BBC Studios Productions Australia expands team, invests in studio facilities for growth

From left to right: Scott Hartley, Amanda Bainbridge and Amber Brown

BBC Studios (BBCS) Productions Australia has bolstered its executive team with a trio of new appointments as it expands local productions and resources.

Former Fremantle and Amazon executive Scott Hartley has been appointed head of production for the scripted unit.

In his new role Hartley will steer planning and execution of BBCS growing local drama slate, which has three series currently in production.

These are season two of Return to Paradise for the ABC, the Australian adaptation of Ghosts for Network 10 and Paramount+, and a yet to be announced third title.

Hartley was most recently scripted productions supervisor at Fremantle Australia, overseeing projects that included Heartbreak High for Netflix and Bay of Fires for ABC.

He also served as scripted production executive at Amazon Studios Australia, working on The Office Australia, Deadloch, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, and The Narrow Road to the Deep North. He has also worked as a producer with Easy Tiger and Roadshow Rough Diamond.

BBCS current executive producer Amanda Bainbridge has been elevated to the role of creative head of post-production, driving the creative direction of the company’s unscripted post-production slate.

Her new role coincides with BBCS newly built in-house post-production facility in North Sydney, which aims to accelerate the production process for local development and attract new clients for international production services.

Meanwhile, Amber Brown joins as director of partnerships, digital and brands, working with commissioners, brands and agencies to stimulate brand-funded entertainment and work across digital for locally produced programming by BBC Studios Productions Australia and recently acquired Werner Film Productions.

Brown joins the production house from Uber ANZ, where she led strategic partnerships and prior to that has served at Meta, Fremantle, Nine Network and agency Zenith.