Eye on AIDC 2027: INTRODUCING OUR NEW BOARD DIRECTORS

AIDC is pleased to announce the formal appointment of highly regarded screen and creative industries leader and Bundjalung woman Kyas Hepworth – the newly appointed Associate Dean, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, and Professor at UTS Faculty of Design and Society – to the role of Co-Chair of the AIDC Board of Directors. 

Kyas has an expansive understanding of Australia’s media and creative industries, having held senior roles with national organisations including SBS/NITV, the AFTRS, Screen Australia, and Screen NSW.

She will join AIDC Co-Chair Sarah Thornton, Head of Unscripted for Paramount ANZ – who was appointed in 2025 after the retirement of Kate Pappas – in sharing the leadership, responsibilities and official duties of running the AIDC Board of Directors.

Alongside Kyas’s appointment, AIDC welcomes incoming members Stephanie King, Impact Director, Documentary Australia, and Michael Hilliard, Managing Director, Producer, Boardwalk Pictures Australia, to the AIDC Board of Directors. 

The inclusion of three new NSW-based board members follows the recent announcement of Sydney, NSW as the location for AIDC’s 40th Anniversary edition, with support from Screen NSW as Principal Partner.

The appointments come after the completion of two consecutive three-year terms by outgoing Co-Chair Paul Wiegard, and Board members Hollie Fifer and Andrew Arbuthnot. AIDC would like to thank Paul, Hollie and Andrew for their service to the AIDC Board. 

Alongside fellow Directors Sarah Thornton (Co-Chair), Matthew Carter (Treasurer), Marco Angele (Secretary), Paul Williams, Kelrick Martin, Bernadine Lim and Marissa McDowell, Paul, Hollie and Andrew have supported the AIDC Management Team in achieving several milestones, including the expansion of both the Indigenous Creators Program and Leading Lights Program to record participation levels, the introduction of The Showroom production company slate pitch and the Southern Light Award for outstanding contribution to the sector, as well as shepherding in a new era for AIDC from Melbourne to Sydney. 

AIDC Board Co-Chair Sarah Thornton said: ”I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Kyas, Stephanie and Michael to the AIDC Board, and especially thrilled to welcome Kyas as Co-Chair. Kyas is a formidable leader, advocate and champion for our sector. I’d also like to acknowledge Paul, Hollie and Andrew for their enormous commitment, and the exceptional work of our entire board and conference team in continuing to deliver a world-class AIDC. There is so much to be excited about as we build on this strong foundation and look towards celebrating AIDC’s 40th anniversary in Sydney in 2027.”

AIDC Board Co-Chair Kyas Hepworth said: “Knowing the dedication of Natasha Gadd and the AIDC Board I am thrilled to be appointed Co‑Chair alongside Sarah Thornton. I know that for storytellers who choose documentary and factual as the vehicle to reflect all facets of society, it can be a lifelong commitment. Our industry carries the responsibility of shaping how we understand each other and see the world, both nationally and globally. As we move toward AIDC’s 40th year I look forward to connecting with delegates on the Gadigal lands of the Eora Nation in 2027.”

Introducing Kyas Hepworth (AIDC Board Co-Chair)

Kyas Hepworth is a Bundjalung woman and a respected leader in the screen and creative arts sector, dedicated to championing First Nations and under-represented voices and bringing distinctive, genuine stories to the screen. Newly appointed as Associate Dean Indigenous Leadership and Engagement and Professor at the Faculty of Design and Society at UTS (University of Technology Sydney), she has collaborated on and supported numerous high-profile productions that have reached global audiences. 

Kyas previously served as Head of Screen NSW – the first First Nations person to head a screen funding body in Australia – where she spearheaded the state’s film and digital games production strategy and advanced NSW as a leading national and international screen and post-production destination. Under her leadership, NSW achieved its highest-ever level of screen production, attracting major international projects such as Sony Pictures’ Anyone But You, Universal Pictures’ The Fall Guy, and Warner Bros. Pictures’ Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. She also championed the development of NSW as a creative hub and supported initiatives to accelerate the careers of emerging practitioners from underrepresented communities

Before Screen NSW, Kyas was the Head of Commissioning and Programming at NITV, where she commissioned acclaimed projects including Warwick Thornton’s documentary series The Beach, Executive Produced the crime drama True Colours, and co-commissioned TV factual series The First Inventors. 

Her expertise spans feature films, documentaries, and television, with experience at organisations like SBS, the Australian Film Television and Radio School, and Screen Australia. A leader in the sector, Kyas has held board positions for AusFilm, AIDC, the Screen Diversity Inclusion Network and NIDA academic board.

Introducing Sarah Thornton (AIDC Board Co-Chair)

Sarah Thornton is Head of Unscripted for Paramount ANZ, responsible for executive producing Network 10 and Paramount+ shows such as The Dog House Australia, Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, Taskmaster Australia, MasterChef Australia, Dessert Masters and Aussie Shore. Sarah has been with Paramount ANZ since 2019.

Sarah has over two decades of experience in programming including over 15 years in the UK developing formats such as Say Yes to the Dress, First Dates, Snog Marry Avoid, Don’t Tell the Bride, Top Chef, Bake Off, and Kitchen Nightmares. Her shows have been nominated for BAFTAs and won both Royal Television Society and Rose D’Or awards.

Sarah began her career in News and Current Affairs at the Nine Network.

Introducing Stephanie King

Stephanie King is Documentary Australia’s Impact Director, based on unceded Gadigal Lands. She has led initiatives such as the Environmental Accelerator and Climate Story Lab, overseeing professional and project development and pro-bono impact campaign support for numerous documentaries, in support of their fundraising, distribution and social impact outcomes.

Stephanie is recognised for her work in sector advocacy as a spokesperson for documentary during the National Cultural Policy consultations, in the media and at industry forums. Together with Madeleine Hetherton-Miau and Rebecca Barry, she led a network of over 400 screen practitioners to advocate for the regulation of streaming platforms and the introduction of an Australian content quota.

 As a filmmaker, Stephanie’s documentaries have screened and been awarded at international festivals, released in cinemas nationally, and shown on SBS, NITV, Nine, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Australian and others. She was a 2021 recipient of Screen Australia’s Enterprise People and a 2022 fellow with UnionDocs, New York.

As an impact producer, strategist or advisor, Stephanie has worked on over 20 productions, including Delikado, Incarceration Nation, Trailblazers, Climate Changers, Yurlu | Country and Guided by Horses.  

Introducing Michael Hilliard

Michael Hilliard is Managing Director / Producer with Boardwalk Pictures Australia.

Best known for the documentary series Chef’s Table, Michael joined Boardwalk Australia in 2023. 

In addition to original Australian projects, Michael consults and produces on Boardwalk’s global slate of studio content, originals, line production, and brand storytelling. His career began on-tour with The Rolling Stones in 1997, capturing live concerts.  Since then, his work with award-winning actors, musicians, artists, and sports figures often features a bit of rock and roll, a human truth, and something unexpected. 

Michael is a member of the International and US Television Academy, AACTA, and Screen Producers Australia.

AIDC 2027 will take place 8-11 March in Sydney, NSW, on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of NSW and Botanic Gardens of Sydney, followed by an online international marketplace 23-24 March. Early Bird passes are on sale now.

AIDC 2027 is presented by Principal Partner Screen NSW, Presenting Partner Screen Australia, and Major Partners ABC and SBS. 

For more information about AIDC and updates for the 2027 event, please sign up to the AIDC eNews.