Digital Futures Summit 2025

The Summit opens with Doug Shapiro, author of The Mediator, independent advisor, strategist and media analyst. In an in-depth conversation with Australian media leader and communicator Paula Kruger, Shapiro will reflect on where we are today in the media and screen industry, how we anticipate emerging disruptions and better prepare for them, and an opportunity to imagine where we want the industry to go. This session includes an opening address from AFTRS’ CEO, Dr Nell Greenwood.

Speakers:

• Doug Shapiro, Founder, Doug Shapiro Media
  Doug has been in and around media for 30 years, both inside and outside. He spent 14 years as a Wall Street analyst covering media, then 12 years at Time Warner, including a stint as Chief Strategy Officer of Turner and SVP, International and Corporate Strategy. Today, he is the author of The Mediator (a widely read publication about the structural changes underway in media), an independent advisor, speaker, and senior advisor for Boston Consulting Group.

Moderator:

• Paula Kruger, CEO, Media Diversity Australia
  Paula Kruger is an accomplished media leader and communicator with more than 30 years of experience. She has worked in various roles, including broadcast journalist, radio presenter, manager, trainer, recruiter, and talent development.
  Most recently, Paula served as the Managing Director of Sydney radio station 2SER. Before that, she enjoyed a long career with the ABC, working in management, editorial, and on-air roles in Sydney, Canberra, and Perth.
  Paula is passionate about journalism and ensuring that the people who have the privilege of telling our stories reflect Australia’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. Her life has celebrated this diversity; she grew up in both Australia and Fiji and takes immense pride in her Australian, Indigenous Fijian, and Indian Fijian heritage.
  In the early 1990s, fuelled by a desire to embrace the call for Australia to “engage with Asia,” she ventured to the vibrant city of Bangkok, where she began her media career. There, she spent four transformative years working with journalists and media professionals from Thailand and around the world, enriching her understanding of industry disruption and diverse perspectives.

How will creative education evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing industrial and cultural landscape and be able to thrive? This panel brings together thought leaders in education, industry and research to explore and envision the future of learning environments, training and the role of technology in shaping tomorrow’s learners.

Speakers:

• Distinguished Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Standing Acting Vice Chancellor, University of South Australia
  A graduate of the Universities of Tasmania and Oxford, Marnie has a global profile as a philosopher and as an historian. Her current work looks at how AI makes histories, and how histories might be made in future which are efficient, safe, and ethical. Her writing has been translated into five languages, over 26,000 copies of her books have been sold, and her theories are taught across the world. She has led or been an investigator on a total of $18 million in grants. Her most recent books are History from Loss (edited with Daniel Woolf, 2023) and The Routledge Companion to History and the Moving Image (edited with Kim Nelson and Mia Treacey, 2023) and she is co-secretary general of the International Commission for the History and Theory of History. In 2022 she was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for her contribution to higher education governance, leadership, and mentoring.

• Jakob Kirstein Høgel, Head of Education and Research, National Film School of Denmark
  Head of Education and Research at the National Film School of Denmark. Co-founder of Rough Cut Service, a consulting collective of world-class editors. Film commissioner for documentaries at West Danish Film Fund. Former Artistic Director of New Danish Screen, a succesful talent development scheme and innovation fund (2007-14). Before that founder and co-owner of Danish production company, Cosmo Doc. From 1999-2004 he was commissioning editor for Documentaries & Shorts at the Danish Film Institute. Visual anthropologist with a focus on developing film sectors and film policy. He wrote the first film law of Bhutan.

• Judy Atkinson, Emeritus Professor, We Al-li
  Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson is a Jiman and Bundjalung woman with Anglo-Celtic and German heritage. A pioneer in trauma recovery she is the founder and current patron of We Al-li, working nationally to support community-based healing. Judy is internationally recognised for her leadership and research into intergenerational trauma particularly the impacts of colonisation on Indigenous peoples.
  Her groundbreaking work in education earned her the 2006 Carrick Neville Bonner Award for curriculum development and teaching innovation, and in 2011, the Fritz Redlick Memorial Award for Human Rights and Mental Health from Harvard University. Her influential book, Trauma Trails – Recreating Songlines, explores the deep impacts of displacement and colonisation, and the pathways to healing through connection and storytelling.
  Judy has held numerous leadership roles, including membership in the Harvard Global Mental Health Scientific Research Alliance and Chair of the Australian Childhood Foundation’s Cultural Governance Group. In recognition of her outstanding service to the Indigenous community, education, and mental health, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 2019.
  Her life’s work weaves together cultural knowledge, advocacy, and compassionate scholarship to support transformative healing for individuals and communities.

