Our People
We are a small, passionate team who believe in the power of storytelling to connect people and inspire change.
We are committed to supporting documentary filmmakers and the impact their work can create.
We value collaboration, integrity and a shared sense of purpose, working closely with filmmakers, partners, donors and communities to ensure these stories are made and seen.
Meet our team and the members of our Board of Directors.
Our team
MITZI GOLDMAN
Chief Executive Officer
Mitzi has been working in the film industry for over 35 years as a documentary director, producer and editor. Alongside her production career she has worked in the academy teaching documentary production and screen studies at Murdoch University WA before being employed as co-head of documentary department at the national film school, AFTRS for 6 years.
Mitzi’s credits include: as Producer – KaChing! Pokie Nation; Night Parrot Stories; Memoirs of a Plague; End of the Rainbow. As Director – Jez: A Letter for life; A Common Purpose; Chinese Take Away; Hatred and as Executive Producer – Incarceration Nation; Backtrack Boys; Undermined: Tales of the Kimberley; Leunig Fragments; Zach’s Ceremony; Constance on the Edge; I Am a Girl; Surgery Ship.
Mitzi has a Phd in Cultural Studies. She co-founded and is the CEO of Documentary Australia, which has developed a new paradigm for funding and outreach of social impact documentary films. Documentary Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that connects philanthropy and filmmaking to inspire social change.
She has been a board director of the Film and Television Institute in Western Australia and AIDC (Australian International Documentary Conference where she served as co-chair for 3 years). She was Jury President at APSA in 2018 and has participated on juries of film festivals in Australia (SFF, AACTA, ADG, Walkleys, Logies, Persian International Film Festival), in Iran (Tehran International Documentary and Experimental Film Festival) China (Guangzhou Documentary Film Festival).
LISA SHERRARD
Chief Financial Officer &
Chief Operating Officer
Lisa Sherrard is a Production Accountant and Producer who entered the screen industry after a career in banking, bringing a strong background in accounting and finance. To support her transition into film, she undertook a Diploma of Production Accounting at the Australian Film and Television School in 2018.
Lisa has worked across production, distribution, and impact on acclaimed documentaries including Gayby Baby, Motorkite Dreaming, In My Blood It Runs, Wash My Soul In the River’s Flow, and The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone. She is currently a Producer on Testimony (in development). Lisa is a founding member of Unquiet Collective and works parttime as Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer at Documentary Australia.
RUTH MOLLOY
Head of Philanthropy, Partnerships &
Communications
Ruth is a senior philanthropy, partnerships and communications leader with extensive cross-sector career experience spanning law, health, tertiary education, and the not-for-profit sector.
She has worked across global and local contexts and in organisations of varying scale, bringing deep expertise in philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. Her background includes international humanitarian work, health, and domestic and family violence services.
Ruth is committed to advancing social justice and equity and has a strong track record of building trusted relationships, aligning stakeholders around shared purpose, and strengthening outcomes for communities.
She is an enrolled barrister and solicitor in New Zealand, a qualified registered nurse in both New Zealand and Australia, and holds a Master of International Law from the University of Melbourne.
She is also an internationally accredited coach and mentor.
LUCY CORRIGAN
Head of Impact & Evaluation
With over six years at Documentary Australia, Lucy brings a lifelong commitment to the arts and contributing to positive social change. She has more than 15 years’ experience in research, evaluation and advocacy across mental health, child protection, early childhood education and broader social justice portfolios within the NGO, government and university sectors.
Initially trained in Impact Producing under Jackie Tunure, Lucy has since provided strategic and evaluation expertise across a diverse slate of documentary projects, with strengths in participatory approaches, program design, strategy, research and evaluation. A skilled listener and collaborative leader, Lucy is driven by a clear belief in documentary’s ability to elevate diverse experiences and perspectives and contribute to meaningful change.
SHARLENE DADD
Senior Advisor
Sharlene Dadd joined Documentary Australia in 2021 after leading WWF-Australia’s Impact Partnerships team and securing significant funding from Philanthropy, Corporate Partnerships, Grants (Government, Private and Corporate Foundations) and Bequests.
With previous roles in the disability, agriculture, wine and business tourism sectors, her strengths lie in setting and achieving strategic objectives, generating and growing lasting relationships for sustainable financial support, developing high performing teams and establishing collaborative, transformational partnerships. Sharlene has a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Sydney, speaks French and Indonesian. As Head of Partnerships and Communications, Sharlene believes in the power of sharing our stories to inspire hope, challenge the status quo, drive social change, promote thought leadership, spread empathy, encourage creativity and celebrate life.
