The Australian Children’s Content Summit will return to Coffs Harbour for a third time in 2025.
Organisers have confirmed a return to return to Pacific Bay Resort, Monday 25 August to Friday 29 August 2025.
It follows a second successful event last month with 250 delegates from 10 countries including USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
Hosted by Emma Watkins (‘Emma Memma’, Teenage Boss) attracted government dignitaries including John Graham, MLC – Minister for the Arts, Kevin Anderson, MP – Shadow Minister for the Arts and Heritage, as well as Senator Perin Davey – Deputy Lead of the Nationals, Pat Conaghan MP – Federal Member for Cowper, and Gurmesh Singh – Member for Coffs Harbour and Deputy Nationals Leader.
SLR Productions CEO and Australian Children’s Content Summit Founder Suzanne Ryan said, “This year’s Australian Children’s Content Summit was truly bigger and better than last year. With an incredible turnout of 250 guests and strong attendance from Australian Government dignitaries as well as both international and domestic speakers this year’s event has been an absolute success.
“From the excitement of Screen NSW’s opening night drinks to the outstanding marketplace meetings and sensational panels, delegates are still buzzing about the summit. Highlights like the incredible Australian Children’s Television Foundation cocktail party and wonderful City of Coffs Harbour closing night drinks truly set the tone for a wonderful event. Emma Memma as MC added an extra touch of excitement, and spending three days amongst the palm trees and stunning beaches were invaluable for all of us. We’re already looking forward to making next year’s event even more remarkable.”
L to R: ACTF Head of Content Bernadette O’Mahoney,
SLR Productions CEO and Australian Children’s Content Summit Founder Suzanne Ryan,
ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland.
With three days of marketplace meetings, networking, sessions and key events the Australian Children’s Content Summit was the chosen location for Screen Australia and ABC in association with VicScreen, Screen NSW and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation to announce four new children’s titles. Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation also announced at the summit the Kids IP Incubator program, a new initiative for children’s content makers to develop Australian IP for digital platforms.
An outstanding lineup of featured guests included representatives locally from Principal Partner Australian Television Children’s Foundation, Gold Partner ABC, NITV, Queensland NINE Network Australia, Major Government Partner Screen Australia, Major Government Partner Screen NSW, Silver Partner Screen Territory and Bronze Partner Screen Tasmania. International representatives included delegates from BBC, BBC Studios, PBS KIDS, Disney Branded Television, Nelvana as well as many more.
The summit serves as a premier platform for the children’s and family screen industry to network, collaborate, share insights, and build significant business relationships and firmly establishes the Australian Children’s Content Summit as the leading event for children’s content in Australia.
This year’s summit provided delegates unparalleled opportunities to engage with screen professionals including producers, creators, writers, directors, buyers, distributors, investors, screen agencies, policy makers, and industry influencers.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the summit continued to offer an exclusive setting for high-level and industry relevant activities. From speaker panels, exclusive content pitches, business discussions to outdoor adventures and fun social engagements, delegates also had the chance to explore the Coffs Coast – a coastal getaway in Northern New South Wales that has got it all and is the state’s first ECO destination.
International guests included Jane Gould – Co-Founder Wonderworks Insights, Kate Morton – Head of Commissioning & Acquisitions 0-6 BBC, Katharina Pietzch – VP Sales Kids & Family BBC Studios, Adriano Schmid – VP of Content PBS KIDS and Mellany Welsh – VP, Head of Nelvana and Kids Can Press along with key executives from Disney Branded Television in Los Angeles and New York.
Australian guests included Jenny Buckland – CEO Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Deirdre Brennan – CEO Screen Australia, Grainne Brunsdon – COO Screen Australia, Geoff Cooper – Production and Programming Manager – Queensland Nine Network Australia, Kyas Hepworth – Head of Screen NSW, Adam Manovic Acting Head of Indigenous Production and Commissioning, NITV and Bernadette O’Mahony – Head of Content / Acting CEO Australian Children’s Television Foundation as well as executives from screen agencies.
An incredible roster of representatives from ABC also attended including Head of Screen – Jennifer Collins, and ABC’s Children and Family Department including Acting Head- Mary-Ellen Mullane, CommissioningEditor, Animation – Jo Boag, Development Producer – Amanda Isdale, Development Producer – Mary Walsh, Production Executive – Megan Young, Executive Producer, ABC Originals – Lyndal Mebberson, Acquisitions Manager – Maria-Nicole Miriklis and Senior Children’s Channel Manager, Catherine Collins.
The 2024 Australian Children’s Content Summit was Presented by SLR Productions with Principal Partner, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. The Major Government Partners were Screen Australia and Screen NSW.
Platinum Partner for the 2024 Australian Children’s Content Summit was Flying Bark Productions. Gold Partners for this year’s summit were ABC, Simpsons and Screenwest. This year’s Silver Partners were Netflix, Screen Territory, Count Out Loud, Silver Trak Digital, Paradox Media. Werner Film Productions, Fremantle, Input Advisory, Studio Goose, Screenrights and the South Australian Film Corporation are the Bronze Partners.
Industry Partner was Screen Producers Australia and the summit’s Destination Partner was the City of Coffs Harbour.
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