Moderator:

• Dr Nell Greenwood, CEO, Australian Film Television and Radio School
  Nell Greenwood is an academic leader, screenwriter and creativity advocate with more than 25 years of experience in screen education and international film and television production.
  Nell’s career started in content development and she has held several senior industry roles including Head of Development at the Irish Film Board, Head of Development at Natural Nylon Entertainment (home to Jude Law and Ewan McGregor) as well as Head of Development at Element Films (producers of The Lobster and The Favourite) before embarking on a career as a screenwriter. Her writing credits include False Witness for UKTV (Foxtel), which won an AFI, as well as Pride and Joy, which was nominated for Best TV Film at the 46th Monte Carlo TV Film Festival. Nell began teaching and discovered a passion for education, in particular creativity and how to engage and foster students’ brilliance and unique creativity in the classroom. She is also passionate about increasing female representation and diversity within the screen and broadcast industry and forging deeper inter-disciplinary connections across industries here and abroad.
  Since 2013, Nell has held multiple senior roles at AFTRS including Head of Screenwriting, Course Leader Masters and Head of Programs and, most recently, Director of Curriculum & Student Registrar. She has a PhD from The University of Sydney on Creativity and the Unconscious in the Screen Arts Classroom.

What skills and business models will producers need to develop or hone to thrive in the future? In this session, experienced producers are invited to anticipate what producing could look like in 2030, in a landscape that may be vastly different to the ecosystem in which they built their careers. New skills will be essential to create original content, finance productions, integrate new technologies, connect with audiences and embed sustainability, inclusivity and wellbeing into our practice.

Gain valuable insights from leading practitioners and deep thinkers committed to anticipating the challenges and opportunities for local production, and the skills needed to navigate a new era of storytelling.

Speakers:

• Grainne Brunsdon, Chief Operating Officer, Screen Australia
  As COO, Grainne leads on Content and Operations, including investment and initiatives across Australian screen content, including film, television, online, documentary and games; industry development and international programs.

• Michael Tear, CEO, WildBear Entertainment
  Michael Tear is a seasoned media executive with expertise in film and television production, finance, and business strategy. As Co-Founder and CEO of WildBear Entertainment, he has led the company’s growth, securing major international partnerships and high-profile commissions.
  With over 250 hours of film and television credits, Michael has produced and executive produced award-winning content for Netflix, ABC, History Channel, Discovery, Arte, ZDF, and National Geographic. He was also an Executive Producer on The Babadook. His recent productions include Every Little Thing (Sundance), The Last Daughter (Netflix), Stuff The British Stole S1 and S2 (ABC, CBC), and Runn (Netflix).
  Michael continues to drive WildBear’s expansion, leveraging global co-productions, strategic financing, and innovative storytelling to position the company as a leading force in the screen industry.

• Emile Sherman, Joint Founder/CEO, See-Saw Films
  Academy Award, BAFTA and Emmy-winning producer Emile Sherman co-founded Australia and UK based production powerhouse See-Saw Films with Iain Canning in 2008. See-Saw’s films and television shows have been nominated for 30 Academy Awards, 58 BAFTAs, 37 Emmy and 98 AACTAs, winning 5, 16, 13 and 27 respectively. Titles include Academy Award-winning The Power Of The Dog; Emmy-winning Slow Horses; BAFTA Award-winning Lion; Emmy-winning Heartstopper; and the Academy Award Best Picture-winning The King’s Speech.Emile is one of only 6 Australians, and the only full-time producer, included in the Variety500, the index of the most influential global leaders in media.Emile is a Director of Fulcrum Media Finance, the market leader cashflow provider for film and television in Australia and New Zealand. He is a trustee of the Art Gallery of NSW, and a former director of Sydney Writers’ Festival as well as The Ethics Centre. He co-hosts popular podcast Principle of Charity as well as The Sandbox, a See-Saw podcast that explores creativity.

• Yingna Lu, AFTRS Tutor & Co-founder, Spaceboy Studios
  Yingna Lu is the co founder of Spaceboy Studios with Steve Anthopoulos which received Screen Australia Enterprise funding in 2023. She is an AACTA nominated and Screen Producers Australia winning Film/TV/Digital producer whose work within screen agencies, the music industry as well as advertising has formed the backbone of her interest in commercially driven and emotionally arresting topics.
  After winning the $20k Screen Internship as the SPA One to Watch in 2016, she worked in unscripted television at Anaïd Productions in Vancouver, Canada. From there Yingna has worked across numerous TV and Feature projects including NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN 新金山 (SBS), feature film CARMEN for Goalpost Pictures (TIFF 2022), and was producer of ABC’s political comedy series: THE PM’S DAUGHTER – SERIES 2 with Fremantle in 2023. In 2023, she was one of the inaugural teams to receive the NSW Short to Fast Track grant to develop a proof of concept into a feature. She was named a Rising Talent Producer in the IF List 2024. She is producing an Easy Tiger series (Colin from Accounts) releasing in 2026 on ABC.