BARBARA COOPER
Office Manager
Barbara brings extensive experience in production, operations, and project management across the screen, education, and non-profit sectors. She was Content Producer for SCREEN FOREVER at Screen Producers Australia and Special Projects Producer at Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, where she managed a funding initiative to support local content through development, financing, and editorial processes.
With over six years at Documentary Australia, Lucy brings a lifelong commitment to the arts and contributing to positive social change. She has more than 15 years’ experience in research, evaluation and advocacy across mental health, child protection, early childhood education and broader social justice portfolios within the NGO, government and university sectors.Barbara also practises part-time as a psychotherapist and brings a calm, solutions-focused approach to her work, grounded in a deep interest in people, stories, and meaningful change.
STEPHANIE KING
Impact Director
Stephanie (she/her) is a documentary filmmaker and impact producer working on unceded Gadigal, Gooniyandi and Bunuba lands. She is known for Undermined – Tales From the Kimberley, which premiered at MIFF and was awarded the Antenna Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary ahead of festivals and a national cinema release.
As a director, Stephanie has created short docs for The Guardian, The Australian, The West and National Indigenous Times. Her series Voices of the River premiered at Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and won Best Documentary awards at Sydney Web Fest, Apulia Web Fest, and New Zealand Web Fest, before releasing online with impact partners and achieving a record 43,000 submissions to a government inquiry. She made follow-up series Martuwarra: River of Life with the Martuwarra Council for broadcast on NITV in 2022. Stephanie has consulted on Telly Award-winning Young, Black and Behind Bars (Al Jazeera), Incarceration Nation (NITV/SBS) and Climate Change & Other Small Talk (Why Not Theatre), and was a 2021 fellow with UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art in Brooklyn, NY.
Stephanie has also worked in the university sector, winning Green Gown Awards for her social welfare and environmental sustainability campaigns at University of Technology Sydney. She recently worked as a researcher on Indigenous housing, climate change, social equity and policy with the University of Sydney and Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
LISA KANANI
Impact Director
Lisa joined Documentary Australia in 2016 and has led impact campaigns for award-winning documentaries such as Backtrack Boys, Incarceration Nation, Visible Farmer, Delikado, and Trailblazers. She has mentored over 20 documentaries through the Environmental Incubator and Environmental Accelerator Programs, advising on impact and implementation strategies.
Lisa is now leading the DocAccess initiative to drive new audiences for documentary films and the Advancing Impact Workshop Series and is passionate in helping filmmakers strengthen their projects, extend their reach and achieve deeper impact.
Lisa brings over 25 years of experience in PR, marketing, events, digital communications, design, and project management, having worked with agencies including Ogilvy, Naked, There Design, Play Events, and London-based Freud Communications. For the past three years, Lisa led the Impact Producer Program, training eight Impact Producers and curating nine Industry Masterclasses.
EMILY CARSTAIRS
Marketing & Communications Director
Emily has a background in marketing and content production with a focus on the not-for-profit, news, travel and entertainment sectors.
Emily believes in the importance of telling the stories that need to be heard, the stories that can help educate, empower and encourage positive change on both an individual level and as a wider community.
This is why Emily loves documentaries and enjoys being part of Documentary Australia.
CEALAN MACDONNELL
Marketing & Engagement Co-ordinator
Cealan believes in the power of documentaries and is passionate about telling true stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Film from The University of Sydney, and has come from a film industry background. Cealan is experienced in coordinating marketing and communications assets for organisations working in the Australian film sector.
Our board
ANDREW MYER AM
Chair
Andrew Myer pursues a variety of business interests through the A V Myer Group of Companies, including property development, investment, film and Philanthropy. Andrew developed a range of residential office and retail properties for more than a decade from 2002. In addition to direction of his own investment portfolio he has been a director of The Myer Family Investments Pty Ltd since 2012 and a member of the Audit and Risk committee.
He has produced and executive produced numerous feature films, television and documentary since the mid 90’s and his numerous credits include Radiance, Paper Planes, Make Hummus not War, Blueback and The Dry.
His community sector involvement has focused on for purpose organisations operating in philanthropy, the environment, social justice, film and the performing arts. Andrew became Chair of The Sidney Myer Fund in June 2020 and has been a Trustee of The Sidney Myer Fund since 2011. He was previously Vice President of The Myer Foundation from 1999 until 2003.
Andrew was Vice President of Bush Heritage Australia for nine years until March 2016. He was Chair and Deputy-Chair of the Melbourne International Film Festival for seventeen years until 2017. He was appointed Chair of Arts Centre Melbourne Foundation in June 2017 and was a trustee of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust for three years from March 2018 until February 2021. He is Chair of Documentary Australia and has been a director since June 2017. He joined the board of Malthouse Theatre in February 2018. He is founder and director of the Andyinc Foundation Ltd a family PAF established in 2002 that focuses on the environment, arts and social justice.
