Digital Sydney Advisory Team

The Digital Sydney Advisory Team comprises around twenty industry leaders from Australia’s ICT, digital media and social engagement sectors. The team’s role is to guide strategy and recommend actions that will promote the growth of Sydney’s digital ecosystem. 

“Digital Sydney is a creative meeting place, a place to collaborate with others, a showcase of the Sydney digital community,” says team member Peter Giles.

He sees Digital Sydney as a one-stop shop for events, contacts and cutting edge ideas in the digital space.  “It’s also a way to better connect the digital innovators of our city - so we can build on all that we have already achieved.”

Team member Hael Kobayashi is a pioneer in the digital media industry. With over thirty years of international experience in digital media, he recognises this as an exciting time for Australia’s biggest city. 

"As a hub for creative industries and innovation, Sydney is rapidly becoming a catalyst and hot house environment for collaboration. Sydney represents the next wave of the digital revolution which transformed San Francisco in the nineties," Hael explains.

“As a platform, Digital Sydney will demonstrate to the world the breadth and depth of skills and expertise within our digital community, making Sydney the destination of choice for business, investment and major events,” says team member Annette Dockerty.

The Advisory Team, chaired by Hael Kobayashi, will include three sub-committees responsible for initiatives in Investment, in Brand & Marketing and in Building Community. 

Advisory Team Members

Hael Kobayashi – Associate Director, CIIC

Hael is a pioneer in the field of digital media, and is an award winning professional with over thirty years international experience in film, digital and broadcast media and the visual and performing arts. He has worked as a senior executive and producer for some of the world's leading film and entertainment studios including Lucasfilm, PDI/DreamWorks, MSNBC and digital games producer Raya Systems. Hael was Group Head of Production and Associate Producer on the Oscar winning feature film "Happy Feet" for Australia's Animal Logic.  He served on the federal and state task forces for Australia's Digital Content Industry Action Agenda.  In the innovation space, Hael is a member of the international jury for Denmark's INDEX: Design to Improve Life, and serves on the advisory panel of the DesignSingapore Council.  He is the Associate Director of the Creative Industries Innovation Centre at University of Technology Sydney.

Jennifer Wilson – Director – Project Factory

Now producing multiplatform TV shows and interactive entertainment at the Project Factory, Jennifer Wilson has over twenty years experience in interactive media and also sits on the Executive of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association.  Previously she was Principal of boutique multi-platform consumer engagement consultancy Lean Forward, and before that Head of Innovation for Ninemsn, investigating new technologies and platforms. She’s passionate about converged content that engages with consumers across different platforms (particularly mobile) and delivers a tailored and personalised experience.

Brandon Saul - Founder, Community Engine

Brandon Saul founded Community Engine in 2007 to help organisations build social networks that connect them with their own communities. He has extensive experience in media-arts production and event management. He is also Vice President of Sydney community broadcaster FBI Radio, which promotes new Australian music and the Sydney cultural community, and was instrumental in the station’s establishment. His production credits include Homebake, the Byron Bay Arts and Music Festival, The Great Escape and the renowned Cockatoo Island Festival and he has been Executive Producer of international media-arts festival NOISE (www.noise.net) since its inception in 1998. Brandon trained as a lawyer and accountant but has been involved in digital media since 1995.

Annette Dockerty – Market Development Manager, Smart Services CRC

Currently, Annette Dockerty drives digital research and development initiatives with industry, academic and government partners from conception to commercialisation. She oversees projects across digital media, education, health & financial services, through the Smart Services Co-operative Research Centre. Annette is the 2010/11 President of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association NSW where she developed and ran the Up Close and Digital series of events and was the primary driver behind the industry proposal for Digital Sydney. She’s also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Seb Chan – Head of Digital, Social & Emerging Technologies, Powerhouse Museum

Beyond the Powerhouse, Seb consults for museums, libraries and arts organizations in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia on digital strategy and the effective use of emerging technologies. Seb also writes the popular Fresh & New(er) blog in the museum world, and leads a parallel life in electronic music and art as editor-in-chief of Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

Peter Giles - Head of Digital Media - AFTRS

Peter Giles is a producer and educator with diverse production experience in television, sound, radio and digital media. He pioneered innovative digital media education programs at Sydney’s Metro Screen in the mid 1990’s, going on to establish post-graduate and professional programs in Computer Animation, Digital Visual Effects and Interactive and Emerging Media at AFTRS, the Australian national screen arts school. 

