ASTRA Shines Spotlight On Outstanding Individuals At Industry Event

ASTRA shines a spotlight on three individuals working behind the scenes in subscription television at its 2015 ASTRA Industry Excellence Awards in Sydney.

An original 12 finalists vied for recognition in three new awards (Rising Star, Television Professional of the Year and Creative Professional of the Year) introduced to mark the 20th anniversary of subscription television in Australia.

Finalists and winners of this year’s Rising Star and Television Creative of the Year were judged by leaders in subscription television and other creative industries. The ASTRA Board judged the 2015 Television Professional of the Year.

“Our winners are unsung heroes whose extraordinary contribution isn’t often recognised and celebrated. While our TV stars shine on stage every year at the ASTRAs, tonight’s industry awards are for behind the scenes professionals whose work contributes just as much to the industry’s success,” said Andrew Maiden, CEO, ASTRA.

To that end, two finalists for the ASTRA Television Professional of the Year Award-senior executives Mandy Pattinson (senior vice president and general manager Discovery Networks) and Jacqui Feeney (managing director Fox International Channels)-asked to be excluded from consideration to help define this new award as a way to recognise unsung heroes of the industry.

The categories, finalists and winners of the three individual awards are:

ASTRA Television Professional of the Year

Winner: Geoff Crane, Camera & Operations Director, SKY NEWS

Finalists: Talia Greet (SKY NEWS) and Geoff Crane (SKY NEWS)

Awarded to the subscription television industry’s most outstanding individual working in a role other than creative, marketing or communications.

Crane is a SKY NEWS original starting his career with the network in 1996. Leading by example he travels on assignment to virtually every continent as he directs SKY NEWS’ political coverage and correspondents. A career spanning decades, Crane has never been formally recognised, until now, for his great achievements.

ASTRA Rising Star

Winner: Abdel Moorhouse, Programming Assistant, Foxtel Arts

Finalists: Nancy-Maree Ryan (BBC); Abdel Moorhouse (Foxtel Arts); Zakary Chenoweth (Foxtel Music Channels); and Topher Willis (NBC Universal)

This category is to award the subscription television industry’s most outstanding individual under 30 years of age.

Moorhouse’s background at Foxtel has seen him rapidly progress from Presentation Coordinator to Programming Assistant at Foxtel Arts. He is a highly proactive member of the team who tackles any new work flow, system or piece of technology fearlessly and with enthusiasm.

ASTRA Creative Professional of the Year

Winner: Dan Aldridge, Head of Creative, BBC

Highly Commended: Carly Heaton, Head of Brand Strategy and Creative, A&E, History, Bio and crime + investigation

Finalists: Dan Aldridge (BBC); Carly Heaton (A&E, History, Bio and crime + investigation); Mikki Katz (Premium Entertainment Channels); and Shannon Most (NBC Universal)

This award is to recognise the subscription television industry’s most outstanding individual working in a creative, marketing or communications function.

Aldridge possesses creativity and dedication to excellence that has driven the perception of BBC’s quality in Australia and New Zealand. The BBC First campaign he designed has been adopted by the BBC global team for the roll out of BBC First around the world and now represents the benchmark of excellence. Dan simultaneously launched a full service internal department, taking design and audio inhouse, building and training the team just months before launch.

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