience Choice Award at 2021 Mardi Gras Film Festival. The Greenhouse was then acquired by Netflix ANZ.

Thomas is the creator, writer and executive producer of his autobiographical TV series SICK TO DEATH with the support of Screen Australia and Screen NSW and in collaboration with Rhapsody Films, Easy Tiger and Invention Studios.

He is a graduate of the VCA and AFTRS, where he completed his Masters of Screen Arts in 2017, specialising in queer theory and the future of queer stories on screen, something he is wildly passionate about. His short film BACK TO EARTH played at festivals around the world and is currently on ABC iView. ST. AUGUSTINE, a short proof of concept, premiered in competition at MIFF 2019 and can be viewed online at Film Shortage.

Job title:

Short Course Tutor

Division:

Tutors

Link to Tracey Spicer

Tracey Spicer

Tracey Spicer AM is a multiple Walkley Award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News.

The inaugural national convenor of Women in Media, Tracey is one of the most sought-after key-note speakers and emcees in Australia. In 2019 she was named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year, accepted the Sydney Peace Prize alongside Tarana Burke for the Me Too movement, and won the national award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership through Women & Leadership Australia.

In 2018, Tracey was chosen as one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence, winning the Social Enterprise and Not-For-Profit category. For her 30 years of media and charity work, Tracey has been awarded the Order of Australia.

Highlights of her outstanding career include writing, producing and presenting documentaries on women and girls in Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, Papua New Guinea and India. She is an Ambassador for ActionAid, the Ethnic Business Awards and Purple Our World, and Patron of the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance.

Her first book, The Good Girl Stripped Bare, became a bestseller within weeks of publication, while her TEDx Talk, The Lady Stripped Bare, has attracted almost seven million views worldwide. Tracey’s essays have appeared in dozens of books including Women of Letters, She’s Having a Laugh, Father Figures, Unbreakable, and Bewitched & Bedevilled: Women Write the Gillard Years.

The ABC highlighted Tracey’s #metoo work in the three-part documentary series Silent No More, which featured the stories of hidden survivors. Her new book, Man-Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future, was published by Simon & Schuster in May 2023.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Tracey Spicer

Tracey Spicer AM is a multiple Walkley Award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News.

The inaugural national convenor of Women in Media, Tracey is one of the most sought-after key-note speakers and emcees in Australia. In 2019 she was named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year, accepted the Sydney Peace Prize alongside Tarana Burke for the Me Too movement, and won the national award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership through Women & Leadership Australia.

In 2018, Tracey was chosen as one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence, winning the Social Enterprise and Not-For-Profit category. For her 30 years of media and charity work, Tracey has been awarded the Order of Australia.

Highlights of her outstanding career include writing, producing and presenting documentaries on women and girls in Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, Papua New Guinea and India. She is an Ambassador for ActionAid, the Ethnic Business Awards and Purple Our World, and Patron of the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance.

Her first book, The Good Girl Stripped Bare, became a bestseller within weeks of publication, while her TEDx Talk, The Lady Stripped Bare, has attracted almost seven million views worldwide. Tracey’s essays have appeared in dozens of books including Women of Letters, She’s Having a Laugh, Father Figures, Unbreakable, and Bewitched & Bedevilled: Women Write the Gillard Years.

The ABC highlighted Tracey’s #metoo work in the three-part documentary series Silent No More, which featured the stories of hidden survivors. Her new book, Man-Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future, was published by Simon & Schuster in May 2023.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Job title:

Tutor - AFTRS for Business

Division:

Tutors

Link to Madeline Joannou

Madeline Joannou

Madeline has worked in radio for the last 14 years as an Audio Producer and Sound Designer and currently works as Managing Producer of Podcasts at Mamamia. During her career, she has worked on various live radio programs such as The Kyle & Jackie O Show (2Day FM) and Rosso On Drive (Mix 106.5), on station imaging and also major network re-brands, most notably the launch of Sydney’s KIIS 1065 and the rebrand of ABC Radio Sydney.

Madeline Joannou

Madeline has worked in radio for the last 14 years as an Audio Producer and Sound Designer and currently works as Managing Producer of Podcasts at Mamamia. During her career, she has worked on various live radio programs such as The Kyle & Jackie O Show (2Day FM) and Rosso On Drive (Mix 106.5), on station imaging and also major network re-brands, most notably the launch of Sydney’s KIIS 1065 and the rebrand of ABC Radio Sydney.

