About Us

The

Team

Alison is responsible for identifying new sources of revenue and developing the organisation’s programming activity. She works to expand the organisation’s commercial operations and broaden its relationship with potential stakeholders, from local councils and regional businesses, to arts and other media organisations.

Our operations director Gayle is responsible for operational processes and day to day delivery of North East Screens production service, our North East Screen Academy, project monitoring, evaluation and reporting schedules. She has worked promoting the North East to film and TV productions at the agency for over 20 years working with projects such as Dungeons and Dragons, Harry Potter and Atonement.

As Finance Director, Rob is responsible for the financial business planning and budget management at North East Screen. Together with the Chief Executive and the other members of the Senior Management Team, he develops a programme of activities that align with funding requirements, required outputs and secured funding budgets.

Lisa is our Talent and Business Development Director and oversees the development and delivery of North East Comedy Hot House. She works alongside industry partners to champion and provide opportunities for Northern comedic talent that aims to reach and entertain global audiences with outstanding content.

Our Finance Manager Kaman is responsible for the day-to-day finance operation including financial reporting, budgeting, cashflow and payroll. Kaman has over 10 years’ experience in the public and not-for-profit sector.

Katie is the first point of contact for North East Screen’s Film Office. Responsible for promoting the region to film and TV companies encouraging them to film in the North East.

Katie also supports productions looking for regional crew, location and facilities and is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive database.

In her role as Skills Manager, Lisa grows the existing crew database and leads on the creation of trainee and shadowing opportunities on productions through North East Screen’s Access initiative.

She identifies career pathways as well as considering skills shortages and gaps to help support the growing number of productions.

Jo is responsible for planning and delivering all marketing and communication activity, promoting North East Screen to a wide range of audiences, partners and stakeholders.

Working closely with all lines of the business, Jo develops marketing campaigns to promote our talent and business development programme for emerging and established film and television professionals. She is the first point of contact for press enquiries and looks after our social media channels.

Teresa works closely with funders to measure and report on the impact that North East Screen makes.

Having overall responsibility for monitoring and evaluation across North East Screen, Teresa manages the requirements of each fund, specifically the ERDF Tees Valley Screen Development project.

Victoria is responsible for planning and delivering all large scale, special events in that feature in North East Screen’s calendar.

Sherilyn is the first point of contact for anyone wanting to speak to our Chief Executive Alison Gwynn both internally and externally. She coordinates Alison’s diary and organises all of our full team events, internal meetings and ensures our office has everything we need to function. Sherilyn also supports the Operations Director with HR Administration.

Holly is the Film Office Coordinator (Locations) and the first point of contact for all enquiries from TV and film production companies looking to film in the North East. She also supports visiting production companies by organising and attending familiarisation and recce trips to the region.

Jennifer aids in the development and delivery of marketing campaigns which promote North East Screen’s activities via social media, e-communications, news stories and blogs. Supporting the Marketing and Communications Manager Jennifer plans events and oversees the booking activity in North East Screen’s programme of activities. She collates marketing and PR activity data and analytics to produce reports, feeding into the organisations evaluation and monitoring processes.

Cal is the first point of contact for SMEs engaging with the ERDF funded Tees Valley Screen project, ensuring all of their information is kept up to date as well as supporting with the coordination and delivery of events. He also works closely with steering groups, identifying new funding opportunities and the production of narrative reports.

David has worked as an independent film, TV and theatre producer for over 30 years.  His film credits include Henry V, Peter’s Friends, Much Ado About Nothing, The Madness of King George (BAFTA for Outstanding British Film), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Twelfth Night, The Wings of the Dove, Shakespeare in Love (winner of Seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and four BAFTA Awards including Best Film), Gangs of New York, (Production Consultant), I Capture the Castle, Chasing Liberty and A Bunch of Amateurs.  In 2010 he produced the BAFTA nominated My Week with Marilyn followed in 2011 by Tom Stoppard’s award-winning adaptation of Parade’s End for BBC and HBO. David also produced The Wipers Times for BBC2 and two BBC4 documentaries: Glyndebourne: The Untold History and Birth of an Opera. Red Joan starring Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson was released in 2019 and most recently, David produced The Father starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.  The Father was nominated for numerous awards, winning two Oscars and two BAFTAs.

David was Chairman of BAFTA 2008-10 and Chairman of Film London 2010-17 and currently serves as a Governor at Dulwich College, London.

Graeme is Pro Vice-Chancellor of External Relations at the University of Sunderland. His external engagement team at the university looks after media, communications, marketing, stakeholder management, alumni, development and cultural assets – such as the internationally renowned National Glass Centre. He is chair of the Royal Television Society Education Group and also chairs The Cultural Spring community arts project. He represents the North East on the national council for Creative UK and is a board member for The Customs House, the Yorkshire and North East Film and Television Archive and the North East Culture Partnership. He is a member of Arts Council England’s northern area council. His background is as a journalist and TV executive. Before joining the university a decade ago, Graeme was managing director of ITV Tyne Tees following a career as a programme maker, commissioner and BBC radio producer.

Head of Culture Sport & Tourism at Durham County Council. Lead for Durham 2025.

Experience and background in finance and management.

Commissioning Editor BBC Comedy and founder of North East Comedy Hot House. Learn more.