Screen Australia appoints Tanya Phegan as new head of development

Screen Australia has named experienced production executive Tanya Phegan as the new head of development.

Tanya Phegan

Phegan steps into the role that has been vacant since December, following the exit of Bobby Romia after two years in the position.

Reporting to the director of narrative content Louise Gough, Phegan will lead the investment management team for narrative content development, including driving the assessment and funding approach for scripted projects across films, online, direct-to-audience and pre-market television.

Phegan joins the funding agency with more than 25 years’ experience across the Australian, UK and US screen sectors and was most recently at Guesswork Television as the head of scripted.  She has served in development, commissioning, production and acquisition roles across BBC Films, DNA Films/Fox Searchlight, Universal Pictures, internationally and locally with Easy Tiger and Porchlight Films.

“Screen Australia plays a vital role in nurturing Australian storytellers and I’m excited to work alongside producers, writers, directors, creators and creatives across the country. Great projects start with strong development, and I’m committed to working to support emerging voices and established talent,” Phegan said.

As an executive producer, Phegan, worked on Prime Video’s local original Deadloch season one and its soon to be released second season. With Porchlight Films she co-created and produced the post-nuclear testing, noir comedy Operation Buffalo with Peter Duncan and Vincent Sheehan. Phegan’s television development work has also included Colin From Accounts and Scrublands with Easy Tiger.

Gough said that Phegan brought a perspective to the agency, “that is both global in its reach and grounded in local insight. Her demonstrated ability in bridging a project’s creative ideas, audience engagement and commercial viability will be instrumental in ensuring the next wave of Australia stories remains vibrant, diverse and creatively ambitious.”