Board of directors

Lisa Opie (Chair)

Lisa Opie is Managing Director of Ubisoft Reflections and Ubisoft Leamington studios. She was formerly Managing Director of UK Production, BBC Studios, responsible for delivering BBC Studios Productions' business plan. Before this, she was Managing Director of UK Factual, leading the factual teams across six business units as well as BBC Studios Digital. Together they produce more than 1,000 hours of thought-provoking, inspiring content across a broad range of genres and subjects, from established strands such as Horizon, Watchdog and Countryfile, to the award-winning Big Blue Live, Murdered by my Boyfriend and Life and Death Row. Lisa works with the creative leads, production management and business teams to enable BBC Studios to continue to deliver and grow its world-class content. Lisa also joined the BBC Studios executive committee in April 2018 where develops and implements the business strategy within factual. Before joining the BBC in 2013, initially as Controller of Business for Factual and Daytime, Lisa was Managing Director of Two Four Digital, where she helped create digital channels and content for brands, broadcasters and businesses keen to engage audiences on multiple platforms. Prior to that, Lisa was Managing Director of Content at Channel Five and Managing Director of Flextech Television (once a partner with the BBC in UKTV).  Previously Lisa worked at the satellite TV company BSB and presented and researched radio programmes for BBC Radio Wales. She began her career in the theatre, having attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Indiana University Theatre School.

She says: "To ensure the health of the UK’s screen industries, it is vital that we attract and retain talent who best reflect the breadth of the audiences we serve and ScreenSkills offers advice, support and quality, accessible training to make sure that happens."

Kate Lyndon (Interim Vice Chair)

Kate is the finance director for Britbox, a dynamic start-up subscription VOD service backed by ITV and the BBC, with operations in the US, Canada and soon in the UK. Prior to taking on this role, Kate worked across multiple areas at ITV, including group finance as group chief accountant managing external reporting and technical matters, as Head of Financial, Planning and Analysis for the broadcast division, as financial controller for the ITV Hub and most recently as finance director for the transmission and multiples business, SDN. Kate is also involved with the EY Foundation, where she has been chair of the impact and influence committee and most recently a strategic advisor. Kate is chair of the ScreenSkills finance and audit committee.

She says: "When I think about the things I value about ScreenSkills, there’s a strong and diverse management team who are dedicated to supporting the future of an industry I love and It feels as if the work is targeted in the right places. It is squarely focused on building up fantastic careers with people from a breadth of backgrounds, feeding the engine of an industry that we can see just getting bigger and bigger.

"We need a body like ScreenSkills to ensure the future health of our production industry, which is undoubtedly world class."

Tom Box

Tom is co-founder and joint managing director of Blue Zoo Animation. Over the last 24 years, he has helped steer the studio to become one of the leading animation studios in the UK, picking up multiple Emmys and BAFTAs along the way.

Tom sits on the creative fence between the creative and technology side of the studio and oversees the company's technical and cultural advancements, including overseeing the studio’s B Corp status.

"I’m thrilled to join the ScreenSkills board to represent the animation industry and help steer the development of both current and future generations of talent. Our industry thrives on collaboration, and by working together inclusively across the entire skills pipeline, we can unlock new levels of creativity and craft, ensuring our workforce continues to lead on the global stage."

Trish Brady

Trish Brady is the HR Director for ITV Studios UK, managing a large multi-disciplinary team of HR professionals who support the full breadth of production across 11 unscripted and 15 scripted labels for multiple channels, broadcasters and streamers. Her team is responsible for all staff and freelancers across all genres and disciplines, based in all parts of the UK.

For a number of years, Trish has worked closely with ScreenSkills with a particular focus on supporting initiatives in the north. She currently sits on the High-end TV Nations and Regions working group and has been instrumental in developing training and development pathways for new entrants and existing industry professionals. 

"I am delighted to have joined the ScreenSkills Board as they have established themselves as the leading industry provider and authority for skills and training in television production. Each member of this experienced team understands the individual genre landscapes inside out and delivers a comprehensive set of resources that far exceeds being just a suite of training courses. I am looking forward to helping shape the future of ScreenSkills, working with the team and industry partners to tackle the opportunities and challenges that content production in the UK faces now and in the future." 

Martha Brass

As Chief Operating Officer, BBC Studios Productions Martha works alongside the CEO of BBC Studios Productions, and with stakeholders across BBC Studios and the BBC Group, to deliver Studios Productions’ ambitious growth plan and meet the needs of its wide pool of clients. She is also accountable for business operations and production across all BBC Studios Productions bases.

