Council
Under the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 (the AFTRS Act), the School is governed by a Council that is responsible to the Federal Parliament through the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, The Hon Paul Fletcher MP.
AFTRS is also governed by the provisions of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). Under the AFTRS Act, AFTRS is a corporate Commonwealth entity, Council is the accountable authority, and Council members are officials.
Composition
There are nine members of the Council, specified under the AFTRS Act:
- Three members appointed by the Governor-General
- Three members appointed from convocation by the Council
- The Chief Executive Officer, ex-officio
- A staff member elected by staff each year
- A student member elected by students each year.
Members represent the interests of the School and the screen arts and broadcasting sector, contributing expertise in a range of areas, including education, policy, film and television production, commercial activities, and management.
The Governor-General appoints the Chair, and the Council elects the Deputy Chair. These positions may not be held by the ex-officio, staff, or student member of Council.
Members appointed by the Governor- General, and those appointed from convocation, hold office for a term of up to three years.
The staff member holds office for one year and ceases to be a Council member if they leave the School. The student member holds office for one year and can no longer be a member once they cease to be a student of the School.
The maximum appointment period for an elected member is two terms. Casual vacancies for elected positions may be filled with the approval of the Minister until the current term for that position expires.
Council members are non-executive directors apart from the Chief Executive Officer (or Acting Chief Executive Officer) who is an executive director. The CEO (or Acting CEO) manages the affairs of the School and oversees daily operations and activities according to general policy approved by the Council.
On appointment, Council members are provided access to the Corporate Governance Handbook setting out their responsibilities and duties.
AFTRS Council convened five meetings during FY2019–20:
- 25 July 2019
- 6 September 2019
- 6 December 2019
- 27 February 2020
- 1 May 2020.
Details of Accountable Authority during the reporting period Current Report Period (2019–20)
Period as the accountable authority or member within the reporting period | |||||||
Name | Qualifications of the Accountable Authority | Experience of the Accountable Authority | Position Title/Position held Executive/Non-Executive | Date of Commencement | Date of cessation | Number of meetings of accountable authority attended | Number of meetings relevant to term of member |
Mr Russel Howcroft | Bachelor of Business (Marketing) Monash University | PWC, Partner, Chief Creative Officer | Chair, Non-Executive Appointed by the Governor-General | 1 July 2017 | 30 June 2023 | 5 | 5 |
Ms Carole Campbell | Bachelor of Economics Macquarie University Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (FCA) Graduate Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) | AFTRS, Finance Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee Chair FlexiGroup Limited (FXL), Non-Executive Director, and Audit Committee Chair IVE Group Limited (IGL), Non-Executive Director, and Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Chair Southern Cross Media Group Limited (SXL), Non-Executive Director, and Audit Committee member Sydney Film Festival Non-Executive Director | Deputy Chair, Non-Executive Convocation Member of Council | 5 April 2018 | 4 April 2021 | 5 | 5 |
Mr Peter Tonagh | Bachelor of Commerce UNSW Australia Master of Business Administration INSEAD | Bus Stop Films, Chairman Village Roadshow, Non-Executive Director | Non-Executive Appointed by the Governor-General | 29 May 2018 | 28 May 2021 | 5 | 5 |
Ms Annabelle Herd | Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) The Australian National University | Network Ten, Chief Operating Officer | Non-Executive Appointed by the Governor-General | 14 December 2017 | 13 December 2020 | 5 | 5 |
Ms Tanya Hosch | - | United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA), Goodwill Ambassador for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples AFL General Manager, Inclusion and Social Policy Circus Oz, Board of Directors Member NAB Indigenous Advisory Group Member | Non-Executive Convocation Member of Council | 18 October 2018 | 17 October 2021 | 4 | 5 |
Dr Georgie McClean | AFTRS Acting Chief Executive Officer | AFTRS Acting Chief Executive Officer | Executive Director Ex-Officio Member of Council | 1 June 2019 | 30 November 2019 | 1 | 1 |
Mr Shomal Parekh | AFTRS Acting Chief Executive Officer | AFTRS Acting Chief Executive Officer | Executive Director Ex-Officio Member of Council | 1 December 2019 | 4 March 2020 | 2 | 2 |
Dr Nell Greenwood | AFTRS Chief Executive Officer | AFTRS Chief Executive Officer | Executive Director Ex-Officio Member of Council | 5 March 2020 | 4 March 2025 | 1 | 1 |
Ms Pearl Tan | AFTRS Staff Member | AFTRS Senior Lecturer, Directing | Staff-Elected Member Second and final permitted term Outgoing | 26 February 2018 | 26 February 20201 | 3 | 3 |
Ms Maija Howe | AFTRS Staff Member | AFTRS Lecturer, Creative Practice & Theory | Staff-Elected Member Incoming | 27 February 2020 | 26 February 2021 | 2 | 2 |
Mr Alfred Faber | AFTRS Student Member | Enrolled third-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production | Student-Elected Member Outgoing | 20 April 2019 | 18 November 20192 | 3 | 3 |
Ms Bethany Stewart | AFTRS Student Member | Enrolled third-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production | Student-Elected Member Incoming | 28 April 2020 | 27 April 2021 | 1 | 1 |
- By resolution, term-end date amended from 27 February 2020 to 26 February .
- Student ceased to be a student and ceased therefore to be a Council member in accordance with Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 s 10(4).
One Non-Executive Convocation Member of Council was vacant as at 30 June 2020.
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-film-television-and-radio-school/reporting-year/2019-20-8