Screenworks has announced that CEO Ken Crouch has resigned and will depart the organisation in February to take up a national senior screen industry role.
Crouch joined Screenworks as CEO in 2014 and, over the past eight years, has led a period of growth and consolidation, which now sees Screenworks as the country’s premier regional screen development organisation, with major projects currently being delivered in regional and remote NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Crouch said, “I am incredibly proud of what Screenworks has achieved under my leadership over the past eight years. During that time, I have overseen 280+ training and industry development initiatives, attended by and supported more than 14,000 regional Australians.
“I’m particularly proud of the Regional Crew Development Program that we created with Netflix and the NSW Government; our three annual Career Pathways Programs that continue to support regional producers, directors and screenwriters in NSW; and the Regional Screen In LA program in partnership with Hollywood-based organisation, Australians In Film.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with all staff and members of the Board during that time, and I thank them for their support and hard work in growing Screenworks into what it is today. With funding secured for the next three years, the future for Screenworks is looking very bright. It is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO who can keep driving the organisation forward and delivering initiatives that effect change in the lives and careers of regional people.”
See also: Screenworks, Netflix, NSW Government open Regional Crew Traineeship applications
Screenworks chair, Dustin Clare, said, “On behalf of the Board, I thank outgoing CEO Ken Crouch for his commitment and dedication to Screenworks and for his leadership in building the organisation to where it is today. We wish him well in his new role.
“Providing the best opportunities for regionally based Australians to excel in the screen industry will continue to be our focus as we transition to a new CEO over the coming months.”
Screenworks is a national member-based non-profit committed to supporting and empowering screen creatives and crew across regional Australia. The organisation offers professional industry programs and activities for people at every career stage to develop their skills and help build a diverse and thriving regional screen sector.