Russell Howcroft gets second term as chair of AFTRS Council

Russell Howcroft / Supplied

The Australian Film, Television & Radio School has re-appointed Russell Howcroft as the chair of the AFTRS Council.

Howcrowft, who was sensationally announced as the new co-host of 3AW Breakfast with Ross Stephenson last week, will begin his second three-year term in the position on July 1st.

The former executive GM at Network Ten has extensive experience in the screen industry, having also served on a number of boards and foundations which focus on arts and film, including the Australian Film Institute and the Screen Forever Advisory Board.

His was the founding Chair of Think TV, a collaborative initiative between Australian free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters to promote television’s scale and effectiveness for advertisers across all screens.

He has also served as the Chairman of the Advertising Federation of Australia and Chief Executive Officer of leading advertising agency George Patterson Y&R.

As a media personality, he is best known for his role as a panellist on the long-running ABC series Gruen.

Howcroft recently resigned from his position as the inaugural Chief Creative Officer at PwC Australia to take up his new gig at Nine Radio.

Announcing the news, AFTRS said Howcroft will continue to bring his strong understanding of working in the media and creative entrepreneurship in both the private and public sectors to the Counciul.

“I am delighted that Russel Howcroft is continuing as Chair of AFTRS,” said Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP.

“Mr Howcroft has significant creative industry experience and in his role as Chair he is making a valuable contribution to the education of Australia’s emerging screen and broadcast practitioners.”

The AFTRS Council also appointed a new member in Fremantle CEO Asia-Pacific Chris Oliver-Taylor, who will also join from July 1st.

Oliver-Taylor has served as managing director at Matchbox Pictures from 2011-2018, during which time the company commissioned The Real Housewives franchise for Foxtel, 7 Types of Ambiguity and Barracuda for the ABC, and Safe Harbour and Date My Race for SBS.

Chris Oliver-Taylor / Supplied

He was also previously the ABC’s Head of Production, with overall responsibility for the production and delivery of the entire ABC TV slate as well as the financial management, business affairs, scheduling and broadcast operations of ABC TV.

He currently sits on the Boards of Film Victoria, MediaRing and the Fremantle Global Board.

“We are delighted to have the brilliant Chris Oliver-Taylor join the Council. He brings incredible energy and enthusiasm–– and he’s going to make a really significant contribution to Council and the school,” said Howcroft of the appointment.