Moderator:

• Robbie Miles, Head of Industry & Alumni Engagement, Australian Film Television and Radio School
  Robbie Miles is an AFTRS alum (Graduate Certificate: Screen Drama – Directing & Screenwriting, 2009) and an experienced producer and development executive. Robbie spent several years working in Los Angeles and New York as a Development Executive for Full Clip Productions on projects such as Deadline Gallipoli and Danger Close, as well as producing branded content for Bonds, Coca-Cola and Australian fashion label, Kahlo.
  He returned to Australia to produce his first feature film, Crushed, with fellow AFTRS alum Megan Riakos, and develop a diverse slate of feature film and television projects, including the Nicholl Fellowship-winning Great Falls. Robbie produced the ABC iView series Sarah’s Channel starring Claudia O’Doherty and also worked for Animal Logic’s genre label, Truant Pictures, as Development & Production Executive.
  After several years as Subject Leader for Producing & Production at AFTRS, Robbie is now Head of Industry & Alumni Engagement, consulting with companies, guilds and agencies to support the future of screen & audio storytelling in Australia.
  Robbie has a passion for story development and inept protagonists and has presented everywhere from El Dorado Film Festival in Arkansas to the Australian Comic Arts Festival Canberra, Oz Comic Con and the San Diego Comic Con.

Radio isn’t dead, but it’s no longer alone. It’s just one part of a burgeoning, disrupted, rapidly evolving audio industry, where competition is fierce and revenue is in flux, yet opportunities are great. Join distinguished broadcasters and industry leaders as we imagine for the future of radio and audio and how we might continue this transformation.

Speakers:

• Dre Ngatokorua, Broadcaster, Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association
  Dre Ngatokorua is a proud Wangkangurru, Adnyamathanha, Kuyani, Luritja, Deiri, Yankunytjatjara, Cook Island (Mangaian), and Māori (Ngāpuhi) man. He is a respected cultural ambassador for his communities of Davenport and Port Augusta, with a strong commitment to storytelling, media, and youth empowerment.
  Since 2013, Dre has been actively involved in broadcasting through Umeewarra Media, expanding his contributions to Umee TV, Umee Stories, and presenting the Port Augusta NAIDOC News. His passion for amplifying First Nations voices is reflected in his mentorship with ABC’s Heywire program and as a Trailblazer participant, supporting young people across the nation.
  Dre currently serves on the boards of First Nations Media Australia, the Community Media Training Organisation and is a member of the Country Arts SA and Arts SA ATSI Advisory Committees. Through these roles, he continues to advocate for culturally strong, community-led creative development.
  A skilled storyteller and content creator, Dre works across audio and digital media to share Indigenous stories. His award-winning project MoZzi X Inkatja: New Moon is a powerful multimedia cultural experience showcased at festivals throughout South Australia and internationally, celebrating community, culture, and innovation through contemporary and traditional expression.

• Suman Basnet, Regional Director, AMARC Asia-Pacific
  Suman Basnet is a media professional from Nepal. He currently serves as the Regional Director for Asia-Pacific region of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC). He works closely with community broadcasters and advocates of freedom of expression to promote people’s right to broadcast, to strategise for people’s participation, and to promote sustainability of community radios. Policy advocacy, supporting marginalised communities to access community broadcasting, promotion of gender diversity in community radios, technological adaptation, network development and using community radios for disaster risk reduction are some of his main areas of work.
  Suman started his career in broadcasting in 1987 as a TV producer, eventually moving to print media and working as an independent documentary filmmaker until 2002 when he joined AMARC.
  In addition to organising numerous international seminar and conferences in different parts of the world, Suman has spoken in international symposiums, workshops and seminars on issues ranging from media legislation to community participation, and from sustainable growth of community media to building alliances with social movement in the Asia-Pacific region.
  One of his main interests is to study media’s role in peace building and conflict resolution and to learn how theories can be transformed into actions in everyday community-media work.
  Suman has a University Degree in Business Management and a diploma in Journalism.

