Media Release: Monica Penders Announces Departure From Screen Canberra
Friday, 24 February
Monica Penders has today announced that she has resigned as Screen Canberra’s CEO and will depart the organisation in September 2023.
Monica has been with the organisation for nearly 15 years and has greatly progressed the local screen industry experience.
She developed strong partnerships with the ACT Government, resulting in funding initiatives to attract significant national and international productions to the region, bringing production expenditure to the Canberra economy and creating employment opportunities for the local industry. These initiatives include the $5 million CBR Screen Investment Fund and the pilot CBR Screen Attraction Fund. She was also involved in Trade Missions with the ACT Government to Singapore and New Zealand to further opportunities for local talent and industry.
Under Monica’s leadership, Screen Canberra has been able to diversify its sources of income resulting in the organisation being able to grow and expand.
Monica has been passionate about showcasing Canberra’s screen talent to the wider world and has worked tirelessly to create opportunities for local professionals to work on major projects at home.
The development of emerging and upcoming talent has also been a high priority for Monica during her years with the organisation. She is incredibly proud of the work she and her team have done to develop Screen POD. The initiative was designed so participants could gain practical experience and have opportunities to build connections with working professionals. Most recently, she worked closely in partnership with the University of Canberra to offer the first-ever Graduate Certificate in Screen Development.
Screen Canberra CEO Monica Penders said, “It has been a true pleasure to be part of this incredible organisation and to have worked alongside many talented people. The local industry has accomplished so much over the past 15 years and will continue to grow from strength to strength.
“The initiatives we have developed to help creators have a realistic, market-focused approach to content development is one of my most significant accomplishments. Giving individuals the knowledge, tools and opportunities to see their passion or project go the distance is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
“Our recent partnership with Bus Stop Films for their Accessible Film Studies Program has seen 30 students in two cohorts this year. This is opening up a world of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities. Everyone has a story to tell.
“I am deeply grateful for my time in this role, and I look forward to the future with optimism. There has never been a more exciting time for content creators as the demand for screen content has exploded.
“I’m excited to see the Screen Canberra team take the local industry further and continue to show off Canberra to the rest of the world.”
Monica’s future plans include some travel before reassessing her next move, “I hope to continue to be involved in growing the industry in Canberra, but in a different role yet to be determined. There’s so much potential to be harnessed!”
Dr David Court, Chair of Screen Canberra, thanked Monica on behalf of the Board for all of her efforts in putting the Canberra screen capabilities on the map. “Monica has made an extraordinary contribution to Screen Canberra and Canberra itself. Her passion for filmmaking and filmmakers has been inspirational. It is fair to say that without her leadership over nearly 15 years, the local industry would not have made the amazing progress it has.”
The Board will be conducting an executive search over the coming months.