Deanna Coleman - Head of Marketing & Communication, Greater Sydney Partnership

Deanna Coleman has developed and led creative growth strategies for digital media for over a decade, and is currently focused on the enhancement and promotion of Sydney through the not-for-profit Greater Sydney Partnership. She’s also the founder and director of www.cookmyway.com.au, a social media platform for food lovers. Dee’s marketing and communications experience includes large-scale strategy and campaign execution for high profile international brands in the digital and entertainment categories. 

Ellenor Cox - Producer, Firelight Productions

Ellenor Cox is a Digital Emmy Award winning producer and innovator of all-media screen content creation. As a founding co-partner of Firelight Productions, she has produced forty hours of prime time and multi-award winning factual, reality and drama projects which have screened across the globe. A ‘bleeding edge’ devotee she now delivers all her content across a myriad of platforms including smartphone, tablet, web and television. She’s currently keeping out of mischief with her award winning all-media big wave surfing brand ‘Storm Surfers’ which is now in production for a 3D Movie and TV Series due for release in early 2012.

Rob Fitzpatrick - Director of Commercialisation, National ICT Australia

Rob Fitzpatrick has an extensive background in business and technology in the ICT sector globally, including management, consulting, start-ups and business development for large corporates. Rob’s previous digital media experience includes the establishment of online grocer ShopFast, development of transformational change in the radio advertising sector through HeardIT, a sports social networking entity with operations in three continents and an integrated technology application which makes print media interactive and measurable through mobile internet access. He has also worked internationally as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company and holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Stefan Gillard - Commercial Director, Steam Engine

Stefan Gillard is currently the Commercial Director and Equity Partner for SteamEngine, which offers supercomputing services and storage capacity to a broad industry base including the Animation and Visual Effects industry across Asia. Stefan also Chairs the Visual Effects Society (VES) Australia and boasts over eighteen years experience in strategy, production, marketing and management of visual effects and technology design. His most recent roles include General Manager of Technology for the Omnilab Media Group of companies, as well as Chief Technology Officer of DrD Studios where he worked on several George Miller properties including the sequel to Happy Feet and Mad Max 4. 

Chris Green - Chief Executive, The Passionate Group

Chris Green joined The Passionate Group in 2007, an investment company specialising in the sports, leisure and entertainment industry, with assets including the privately-owned NRL team South Sydney Rabbitohs, sports facilities management business ISFM and internet broadcasting company Viocorp. Prior to this, Chris was General Manager (Strategy) for the sports marketing company DSEG. His extensive experience in the sports and entertainment industry includes management of Sears' sponsorship of collegiate sport in the USA and as Marketing Manager for Athletics Australia in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Chris is also currently the interim CEO of the Greater Sydney Partnership.

Jennifer Kwok - Manager Customs House, City of Sydney

Jennifer Kwok has worked in the arts and design industries for over fifteen years, developing cultural and events programs  including the Sydney Asia Pacific Film Festival, the Smart Lights installations, and Gallery 4A contemporary Asian Arts events. She also ran her own jewellery design studio for ten years. Currently, Jennifer manages a multi-disciplinary exhibition program including experiential events displayed throughout the building and on the forecourt of Sydney’s heritage-listed Customs House. Both emerging and established digital artists are exhibited throughout the building and Jennifer has worked closely with leading artists and designers like Patrick Keane , Frank Minnaert, Peter Murphy and the Laboratory of Visionary Architecture (LAVA). 