SUE MASLIN AO
Deputy Chair
Sue Maslin is one of Australia’s most successful screen producers. Her smash hit The Dressmaker, became one of Australia’s all-time highest grossing films. Sue has produced and executive produced numerous documentaries including The Edge of The Possible, Harry Seidler-Modernist, Jill Bilcock Dancing The Invisible, The Show Must Go On and most recently, Brazen Hussies, and Anonymous Club – Courtney Barnett.
Sue is committed to engaging and empowering audiences with ideas that matter. Her innovative rights management company, Film Art Media established in 2008 with Daryl Dellora, develops and distributes screen content across many platforms.
DR BEN FERRIS
Director
Ben Ferris is an internationally-acclaimed film writer and director, and an AACTA-nominated producer. In 2020 he co-founded Breathless Films, which has since produced its first five feature films: Birdeater (SFF 2023), Tennessine (SFF 2023), Love Road (SFF 2023), The Longest Weekend (SFF 2022) and Lonesome (SFF 2022). As a writer and director he has made four features: In(di)visible (Antenna FF 2022, nominated Eurimages Project Lab Award, Karlovy Vary FF), Great Observers (WWFF 2021), 57 Lawson (SUFF 2016) and Penelope (Pula FF 2009).
He also Executive Produced the award-winning feature Three Blind Mice (TIFF 2008). In 2004 he won the inaugural Akira Kurosawa Memorial Grand Prix for his short film The Kitchen (2003). He was one of the original founders and then Artistic Director of the Sydney Film School (2004-2018).
Ben joined the Board in February 2019.
ANITA JACOBY AM
Director
Anita Jacoby is a highly awarded television producer, media executive and company director.
She has worked in senior roles with all the commercial networks, ABC, SBS and Foxtel. In the independent sector, Anita managed Zapruder’s Other Films, executive producing original productions including Enough Rope and The Gruen Transfer, along with documentaries such as Angels & Demons and God on My Side. She was subsequently Managing Director of ITV Studios.
A leading advocate for women in media and leadership, Anita chairs the ABC Advisory Council, Co-chairs Women in Media, is a non-executive director of Documentary Australia, Chief Executive Women, PIJI and the UK Board of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation.
Anita is passionate about storytelling and the powerful role documentaries play in educating and fostering social change.
JAMES LOGIE-SMITH
Director
James Logie-Smith is an experienced finance professional with significant experience in finance, strategy and corporate development in the digital, consumer products and media industries. Currently with Coates Group, James has previously held CFO positions for Sara Lee Corporation’s Australia and New Zealand business, Valspar Australia and New Zealand, and Pinnacle Bakeries.
James has contributed to several non-profit arts organisations in an advisory capacity in both Sydney and Chicago. James holds an MBA from Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University, has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course and is a member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
ANDREW WISEMAN
Director
Andrew Wiseman is a solicitor specialising in intellectual property and technology. He works with high profile international and domestic clients across many sectors, including advertising, communications, entertainment, food and beverage, franchising, IT, pharmaceutical and other wellbeing.
With the benefit of long litigation and commercial experience across the entire IP spectrum Andrew is regularly called upon to find solutions in complex strategic matters, including bringing about legal change through the courts and the legislature.
With a long love of the arts it is no coincidence that they feature prominently. Highlights include 30 years working with Sony Music and Sony Publishing and over 20 years with orchestras, painters and writers amongst many other art forms including from indigenous communities (through Art Centres and directly from community outreach). Pro bono plays a significant part of Andrew’s practice.
MICHAEL RADOVNIKOVIC
Director
Michael Radovnikovic is the founding Director of 9Springs, a privately held Australian property investment and advisory group working with ASX listed organisations, private companies, family offices and not-for-profit clients. Michael has held multiple roles with high growth organisations focused on driving strategy and has had experience in international capital markets, including managing the delivery of projects up to A$2b.
Michael is a mentor and early-stage investor to a number of Australian start-up companies. Michael comes from a family of professional musicians and is a strong advocate for the arts in Australia. Michael is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Michael joined the Board in May 2019.
WINSOME BERNARD
Director
Winsome Bernard embarked on an international career in 1985, joining the Business Adia Acquisition team and relocating to Australia from the UK.
In 1994, she established a successful recruitment business, later selling it to a Japanese Multi-national company in 2019.
Transitioning into mentoring and leadership, she now works as a Business Advisor and Leadership Coach and facilitates transformative issue-processing sessions for CEOs and business owners.
Her work extends to philanthropy, where she actively contributes her business skills as a board member for two charities.