Our team

• Caroline Cooper Charles, Chief Executive

  Caroline took up the role of chief executive at Screen Yorkshire in January 2022, following three years working in the senior management team. As leader of the organisation, Caroline is responsible for the operational direction of Screen Yorkshire, building on its work to date and devising new strategies to contribute to continued growth of the screen industries in Yorkshire and Humber.

  You can contact Caroline on caroline@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Olivia Kelly- Executive Assistant

  Olivia Kelly recently joined Screen Yorkshire as Executive Assistant to Caroline Cooper Charles, CEO. Olivia is the first point of contact for the senior management team and is on hand to help with any enquiries.

  You can contact Olivia  on oliviak@screenyorkshire.co.uk
• David Peacock, Head of Finance

  David heads up our finance team looking after our accounts and budgets and liaising with funders, auditors and other stakeholders. He works closely with Jean on processing all our receipts and payments. He also deals with our IT and HR processes. David comes to us with 35 years’ experience as a finance professional in a variety of industry sectors including business services, tourism & hospitality, and sports administration.

  You can contact David on David@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Jean Pendle-Ash, Finance Assistant

  Jean is part of our Finance team and looks after our financial record keeping, payment of invoices and also helps with the preparation of accounts.

  You can contact Jean on jean@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Chris Hordley, Production Liaison & Development

  Chris provides bespoke advice on regional locations, studios and facilities to UK and international production companies. With over 20 years combined industry and production liaison experience, Chris has secured and supported productions in Yorkshire & Humber including; Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley, Victoria, Ackley Bridge, God's Own Country, Paddington 2, and Transformers: The Last Knight.  He also supports Screen Yorkshire’s senior management team in building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.

  Contact Chris on +44(0)7901 351197 or chris@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Nardia Fortune, Production Liaison Manager – Location Support

  Nardia works in our Film Office team. As a location manager, with more than 10 years on the ground knowledge working in the industry, Nardia has a great knowledge of filming locations in Yorkshire and is experienced working with industry. Nardia works with Chris and Olivia to support productions to find the best locations in Yorkshire, ensuring that we continue to attract major film and TV productions.

  You can contact Nardia on +44(0)7903 683047 or nardia@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Liam McGlinchey, Film Office Coordinator

  Liam supports and develops the work of our Film Office, attracting and supporting regional film and TV production in Yorkshire and Humber, working with Film Office colleagues Chris, Nardia and Ryan. Overseeing the delivery of Screen Yorkshire’s Crew and Facilities service, Liam builds and maintains our database of regional crew and supply chain companies. Liam has previously worked in a number of production companies in London - Number 9 Films, Shine TV and Kudos Film and Television providing support to all departments and spending time on set with Celebrity MasterChef and Banged Up.  

  You can contact Liam on liam@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Karen Roch, Manager - Skills Manager

  Karen manages the delivery of our skills programmes, utilising her industry expertise to up-skill Yorkshire's screen talent and connect new entrants to the industry, shaping the Film, TV and Screen Workforce of the future. Karen has more than 30 years of industry experience working in both studio and on location settings. Karen's specialist craft skills have been honed within the Art Department, working alongside large production teams, from High -End TV Dramas and Feature Films, through to Short Films and Commercials, During her career, Karen has also shared her insights through tuition at many universities. Karen manages a number of Skills Programmes at Screen Yorkshire, including  Beyond Brontes, Yorkshire's Screen Diversity Programme and Screen Crafts and Digital Skills 

  You can contact Karen on karen@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Cat Marshall, Employment Liaison (Skills & Training)

  With over 12 years film and TV experience, Cat (she/her) is responsible for building relationships with regional employers and incoming production to create work placement opportunities for alumni of Screen Yorkshire training programmes. She also works on delivering Screen Alliance North initiatives aimed at upskilling our screen workforce in the North. She works three days, and alongside her Screen Yorkshire role is also an independent producer as well as running training organisation Transforming Film.

  You can contact Cat on cat@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Josh Renyard, Senior Skills Coordinator

  Josh works with the Skills team to develop and deliver Screen Yorkshire’s training programmes, traineeship placement opportunities and industry access events - providing new entrants vital skills and opportunities to begin a career in the screen industry, and better connecting underserved and geographically isolated communities to the wider screen industry. Josh has a background in factual TV and as a former Channel 4 trainee, he is an advocate for boosting inclusion and accessibility in the creative industries.

  You can contact Josh on josh@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Jo Schofield, Senior Executive, Talent

  Jo oversees Screen Yorkshire’s FLEX and ScriptEd talent development programmes and looks after The Insight New Producer Programme, that Screen Yorkshire delivers on behalf of BFI Net.work. Jo also supports Caroline to run the Yorkshire Content Fund, a public-private investment fund for the TV, film, video games and digital sectors in Yorkshire and Humber, open to producers either based in Yorkshire or wishing to film or establish a base in the region.

  You can contact Jo on jo@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Fiona Georgiou Hunt, Senior Executive, Marketing Communications

  Fiona supports the marketing and strategic communications functions at Screen Yorkshire, drawing on her skills as a writer and consultant to the creative industries. With experience working across the UK, Europe and Australia in the film, theatre, publishing, media and tourism sectors, Fiona brings expertise in both the creative and strategic aspects of the media, screen & cultural industries.

  You can contact Fiona on fionagh@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Debbie Howard, Career Support Manager

  Debbie was as an actor before founding Big Buddha Films in 2006 and moving into writing and directing. Her latest BFI Network short, Safe, produced by Wellington Films, has screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide, winning multiple awards. She has made many other award winning short films and the critically acclaimed feature documentary Still Loved. Debbie is currently in development a feature film Cold, and  in production on a  feature documentary, Lifted. As a freelance TV director, credits include The Sister Boniface Mysteries, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and RTS-nominated The World According to Grandpa. Debbie has a long history of working in education, facilitating hundreds of workshops in schools and colleges and lecturing in universities. She is full BAFTA and BIFA member, Debbie is represented by Andrew Mills at Revolution Talent.

  You can contact Debbie at Debbie@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Kirsty Dow, Skills Coordinator

  Kirsty works with Karen and Josh to deliver our Screen Yorkshire Skills programmes, designed to up-skill Yorkshire’s screen talent and connect new entrants with industry experts. Kirsty studied Media & Journalism at Newcastle University, with a particular interest in Northern representation. As a former Screen Yorkshire trainee and a proud northerner, she is passionate about championing opportunities for people in the North, and making the industry more accessible. Kirsty also works with Debbie on Connected Campus, our network for academic institutions, providing students with opportunities to attend masterclasses and special events with industry experts.

  kirsty@screenyorkshire.co.uk