Job title:

Tutor

Division:

Tutors, Tutors

Link to Lucy Gaffy

Lucy Gaffy

Lucy Gaffy is an award-winning filmmaker who has just completed the four-part mini-series Mix Tape for Binge/Foxtel, which had its worldwide premiere at the 2025 SXSW Festival where it was awarded the TV Spotlight Audience Award. In 2023 Lucy was the set-up director for the Stan/Sundance production Totally Completely Fine, and in 2022 Lucy directed five episodes of the series Irreverent for Netflix. Her other television credits include The Unlisted (Netflix), Amazing Grace (Network 9) and Doctor Doctor (Network 9) and in 2021, Lucy directed the opening chapter We, the Spiders for the anthology feature film Here Out West, which went on to have its world premiere as the Opening Night Film of the Sydney Film Festival before being nominated for Best Film at the 2022 AACTA Awards. In addition to her active directing work, Lucy is also developing several projects for the screen with the Director’s collective GOONO.

Lucy Gaffy

Lucy Gaffy is an award-winning filmmaker who has just completed the four-part mini-series Mix Tape for Binge/Foxtel, which had its worldwide premiere at the 2025 SXSW Festival where it was awarded the TV Spotlight Audience Award. In 2023 Lucy was the set-up director for the Stan/Sundance production Totally Completely Fine, and in 2022 Lucy directed five episodes of the series Irreverent for Netflix. Her other television credits include The Unlisted (Netflix), Amazing Grace (Network 9) and Doctor Doctor (Network 9) and in 2021, Lucy directed the opening chapter We, the Spiders for the anthology feature film Here Out West, which went on to have its world premiere as the Opening Night Film of the Sydney Film Festival before being nominated for Best Film at the 2022 AACTA Awards. In addition to her active directing work, Lucy is also developing several projects for the screen with the Director’s collective GOONO.

Job title:

Tutor

Division:

Tutors

Link to Annie Wright

Annie Wright

Annie Wright has a Bachelor of Industrial Design and has worked in Film, TV and Theatre for nearly 30 years. She is a Designer, Scenic artist/Set finisher, Prop Maker, Special Effects person, Standby Props person, Model Maker, Set Dresser and general all-round Art Department guy.

She has worked for Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, ABC, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sculpture by the Sea, as well as on hundreds of short films, features, TV shows, theatre productions, music video clips, exhibitions and TV commercials.

She is passionate about visual storytelling through the creation of believable environments and works closely with our students to find creative ways for them to build their worlds. She believes that skills are gained though practical experience and enjoys empowering them to find practical solutions to the varied and interesting problems that arise during the film making process.

Annie is also a safe conversations officer.

Annie Wright

Annie Wright has a Bachelor of Industrial Design and has worked in Film, TV and Theatre for nearly 30 years. She is a Designer, Scenic artist/Set finisher, Prop Maker, Special Effects person, Standby Props person, Model Maker, Set Dresser and general all-round Art Department guy.

She has worked for Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, ABC, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sculpture by the Sea, as well as on hundreds of short films, features, TV shows, theatre productions, music video clips, exhibitions and TV commercials.

She is passionate about visual storytelling through the creation of believable environments and works closely with our students to find creative ways for them to build their worlds. She believes that skills are gained though practical experience and enjoys empowering them to find practical solutions to the varied and interesting problems that arise during the film making process.

Annie is also a safe conversations officer.

Job title:

Props & Staging Manager

Division:

Tutors, Production & Facilities

Link to Dani Torresan

Dani Torresan

Dani Torresan has worked in commercial radio for over 25 years as an announcer, producer, and voice-over artist. She completed a Bachelor of Education majoring in media studies (radio, audio production, TV, film and photography) in Melbourne, and studied broadcasting and publicity at Bangkok University. In 2021 she completed a Master of Education in TESOL, and teaches intensive English classes to international students as well as English language settlement programs for new Australians. Dani also holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment.

Dani broadcast to the Central Coast on 107.7 2GO (now Triple M) for over 15 years, and co-hosted a multi-ACRA (Australian Commercial Radio Award) nominated breakfast show across Northern Tasmania. She won an ACRA for her national night show, The Nitemix on the Southern Cross Austereo Network. Dani was Southern Cross Television Tasmania’s nightly weather presenter, has worked in promotions at GWR FM Bristol UK, as a breakfast radio producer in Melbourne, and records commercials and corporate voiceover work from her at-home studio.

