Julie Eckersley – SBS Head of Scripted

Julie Eckersley is the Head of Scripted at SBS, overseeing development and production of scripted content across SBS channels and platforms. 

Julie joined SBS in 2021 bringing extensive industry experience to the role, which has seen her work as a producer and in development across a range of genres, including drama, comedy, animation, documentary and children’s content. Julie has worked internationally with Netflix and NBCU International and her experience includes nine years at Matchbox Pictures where she worked on award-winning Australian projects including the landmark SBS series, The Family Law, ABC drama series Glitch and Australia’s first kung fu comedy, Maximum Choppage – among others. She’s passionate about creating bold and distinctive stories, supporting new voices and celebrating our diverse perspectives. 

John Godfrey – SBS Head of Unscripted

John Godfrey is Head of SBS Unscripted, overseeing documentaries, factual entertainment, food and entertainment across SBS channels and platforms.

John previously held the role of Head of Documentaries. Having joined SBS in 2008, he has been responsible for some of SBS’s highest rating and best-known programs, including Go Back to Where You Came From, First Contact, Struggle Street, and Filthy Rich and Homeless.

John has been in Australia since 2003, working in the UK prior to that for 10 years, series/exec producing for Channel 4 and BBC2.

Emily Griggs – SBS Head of Entertainment & Food

Emily Griggs joined SBS as Head of Entertainment and Food in September 2021.

As a member of SBS’s Unscripted commissioning team, Emily oversees SBS’s diverse commissioned entertainment and food shows.

She joined SBS from BBC Studios where she was Head of Development and Content and oversaw development and production of various shows, including SBS series’ Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind.

With more than 25 years of television experience, she has produced shows for all free to air networks across most genres, from entertainment, comedy, factual and reality, to food, lifestyle and children’s programming. Her credits include a variety titles and formats, including The Chefs’ Line, The Secret Life Of 4 Year Olds, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Dancing with the Stars, and Married At First Sight, and much more.

Marissa McDowell – NITV Commissioning Editor

Marissa McDowell is a Wiradjuri woman, born in Cowra, NSW. She joined NITV in March, 2021 as Commissioning Editor.

Throughout her career, she has worked with First Nation communities telling their stories through documentary film making, photography and writing. Her documentaries have been screened on SBS/NITV, poetry published through USMOB Writing and photographs displayed at PhotoAcces and the Sydney Living Museum.

She has recently received her Master of Arts Screen Business and Leadership at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and is currently undertaking her Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage at Charles Sturt University. 

This initiative is delivered by Screenworks, as part of Screen Queensland’s Far North Queensland Screen Production Strategic Plan.