I am a creative communications consultant
with the best part of thirty years experience in the TV industry,
promoting and marketing entertainment to millions of people.

I am an administrator, manager, award winning creative director.
I have trained thousands of people in the craft of persuasive communication at conferences and seminars around the world.

The secret of my success (you may be surprised to know)
is my fixation on effective management,
combined with the implementation of administrative systems
that free-up people to concentrate on the work that matters most.

My expertise in communications, branding and storytelling
is now available to any company seeking to make quality connections
and develop meaningful relationships with customers; new and existing.

creative director, showtime australia 2007-2012

What was supposed to be a six month contract ended up going on for five and half years on a project-by-project basis.

I was responsible for a team of 12 people and created and/or executive produced five separate entertainment programmes.

I helped launch the premium drama series channel Showcase, providing image spots, positioning, branding and design work.

I then worked to conceive, develop, pitch, present and finally launch the Showtime genre movie channels packages.

I was instrumental in conception and implementation of an entirely new, world-first promotions format known as the infomo.

I worked on the presentation, pitch and sale of Showtime to Foxtel; developing the initial concepts for their 2013 movie channel packages.

creative director, foxtel Area 51 2005-2007

My creative agency had pitched work to Foxtel which was used to launch their PVR product, the Foxtel iQ. I also delivered work to Young & Rubicam on the Foxtel account, so I had developed a strong relationship with them.

I was given the opportunity to manage their in-house creative agency Area 51. It was an offer just too good to refuse. Through a turbulent and challenging period in the company's history I was able to implement the rapid-fire conception of dozens and dozens of high calibre communications to both viewers and corporate stakeholders.

director, charley holland agency 2004-present

After saving the bacon of ad agency after ad agency, I realised I was on the wrong side of the client/creative equation. Ad agencies may be able to sell a product using the medium of television; but when the product was the medium, the wheels always seemed to fall off the ad agency cart.

My goal then, was to provide a service to the entertainment industry that delivered the results the industry always wanted out of their ad agency accounts, but were never able to actually get.

I worked for several corporate clients delivering copywriting, concepts and web content. I provided creative work for Foxtel, TV-1, the Nine Network, Young & Rubicam, Firecracker.

However... it was my training seminars that really took off. I provided seminars to ABC, Nickelodeon, the Seven Network; and was invited to speak at Promax conferences globally. This quickly segued into requests to provide paid sessions to companies around the world.

You can see a more detailed listing of that experience here.

creative director, showtime australia 1997-2004

I managed a team of eight promo producers; and trained a dozen or so producers as they made their way through the ranks.

I was creator and copywriter of many Promax gold award-winning spots; at the same time developing the talents of the team and the brand attributes of the channel.

It was during this seven year stint that I honed and refined my TV training course and saw it grow into a spiral-bound book.

During this time I helped bring the Promax conference to Australia; appearing annually in it; and refining my skills as a public speaker.

head of promos, TV1 1995-1997

I managed a team of four promo producers; and was instrumental in developing the "television's greatest hits" positioning which was in place right through to 2012.

As a newly minted manager I realised I had to start helping people improve in their job. I also caught the business book bug; a mad passion which shows no sign of easing.

My TV training course was born here.
It started with just four pieces of paper.

senior producer, xyz 1995

It was a year of total, all-hands-on-deck madness; creating, naming, packaging, branding, launching the xyz channels on subscription TV.

I was employee #6 at the satellite license side of the new pay TV ventures with spacey names like Optus Vision, Galaxy and Austar. (Foxtel was then still only a twinkle in Rupert Murdoch's eyes.)

You would be buying office furniture one minute, then up a ladder replacing light bulbs the next. Later you'd be naming a channel; and designing a logo. After midnight you'd be trying to make sense of this new editing device called an Avid; before crashing on your own lounge that you brought into the office, just so you would have somewhere half comfortable to sleep.

It was a truly Dickensian best-of-times/worst-of-times experience that came bundled with low pay, no respect; and a massive burn-out factor.

producer, seven network 1994

Freelanced launching the Andrew Denton show.

producer, inside surfing magazine 1994

A requisite failed business venture. I know what it's like to lose a lot of money following somebody else's dreams. And it hurts.
Otherwise, a great experience!

producer, nine network 1991-1993

Paying my dues making promos for Kerry Packer.

trainee producer, seven network 1989-1991

I was rescued from retail with the opportunity to take up a traineeship in promo making. From my previous time at Channel Seven, I knew it was a great opportunity.

musician, the road 1988

It was a dream. It had to be obeyed.

film and videotapes, seven network 1984-1987

An apprenticeship in all things televisual, especially editing.

audio engineer, freelance 1984

I mixed in studio and front of house for a whole bunch of bands.

diploma audio engineering, sae 1983

A semi bogus education in all things audio.

high school certificate, 1982

A state supplied, average education in all things educationy.

key software

final cut pro (editing)
final cut pro X (editing)
avid (editing)

keynote (presentation software)
photoshop (graphic design)

freeway pro (websites... you're soaking in it)
logic pro (music composition and audio mixing)