• Rachel Fountain, Executive Producer / Deputy Head of Vision, News Corp Australia
  Rachel is an award-winning strategist, executive producer, journalist, leader, and content director. She has embedded in and consulted to public broadcasters, commercial, philanthropic, and indie sectors to create hit multi-platform content.
  Rachel is all about audience-focused, data-driven editorial and commercial strategy, running project production and distribution from the ground up. She starts with audience identification and commercial goals, moving through ideation, team building, casting, production, editorial direction, launch, distribution, and campaign assessment.
  With around 50 podcasts under her belt from her time with the ABC, Deadset Studios, and News Corp Australia, Rachel has devised audio strategies and helped develop podcast business cases for countless clients and creators. Highlights include The Pineapple Project, Days Like These, Dear Rachelle, and Journo.
  Rachel has experience in the trenches, guiding radio and multi-platform content teams to audience-focused success across Australia, often through times of great challenge and change. She champions the implementation of digital technology to connect with audiences and is passionate about leveraging innovative strategies to engage and inspire.

Moderator:

• Andrea Ho, Discipline Lead, Radio & Podcasting, Australian Film Television and Radio School
  Andrea Ho is a media professional and an experienced leader, broadcaster and content maker. Andrea started her broadcasting career in community broadcasting in Melbourne and NSW, in content production, on-air, and leadership roles at 3RRR and TUNE FM as well as at SRA (later part of SYN FM) and Channel 31.
  She moved into journalism and daily on-air presenting at the ABC in regional NSW, and went on to lead ABC radio/online teams in Hobart and Canberra, and then executive leadership as Head of Planning, ABC Regional and Local.
  Andrea designed and introduced a system to track diversity in media content at the ABC, after completing a Churchill Fellowship investigating practical strategies for increasing cultural diversity in broadcast media. She oversaw the ABC’s emergency broadcasting during the unprecedented 2019-2020 bushfires, and led the COVID-19 operational response for the ABC Regional and Local network in 2020.
  Andrea was a founding Co-Director of the Economic Media Centre which trains and supports community spokespeople on economic and social issues in news media.
  She was most recently the Director of Education for the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, where her remit extended from local to national and international initiatives and partnerships.

What new narratives can ignite our way forward? Which voices, narratives and methods of storytelling can connect us beyond the challenges of our everyday realities? In this session, Australian artist and filmmaker Lynette Wallworth reflects on the role and importance of stories, storytelling and storytellers, and articulates ideas that can propel us into the future. This session includes an introduction from AFTRS’ Head of Research, Dr Alejandra Canales.

Keynote Speaker:

• Lynette Wallworth, Australian Artist & Filmmaker
  Lynette Wallworth is a two-time Emmy Award-winning Australian artist/filmmaker whose works include the interactive video installation Evolution of Fearlessness; the DOMIE Award-winning fulldome feature Coral, with its accompanying augmented reality work; the AACTA Award-winning documentary Tender, the Emmy Award-winning virtual reality narrative Collisions which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and the 2016 World Economic Forum, Davos and XR work Awavena which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was in competition at the Venice Film Festival 2018. Awavena was awarded a News and Documentary Emmy in 2020.
  She has been awarded a UNESCO City of Film Award, the Byron Kennedy Award for Innovation and Excellence, and in 2016 was named by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the year’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers.
  Wallworth has been a frequent advisor to Sundance Institute Labs. She directed the New Narratives Lab for the World Economic Forum to support emerging leadership for under-represented voices. She is a member of the World Economic Forums’ Metaverse Working Group and she is a member of the Technology Committee for the Sundance lnstitute. Her most recent work is the feature documentary Edge of Life produced by Jo-Anne McGowan, a Stranger Than Fiction Production.

The fourth summit delivered a range of conversations around creativity, pedagogy, ethics, Indigenous sovereignty and inclusion in the emerging age of AI. The live and interactive online event included some of Australia’s and the world’s foremost AI experts from a range of different companies, universities and institutes.

If you are interested in the ideas discussed, please enjoy the AFTRS Digital Future Summit: AI and the Creative Horizon e-book.

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In our third edition of AFTRS’ Digital Futures Summit series, Audio: Community, Connectivity and Audience, we brought together the big brains in audio to talk about the intersection of sound, radio, and podcasting and the possibilities for connecting with audiences, old and new, in this world of digital disruption.

Visionaries and leaders from industry, education, and government sectors came together to discuss big questions facing Australia’s screen and broadcast industries in a global context.

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This summit focused on the future of business in the Australian screen and broadcast sector, zeroing in on business models and leadership to capitalise on the innovations and growth of the digital age.

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Held online, the first summit in AFTRS’ Digital Futures series looked at current and future practices and the opportunities that virtual production brings to the local industry. The summit explored how the industry can leverage digital technologies to “leapfrog” through change to accelerate growth opportunities.

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