In a pivotal year for Australian film and television, female creators are steering the industry into bold new territory. Women at the Helm brings together some of the most exciting and influential women working behind the screen, including directors, writers, producers, and showrunners, to explore what it takes to guide stories from script to screen, how leadership shapes creative direction, and why representation behind the camera matters as much as what is in front of it.

Best Director nominee Kate Woods (Kangaroo, Looking for Alibrandi) leads a panel of powerhouse creatives working across film, television, and animation. She is joined by prolific producer Tracey Vieira (Hoodlum), alongside fellow AACTA Award nominees Kylie Washington, Executive Producer at BBC Studios ANZ, and Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs (Lesbian Space Princess). Completing the panel is writer Ange Betzien (Apple Cider Vinegar, Total Control), whose work has helped shape some of Australia’s most compelling contemporary storytelling.

This conversation will explore the challenges and triumphs of working across multiple mediums, highlighting the artistry, innovation, and collaboration that defines the next generation of Australian screen talent.