Two industry-leading practitioners join the VicScreen team

Sarah Bond, Katy Roberts.

VicScreen has appointed two industry-leading practitioners into the position of First Peoples Strategic Lead and Production Executive. 

Sarah Bond – First Peoples Strategic Lead 

Sarah Bond is a Wakka Wakka/Waanyi woman who began producing events and programming First Nations arts programs for festivals after studying arts management at the Victorian College of Arts. 

Since 2000, she has produced many festivals and celebrations, including the Black Arm Band, Moomba Waterfest, Next Wave Festival, Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival, Blak & Bright First Nations Literary festival and YIRRAMBOI First Nations Festival.   

Sarah set up Black Ruby Productions in 2005 and produced her first documentary film My Brother Vinnie in 2006. She then went on to associate produce Murundak – Songs of Freedom in 2011, an award-winning documentary feature film which takes you on a journey into the heart of Aboriginal protest songs featuring the Black Arm Band. 

Prior to Sarah’s career in the arts, she worked in the Australian Public Service for ten years (ATSIC and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria). Sarah rejoined the Victorian Public Service in 2021 to work with Creative Victoria’s First Peoples Team, before joining VicScreen as First Peoples Strategic Lead. 

Sarah will be responsible for project planning and early strategic development of VicScreen’s First People’s approach, particularly with regards to establishing a stakeholder consultation framework. The role will be an important interface between VicScreen and First People’s stakeholders. 

Katy Roberts – Production Executive 

Katy Roberts is a Victorian producer and production executive specialised in development and programming. 

Her producing credits include Sara Kern’s auteur scripted feature Moja Vesna (2022), Fire Front (2022), sports docuseries Second to None (2024), feature documentary Prisoner X (2024), and true crime Audible Original documentary series No Gangsters In Paradise (2019). 

Katy spent seven years at global youth media company Vice where she spearheaded the setup of their Australian and New Zealand production departments and original programming. She initiated and produced the territories’ tentpole documentary series’ broadcast globally on Viceland, before leading Vice’s development for Asia Pacific as their Head of Development.  

Joining Sweetshop & Green following their launch in late 2019, Katy was responsible for the setup and development of their slates in both Australia and New Zealand. Her credits with the company include animated series Bird’s Eye View, Taumanu - episode one of TVNZ’s scripted supernatural anthology series Beyond the Veil, and Amazon Original Documentary The Defenders. 

Katy joins the VicScreen team as a Production Executive.  

Learn more about VicScreen’s funding programs and initiatives at vicscreen.vic.gov.au/funding.