Our team

• Jean Pendle-Ash, Finance Officer

  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

• John Wiggins, Head of Finance

  John is responsible for the company’s strategic and operational financial management, corporate governance and accounting.

  You can contact John on john@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Pollyanna Diaz Thomson, Film Office Coordinator

  Polly works in the Film Office, alongside Chris and Nardia as the Film Office Coordinator. She will be overseeing the Crew Database, Trainee Hub and Talent Directory, helping Yorkshire based Productions hire as many local crew as possible. Polly comes from a background in Film and TV production around Yorkshire, working on productions such as ‘Malpractice’ and ‘Platform 7’ for ITV.

  You can contact Polly on polly@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

• Fiona Hewlett- Executive Assistant

  Fiona comes to us with 25 years of experience working in TV and Film under her belt, via a brief period in the world of music. You will more often than not find Fiona at the cinema, or unearthing horror gems wherever she can, then talking about it all whenever possible. Fiona is Executive Assistant to both Caroline Cooper Charles and Bea Neumann, and in addition, supports Caroline with Yorkshire Content Fund related admin.

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

• 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

• Beatrice Neumann, Head of Skills and Industry Engagement

  Bea is a member of our senior management team, and is responsible for all our skills and training initiatives, including new entrant and professional development programmes. Bea oversees a number of projects including the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, Connected Campus and Beyond Brontes. Bea also heads up our industry engagement and support activities, developing and maintaining Screen Yorkshire's relationships with Yorkshire based indies working in the broadcast sector.

  You can contact Bea on bea@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Rachel McWatt, Communications Manager

  Rachel oversees communications on behalf of Screen Yorkshire, including publicity, marketing, PR, social media, website, branding and events. Rachel has worked in the screen industries as a communications professional for nearly 20 years, working with regional and national clients, from production companies and funding bodies to film festivals and studios. She is a communications all rounder, with extensive industry experience working across PR, social media, marketing, public affairs and events.

  You can contact Rachel on rachelm@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Justin Gonsalves - Skills Coordinator

  Justin works with Karen to deliver our training programmes, designed to connect new entrants to industry experts, helping to shape the film, TV and screen workforce of the future. Justin has a background working within the film and TV industry and utilises his experience to support trainees who are taking the first steps in their screen careers.

  You can contact Justin on justin@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Karen Roch, Manager - Skills Manager

  Karen has a background of 30 years in the TV and film industry within art departments, working alongside producers, directors, directors of photography and large production teams. Karen has extensive industry experience, including working with multicamera, and single camera set-ups, on big dramas through to short films, in both studio and on location environments. During her career, she has taught at many universities, whilst still honing her craft. Karen now manages delivery of our training programmes, utilising her specialist industry insight to help connect new entrants to industry experts and help shape the film, TV and screen workforce of the future.

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

• Grace Keenan, Programme Co-ordinator

  Grace works with Abigail and Bea to help develop and deliver Beyond Brontës: The Mayor's Screen Diversity Programme which aims to instil in its participants the confidence and skillset to enter into screen industries employment. She also works with The Unit - a Channel 4 and Bradford Council funded, open-access production and filmmaking hub for both new entrants and experienced filmmakers in the Bradford district. In both capacities, Grace's interests lie in carving pathways to employment in the creative industries for underrepresented communities, and combining her love of film with improving the accessibility of the arts for all.

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

• Abigail Houseman, Senior Skills Coordinator

  Abigail co-ordinates across a number of Screen Yorkshire's skills programmes, including our highly successful Beyond Brontës: The Mayor's Screen Diversity Programme, established in 2019 to address the lack of diversity in the screen industries workforce. Beyond Brontës empowers people across West Yorkshire to develop the skills, confidence and connections to enter and succeed in the screen industries. Abigail also supports our Head of Skills and Industry Engagement, Beatrice, to run our Next Level mentoring programme.

  You can contact Abigail on abigail@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Richard Knight, Career Support Manager

  Richard helps to find and develop Yorkshire’s industry talent of the future. He assists with the development and running of Screen Yorkshire’s training and education programmes including our nation-leading Connected Campus initiative. Having worked for 20 years in the industry throughout the UK on feature films, television dramas, music videos and commercials, Richard brings a wealth of knowledge to the role.

  You can contact Richard on richard@screenyorkshire.co.uk

• Jo Schofield, Senior Talent Executive

  Jo oversees Screen Yorkshire’s FLEX talent development programme, which supports writers, directors and producers to develop dynamic, authentic and fluid stories fit for 2021 and beyond. Jo also looks after The Insight New Producer Programme that Screen Yorkshire delivers on behalf of BFI Net.work and 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