Caden Pearson appointed new Commissioning Editor for NITV

National Indigenous Television (NITV) has strengthened its commitment to bold First Nations storytelling with the appointment of Bagarrmuguwarra writer, director and producer Caden Pearson as Commissioning Editor.

Pearson joins NITV’s award-winning commissioning team, working across the network’s diverse slate of original scripted and unscripted content that continues to connect audiences across Australia with First Nations stories and perspectives.

Hailing from Far North Queensland, Pearson has more than a decade of experience across production and broadcast, with a career spanning scripted, documentary and factual programming. Passionate about bringing authentic First Nations stories to screen and supporting career pathways for emerging Indigenous creatives, he has developed original scripted projects, contributed to writers’ rooms, and worked as a writer, director and producer on both his own productions and those of others.

Most recently, Pearson was director and co-producer of the SBS Food series Taste of the Tropics. His screen credits also include scripted web series Lakefield, NITV documentary Wawu: Divine Hope, and scripted feature Storm Bird.

NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production, and Warlpiri, Warumungu and Arrernte woman Dena Curtis said: “Caden is an incredible addition to the NITV commissioning team. He brings extensive experience across scripted, documentary and factual storytelling, along with a passion for investing in First Nations creatives and creating opportunities for the next generation of storytellers.

“He’s dedicated to championing authentic voices and expanding the kinds of stories we see on screen, particularly in genres where First Nations perspectives have been under-represented. I’m excited to see the impact he’ll have as NITV continues to deliver bold, distinctive First Nations storytelling.”

NITV Commissioning Editor, and Bagarrmuguwarra man Caden Pearson said: “As a filmmaker from Cape York, I’ve been telling stories since I was 16, when I made a short documentary about the prolonged displacement of my Guugu Yimidhirr people from Cape Bedford Mission during the Second World War. That experience showed me the powerful role of filmmaking as an act of cultural custodianship – not only keeping history and community alive but creating space for truth-telling and ensuring First Nations perspectives are seen, heard and remembered.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to now be joining NITV, because that’s exactly the work it does every day, at scale. As Commissioning Editor, I’m looking forward to working with creatives from across the country and reaching more Australians through First Nations storytelling. I don’t just want to see First Nations stories told. I want to see First Nations storytellers flourish. I’m genuinely stoked to be here.”

Caden Pearson joins Cieron Cody and Dena Curtis in the commissioning team, with Joseph Meldrum departing in May.

For further information and interview requests please contact:

Emma Blong | emma.blong@sbs.com.au | 0421 008 517

Jessica Parry | Jessica.parry@sbs.com.au | 0428 767 836

For a PDF of this release, click here.