Dani is a regular tutor with AFTRS for Business, delivering communication skills training to a wide range of clients; with AFTRS Short Courses, where she runs Voice Over weekends; and is a guest lecturer for AFTRS’ Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Dani Torresan

Dani Torresan has worked in commercial radio for over 25 years as an announcer, producer, and voice-over artist. She completed a Bachelor of Education majoring in media studies (radio, audio production, TV, film and photography) in Melbourne, and studied broadcasting and publicity at Bangkok University. In 2021 she completed a Master of Education in TESOL, and teaches intensive English classes to international students as well as English language settlement programs for new Australians. Dani also holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment.

Dani broadcast to the Central Coast on 107.7 2GO (now Triple M) for over 15 years, and co-hosted a multi-ACRA (Australian Commercial Radio Award) nominated breakfast show across Northern Tasmania. She won an ACRA for her national night show, The Nitemix on the Southern Cross Austereo Network. Dani was Southern Cross Television Tasmania’s nightly weather presenter, has worked in promotions at GWR FM Bristol UK, as a breakfast radio producer in Melbourne, and records commercials and corporate voiceover work from her at-home studio.

Dani is a regular tutor with AFTRS for Business, delivering communication skills training to a wide range of clients; with AFTRS Short Courses, where she runs Voice Over weekends; and is a guest lecturer for AFTRS’ Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Job title:

Radio Lecturer and Tutor

Division:

Tutors

Link to Elissa Down

Elissa Down

Elissa’s assured debut feature, The Black Balloon, starring Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson and Toni Collette, won the Crystal Bear for ‘Generation 14plus’ Best Feature Film at the Berlin Film Festival. The film received over thirty awards including six AACTA awards including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay, as well as accolades from the Australia Directors’ and Writers’ Guilds, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Rotten Tomatoes.

The Honor List, Elissa’s second feature film starring Meghan Rienks, Sasha Pieterse, Karrueche Tran and Arden Cho, had its premiere as the opening night film at the Bentonville Film Festival. The crew on this Lionsgate film was 60% female. In 2020, Elissa completed her third film Feel the Beat, starring Sofia Carson and produced by Susan Cartsonis. This family dance film was an international hit being the third most streamed movie on Netflix for the month of June, as well as being the top 4.7% of all content watched on Netflix three years after its initial release.

Elissa teamed with Netflix once again by directing the Ivy + Bean fiction series (Ivy + Bean, Ivy + Bean - The Ghost Who Had To Go and Ivy + Bean - Doomed to Dance) based on the New York Times best selling books by Annie Barrows. Introducing Keslee Blalock as Ivy and Madison Skye Validum as Bean, this movie series stars Emmy and Tony award winning and Academy Award nominated talents such as Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Nia Vardalos. Ivy + Bean - Doomed to Dance was nominated for a Children & Family Emmy for Best Fiction Special and Elissa was also nominated for her direction for Doomed to Dance at the Australian Directors’ Guild awards.

Elissa then directed While The Men Are Away for SBS which she’s also an executive producer. This eight part dramedy series stars Michela de Rossi, Phoebe Grainer, Max McKenna, Jana Zvedeniuk, Matt Testro, Benedict Hardie and Shaka Cook. This series was nominated for an AACTA award for Best Mini-series, SPA (Screen Producers Australia) for Telemovie or Miniseries Production of the Year as well as having its international premiere at the 2024 Berlinale Series Selects.

Other work from Elissa includes writing and directing the seven-part romantic drama series, Confess based on the New York Times best selling by Colleen Hoover and directing a Season Three block on one of Australia’s most successful dramas, Offspring.

Elissa is also developing a number of projects that she’s set to direct, among them; the genre-bending Australian true crime drama, The Young Woman, The Kiss Quotient based on the novel by Helen Hoang to be produced by Kristen Burr, The Golden Age based on the award winning novel by Joan London that reunites Elissa with The Black Balloon producer Tristram Miall, the romantic comedy Mr&Mrs Montague, the bio-pic of infamous Third Reich director Leni Riefenstahl, as well as the English re-make of the Danish movie Walk with Me.

Elissa Down

Elissa’s assured debut feature, The Black Balloon, starring Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson and Toni Collette, won the Crystal Bear for ‘Generation 14plus’ Best Feature Film at the Berlin Film Festival. The film received over thirty awards including six AACTA awards including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay, as well as accolades from the Australia Directors’ and Writers’ Guilds, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Rotten Tomatoes.

The Honor List, Elissa’s second feature film starring Meghan Rienks, Sasha Pieterse, Karrueche Tran and Arden Cho, had its premiere as the opening night film at the Bentonville Film Festival. The crew on this Lionsgate film was 60% female. In 2020, Elissa completed her third film Feel the Beat, starring Sofia Carson and produced by Susan Cartsonis. This family dance film was an international hit being the third most streamed movie on Netflix for the month of June, as well as being the top 4.7% of all content watched on Netflix three years after its initial release.

