Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira opens up about why she quit the job on her own terms
She’s been the guiding force behind Queensland’s thriving film and television industry, but Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira says she knew her time was up.
Confidential
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OUTGOING Screen Queensland boss Tracey Vieira, the pioneer behind the state’s burgeoning film and television industry, has revealed it was personal growth that motivated her to step down from her top role.
Despite her contract extending until February, Ms Vieira will finish as Screen Queensland chief executive in August after more than five years in the job in order to pursue other opportunities within the screen industry.
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Announcing the resignation yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked Ms Vieira for her leadership, noting last year was a record year for Queensland with 32 productions generating $262 million and creating 2,600 jobs.
“Queensland’s screen industry has never been stronger,” the Premier said. “That’s thanks to Tracey.”
Ms Vieira told the Courier-Mail both Ms Palaszczuk and Screen Queensland Board chair Linda Lavarch attempted to entice her to stay in the role when she officially resigned in late May, but she felt there was “no better time” to walk away from the company.
“They were keen to make sure if there was something they could do to keep me here they would have, but it wasn’t about anything to do with work or government, it was really about my own growth,” Ms Vieira said.
“It’s easy to get comfortable in these jobs and I actually think it’s really important to not do that, for the organisation as well as me personally.”
“What’s been important for me in terms of trying to transform the screen industry is that we are full of practitioners in our business and we are really passionate about driving that forward and that means keeping it fresh and it does mean having some turnover.”
“I’d rather walk out on my terms and at a time that everything is in a really amazing place, than for any other reason … and I just want to explore new avenues and continue to be uncomfortable and push my own boundaries and grow, and so knowing Screen Queensland is rock solid is really a great time for me to walk out.”
Ms Vieira said she had received a number of offers from within the film industry and would make a decision on her future after a break.
“I want to do something different. I have no interest in going and working for another screen agency,” she said, adding that while ideally she would like to stay in Brisbane, she was open to moving.
Ms Vieira was appointed chief executive of Screen Queensland in February 2014, having previously been based in Los Angeles as Ausfilm executive vice president international.
Since that time Queensland has secured key international productions including Aquaman, Dora and the City of Lost Gold, Godzilla vs Kong and Baz Lurhmann’s upcoming Elvis movie.
She named opening the new $12 million Screen Queensland Studios and bringing Marvel film Thor: Ragnarok (2017) to Queensland, following eight months of negotiations, as among her key achievements in the job.
“I remember (Disney executive MaryAnn Hughes) calling me and saying ‘Can you organise a dinner with the Premier, we are going to come to Queensland tonight’,” Ms Vieira said.
“I remember that and just how awesome that was to get that call but equally to be at the table when they told the Premier they were coming.”
The film industry was also among the big winners in June’s state budget, with Screen Queensland set to receive $45.2 million over five years, mostly for its Production Attraction Strategy to help grow a pipeline of large-scale film and high-end television productions in Queensland.
“When I arrived here we didn’t have a single adult drama in production in the state and we’ve had consistent television and that’s where you really drive training and opportunities so I’m really proud of that,” Ms Vieira said.
“Companies like Ludo who are doing (ABC children’s series) Bluey. When I started working with those guys it was just two blokes and now they have a whole animation studio and a number one show.”
“It’s those moments that the public probably don’t see. From walking in those doors and seeing 60 or 70 people working on those animation projects, to going onto the lot at Village Roadshow (Studios) and seeing 1800 people working, they are my moments, my quiet moments where I see what we’ve done is actually really transformative and important.”
One of her last coups in the job was bringing the Screen Forever conference, Australia’s largest congregation of screen industry professionals, to Queensland in 2020.
In terms of her replacement, Ms Vieira expected the position of chief executive to be advertised today.
“I’ve just worked with them on really identifying what they want. It says pretty clearly in there that they want to continue the momentum and continue to do what we are doing and be bold in terms of decisions,” she said.
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