by FilmInk Staff
Acclaimed screen producer Penny Chapman will deliver this year’s Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture at SCREEN FOREVER 40, taking place on Queensland’s Gold Coast from 28–30 April 2026.
A founding partner of Matchbox Pictures and one of the most respected figures in Australian screen production, Penny has played a pivotal role in shaping the creative and commercial success of Australian television drama over several decades. Her producing credits span acclaimed titles including Secret City, Deadline Gallipoli, Devil’s Playground, The Straits, My Place and Sex: An Unnatural History, alongside earlier landmark work through Chapman Pictures such as RAN and The Road From Coorain.
Before her producing career, Penny held senior executive roles at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she commissioned and executive produced influential drama including Brides of Christ, The Leaving of Liverpool and Blue Murder. Across commissioning, production and industry leadership, she has consistently championed ambitious Australian storytelling and helped shape pathways for independent producers.
Since 1992, the Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture has been a keynote moment of the SCREEN FOREVER conference, honouring the legacy of independent production pioneer Hector Crawford and recognising the importance of creative leadership in Australia’s screen sector.
Reflecting on the invitation, Penny said: “I am delighted to be invited to give the Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture. Its theme will be creative courage in turbulent times. We have much to tell the world.”
This year’s lecture will form part of a dynamic conference program exploring global market shifts, new financing models, audience strategy and creative innovation, as the industry gathers to mark the 40th anniversary of SCREEN FOREVER.