Peter Loxton - Principal, Peter Loxton & Associates

Peter Loxton has over forty years of organisational experience including senior media positions such as Head of ABC Radio and Director General of five different NSW government agencies. Peter has also held Board positions on such organisations as Sydney Festival, State Records, and recently Museums and Galleries NSW. He also holds a part-time role as Director, Government Advisory at KPMG. Currently his company provides high-level consulting and contracting services in management; government; arts, media and innovation; IT and telecommunications; social and economic development; communications and education; Indigenous, environmental and regional issues.

Steve Pozel - Director, Object - The Australian Centre for Craft and Design

Steve Pozel has been director of Sydney arts organisation Object for nearly ten years, where he manages a diverse exhibition program showcasing everything from fashion to furniture, architecture to jewellery and from glass to digital design. Steve publishes the magazine Object and manages the operation of the Centre’s unique Surry Hills design store,  Collect. Before this role, Steven was the director of several contemporary art spaces, including The Power Plant, Toronto, in his native Canada.

Tony Shannon - NSW & ACT Business Advisor, Enterprise Connect - Creative Industries Innovation Centre

Tony is currently a Business Adviser at the Creative Industries Innovation Centre where he provides Business Review services to SMEs under the federal government's Enterprise Connect program. He works with companies across the creative industries, specialising in digital companies. With over fifteen years executive experience in the digital media industry, Tony was the CEO of Australian Property Monitors for ten years and a director of content syndicator HWW Limited from its ASX listing in 1999 to its sale to ninemsn in 2006. Tony has a Master of Management from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing).

Jane de Gault - Corporate Affairs Manager, Telstra

Jane de Gault is a communications specialist with a background in marketing and event management and is currently the NSW and ACT Corporate Affairs Manager for Telstra. Her experience includes media engagement as well as management of national sponsorships and brand promotion to stakeholders and customers. Her experience includes a number of years as Director of the Publicity Plus agency as well as corporate and business roles.

Trish Graham - Policy Director, Fuel VFX

Trish Graham heads Communications and Policy for FUEL, where she has worked in various roles since 2002. She’s a visual effects specialist and film editor with many years of experience in the film and television industry and numerous film credits to her name. Trish holds a post-graduate diploma in Film and Television Production from Swinburne University of Technology. She is also a Board Member of Ausfilm, a member of the NSW Film Industry Group and holds a position on the Ausfilm Marketing Committee. Trish is also a Board Member of the Visual Effects Society.

Anna Hildebrandt - Marketing Manager, Fuel VFX

Anna is Marketing Manager at Fuel VFX and oversees activity for the company’s slate of local and international film and television projects, as well as its B2B marketing. Anna has many years of experience working in digital content creation for the screen. Prior to joining Fuel VFX, Anna spent 6 years as Communications Manager at digital animation and effects studio Animal Logic where she managed the marketing and communications function through a period of exponential growth for the company marked by notable films such as Happy Feet and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. Prior to that, Anna was Programs and Promotions Manager for the National Association of the Visual Arts, and was Festival Producer for the ‘Australian Effects & Animation Festival’ and ‘Netfest’, Sydney and Melbourne. Early in her career, Anna worked as a journalist and enjoyed a sojourn as a reporter on the Fox Kids network during the early days of Foxtel. In addition to her appointment to the Digital Sydney Advisory team, Anna sits on the Board of the Australian section of the Visual Effects Society.

Phil Brady, State Manager NSW Government, Optus Business

Phil Brady has over thirty years experience working in the ICT industry in both the government and enterprise sectors.  For the last 15 years Phil has worked with  at Optus specifically engaged in the Government market in various roles linked to public affairs, strategy and sales for  to support its State and Federal Government business.  Prior to moving into the private sector, Phil worked with the NSW Department of Education and Training as a teacher for 10 years and then was also involved in telecommunications services design and management in the areas of distance learning and corporate networks.