Elissa teamed with Netflix once again by directing the Ivy + Bean fiction series (Ivy + Bean, Ivy + Bean - The Ghost Who Had To Go and Ivy + Bean - Doomed to Dance) based on the New York Times best selling books by Annie Barrows. Introducing Keslee Blalock as Ivy and Madison Skye Validum as Bean, this movie series stars Emmy and Tony award winning and Academy Award nominated talents such as Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Nia Vardalos. Ivy + Bean - Doomed to Dance was nominated for a Children & Family Emmy for Best Fiction Special and Elissa was also nominated for her direction for Doomed to Dance at the Australian Directors’ Guild awards.

Elissa then directed While The Men Are Away for SBS which she’s also an executive producer. This eight part dramedy series stars Michela de Rossi, Phoebe Grainer, Max McKenna, Jana Zvedeniuk, Matt Testro, Benedict Hardie and Shaka Cook. This series was nominated for an AACTA award for Best Mini-series, SPA (Screen Producers Australia) for Telemovie or Miniseries Production of the Year as well as having its international premiere at the 2024 Berlinale Series Selects.

Other work from Elissa includes writing and directing the seven-part romantic drama series, Confess based on the New York Times best selling by Colleen Hoover and directing a Season Three block on one of Australia’s most successful dramas, Offspring.

Elissa is also developing a number of projects that she’s set to direct, among them; the genre-bending Australian true crime drama, The Young Woman, The Kiss Quotient based on the novel by Helen Hoang to be produced by Kristen Burr, The Golden Age based on the award winning novel by Joan London that reunites Elissa with The Black Balloon producer Tristram Miall, the romantic comedy Mr&Mrs Montague, the bio-pic of infamous Third Reich director Leni Riefenstahl, as well as the English re-make of the Danish movie Walk with Me.

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors

Link to Helen Campbell

Helen Campbell

Helen is a freelance video content producer, director and writer, who works alongside clients to produce the video assets they need. These include television commercials, social media videos, corporate stories and documentaries. Helen’s clients include Royal North Shore Hospital, National Geographic Channel, Northern Pictures, The Athlete’s Foot, Ronald McDonald House, The Sydney Jewish Museum and SBS.

Prior to this Helen was Managing Director & Founding Partner of Zealot Productions, which specialised in creating marketing materials for the theatrical and television industries including sales promos, theatrical trailers, TV Commercials and on-air promos as well as product integration. Clients included the Channel 7 Sales & Marketing team, producing writing and directing product integration campaigns – as well as Seven’s Beijing Olympics launch and campaign. Other clients included Sony, Universal, Magnolia, Dendy, Discovery, Fremantle and Fox.

Helen started her working life as a high school teacher, before escaping to the glamorous world of the TVC, and has a BA in Mass Communication and English Literature and a Bachelor of Education (Honours). Helen has worked as a tutor with AFTRS for Business since 2016, teaching content producing, scripting, presentation skills and online teaching.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Helen Campbell

Helen is a freelance video content producer, director and writer, who works alongside clients to produce the video assets they need. These include television commercials, social media videos, corporate stories and documentaries. Helen’s clients include Royal North Shore Hospital, National Geographic Channel, Northern Pictures, The Athlete’s Foot, Ronald McDonald House, The Sydney Jewish Museum and SBS.

Prior to this Helen was Managing Director & Founding Partner of Zealot Productions, which specialised in creating marketing materials for the theatrical and television industries including sales promos, theatrical trailers, TV Commercials and on-air promos as well as product integration. Clients included the Channel 7 Sales & Marketing team, producing writing and directing product integration campaigns – as well as Seven’s Beijing Olympics launch and campaign. Other clients included Sony, Universal, Magnolia, Dendy, Discovery, Fremantle and Fox.

