BBC Studios Productions Australia is beefing up its senior ranks with a trio of strategic hires across scripted, post, and brand partnerships—an aggressive staffing play as the division leans into growth mode.
Former Fremantle and Amazon Studios exec Scott Hartley has boarded as Head of Production, Scripted. He’ll steer a swelling drama pipeline that includes the upcoming second season of Return to Paradise for the ABC and the Australian adaptation of Ghosts, with another drama project soon to be announced.
Hartley brings serious heat on the scripted front, having previously overseen Heartbreak High and Bay of Fires, plus a string of originals at Amazon including The Office Australia, Deadloch, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, and The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Amanda Bainbridge has been upped to Creative Head of Post Production. In the newly elevated role, she’ll oversee creative across unscripted formats like Dancing With The Stars and The Great Australian Bake Off, while leading BBC Studios’ new in-house post facility in North Sydney.
Amber Brown joins as Director of Partnerships, Digital and Brands, a newly created role spanning both BBC Studios and Werner Film Productions. Brown arrives from Uber ANZ, where she led strategic partnerships across the region. Her remit includes brand-funded development and consumer-facing campaigns tied to entertainment IP.
The hires are the latest under BBC Studios Productions Australia GM Kylie Washington, who’s made no secret of her intent to scale the business across genres and revenue streams. With three projects already in production and international distribution in play—Return to Paradise is now licensed in 99 territories—the company is chasing both creative and commercial upside.
