Judging Panel

NINA GOLD

Nina Gold is a casting director in television, film and occasionally theatre. Nina’s recent feature film credits include: Blitz; Conclave; Back to Black; Scoop; Firebrand; Wonka, One Life, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; Catherine Called Birdy; Empire of Light; The Wonder; Last Night in Soho, The Power of the Dog; The Mauritanian; The Two Popes; 1917;Star Wars: Episodes VII, VIII and IX; Mamma Mia 2- Here We Go Again; Bridget Jones’ Baby; The BFG; Rush; Far from the Madding Crowd; High-Rise; The Martian; Paddington and Paddington 2; In the Heart of the Sea; The Iron Lady; The Theory of Everything; The Imitation Game; The King's Speech; and Les Misérables.  She has cast nine films with Mike Leigh including Peterloo, Mr. Turner, Topsy-Turvy, Vera Drake and Another Year. Other films include Sightseers; Before I Go to Sleep; How I Live Now; The Danish Girl; Prometheus; The Counselor; Attack the Block; Jane Eyre; Hot Fuzz; Brothers of The Head; The Illusionist; Wild Bill; The World’s End; My Week with Marilyn; Nowhere Boy; Bright Star and Eastern Promises

Television credits include eight seasons of Game of Thrones; three seasons of The Crown; Chernobyl; Baby Reindeer; 3 Body Problem; This Is Going To Hurt; Bad Sisters; Slow Horses; Andor; Rain Dogs; Brexit; Patrick Melrose; King Lear; The State; Wolf Hall; The Dresser; Marco Polo; London Spy; Restless; Any Human Heart and The Crimson Petal and The White. Other television credits include two seasons of Rome; The Red Riding Trilogy; Longford; The Devil’s Whore; John Adams and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

Nina has won five Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Casting for her work on John Adams, Game of Thrones and The Crown. Nina has won a BAFTA for scripted casting on This Is Going To Hurt, five Artios awards for outstanding casting on The King’s Speech, My Week with Marilyn and most recently Game of Thrones and The Crown. In April 2016 she was honored with a BAFTA Special Award for her outstanding contribution to casting over 100 television and film productions – the first time BAFTA recognised a casting director with a special award.

THEA MCLEOD

Thea McLeod has been a prominent figure in the casting industry for over 25 years, working in both the UK and Australia. Renowned as one of the country’s leading casting directors, she is passionate about discovering and nurturing the next generation of talent. Over her career, she has cast a diverse array of films and television shows, including the award-winning Pawno, Measure for Measure and acclaimed series like Better Man and Schapelle. As the resident casting director for the iconic Australian TV series Neighbours for the past 14 years, she has significantly shaped its talent pool. For the last three years, Thea has been the president of the Casting Guild of Australia, a role she is deeply passionate about.

ANOUSHA ZARKESH    

AACTA and Casting Guild Award (CGA) winner, Anousha Zarkesh has been a Casting Director for over 25 years, specialising in Australian TV and film for a wide range of genres including political satire, drama, comedy, tele-movies, documentary series and film. Productions include: Shayda, Thou Shalt Not Steal,  The Office, Territory, The Stranger,  The New Boy, Firebite, Total Control, Rake, High Ground, Mystery Road, Sweet Country, Black Comedy,  Operation Buffalo, Hounds of Love, Deep Water, Cleverman, The Principal, Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, Redfern Now, Suburban Mayhem, Beautiful Kate, Underbelly Series, Mabo, Jasper Jones to name a few.

Anousha is currently Vice President of the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA), and an active member of Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the CGA.  

