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.

Lisa is our Head of Talent and Business Development 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.

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.

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.

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 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 Victoria 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.

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.

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.

Mark is our North East Comedy Hot House first point of contact for writers, performers, producers and directors wishing to develop scripted comedy and comedy entertainment. Mark is not just on the lookout for fresh comedy talent coming out of college and university, but is looking for those who are seeking a career change to move into the TV industry.

Emmy award-winning executive producer, writer and consultant.

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.

Fahima started working in the TV industry back in 2000 as PA to SVP of Business Affairs at MTV Europe in London, during her time at MTV she also worked on MTV Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt and Barcelona.

She moved back home to Newcastle in 2002 where she started work with Liberty Bell Productions, which had been founded by TV Execs, Andrew Wonfor and Stuart Prebble.

She worked there 5 years and worked as Senior Production Manager on factual productions including Victoria Wood’s Big Fat Documentary (BBC One), Grumpy Old Women series (BBC Two), and Grim up North (BBC Two).

She also worked at BBC Children’s when the department moved to Salford as Production Manager for CBeebies on shows including The Lingo Show and The Rhyme Rocket.  After leaving CBeebies, she worked on a Channel 4 Entertainment Studio show – ‘Baggage’ presented by Gok Wan.

In between moving from Factual to Drama – Fahima spent a period working as Creative Industries Manager at Northern Film and Media (now North East Screen). She worked with then Production Services Manager – Gayle Woodruffe to launch and run the Production Fund which helped to bring in productions such as George Gently, Vera, Joe Madison’s War and United to film in the North East.

Once she moved into drama, Fahima has worked on various productions in variety of production roles over the last 10 years including The Other Child (German co-pro), The Paradise S2 (BBC One), Harriet’s Army (CBBC), Beowulf (ITV1), Trust Me (BBC One), FU Martin Parker (BBC One) and Vera (ITV1).

Fahima has been working on the long running TV Drama series Vera for Silverprint Pictures (part of ITV Studios) with Producer Will Nicholson since Series 5 (2014). She stepped up to Line Producer on Series 9 of Vera and has just completed working on her 29^th episode for Series 12 at the end of 2022.

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