Screen NSW Power Lunch: Live in-person at SXSW Sydney

Screen NSW is hosting their first ever live in-person Power Lunch during SXSW Sydney, with the series aimed at demystifying market partners and supporting mid-level creatives and producers to feel more confident to create and pitch projects.  

Join us at 3.30pm on Tuesday 15 October at NSW House, with host Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth in conversation with Alison Hurbert-Burns, Commissioner & Executive Director Content at Foxtel Group. Kyas and Alison will be discussing Foxtel and Binge's exciting content slate, deep dive into what kind of projects they are looking for, reflect on their successful collaboration with Australian production companies to date, and how to pitch your project to them. 

Register here. 

Kyas Hepworth, Head of Screen NSW 

Kyas is an accomplished industry leader known for authentic collaboration and agility, ability to bring cultural change and strong stakeholder relations, negotiation skills and execution of government policy. 

As the Head of Screen NSW, Kyas spearheads the state’s film and production strategy and advances NSW’s position both in digital games and as one of the leading national and international screen and post-production destinations. Kyas leads a dedicated team to deliver innovative funding programs, services and initiatives that champion storytellers and creative workers in the screen and digital games industry. 

Her extensive creative expertise spans across feature films, documentaries, television series, and web series. Prior to joining Screen NSW, Kyas served as the Head of Commissioning and Programming at NITV working within SBS, and has worked with esteemed organisations including  the Australian Film Television and Radio School and Screen Australia. Kyas currently sits on the Board of AusFilm and has held positions as a board member for MediaRing and the Australian International Documentary Conference. She was an inaugural member of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN) and was previously an ambassador for the Natalie Miller Fellowship. 

In 2021 Kyas was honoured as an Official Competition Jury Member for the 68th Sydney Film Festival, and in 2023 she was selected as a Featured Speaker at the inaugural SXSW Sydney. Her well attended fireside chat ‘Burn it to the Ground- Creative Leadership’ was facilitated by Holly Ransom. 

Alison Hurbert-Burns, Commissioner & Executive Director, Content Foxtel Group 

Alison leads the content functions for the Foxtel Group including commissioner of all scripted and unscripted production, content strategy and content acquisition for BINGE and Foxtel. In her role, Alison oversees the slate of award-winning original programming and her recent commissions include Colin From Accounts, Love Me, The Twelve and Strife, and upcoming series The Last Anniversary, Mix Tape and BINGE’s first Original Film How To Make Gravy. 

During her career Alison has had a track record of building new audiences and driving growth via content. She has worked across content strategy, production and commercial negotiations for Australia’s leading broadcast, streaming and media organisations and start-ups. 

Most recently, Alison was responsible for leading Australian streaming platform BINGE from its launch in 2020, driving its Originals strategy and growing it during that time to be a must-have entertainment service for Australians. 

Prior to Foxtel, Alison worked at Nine (launching Stan and 9Now) and has also had stints in Melbourne with the AFL and in London with Time Warner’s news division.