Martha joined BBC Studios in September 2021 from the Newen Group, France’s largest producer-distributor of audio-visual content, where she was Director of International Operations. She was previously Chief Executive Officer, International Operations at Endemol Shine Group, where she had held a number of senior positions during her time with the company.

With a wealth of global commercial and operational experience, including senior roles with production houses 19 Entertainment and Fremantle, she provides key leadership and oversight of commercial, strategy and business development activities.  Martha is a non-executive director of the PGA European Tour and chair of the remuneration committee.  

Philippa Childs

Philippa Childs is the first woman to hold the role of Head of Bectu, the UK’s media and entertainment union.

Childs oversees Bectu’s five divisions: BBC; London Production Division; Regional Production Division; Independent Broadcasting, and Arts and Entertainment – championing the rights of more than 30,000 staff and freelance workers across numerous creative companies. Additionally, the BT and Digital divisions of Prospect also fall under Child’s remit.

As the largest union at the BBC and with a strong presence in many of the UK’s leading theatres, arts centres and independent broadcasting and production companies, Bectu is uniquely placed to secure workplace fairness and equality on behalf of its members.

Childs worked in the civil service throughout the 1980s and started her union career as a negotiations officer with the National Union of Civil and Public Servants (now PCS) in 1989.

She was seconded to the TUC National Education Centre between 1994 and 1996, returning to PCS from 1996 to 2000.

Childs joined EMA, now part of Bectu’s parent union Prospect, in 2000.

On appointment to the ScreenSkills board in March 2021, she said:

“I am delighted to be joining the ScreenSkills board representing the Federation of Entertainment Unions at such an important time for the screen industries.

“The film and TV industries' swift collaboration to ensure a safe and effective return to production during the pandemic has shown what can be achieved when the industry works together. I am confident that we can adopt this same collaborative approach to tackling other challenges, including addressing future skills gaps and transformation of the industry to ensure that dignity at work and equality and diversity are enshrined as core principles across all productions”

Bella Lambourne

Bella Lambourne originally joined documentary producer Hawkshead as general manager in 1993 and after the group expanded to become Broadcast Communications took responsibility as UK Group Head of Human Resources in 1997. Bella was promoted to Human Resources Director for Endemol UK in 2002 and also oversees the administrative and operational functions of the group. In addition to her Endemol UK role, Bella was promoted to Global Head of Human Resources at Endemol Group in March 2011, focussing on people and talent management for the 25 Endemol Shine UK companies. She currently works as HR and Operations Director at Banijay UK. Bella is passionate about improving diversity and talent development both on and off screen. Bella is Chair of ScreenSkills TV Skills Fund, a board member of ScreenSkills and the Indie Training Fund. She also sits on the Pact diversity committee and the CDN steering group.

She says: "ScreenSkills has been able to put its arms around the freelance community during the whole of the pandemic providing critically needed learning and support on line often for free, as a result it has become the glue that has held the industry together during this most difficult time.  It is invaluable both to employers and individuals alike, the go-to skills specialist for the screen industries."

Anna Mallett

Anna Mallett joined Netflix in April 2021 as Vice President, Physical Production, supporting teams across the EMEA/UK and APAC regions.

Prior to joining Netflix, Anna was CEO of ITN, overseeing one of the largest independent television production companies in the UK. ITN is the producer of the award-winning live network news programming for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and also a market leader in factual programme-making, sports production, advertising production and business-to-business content. 

Previously, Anna was Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Production of BBC Studios, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. As MD, Anna was responsible for the business and operational leadership of all in-house production areas within BBC Studios, and for all aspects of international production and formats. Anna was previously the programme director in the creation of BBC Studios Production as a commercial business. Other roles at the BBC included CEO of BBC Studios and Post Production Ltd (now BBC Studioworks) and Controller of Business Strategy, responsible for the BBC's overall commercial strategy. Before joining the BBC, Anna worked for seven years at The Boston Consulting Group in London, focusing on media and retail. She has an MBA from Harvard and a DPhil from Oxford. 

Jane Muirhead

Jane co-founded Glasgow based Raise the Roof in 2010 and as MD oversees all operations and the strategic direction of the company. In its 11 years, the company has delivered over 600 hours of network TV and sold to numerous countries worldwide.  Notable titles include Kirstie and Phil’s Love it or List it; Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas; Kate Humble’s My Little Farm; Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman; My Mortgage Free Home.

