Acknowledgement of Country
Screen Queensland acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Traditional Custodians of Australia. We recognise their 65,000 years of custodianship that pre-dates colonisation. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and recognise the cultural and historic connection to land, sea, cosmos (the inclusion of the constellations that are part of a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spiritual and environmental narrative) and community. Screen Queensland is committed to elevating the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners to continue to share their rich cultures and perspectives with the Queensland and global community through screen storytelling. Screen Queensland understands the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and practitioners to be leaders in their own narratives to promote inclusion, collaboration and authenticity. Always was, always will be.
Our Board
The Screen Queensland Board ensures that the agency acts in accordance with its Corporate Plan while functioning and achieving results effectively and efficiently through providing expert governance and guidance for the team at Screen Queensland. Our board is responsible for managing and approving significant Screen Queensland investments.
Applications to the Screen Finance Fund, RFFF and any other programs, where stipulated, should be submitted in line with the below dates, with applications closing at midnight on:
BOARD MEETING |
SCREEN FINANCE AND RFFF
|
PAS AND PDV
|
| Wednesday 19 February 2025 | Sunday 5 January 2025 | Wednesday 8 January 2025 |
| Wednesday 16 April 2025 | Sunday 2 March 2025 | Wednesday 5 March 2025 |
| Wednesday 18 June 2025 | Sunday 4 May 2025 | Wednesday 7 May 2025 |
| Wednesday 20 August 2025 | Sunday 6 July 2025 | Wednesday 9 July 2025 |
| Wednesday 15 October 2025 | Sunday 31 August 2025 | Wednesday 3 September 2025 |
| Wednesday 10 December 2025 | Sunday 26 October 2025 | Wednesday 29 October 2025 |
OUR BOARD
Patricia Alner
Board Chair
Patricia Alner is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in finance, strategy, performance and infrastructure. She is passionate about the screen industry, education, sport and the arts, and combines forward-thinking leadership with strong analytical expertise to deliver strategic, measurable outcomes.
A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Patricia is recognised for her strengths in finance and asset management, strategic planning, performance optimisation and governance. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to innovation, accountability and sustainability.
Patricia has been actively involved in Queensland’s dynamic screen sector for several years, contributing to its strategic direction and development. She currently serves as Chair of Screen Queensland.
In addition to her work in the screen sector, Patricia serves on several boards and committees, where she continues to apply her expertise in governance, finance, audit and strategic planning.
She holds a Bachelor of Informatics from Griffith University, a Graduate Diploma in Communication, a Master of Business (Communication Studies), and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting from QUT.
Lynne Benzie
Board Member
Lynne Benzie has over 36 years in the film, television and entertainment industry.
Her career started in the United Kingdom in Engineering. Lynne then migrated to Australia in 1979 and developed a diverse background in insurance, finance, legal, building and information technology, which led her to a position with EMI Records in promotion and marketing.
Lynne joined Village Roadshow Studios in 1990 as Personal Assistant to the General Manager. After five years of being involved in the operations of the studio she was promoted to Studio Manager, then to Vice President of Studios Operations and in January 2008 promoted to President of the studios.
Lynne is involved in promoting the industry locally and internationally and has strong client relationships with many studios, as well as producers across multiple platforms. Lynne works with several government agencies to develop the industry and its depth of crew and ensure a robust film industry across all platforms.
Lynne is on the board of Ausfilm, Screen Queensland and Chair of Gold Coast. In 2023/24, Lynne won Gold Coast Business Women of the Year award.
Venesa Gleeson
Board Member
Venesa Gleeson’s career bridges the worlds of law and the arts, driven by a deep belief in the power of storytelling, advocacy and creative expression. As a Director of Screen Queensland, she is inspired by the belief that storytelling can shape communities and spark important conversations, with a desire to see Queensland’s stories reach audiences everywhere.
Alongside her arts and screen advocacy, Venesa is a highly respected lawyer and Special Counsel at Suthers Taylor, with over two decades of experience across planning, environmental law, native title, land acquisition, heritage and regulatory compliance. She is known for delivering strategic legal solutions that align with broader business and community goals.
Venesa is admitted to practice in the Supreme Courts of Queensland and the Northern Territory, the High Court of Australia and the High Court of New Zealand. She is also a member of the Queensland Law Society.
Whether advising clients or advancing Queensland’s creative industries, Venesa brings heart, vision and unwavering dedication to empower communities, elevate voices and help Queensland’s stories shine on screens both near and far.
