Dr Jessica Byrne joins Screen Australia’s First Nations Department

Screen Australia is pleased to announce that Dr Jessica Byrne has joined the agency this week in the role of Development and Investment Manager, First Nations, reporting to Head of First Nations Angela Bates.

Born in Dubbo NSW, Dr Jessica Byrne is a proud Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi woman, screen practitioner and researcher. Byrne started her career as a regional filmmaker living and working in Broken Hill working across factual, drama, stage and arts projects. In 2021 Byrne completed her PhD at the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation (NIKERI) Institute, Deakin University examining relational storytelling and First Nations research methodologies in filmmaking practice. This work included collaborating alongside her Elders on the Sandhills of Narrandera, Wiradjuri Country, developing and producing the stop-motion animation Sandhill Stories. 

Byrne’s previous roles include Research Manager, First Nations audiences at SBS and NITV where she focused on research that supported the content, device, platform and language needs and preferences of First Nations audiences and non-Indigenous audiences engaging with First Nations content. In addition to her doctorate Byrne holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Nursing. One of her most memorable life moments was going to university alongside her Grandmother, Wiradjuri Elder and greatest muse Bonita Byrne.