Under Jane’s leadership, Raise the Roof was in the top 20 Broadcast Best Places to Work in TV in 2017, 18 and 19 and in the top ten in 2020.  Jane is Vice Chair of Pact (UK Indie producer trade body) and co-chairs the Scottish TV Working Group.  She also chairs Screen Skills Unscripted TV Fund. Jane was awarded an honorary Professorship from Stirling University in 2018.

Jane is passionate about skills and the development of the next generation of talent. She encourages all staff at RTRP to engage and work collaboratively with local community groups, schools and further and higher education establishments to help ensure the Scottish sector attracts and nurtures a diverse talent pool, ready to produce the best, world-class content.

Helen Northrop

Helen is Director of Commercial Affairs, Content at Sky. Helen qualified from Leeds University as a solicitor in 1992 and spent 10 years at Virgin Records and EMI as an in-house lawyer before starting her television career in 2009, heading up the legal and business affairs team for BBC Knowledge.

In 2012 Helen joined Sky in her first commercial role, where she oversees deals for the development, production and financing of Sky's original unscripted output. Working across a broad range of genres, Helen has created deals with producers, distributors, broadcasters and financiers for key titles in entertainment (A League of Their Own), kids TV  (The Brilliant World of Tom Gates), documentaries (Bruno vs Tyson), nature (Shark with Steve Backshall) and arts (Portrait Artist of the Year).

Helen says: "The UK has an excellent reputation in film, TV production, animation, and special effects, where some of the most loved content is produced. Programme makers have adopted technology to create new opportunities for more sustainable production. The expansion of studio space in the UK and technological innovation will lead to growth in the sector over the coming years, requiring a highly skilled and versatile workforce. I am delighted to join the board of ScreenSkills, an important organisation providing first-class skills training to support a more socially and ethnically diverse workforce which is critical to ensure the pipeline of UK talent into the screens industry."

Anita Overland

Anita Overland’s most recent credits are, with Mike Elliott, producing director Steve McQueen’s anthology series of five films, Small Axe, for transmission on the BBC and Amazon in the US.

Other producing credits include: In This World for director Michael Winterbottom, which won a Bafta for best film not in the English language and the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival; and the Red Riding Trilogy for Channel 4.

Prior to Small Axe, Anita co-produced David Michod’s historical drama The King for Netflix; The Little Stranger, an adaptation of Sarah Water’s novel with director Lenny Abrahamson and My Cousin Rachel for Fox Searchlight Pictures and Free Range Films.

Other credits as co-producer include a number of successful feature films: The Young Victoria for GK Films, Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep and action drama Rush with director Ron Howard for Working Title Films.

Speaking on appointment as chair of the Film Skills Council, she said:

“I’ve always cared about helping people get into the industry and progress within it. I’m really pleased to have an opportunity to be part of an industry-led body that supports and invests in the film workforce.

“We were very pleased to have been able to work with ScreenSkills-supported crew on Small Axe and I look forward to working with ScreenSkills in my new role as Film Skills Council chair to continue their work in providing more opportunities and helping build a more inclusive workforce across the UK.

“As the industry is so busy now, ScreenSkills will be an important part of helping to avoid any skills shortages. And after what has been a difficult year for many, I want to make sure we are doing what we can to support recovery coming out of the pandemic."

Barry Ryan

A member of the High-end Television Film Council since 2017, Barry was appointed its Chair in April 2023.

As Head of Production for The Ink Factory, Barry is responsible for the management and production for all its film and television projects.

Prior to joining The Ink Factory, he worked with Warp Films for twenty years, during which time he has co-produced the film adaptation of the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the English language debut of Xavier Dolan’s  The Death & Life of John F Donovan , Ben Wheatley’s Kill List  and Paul Wright’s For Those In Peril and executive produced The Last Panthers

In 2006, alongside Mark Herbert and Robin Gutch he created Warp X, the low budget digital slate for Film4, UKFC and Screen Yorkshire which developed and produced 10 low budget films including Tyrannosaur, Berberian Sound Studio, Bunny & The Bull and Hush, running the gamut from music docs to thrillers to Chinese social realism.

Barry is a champion of enabling greater access to the screen industries and has extensive experience of the skills needs of crew and indies production companies working across the UK.

Mel Sullivan

Mel joined Framestore in 1998, after a successful career in corporate banking, finance and brokerage. She became a Board DIrector in 2006 and served as Framestore’s Chief Operating Officer from 2003 until 2022, when she became the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.

She has been pivotal to Framestore’s growth, development and evolution, helping guide and grow the company from a London-based team of 150 to an Oscar, Emmy and BAFTA-winning powerhouse with a network of studios spanning eight offices, four continents and some 3,000 artists, producers and technologists.