Courtney Gibson to depart South Australian Film Corp.

Courtney Gibson has resigned from her role as CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, citing personal reasons for her decision.

“I’ve so relished the work at the SAFC and Adelaide Studios, but co-parenting by remote is extremely challenging and the time is right for me to return to my family in Sydney,” she said.

Gibson became CEO in March 2018, having been CEO of Screen NSW and exec roles at Nine, ABC and Southern Star.

Hers is the second state funding body to see its CEO resign in a week, following Tracey Viera’s resignation from Screen Queensland late last week.

During her 15 months, South Australia has enjoyed major production activity in screen projects including feature films Mortal Kombat, Escape from Pretoria and the upcoming Run Rabbit Run, plus TV projects Stateless, The Hunting, Upright, The Letdown and First Day.

“I’m proud of everything the SAFC team and the SA screen sector has achieved during my time here, and I thank them along with all our agency and industry partners, for all our collaborations. South Australia has been established as a major national and international production destination and, with the local industry steered into primetime TV drama alongside film and other screen entertainment, the state’s never been busier,” she said.

“Now, with a 2019-22 Strategic Plan, a new Business Plan and Budget for the 19-20 year, revised Guidelines and Terms of Trade set to launch, with an ambitious and innovative Industry Development agenda and unprecedented screen spend now coming into the state, the way is paved for a new CEO to pick up the reins of the agency and lead the brilliant SAFC and Adelaide Studios teams, who’ve worked so hard and so well to achieve such great outcomes over the past 15 months.”

Other initiatives include Delivering Diversity, Full Tilt, Deadly Family Portraits, the Lottie Lyell Award and the Bird in Hand Nest workspace for South Australians doing business in LA.

Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said: “On behalf of the Marshall Liberal Government, I sincerely thank Courtney for guiding the SA Film Corporation at a stellar time for the local industry. Securing the state’s largest ever production, in Mortal Kombat, during her tenure has resulted in a quantum shift for how South Australia is viewed in the world of film.”

SAFC Chair Peter Hanlon said: “In Courtney’s 15 months at the helm of the Agency, there has been an exponential uplift in vision and strategy, as well as screen industry activity, with the state and the Studios now major go-to destinations for local, national and international production. We are very disappointed she is leaving but fully understand her need to return to Sydney.”

“In Minister David Pisoni and Premier Steven Marshall, the SA screen sector has the most enthusiastic and visionary government support. I thank them both, along with SAFC Chair Peter Hanlon, for their thoroughly committed backing of the agency and the state’s screen industry,” said Gibson.

She will leave the agency following the Screen Makers Conference at the end of July.