Website:  https://www.zarkesh.com.au/    IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0953514/

NIKKI BARRETT

Nikki Barrett has been casting Australian and international film and television for over 20 years. Her work includes acclaimed features such as FURIOSA, TALK TO ME, ELVIS, THIRTEEN LIVES, THE POWER OF THE DOG, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, THE BABADOOK, NITRAM, HACKSAW RIDGE, THE GREAT GATSBY, I AM MOTHER, PETER RABBIT, THE NIGHTINGALE, THE PROPOSITION, THE SAPPHIRES, SOMERSAULT, THE RAILWAY MAN and CANDY. Television work includes BAY OF FIRES and BLACK SNOW as well as the upcoming BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE.  She is currently working with Justin Kurzel on an adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH. Nikki has been awarded for casting by BAFTA, AACTA & the CGA and is currently on the Casting Directors Committee of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

CHLOÉ HAYDEN

Chloé Hayden is an AACTA winning actor, award winning speaker, best selling author,, content creator, TED talker, and a powerful disability rights activist and advocate. The heart of which these all intersect being her passion for creating change, celebrating diversity, and pushing towards a better future.

Diagnosed as autistic and ADHD at the age of thirteen and feeling ostracised from society, Chloe started an anonymous blog to share her feelings and to find a community and ended up building something bigger than she ever dreamed.

Now, Chloe is a powerhouse in advocacy and a worldwide known name, with platforms of over a million followers and over a billion views, a TED talk, global speaking tours and working with places of power including the Australian education system, Screen Australia and the Australian

Government to ensure a future where all can exist. Chloé is sparking change to everyone that hears her message, demanding a future where everyone has an equal chance to thrive, and where differences are no longer belittled, but celebrated.

Chloé stars as Quinni in Netflix’s Heartbreak High, which in its first season, soared to number 1 in Australia, top 10 in more than 45 countries and won an International Emmy. Chloé herself won the 2022 AACTA for Audience Choice Best Actress, and was nominated for the 2023 Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent at the Logies In playing Quinni, Chloé made history, becoming Australia’s first ever mainstream autistic actress, and one of the first autistic characters actually played by an autistic person.

Chloé’s other notable works includes Tara in the Guy Pierce film Inside, Grace in the hit series Counter Girls, Spooky Files, Reef School, and Playschool. Chloé’s passion for change is also showcased in Taryn Brumfitts documentary ‘Embrace: Kids’.

At 2022 Australian Fashion Week, Chloe closed Australia’s first ever adaptive runway with her viral runway moment showcasing a jacket stating the words, ‘Fix The System, Not Me’, with Vogue calling it ‘a highlight and unmissable’, and Marie Claire calling it ‘the most powerful moment of Fashion Week.’ Chloé is the owner and creator of her disability clothing and support line, manufacturing sensory-friendly clothing and creating communication cards that are being used by psychologists, educators, and individuals globally. Chloé’s book ‘Different Not Less: A Neurodivergents Guide to Embracing Your True Self And Finding Your Happily Ever After’, released in August 2022, and became an instant worldwide best seller. Chloé is also the host of the ‘Boldly Me’ podcast. 

Chloé is breaking down barriers and raising up voices and inclusion in every realm.  

NGALI SHAW

Ngali Shaw is from the Wiradjuri, Murawari, Kunja tribes.

Ngali made his television debut in RFDS directed by Jeremy Sims. He went on to star opposite Sam Neill and Marta Dusseldorp in Foxtel series The Twelve and ABC’s Ladies in Black opposite Miranda Otto and Debi Mazar. 

In film, Ngali can be seen in Windcatcher for Stan opposite Jessica Mauboy. 

In theatre, Ngali made his Australian mainstage debut in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Jacky in 2023, followed in 2024 as the leading role in 37 directed by Isaac Drandic. 

As a professionally trained dancer, Ngali has learned tap, ballet, hip hop, classical, modern contemporary and Capoeira. He was selected for the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company and invited to participate in a one-week training camp with Bangarra Dance company. Under dance teacher Doug Gordon - Ngemba and Yuwalayaay Custodian, he has trained in Aboriginal/Indigenous dance since 2017. 

Ngali is very proud of his culture and identity and wishes to inspire the next generation to dance and keep our stories alive.