Professor Scott Harrison
Board Member
Professor Scott Harrison is Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law) and Assistant Vice Chancellor (Cultural Curation and Community Partnerships) at Griffith University, Australia. As Pro Vice Chancellor he has oversight for humanities, language, social science, criminology, law, education, art, design, music, acting and film. As Assistant Vice Chancellor, he has leadership of creative entities: the Academy of Excellence in musical theatre, Griffith Review and Griffith University Art Museum, along with reconciliation and truth telling initiatives and public discourse. Scott was appointed chair of Australian Youth Orchestra. He has published widely in music education.
Cathy Hunt AM
Board Member
Cathy is a successful cultural sector consultant and business woman with over 30 years' experience providing research and advice to governments, architects, planners, arts and cultural organisations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, as the co-founding director of Brisbane-based Positive Solutions.
She is the founder of QuickstART, an interest free loan program for artists and creatives and was an advisor to the $1 million Arts Business Innovation Fund (ABIF), a partnership between the Queensland state government and Tim Fairfax Family Foundations. Formerly a festival producer in the UK, Cathy returned to that role in 2014, bringing the WOW (Women of the World) Festival movement to Australia.
As Executive Director of non-profit company One Mind, Cathy has been the Executive Producer of WOW Festivals and events for the last seven years and is a global advisor to the WOW Foundation in London.
Cathy is on the Advisory Committee for the Queensland Women’s Strategy and in 2023 became a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to the arts, culture and women.
John Kotzas AM
Board Member
John Kotzas AM is a dynamic leader whose 40-year career has reshaped Australia’s cultural, civic and economic spheres through visionary leadership and inclusive engagement. Renowned for blending strategic insight with social impact, he has driven transformative initiatives across arts, education and community development, establishing global benchmarks and fostering powerful symbiotic connections.
As Chief Executive of Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) since 2008, Kotzas doubled audiences to 1.2 million, generated $1.27 billion in ticket sales and secured $175 million for a new theatre, keeping QPAC resilient through COVID. He founded the Brisbane Festival, turning it into a world-class event, and pioneered the Out of the Box Festival for children. In 1995, his leadership of Australia Remembers united communities for national commemoration. His diverse programming, from global icons to local talent, champions inclusivity.
An educator, mentor and a Vice President of Live Performance Australia, Kotzas forges global partnerships with a “think local, go global” approach, preparing Brisbane for the 2032 Olympics. Honoured with a Member of the Order of Australia and honorary doctorates, he remains grounded, driven by lifelong learning. Kotzas’ legacy of innovation and resilience continues to shape Queensland as a thriving cultural and civic hub.
Carla McGrath
Board Member
Carla McGrath is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman. Born and raised on the Australian mainland, she now lives in Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Carla is an independent consultant specialising in community engagement and consultation, transformational organisational cultural change, for-purpose organisational strategy and sustainability, program design and development, and facilitation.
Carla brings almost two decades of experience in the establishment, leadership and governance of for-purpose organisations and businesses, using this experience to assist organisations, institutions and communities to seed, grow, change and sustain themselves.
Carla is currently Board Chair of Native Foodways, Board Director of Screen Queensland, a member of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research reference group: Thiitu Tharrmay (Australian National University) and member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group for Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
John Morris
Board Member
John Morris has extensive experience in senior management roles in Australia, the Pacific and Asia. John is recognised for his acumen and success in achieving and exceeding budgeted revenue in domestic and international operations while always focussing on the end user satisfaction. He has a successful history of identifying and nurturing new market opportunities.
With over 40 years’ experience in hospitality, tourism and elite level sporting organisations, John has worked closely with the private sector and all levels of government ensuring positive partner outcomes. His extensive industry networks are a result of expertise in building sustainable and long-term relationships. With senior management roles in Asia, Australia and the Pacific, John has travelled extensively and has gained cultural insights through business and leisure travel, living and working in these destinations, and a recent six month sabbatical in the south of France.
In addition to managing multiple properties in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, John has extensive Board experience and was on the Board of Destination Gold Coast (now Experience Gold Coast) for over nine years with the core focus attracting airlines, conferences, incentives and screen productions to the region. During his tenure, the Gold Coast was attracting up to 13.5 million visitors annually with an average total expenditure of $5.9 billion each year.
Adept at leadership, John works with his colleagues and team to develop improved organisational performance by leveraging strengths and ensuring a strong collective strategic vision.