Michael O’Donnell – Director
Michael has over 20 years’ experience in both technology and financial markets. During the past five years he has been associated with the production of film and television, including financing through the Producer Offset system.
Prior to that he was responsible for the creation and sale, via both ASX listing and trade sale, of various private and start up companies. Michael has held senior management roles including that of Managing Director and Chairman of several private and ASX listed companies.
Jarod Stone – Director
Jarod is a Chartered Accountant with over 17 years’ experience in both operational and financial roles across industries including aviation, domestic and international property, financial advisory and investment, film and television production, commercial fishing and aquaculture, engineering, energy and health. After his return from the UK in 2004, Jarod spent 9 years working as Director and Chief Operating Officer of two prominent private family offices in Western Australia.
Jarod was previously a Director of Prime Health Group Ltd (now Kinetic Health) and Market United Pty Ltd (Digital Marketing Agency acquired by Q Ltd).
Jarod is a founding Director of the Azure Foundation, a Board Member and Treasurer of creative and social arts organisation FORM, and a Board Member and Finance Chair of Surf Life Saving Western Australia.
Amanda Winnett – General Manager
Mandi has degree qualifications in Law, Education and Arts (English & Indigenous Studies) together with a Master of Business Administration from UWA. She has worked over the past ten years to develop the policy and legal administration of an independent community school in Perth, including the extension of the school from Early Childhood through to Year 12. Mandi was the Director of Business and Administration (Co-Principal) and spent several years as a Board Member. Prior to this, Mandi lived and worked overseas in a range of industries, including supporting the Assistant Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Assistant Director of the Scottish Practitioners Service in Edinburgh.
Mandi’s initial degree in Theatre Arts and Creative Writing (including screen writing), together with her keen interest in the Australian film industry, and broad experience in policy, management and legal administration provide a strong foundation from which to manage Jake Film Finance.
Joan Peters – Executive Producer
Joan Peters is a media and entertainment lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in all aspects of Australian and international film and television production, co-productions and financing. As a sole practitioner she represents numerous Australian producers who rely on her vast industry expertise.
In 2006 she founded Be Kids Australia Inc., an AusAid-approved organisation working with children in Kenya and East Timor. With a Swedish partner, she initiated K-Youth Media, a media-training centre for youth in Nairobi’s Korogocho, the third-largest slum in East Africa.
In 2008 Joan received the Western Australian Screen Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Film and TV Industry for her work as an entertainment lawyer, and for her previous contribution as a member of the ScreenWest Board. Joan is currently on the Board of Screen Australia and was recently Executive Producer on the feature film Drift, starring Sam Worthington.
David Newman – Responsible Manager
David has over 25 years’ in cross-industry experience specialising in strategic planning, positioning and implementation, with a successful track record in managing and guiding organisations through substantial and often challenging transformations. David is an experienced executive across all areas of business including financial management, strategic planning, business development, risk management, compliance and sales and marketing.
David has held various senior executive roles in the financial industry including six years as AMP Financial Services’ State Manager, and five years as Group Executive (Advisory Services) with Plan B Group Holdings Ltd, and a long term consulting role with listed property funds management group Aspen Group Ltd (AU:APZ).
David has extensive experience in funds management and the management of compliance programs for Managed Investment Funds. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David is the former chairman of the Leukaemia Foundation of WA Inc, and the current Chairman of The Community Development Foundation in Western Australia.
Nicholas Cole – Legal Consultant
Nick is an intellectual property and commercial lawyer with Digby Law. Nick has extensive experience in the media and entertainment industries with a particular specialisation in film and television. Nick also advises clients generally in relation to commercial matters and intellectual property.
Nick has a B.A. (Philosophy) from UNSW, a Master of Laws (Corporate and Commercial Law and Media, Communications and IT Law) also from UNSW and Diploma in Fine Arts from VCA. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia in 2002.
His experience includes advising on debt financing of Australian screen production; international film and television co-productions; content creation, production and distribution; acquisition and exploitation of intellectual property; regulation of content across all media platforms; on-line advertising and marketing; interactive gambling; privacy and data protection; performance, sporting and cultural events; and sponsorship arrangements.
Prior to joining Digby Law, Nick was Special Counsel at DLA Piper. While at DLA Piper, Nick delivered more than 30 film and television projects. His unique combination of industry knowledge and legal skills lead him to successfully establish DLA Piper’s Australian media and entertainment practice.
Nick identified the opportunities arising from the introduction of the refundable tax offsets and the Personal Properties Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and established himself as a market leader in the area of debt financing for film and television. He has worked extensively with Asian, UK and North American financiers, US studios, television broadcasters, Australian government agencies, content creators, screen producers and distributors.