Australia’s ABC names kids chief

Australian pubcaster the ABC has named its new head of children’s production, responsible for commissioning over 350 hours of content annually across its two kids’ TV channels.

Libbie Doherty

Libbie Doherty was confirmed in the position after serving as acting head of children’s content for the past year. She stepped up following the promotion of Michael Carrington to acting director of entertainment and specialist.

She will oversee in-house development and production across ABC Kids, ABC Me, ABC Kids Listen and on children’s digital products and third-party platforms. She will also take the lead on commissioning external producers.

Since joining the ABC children’s department as commissioning editor in 2015, she has been influential in the creation of distinctive Australian programmes including Mustangs FC, My Year 7 Life, Grace Beside Me, Hardball and Aquarius Films’ upcoming sci-fi series The Unlisted.

Carrington said: “Libbie has been an invaluable member of ABC Children’s, bringing huge levels of innovation to the team and leading many successful diversity projects such as International Day of the Girl and the DisRupted initiative.

“She is a champion of Australian children’s content and has been instrumental in creating the ABC’s world-class portfolio of programmes that reflect and celebrate children’s lives and experiences.”

Doherty said: “I feel so proud of the work we do in ABC Children’s, every day, which makes an enormous contribution to the lives of young Australians. We are in a golden age of children’s entertainment, exemplified by outstanding ABC programmes such as Bluey and First Day. I am committed to continuing to deliver content that challenges expectations, ignites curiosity and reflects children’s lives.”

Before the ABC, Doherty worked as a producer and director in the independent sector. Since then she has worked on partnerships with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, NITV, Screen Australia, state and territory screen agencies and international coproduction partners.