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.

Esther Anatolitis is a writer and a curator of ideas with an abiding interest in how art creates public space in all its forms. Her practice rigorously integrates professional and artistic modes of working to create collaborations, projects and workplaces that promote a critical reflection on practice. Esther is Director of Projects at Regional Arts Victoria, former curator of Digital Publics and Independent Convergence, and a design studio leader at RMIT Architecture. She has led key arts organisations such as Melbourne Fringe, Craft Victoria and Express Media, and is a former chair of the Arts Industry Council (Victoria). Esther’s work has been published widely in Australia and overseas, and she is a member of the Melbourne Writers Festival programming advisory. Esther serves the boards of Elbow Room Productions as Chair and Contemporary Arts Precincts as Deputy Chair. A passionate advocate for the arts, Esther is a sought-after cultural commentator and a prolific critic across artforms.

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.

Karen Corry has run a consulting practice for over ten years, where she works with organisations to achieve transformational change through technology, within the public and private sector. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and was a partner at KPMG Consulting working globally, including for KPMG London. She serves on boards in the not-for-profit and government sectors, chairing ICT sub-committees, as well as being an independent member on the Service Victoria program control board. Karen has a depth of experience in developing IT strategies and delivering technology programs. Given the disruptive world we live in, the right technology, available information and secure environment, are fundamental to success and survival.

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.

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

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.

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.

ACMI's executive team are presented below.

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 from 2012 – 14 and from 2002 to 2011, as founding Director/CEO of the biennial Adelaide Film Festival, Katrina directed the AFF Investment Fund – which supported 47 Australian productions encompassing a multi-award-winning slate of features, documentaries, short films, cross-platform and installation works.

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, was a member of the Creative Industries Taskforce and a 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, Core77. He also leads a parallel life in digital art and electronic music.

HEAD OF MARKETING

Over the past two decades, Georgina has happily combined her love of arts and culture with her day job. She has worked for many Australian arts organisations and in community radio. She also spent several years in London working in PR services and independent TV production – including a music video show where she fulfilled her childhood dream of meeting Duran Duran.

Georgina is an experienced marketing and communications manager and has recently led brand, marketing and communications strategy delivering record-breaking attendance at both the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Writers Festival.

Georgina is also the co-owner of Collingwood winebar, Smithward.

HEAD OF FILM PROGRAMS

James Hewison is currently the Head of Film Programs at ACMI. From freelance writing for publications such as the French newspaper Liberation, to marketing roles at Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Palace Cinemas, the early years of James' career were spent in journalism and film. These diverse experiences consolidated James' knowledge of the media and film industries, enable him to take on the role of Executive Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2001, where he remained for six years, before moving to the Australian Film Institute in 2006 as CEO. From 2007 to 2011, he was Theatrical Distribution Manager for Madman Entertainment. During his time at Madman, James managed the releases of multi-award winning Australian features such as Animal Kingdom and Snowtown.

In addition to James' extensive experience in film distribution and marketing, he has work in production, most notably as the Associate Producer of Clara Law's Letters To Ali, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2004. He has been collaborating with filmmakers Amiel Courtin-Wilson and LA based Rick Charnoski. Most recently he curated the projections and live performance events, Under The Wire, at Monash University with the Melbourne Festival.

James consulted for 5 years across development, acquisition, curation and distribution for a range of international clients, from Canal + to Hobart's iconic Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). He also was Head of Development and Acquisitions for the award-winning production company, Curious.