Screen Queensland farewells Jo Dillon as Chief Creative Officer

Screen Queensland farewells Jo Dillon as their Chief Creative Officer with Dillon having been in the role for seven and a half years and now commencing a new position leading a media start-up.

Dr Belinda Burns, currently Head of Marketing and Communications at Screen Queensland, will act in the role of Chief Creative Officer from 10th January 2022 while a full executive search is undertaken.

Dillon’s accomplishments at Screen Queensland is both impressive and impactful, a product of her unstoppable energy, passion for the screen industry and exemplary standards.

During her tenure, Dillon’s creative vision led to the establishment of SQhub, Screen Queensland’s dedicated collab space for emerging practitioners and businesses, the agency’s RIDE (Respect, Inclusion, Diversity and Equality) Initiative and its inaugural Equity and Diversity Taskforce, and the Screen Ventures Fund for innovative screen projects with investment potential.

While at Screen Queensland, Dillon also co-chaired the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network for a year (with Benjamin Law), driving real change and take-up of SDIN’s The Everyone Project, and led Screen Queensland’s strategy to build and expand the screen industry in Far North Queensland.

Screen Queensland Chief Executive Kylie Munnich paid tribute to the enormous contribution Dillon has made to the organisation during her time as Head of Content and Chief Creative Officer advising “Jo has led the Creative Division of Screen Queensland with incredible commitment to the Queensland screen industry through her ideas, drive, sharp intellect and creative vision.

“Most of all, Jo’s sense of humour, loyalty and passion will be missed at Screen Queensland, as we wish her all the very best for the next chapter in her career within the industry.”

Speaking about her many years at Screen Queensland Jo Dillon said that it has been a time of enormous growth for the Queensland screen industry and added “looking back, I am proud of what our industry has achieved and the crucial role that Screen Queensland has played in supporting its success since I joined the team in 2014.

“Queensland has an incredible depth of creative talent with practitioners from around the state telling diverse and unique stories for screen, plus an enviable reputation as one of the best places in the world to make content.

“The good news is I will not be leaving an industry, which I love, but working in it from a different angle.”

Dr Belinda Burns brings to the role a wealth of executive-level experience in strategy, marketing and leading creative teams, including General Manager of Olgilvy’s social marketing agency, The Reputation Group, in Melbourne; Associate Director at global PR network Citigate in London; and Director of Communications and Engagement at Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

As a published novelist with a PhD in Creative Writing, Dr Belinda Burns also has a background in lecturing, teaching and course development across literature, film studies and writing including advanced-level screenwriting and screen adaptation courses at The University of Queensland and University of Southern Queensland.

Image:L-R Outgoing Chief Creative Officer, Jo Dillon, and Incoming Acting Chief Creative Officer, Dr Belinda Burns