Joining in its 40th-year anniversary year, during his two-year tenure Alaric oversaw the Guild’s successful post-covid recover, bolstering membership numbers, rebuilding its digital presence and membership systems, launching the Guild’s first searchable member directory, repositioning the prominence of its annual awards, and staging its first conference in nine years reimagined as Director’s Cut.
Alaric McAusland said, “It has been an absolute privilege to serve the ADG’s inspiring screen director members during a critically important period for the Guild. I’m incredibly proud of everything the Board and the ADG team has been able to accomplish over the last two years. Our Director’s Cut conference took the opportunity to restate the director’s voice at the centre of the creative process and post-covid it was thrilling to see our members collect in Sydney, engage with each other and exchange ideas on the director’s changing role. I’m also tremendously excited by this year’s launch of our new Local2Global Learning Development program which is providing real word mentoring and attachment opportunities for 60 Queensland Directors. I hope the Screen Queensland supported program will serve as a benchmark for other States to emulate. I’d particularly like to thank ADG president Rowan Woods and previous President Samantha Lang for their steadfast stewardship and for their considered counsel. Whilst I’m sad to be leaving the ADG, I depart the organisation with the confidence that it will continue its upwards trajectory in the very capable hands of its amazing board and dynamic team.”
Prior to his ADG role, Alaric was Chief Operating Officer at EMMY© winning Los Angeles production house; Grace – A Storytelling Company in Los Angeles and previously Managing Director at Deluxe Entertainment Services Group which included Oscar© nominated and EMMY© winning VFX Companies Iloura and Method Studios. Alaric has also served as Chairman of Ausfilm, Council Board Member of Screen Producers Australia and Non-Executive director of Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).
ADG President Rowan Woods said, “We at the ADG can’t thank Alaric enough for his brilliant leadership. He has had a transformative effect on the ADG’s cultural and industrial imperative. In a short period of time he has reorganized and reenergised our management, communications and financial systems, grown our membership and delivered record numbers of entries for the 2022 ADG annual awards. Together with Ana Tiwary (Strategy and Development Executive) and the ADG team, Alaric has empowered a more diverse and confident voice for the director at the centre of Australian storytelling.”
ADG has appointed executive search firm EP Australia to conduct the search for McAusland’s replacement. For confidential enquires contact Managing Director, Patricia Powell-Hughes on 0413 115 398 or pph@epaustralia.com.au.
The Guild has been at the forefront of important industrial relations and advocacy initiatives protecting its member’s creative rights, improving learning & development and employment outcomes as well as campaigning for more Australian stories on Australian screens. Additionally, a core organisational focus has been initiatives to close the gender gap and encourage participation from members of diverse underrepresented communities.
ABOUT THE ADG
Founded in 1981, The Australian Directors’ Guild is a not-for-profit industry association representing the interests of over 1,000 Screen Director members working across film, television, streaming and digital media. It aims to improve professional standards, conditions, and remuneration for Australian Screen Directors, protect and advance the creative rights of its members and promote a cultural voice that is truly representative of Australia’s innate diversity. As a cultural organisation it also seeks to advance its understanding of the director’s role by sharing and exchanging future-focused knowledge and skills. It is the collective voice of directors and represents directors’ interests to federal & state governments, to state and screen funding agencies and regulators, to broadcasters, studios, to other industry bodies and to the media.
