ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image

The Film Act 2001 empowers the Board to promote ACMI as a national centre for the creation and exhibition of the moving image, to develop and make available collections and to conduct research and public education in the moving image.

The members of the ACMI Board are presented below.

Peter Lewinsky (President) has conducted an advisory practice over the last 20 years, providing strategic, financial and governance advice to a wide range of public and private companies and government. He is an experienced government, not-for-profit and private sector company director and has chaired a number of Audit Committees. Prior to commencing his practice, Peter, a qualified Chartered Accountant, worked for investment banks and stockbroking firms in Australia and overseas.

Jan Chapman has produced some of Australia's most critically successful and popular films including Bright Star, Lantana and The Piano and supported and nurtured the careers of some of its most talented filmmakers as executive producer and producer. Her films have won many awards including co-recipient of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, three Academy Awards, Camera d'Or at Cannes and over 35 Australian Film Institute Awards.

Tasneem Chopra is a cross cultural consultant, author, curator and social justice advocate. Through her consultancy, Tasneem speaks across the private and public sector on issues of cultural competence, diversity, leadership and intersectional discrimination. Tasneem is a Board Director for Ambulance Victoria, the Luke Batty Foundation and Chair of the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights. She is also the outgoing Senior Curator for the Islamic Museum of Australia and previously worked with the Immigration Museum in Melbourne.

Following a successful consulting career, Karen has moved to a portfolio of non-executive director roles in the arts, health, education and criminal justice sectors. Technology is her main area of expertise and she brings an innovative, digital transformation, data and customer experience focus to the board.  Karen is a qualified chartered accountant and was a partner in KPMG Consulting before running her own consulting business for over ten years. Given the challenges of strategic disruption, the right technology, positive customer experience, available data and secure environment are fundamental to success and survival for all types of organisations.

Rachel Griffiths burst onto the international movie scene in 1994 with P.J. Hogan’s much loved feature film Muriel’s Wedding. Subsequent film credits include My Best Friend’s Wedding alongside Julia Roberts, The Rookie, The Hard Word, Ned Kelly, Patrick, Saving Mr Banks, Beautiful Kate and Hilary & Jackie, a performance which earned her an Academy Award® nomination. Her last film, Mammal, premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2016.

In television Rachel earned a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Brenda in the critically acclaimed and long running HBO series Six Feet Under and both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her role the US series Brothers & Sisters. Other television credits include the HBO/NBC co-production Camp, Julian Assange biopic Underground, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and 2014’s highly successful series House Husbands. On stage, Rachel received Helpmann and Green Room Awards for her role as Catherine in the of David Auburn’s production of Proof, and she has tread the boards on Broadway in Other Desert Cities.

In 2014, Rachel tried her hand at directing for an episode of Nowhere Boys. She has recently entered pre-production for her first feature film, the story of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne.

As an ambassador for Hagar, a Cambodia-based organisation, Rachel advocates for the protection, recovery and reintegration of women and children who have suffered severe human rights abuses.

Rachael Maza is the Artistic Director for the Ilbijerri Theatre Company and a proud Yidinji and Meriam woman. She is an accomplished Australian actress, narrator and director. Alongside numerous theatre and television credits, Rachael has acted in such acclaimed Australian feature films as Radiance, Cosi, Lillian’s Story, and My Year Without Sex. Her performances have been acknowledged as outstanding with numerous accolades, including a Green Room Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Holy Day. Rachael hosted the critically acclaimed ABC TV program Message Stick and is also an Indigenous Liaison Advisor for films such as the multi-award winning Rabbit Proof Fence. 

Michael Wachtel was appointed to the Future Fund Board by Federal Treasurer, Scott Morrison and Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann in April 2016 and to the SEEK Board in 2018.

Michael Wachtel was the Chairman (Asia Pacific & Oceania) of Ernst & Young (EY) (2010-2015); a member of the EY Global Governance Council (2007-2015); Global Risk Committee (2013-2016) and Global Leader for Tax Quality & Risk (2013-2016). He joined EY at the time of the EY integration with Andersen in 2002. He has been an adviser to Australia’s leading multinationals and high net worth families for over 30 years; consistently listed over 2 decades as one of Australia’s leading tax advisers in global surveys during his early career. Michael co-authored the BCA White Paper “Removing Tax Barriers to International Growth” (2001); and was the first person to author books on Australia’s new International Tax Regime in the early 90’s. Michael is a Board Member of St Vincent’s Medical Research Institute; a mentor to NFP CEOS through Kilfinan; a Past President of the Australian Chapter of the International Fiscal Association; a past member of the Tax Advisory Board and visiting fellow in the Melbourne University Law Faculty.

Paul Wiegard is co-founder and a managing director of the Melbourne-based Madman Entertainment. The Australian-owned theatrical and home entertainment distribution, rights management and production company, has more than 100 employees and is known for its commitment to feature documentaries, world cinema and quality Australian movies. Over the past decade, Madman has distributed more than 15 Oscar-nominated feature documentaries. Paul’s executive producer credits span ten films including The Turning, The Hunter and Balibo. He is currently serving as President of the Australian Independent Distributors Association (AIDA) and is on the board of Australian Home Entertainment Distribution Association.

