New AIDC Team Appointments
Welcoming new and familiar faces, and farewelling a star player
AIDC is powered by individuals passionate about documentary and factual storytelling, and devoted to supporting the people who make it happen.
Our team brings experience in directing, producing, sales, exhibition, events, and much more, with familiar faces joined each year by newcomers to bring all the strands of AIDC together.
As we gear up for the 2026 event, we are thrilled to announce new appointments in key AIDC roles, welcoming new faces and reuniting with prior AIDC staff in new positions.
NEW TEAM
Virginia Kay, Partnerships & Industry Development Manager
AIDC is thrilled to welcome Virginia Kay to the role of Partnerships & Industry Development Manager. An experienced producer and administrator with more than 20 years experience in the screen, arts, and cultural sectors, Virginia was most recently Program Manager for Screen Australia’s Producer Offset and Co-Production Unit.
Virginia started her career producing and production managing music documentaries, co-founded Melbourne-based production company Plot Media, and has produced award-winning work locally and internationally across documentary, narrative feature films, and innovative and immersive multi-platform experiences.
VIRGINIA KAY, PARTNERSHIPS & INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
RETURNING TEAM IN NEW POSITIONS
Alice McShane, Conference Programming Manager
A screen programmer specialising in documentary, we are pleased to welcome three-time AIDC Conference Programmer Alice McShane for a fourth year, this time in the new role of Conference Programming Manager. Alice’s AIDC responsibilities include developing and delivering the conference program and content in collaboration with AIDC CEO / Creative Director, Natasha Gadd.
She also programs for SXSW Sydney, has curated for the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF), contributed as a panelist for the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), and served as a film juror for the VCAA’s Top Screen program and the Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF), where she is also a board member.
Natalie May, Industry Manager (Acting)
Natalie May has spent a decade working on film and arts events, specialising in marketplace delivery and industry development programs in recent years. She was the Industry Coordinator at AIDC for the 2023-2025 editions, and AIDC is thrilled to have her step up to deliver the industry program as Industry Manager (Acting) in 2026.
Natalie has worked in a variety of roles at Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), most recently as Industry Programs Senior Coordinator at MIFF’s 37°South Market. She also worked as Screen Programs Manager at Environmental Film Festival Australia, Co-Director of Girls on Film Festival, and has worked at numerous other festivals and cinemas across Melbourne and London.
Nicole Tran, Industry Programs Producer
Previously AIDC Conference Systems Coordinator, freelance producer Nicole Tran will now be assisting Natalie May as Industry Programs Producer, working across all AIDC marketplace activities.
Nicole has production experience in multiple factual TV formats, spanning news, live shows, games, reality and constructed reality, with a main focus on ob-doc filmmaking across Australia, Canada and the UK.
Tahlia J Dimattina, Conference Systems & Production Coordinator
We are delighted to have Tahlia J Dimattina join us for her fifth AIDC, this time in a new role as Conference Systems & Production Coordinator.
An impressively organised event professional, Tahlia has held production roles with ACMI, MIFF, and Melbourne Fashion Week.
ALICE MCSHANE, CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING MANAGER | PHOTO BY KELLI MORRIS
NATALIE MAY, INDUSTRY MANAGER (ACTING) | PHOTO BY MELISSA BUTTERS
NICOLE TRAN, INDUSTRY PROGRAMS PRODUCER | PHOTO BY KELLI MORRIS
Tahlia J Dimattina, Conference Systems & Production Coordinator
DEPARTING TEAM
Lauren Valmadre, Head of Industry
It is with bittersweet best wishes that AIDC farewells Industry Manager Lauren Valmadre after three years leading AIDC’s industry programs and marketplace activities. Originally AIDC Conference Programmer in 2022, Lauren moved into the Industry Manager role in 2023.
During her time at AIDC, Lauren introduced 87 new decision makers to the AIDC marketplace, and also originated The Showroom, an initiative unique in nonfiction markets, allowing established production companies to pitch a slate of projects (as opposed to a single project) to high-level buyers from international broadcasters, streamers, funds, and sales agents.
Lauren departs AIDC to join Screen Australia’s Documentary Unit as an Investment Manager, overseen by Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston. She will work alongside former AIDC CEO / Conference Director and Head of Industry at Visions du Réel, Alice Burgin, who also recently took up a position as Investment Manager with the Documentary Unit.
We wish Lauren every success in her new role, and look forward to continuing to collaborate with her on supporting documentary practitioners and projects.
Learn more about the AIDC team on our Staff & Board page.
Main Image: Alice McShane introducing the ‘A Vision for Documentary’ session, AIDC 2025 | Photo by Kelli Morris
LAUREN VALMADRE, AIDC 2025 FACTORY ROUGH CUT SHOWCASE | PHOTO BY MAX ROUX