I have been fortunate enough to have an exciting, international career at the forefront of creative and film industries on every continent. I am the former Executive Director of the Association of Film Commissioners International (Los Angeles), the former Executive Director of the Colorado Film Commission (Denver), and the former acting Executive Director of the Cape Film Commission and the Cape Town Film Permit Office and the former Chief Operating Officer of Sithengi, the Southern African International Film and Television Market (Cape Town). From 2017 – 2024 I served as senior advisor for Creative Industries and Tourism to Prime Minister Ana Brnabic of the Republic of Serbia, Strategic Advisor to the nation brand platform Serbia Creates and the Ložionica Creative Hub, as well as Content and Programme Director for the Serbia Pavilion at the Dubai 2020 World Expo. I was also responsible for establishing the International Participants department for EXPO 2027 Belgrade.

I specialise in how government can best support the creative industries, particularly the creation and business planning for Film Commissions and Sector Export and Promotion offices. I co-founded the African Film Commissions Network but have also worked on Film Incentive Programmes, City Film Policies, Film Friendliness Programmes, and City Film Permit Programmes. I have researched and written business plans and feasibility studies for film studios in development in Africa, Europe and the Middle East and I am a leading proponent of film tourism and the links between tourism and the creative industries generally. I have extensive experience as a speaker, presenter and panelist on all these topics.

I have extensive experience on every continent, including South Africa, Peru, Namibia, Tanzania, Georgia, Turkey, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, France, Sweden, Indonesia and the United States of America. I have also worked extensively across South Eastern Europe including Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Moldova. My CV is available here.

An overview of my experience is available below:

OVERVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY PROJECTS (2007-2025)

  • ACPAC – Athens Centre for Performing Arts – Business Plan
  • Integra Review of Future Technology Activities project by USAID in Moldova
  • Regional Cooperation Council – Mapping of the Creative Industries in the WB6 and Recommendations for Key Catalytic Programmes
  • PromPeru – Peru Promotion Agency – Development of Film Commission Business and Marketing Plan
  • Namibia Film Commission – Development of Film Commission Business Plan, Coproduction Treaty Recommendations, Film Policy protocols, Film Tourism planning
  • City of Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia – Development of Recommendations for City Film Office
  • Ministry of Culture, Rep. of Georgia – Development of Film Commission Business Plan
  • Serbia Film Commission (USAID / Compete Serbia) – Development of Film Commission Business Plan and Film Incentive recommendations, plus Film Danube project and Municipal Film Friendliness project
  • Tanzania Film Federation – Film Policy Research & Recommendations
  • Tanzania Music Development – Research on Copyright management
  • Canadian High Commission in SA – Mapping of Creative Industries in South Africa
  • African Film Commissions Network – creation of Film Commission programme including online training manual
  • City of Johannesburg – Research, Business Planning and Skills Development plan for Johannesburg Film Office
  • KZN Film Commission / Durban Film Office – Research & Business Planning for KZN Film Commission, Film Studio Research
  • National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa – Film Studio Research, Film Commission Research
  • Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality – Film Office Business Plan
  • Eastern Cape Development Corporation – Film Policies and Film Investment Business Plan
  • Department of Arts and Culture S. Africa – African Film Commissions’ Network research project
  • Animation South Africa – transition to new structure.
  • South African Association of Stills Producers – Director
  • plus Business Plans and Feasibility Study for film studios on three continents.

RESEARCH AND REPORTS COMPLETED:

  • SERBIA CREATES – National Creative Industries strategy 2023 – 2028
  • SERBIA CREATES – Creative Skills Development strategy 2023 – 2028
  • REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL – Mapping and Recommendations for the Creative Industries, Nov-Dec 2022
  • WORLD BANK, SERBIA – Competitiveness, Creative Industries and Serbia Creates – Inputs on the Specialization Strategy in the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2020 To 2027 – 2019
  • UNDP SERBIA – Creative Hubs Research & Recommendations 2018
  • UNDP SERBIA – Serbia Creates Strategy for Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power 2018
  • UNDP SERBIA – Creative Serbia Action Plan 2017
  • UNDP SERBIA – Addressing Serbia’s Ranking on The World Tourism Competitiveness Index 2017
  • UNDP SERBIA – Analysis of the Development Potential of the Creative Industries in Serbia 2018
  • CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSION – South African Cultural Industries Mapping 2017 
  • DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & CULTURE, SOUTH AFRICA (MZANSI GOLDEN ECONOMY) – African Film Commissions research & policy recommendations
  • CITY OF JOHANNESBURG – Film Sector Development research and Strategy
  • NAMIBIA FILM COMMISSION – Namibia Film Incentives Program, Namibia / South Africa Coproduction Treaty, Namibia/Germany Coproduction Research
  • AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY – Making the Danube a Filming Location, Serbia Film Commission
  • KWAZULU NATAL FILM COMMISSION – Human Capacity Development Strategy
  • V&A WATERFRONT – Film Industry Business Development Plan
  • EASTERN CAPE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – Feasibility Study & Business Case review, Mandela International Film Festival 
  • KZN FILM COMMISSION – KZN Film Hub & Studio Business Case 
  • EASTERN PARTNERSHIP CULTURAL PROGRAMME (EU) – Business Development Strategy (Film Sector) for the City of Tblisi
  • NATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FOUNDATION OF SOUTH AFRICA – Film Commission feasibility study 
  • NAMIBIA FILM COMMISSION – Broadcaster Commissioning Editor Development
  • PERU FILM COMMISSION – business planning of Film Commission and 3 regional Film Offices for PROMPERU 
  • NATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FOUNDATION SOUTH AFRICA – South African Film Strategy 
  • TANZANIA MUSICIANS NETWORK – Copyright & Royalties Research
  • TANZANIA FILM FEDERATION – National Film Policy research 
  • USAID – Serbia Film Commission establishment and Film Incentive Development 
  • Ministry of Culture, Republic of Georgia – Film Commission establishment and Film Incentive Development 
  • USAID – Research and Recommendations on Belgrade City Breaks Tourism Capacity. 
  • EASTERN CAPE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – Film Sector Research, Development Strategy,
  • NATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FOUNDATION OF SOUTH AFRICA – Film & Media Cities & Clusters research and recommendations
  • NAMIBIA FILM COMMISSION – Film Tourism Research 
  • NELSON MANDELA BAY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Film Feasibility Study, Film Office Establishment 
  • DURBAN FILM OFFICE – Film Sector Review & Strategy, Business Plan 
  • KZN FILM COMMISSION – Film Commission Establishment
  • BUFFALO CITY MUNICIPALITY – Economic Development Plan 
  • WESGRO – City of Cape Town Business Constraints – Film Sector