Linda White is an Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union (ASU).Linda practised as a solicitor in private practice after gaining degrees in Law and Commerce from Melbourne University and holds a current practising certificate.

Linda’s work at the ASU includes responsibility for the union’s national strategy in the private sector including the airline industry, IT and call centre industries and the non-government social and community services (SACS) sector. Linda coordinated the ASU’s successful campaign for equal pay for SACS workers and has been involved in negotiating many enterprise agreements in the industries she works with.

Linda joined the Chifley Research Centre Board in 2013 and was appointed Chair in June 2015. Linda has previously been a director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and a member of the Australian Social Inclusion Board and was a Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) from 2006 -2015 and has served on a range of other not for profit boards including the board of 200 Gertrude Street Gallery (now known as Gertrude Contemporary).

Dr Terry Wu is a specialist plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon. He is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Terry is a consultant specialist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Box Hill hospital and the Monash Health hospitals. Terry is the Supervisor of Training for plastic surgery at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and specializes in microsurgery and major head and neck cancer reconstructions.

Terry is a keen supporter of contemporary Australian art. By collecting and being an active advocate, Terry endeavours to materially contribute to the wellbeing of artists and visual art in Australia. In addition, Terry serves as a Board Member at Heide Museum of Modern Art and at National Association of Visual Arts and supports institutions and events including Sydney Biennale, Melbourne Festival and the new Australian Pavilion for Venice Biennale. In 2014, Terry established John Street Studios to provide quality affordable studio spaces for artists in inner city Melbourne.

Ian has more than 20 years’ experience in successfully developing and leading teams across complex, high profile and transitioning organisations.

He is a Managing Partner with behaviour change communications specialists The Shannon Company.

He began his career as a journalist with the ABC before moving into a range of senior executive positions across the private and public sectors, including Deputy Chief Executive, WorkSafe Victoria; Managing Director, Norwich Union Life Australia; Executive, Artist Services Pty Ltd; and Chief Information Officer with Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission.

Ian is also a Director with Ambulance Victoria.

DIRECTOR CEO

Katrina Sedgwick has been the Director and CEO of ACMI since early 2015. Previously, she was the Head of Arts for ABC TV and ABC Arts online (2012–14) and founding Director/CEO of the biennial Adelaide Film Festival and founding director of the AFF Investment Fund (2002–11).

She has an extensive background as a performer, creative producer and festival director. She was a producer for the Adelaide Festival of Arts (1996, 1998 and 2000) and the artistic director of Come Out ‘99 and Adelaide Fringe (2002). She is currently on the Board of Back to Back Theatre, the Australian Film Television & Radio School and the Creative State Advisory Board. She was a member of the Creative Industries Taskforce and a former board member of Chunky Move, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Art Gallery of SA, and Chair of the South Australian Youth Arts Board.

CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Seb Chan is ACMI’s Chief Experience Officer. Prior to this he led the digital renewal and transformation of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York (2011-2015) and drove the Powerhouse Museum's pioneering work in open access, mass collaboration and digital experience during the 2000s. He has also worked as a museum consultant with institutions across North America, Europe and Asia; and was a member of the Australian Government's Gov2.0 taskforce. His work has won awards from American Alliance of Museums, One Club, D&AD, Fast Company and Core77. He is an Adjunct Professor, School of Media and Communications, in College of Design and Social Context at RMIT. He also leads a parallel life in digital art and electronic music.

DIRECTOR, EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS

Paul Bowers is Director, Exhibitions & Collections. Paul was previously Head Exhibitions, Collections Research and Exhibitions Division for Museums Victoria since October 2013. Across three sites, Paul led long-term audience-centred renewal strategies including the development of the Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery, expanding Melbourne Museum’s family offer, and a new experience for teenagers at Scienceworks. 

Previously based in the UK, Paul has held leadership positions including Head of Exhibitions & Design at the National Railway Museum in York and Project Director at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, leading renewal projects and program development.

DIRECTOR, PUBLIC, EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY PROGRAMS

Dr Sophie Lieberman is Director, Public, Education and Industry Programs at ACMI. Sophie was previously Head of Programs for Sydney Living Museums since 2011 where she successfully led public, education and volunteer programming to involve diverse audiences across eight house museums, a world heritage site, two city museums, a research library, and the museum’s associated landscapes, collections and research. 

From 2006-2011, Sophie was Manager, Science Communication at the Australian Museum, running public programs and leading a team of five to successfully pilot new initiatives and seed diverse partnerships from small community groups to the Festivalists who ran the enormously successful Jurassic Lounge. 

She has a PhD in History from the University of NSW, and a Bachelor of Arts in Asian History and Languages.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

DIRECTOR OF BRAND & MARKETING

Emma Levy has held leadership roles within prominent arts and culture organisations for over 10 years, most recently as Group Head of Marketing at Australian-owned theatrical and home entertainment distribution, rights management and production company, Madman Entertainment, where as well as leading organisational transformation, she delivered multi-award winning campaign work across a variety of local and international productions including Kenny, Animal Kingdom, Offspring, SBS and National Geographic.

A UK native and media junkie, Emma has a PR background in the fashion and music industries, both still major passions. As well as guest lecturing on arts and culture marketing at Melbourne University, Emma is a vocal advocate for supporting women in leadership and enabling women to balance career aspirations and family.