Screen Australia has appointed Rachel Perkins as Director of First Nations Strategy, a new position designed to promote industry support for Indigenous talent on screen and behind the camera.
Perkins, an Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman with German and Irish heritage, is an award-winning filmmaker and renowned advocate for equity in the screen industry.
Over her more than 30-year career, including co-founding production company Blackfella Films, she has used film, documentary and television to start conversations.
As a director, writer and producer, her credits include ground-breaking projects like Mystery Road, Total Control, The Australian Wars, Redfern Now, Bran Nue Dae, Radiance, Mabo and First Australians.
In her appointment, Perkins will lead the strategic direction for Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and the screen industry through crafting recommendations for future policy, guiding investment and engaging with government and industry stakeholders.
She has previously held leadership roles across Screen Australia, AFTRS, SBS, ABC, the Australian Film Commission, NITV, Indigenous Screen Australia, the NSW Film and Television Office, the National Indigenous Media Association of Australia and the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance.
In a statement from Screen Australia, Perkins says that she is “passionate about the opportunity to provide the strategic support for First Nations creators and businesses to be empowered, own their stories and thrive.”
I’m keen to continue championing our exceptional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen practitioners and forge a path for the next generation of talent – delivering the kind of stories that will enrich and uplift the entirety of Australia’s innovative screen industry and audiences across the globe.
Deirdre Brennan, Screen Australia CEO, says the creation of the position and Perkin’s subsequent appointment indicates “a bold new chapter”.
“We created this new role because First Nations stories and contribution to our industry are more important than ever. Rachel’s deep experience across content, education, culture, advocacy and complex organisations makes her uniquely positioned to shape an exciting future for Screen Australia.”
Perkins role began officially on the 2 March, and she will work closely with the recently appointed Head of First Nations Content, Gillian Moody-Ardler.
