Dena Curtis.
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has added three to its commissioning team.
Dena Curtis, a proud Warlpiri, Warrumungu and Arrernte woman, will join NITV in November as head of indigenous commissioning and production. She will lead NITV’s content production and development across its slate of original commissions, internal productions, and digital content.
She brings extensive experience to the role from a career that has included working at NITV, the ABC, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), and most recently with her own independent production company, Inkey Media.
Curtis will be joined by Wiradjuri man Cieron Cody, coming on board as senior commissioning editor to drive NITV’s commissions slate across original scripted and unscripted content. His appointment sees him return to NITV, having spent the last almost four years with Screen Australia’s Documentary Unit.
He’ll build on a range of career experience across the development and production of feature film, documentary, drama and children’s content in his new role at NITV, where he’ll oversee the management and delivery of commissioned content, and the ongoing development of a pipeline of programming, and initiatives elevating Indigenous talent.
Joseph Meldrum, a Ghungalu writer, director, producer and production executive, is joining as commissioning editor. Currently a content assessor with NITV, his appointment sees him stepping up to play a key role in supporting development and delivery of commissioned content.
Prior to NITV, Meldrum worked in Screen Australia’s First Nations Department, Screen Queensland as well as production roles in major media brands internationally.
Curtis will begin with NITV on November 4, while Cody and Meldrum begin from November 18.
SBS and NITV's acting director of indigenous content, Jason Oakley, said NITV is home to Australia’s most distinctive content offering and is looking forward to having Cieron come back to NITV in this role, see Joe take the next step in the team, and to have Dena with her
extensive experience taking on this key leadership position for the channel.
"They bring incredible talent and diverse experience from across the screen industry, and share a passion for developing, elevating and empowering the Indigenous production sector and First Nations storytellers," he said.
"As NITV continues its growth, we’re excited to continue our trajectory in investing more in distinctive, award winning, First Nations stories with wide appeal and meaningful impact."
Curtis said NITV is home to some of the best First Nations content from Australia and the world.
"I look forward to continuing to build on the channel’s brand, collaborating with the NITV team, broader SBS colleagues and with the very talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers and content makers from across the country, delivering high quality and distinctive original scripted and unscripted content to our audiences.”
Cody said Australia's First Nations screen sector is a force unlike any other and NITV's audience a clever base of curiosity, power, voice and more.
"Rejoining NITV to play but one part in connecting these sources is humbling," he said.
"NITV has a sincerely unique opportunity to work with a changing Nation and the potential is uncapped, powered by excellence, ambition and an imagination guided by the longest continuous culture in the world. I cannot wait to share in raising the many talented voices of mob from the remote heartlands and beyond."
Meldrum said having grown up watching NITV from my home in remote Northern Territory, he has witnessed the profound impact the network has had on giving communities a voice and a platform to share important stories, news and culture around the country, and around the world.
"NITV has a long-standing legacy of investing in unique and captivating stories and championing and nurturing emerging and established voices and I look forward to contributing to this important mission," he said.
"It is my goal to pay homage to our past, reflect on our present and look towards our bright future under the guidance of our Elders and Ancestors. Our storytellers have gone from strength to strength and I am excited to be a part of this next chapter in NITV’s commissioning.”
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