Gillian Moody-Ardler, Head of First Nations Content, Screen Australia. Gillian has over 30 years of experience in the screen industry, having worked in both management and production roles. Her most notable roles were at SBS Television, Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department as an Investment and Development Manager, Company owner and Screen Practitioner. 

 

For the past three and a half years (3.5yrs), Gillian has worked as Head of First Nations Engagement at the National Film and Sound Archives of Australia, where she wrote and implemented the NSFA’s First Nations Engagement Strategy for working with First Nation stories and collection items with a focus on a First Nation First approach and leading co-design projects with First Nations stakeholder organisations, creatives, and communities nationwide.

 

Gillian is well respected for advocating for First Nation Stories and nurturing new and emerging talent. Passionate about promoting and showcasing the talents and voices of First Nations people in Australia and Internationally through networks and stakeholder relationship within the First Nations screen industry and broader cultural institutions. 

 

Gillian brings extensive perspectives to her role as a proud Wodi Wodi/Dharawal First Nations woman and member of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, and through personal experiences with diverse collaborative workplaces.

 

Her roles across industry sectors have seen a key focus on advancing and celebrating First Nations excellence in our screen and sound sectors and collection archives. Gillian continues to foster culturally safe environments for First Nations employees, stakeholders, communities and practitioners to engage with stories. 

 

Gillian ran her company, Kalori Productions between 2018 and 2023, which saw her collaborate on award-winning productions. Gillian was co-producer and co-writer/director/talent of Kindred, an autobiographical feature documentary for NITV, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2023. Co-producer of Black Diva, a 60-minute documentary for NITV which premiered at Mardi Gras Queer Film Festival in 2018, and produced award winning short films Katele (Mudskipper) in 2022 and Ties That Bind in 2019.