National Indigenous Television (NITV) has appoined Bagarrmuguwarra writer, director and producer Caden Pearson as commissioning editor.
Pearson has joined NITV’s commissioning team, working across the network’s slate of original scripted and unscripted content.
Hailing from Far North Queensland, Pearson has more than a decade of experience across production and broadcast, with a career spanning scripted, documentary and factual programming. He has developed original scripted projects, contributed to writers’ rooms, and worked as a writer, director and producer on both his own productions and those of others.
Most recently, Pearson was director and co-producer of the SBS Food series Taste of the Tropics. His screen credits also include scripted web series Lakefield, NITV documentary Wawu: Divine Hope and scripted feature Storm Bird. He has replaced Joseph Meldrum who departed in May.
Pearson recently sat on the advisory panel for the inaugural Film and Screen track at Cairns Crocodiles 2026. He also spoke on the festival’s Distribution & Devotion panel alongside HBO Max Australia & NZ senior director of content John Boehm; RUSH Films producer Cody Greenwood; and Julie King & Associates founder and chief executive Julie King.
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“Caden is an incredible addition to the NITV commissioning team. He brings extensive experience across scripted, documentary and factual storytelling, along with a passion for investing in First Nations creatives and creating opportunities for the next generation of storytellers,” said NITV head of Indigenous commissioning and production and Warlpiri, Warumungu and Arrernte woman Dena Curtis.
“He’s dedicated to championing authentic voices and expanding the kinds of stories we see on screen, particularly in genres where First Nations perspectives have been under-represented. I’m excited to see the impact he’ll have as NITV continues to deliver bold, distinctive First Nations storytelling.”
“As a filmmaker from Cape York, I’ve been telling stories since I was 16, when I made a short documentary about the prolonged displacement of my Guugu Yimidhirr people from Cape Bedford Mission during the Second World War. That experience showed me the powerful role of filmmaking as an act of cultural custodianship – not only keeping history and community alive but creating space for truth-telling and ensuring First Nations perspectives are seen, heard and remembered,” said NITV commissioning editor and Bagarrmuguwarra man Caden Pearson.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to now be joining NITV, because that’s exactly the work it does every day, at scale. As Commissioning Editor, I’m looking forward to working with creatives from across the country and reaching more Australians through First Nations storytelling. I don’t just want to see First Nations stories told. I want to see First Nations storytellers flourish. I’m genuinely stoked to be here.”
Caden Pearson joins Cieron Cody and Dena Curtis in the commissioning team.