Helen started her working life as a high school teacher, before escaping to the glamorous world of the TVC, and has a BA in Mass Communication and English Literature and a Bachelor of Education (Honours). Helen has worked as a tutor with AFTRS for Business since 2016, teaching content producing, scripting, presentation skills and online teaching.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Job title:

Tutor - AFTRS for Business

Division:

Tutors

Link to Jess Milne

Jess Milne

Jess is the co-founder and Artistic Director of content production company TEN ALPHAS. She has extensive media, strategy and hands-on filmmaking experience. She has held key creative positions with Cutting Edge, Defence, Mazda Australia and The Australian Communications and Media Authority and lectured in design/animation at The Queensland College of Art. When Jess isn’t working on corporate films she can be found working on her own projects, most recently she produced and directed a Rockumentary in Chiang Mai Thailand, the first of a six part series of music documentaries shot in emerging regions of South East Asia, the film is currently in post production. Closer to home Jess is directing a documentary called The Art of Startup Perseverance and along with Nick Bolton is a filmmaker in residence at iAccelerate, at The University of Wollongong’s startup incubator.

Jess holds degrees in theatre/fine art, digital design (hons) and is AFTRS alumni having completed her Masters in Screen Arts and Business at the Australian Film Television and Radio School in 2014.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Jess Milne

Jess is the co-founder and Artistic Director of content production company TEN ALPHAS. She has extensive media, strategy and hands-on filmmaking experience. She has held key creative positions with Cutting Edge, Defence, Mazda Australia and The Australian Communications and Media Authority and lectured in design/animation at The Queensland College of Art. When Jess isn’t working on corporate films she can be found working on her own projects, most recently she produced and directed a Rockumentary in Chiang Mai Thailand, the first of a six part series of music documentaries shot in emerging regions of South East Asia, the film is currently in post production. Closer to home Jess is directing a documentary called The Art of Startup Perseverance and along with Nick Bolton is a filmmaker in residence at iAccelerate, at The University of Wollongong’s startup incubator.

Jess holds degrees in theatre/fine art, digital design (hons) and is AFTRS alumni having completed her Masters in Screen Arts and Business at the Australian Film Television and Radio School in 2014.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Job title:

Tutor - AFTRS for Business

Division:

Tutors

Link to Jill Hewitt

Jill Hewitt

Jill Hewitt has worked for Moneypenny Services since 1989. Starting out as an accounts assistant she then worked her way up to be the production accountant/financial controller on films such as Muriel’s Wedding, Paradise Road, Oscar and Lucinda and Moulin Rouge.

Currently, Jill is working as the Training Director at Entertainment Partners powered by Moneypenny Services. Her informal role as a mentor to emerging accountants over the past decade has now been expanded to a full-time position to help with the critical shortage of production accountants and assistants that the industry now faces.

Her role includes running both short and long courses for AFTRS, and more recently Netflix, and other independent training bodies, setting up new productions to succeed with the right team, and mentoring the right candidate who wishes to step up into the financial controller position.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Jill Hewitt

Jill Hewitt has worked for Moneypenny Services since 1989. Starting out as an accounts assistant she then worked her way up to be the production accountant/financial controller on films such as Muriel’s Wedding, Paradise Road, Oscar and Lucinda and Moulin Rouge.

Currently, Jill is working as the Training Director at Entertainment Partners powered by Moneypenny Services. Her informal role as a mentor to emerging accountants over the past decade has now been expanded to a full-time position to help with the critical shortage of production accountants and assistants that the industry now faces.

Her role includes running both short and long courses for AFTRS, and more recently Netflix, and other independent training bodies, setting up new productions to succeed with the right team, and mentoring the right candidate who wishes to step up into the financial controller position.

AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School's decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors

Link to Madeline Joannou

Madeline Joannou

Madeline has worked in radio for the last 14 years as an Audio Producer and Sound Designer and currently works as Managing Producer of Podcasts at Mamamia. During her career, she has worked on various live radio programs such as The Kyle & Jackie O Show (2Day FM) and Rosso On Drive (Mix 106.5), on station imaging and also major network re-brands, most notably the launch of Sydney’s KIIS 1065 and the rebrand of ABC Radio Sydney.

Madeline Joannou

Madeline has worked in radio for the last 14 years as an Audio Producer and Sound Designer and currently works as Managing Producer of Podcasts at Mamamia. During her career, she has worked on various live radio programs such as The Kyle & Jackie O Show (2Day FM) and Rosso On Drive (Mix 106.5), on station imaging and also major network re-brands, most notably the launch of Sydney’s KIIS 1065 and the rebrand of ABC Radio Sydney.

Job title:

Tutor

Division:

Tutors, Tutors

Link to Jonathan Ogilvie

Jonathan Ogilvie

Jonathan Ogilvie is a feature film screenwriter and director, and an AFTRS graduate.

Jonathan Ogilvie

Jonathan Ogilvie is a feature film screenwriter and director, and an AFTRS graduate.

Job title:

Tutor - Short Courses

Division:

Tutors