Screen Canberra CEO Monica Penders has today, Friday 24 February, announced her plans to resign from the organisation after nearly 15 years.
Ms Penders will stay with Screen Canberra until September, allowing time for the board to undertake an executive search for a replacement chief executive officer.
Throughout her time in the top job, Ms Penders has played a vital role in progressing the screen industry in the Canberra region.
Funding initiatives from the ACT Government came from strong partnerships the CEO formed, which led to both national and international productions being drawn to our region, including the $5 million CBR Screen Investment Fund. These opportunities meant both an economic boost and employment for Canberrans in the film industry.
The development of local talent has always been at the forefront of Ms Penders’ plans for the organisation, the results of which will have lasting implications for Canberra and its creatives. Ms Penders and her team developed Screen POD, a five-month long screen development program to help film enthusiasts break into the industry.
Most recently, Ms Penders worked with the University of Canberra in creating the first ever Graduate Certificate in Screen Development.
“The initiatives we have developed to help creators have a realistic, market-focused approach to content development is one of my most significant accomplishments. Giving individuals the knowledge, tools and opportunities to see their passion or project go the distance is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do,” she said.
After leaving Screen Canberra, Ms Penders plans to spend time travelling before committing to a new role. She says that she hopes to continue to be involved in another capacity in the growing Canberra industry with so much potential.
“I’m excited to see the Screen Canberra team take the local industry further and continue to show off Canberra to the rest of the world.”
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Find out more about Screen Canberra at screencanberra.com.au
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