Liz Tomkins, a producer based in regional Queensland, will take on the role of chair.
Outgoing chair Katrina Irawati Graham says: “Establishing WIFT Australia, with Megan Riakos and other founding board members, has been a great privilege and an empowering journey. I have been able to work with smart humans who have inspired me daily with their dedication to gender justice in our screen industry. I leave knowing that a fresh, strong board is anchored by the brains trust of returning board members. I know together they will build upon the foundational work of the past four years and uphold a collective vision of a better world.”
Katrina Irawati Graham will remain involved in WIFT Australia initiatives and continues to serve on the WIFT International board. A writer and director, she will pursue her own creative projects while driving her advocacy, advisory and activism work in the anti-racism, gender justice and diversity spaces.
Incoming Chair Liz Tomkins says: “It’s wonderful to be joining such a dynamic organisation at this vital time in its history. We all look forward to collaborating with the existing board members, and all the state chapter committees, to take WIFT Australia into the future.”
The returning board members in 2022 are Ljudan Michaelis-Thorpe (First Nations Lead), Janet Brown (Treasurer), Yolandi Franken (NSW/Secretary), Emilia Jolakoska (WA) and Lesley Pinder and Stephanie Westwood (Victoria).
Outgoing board members farewelled in 2022 are Ana Tiwary (NSW), Shannon Wilson-McClinton (ACT) and Briony Kidd (Tas).
Founded as a national organisation in 2018, WIFT Australia is the peak national advocacy body for gender equity in the Australian screen industry. Its formation connected existing WIFT NSW and WIFT WA chapters with newly created chapters in the ACT, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, while fostering a partner relationship with WIFT Victoria.
The founding board members of WIFT Australia were Megan Riakos (NSW), Katrina Irawati Graham (Qld), Margarita Ivanovsky (Vic), Alexandra Nell (WA), Shannon Wilson-McClinton (ACT), Anna Cadden (NT), Kath McIntyre (SA), Briony Kidd (Tas).
WIFT Australia is dedicated to achieving gender equality in the Australian screen industry through research, advocacy, education and support for women and non-binary screen industry practitioners. At the launch in 2018 producer Sue Maslin called the launch “an historic moment” uniting women in the screen industry across Australia and stressed the importance of continued advocacy to create lasting change.
All current board members’ bios can be read on the WIFT Australia website here.
To support the work of WIFT Australia, become a member here. Professional and supporter memberships are available. Tax deductible donations are also encouraged.
