Women in Film & Television (WIFT) Australia has named Victorian producer Leanne Tonkes as its new Chair of the Board, with Queensland producer Bobbi-Lea Dionysius stepping in as Deputy Chair.
The appointments were announced at the CinefestOZ Film Festival in Western Australia, where WIFT is currently running its annual Writers Retreat in partnership with the festival and Minderoo Pictures. Tonkes made the announcement alongside fellow board member Maya Kavanagh.
Tonkes, an award-winning producer and CEO of Sense & Centsability, has a diverse body of work across film, television, web series, and live events. Her credits include My Mistress, The Second, My Melbourne, and the internationally acclaimed series This Is Desmondo Ray!. She is currently producing Prawn Curry Christmas, selected as the 2025 West Coast Visions feature, as well as Written in the Stars, directed by Fawzia Mirza. Tonkes also serves as a founding board member and current Chair of the Melbourne Women in Film Festival.
“As incoming Chair of Women in Film & TV Australia, I envision a bold new chapter for the organisation, one driven by deep industry collaboration, national influence, and international strategic alliances that elevate the visibility, agency, and creative leadership of Australian women in screen,” Tonkes said.
She added: “Together with my fellow board members, WIFT will cultivate initiatives that not only remove barriers to participation but actively build pathways to leadership, career advancement, and creative control.”
Tonkes takes over from the late Liz Tomkins of Queensland, whose passing was widely felt within the Australian screen community. Tomkins’ leadership was central to WIFT’s growth, including achieving full national representation for the first time, establishing international partnerships, and launching initiatives such as the ElevateUs Mentorship Program, the Cannes Catalyst Program, and introducing the ReFrame Stamp to Australia.
Incoming Deputy Chair Dionysius said: “As we continue to honour the impact Liz left on the organisation, we are delighted to welcome Leanne as our new Chair. With Leanne’s breadth of industry experience and my six-year legacy knowledge of WIFT on the QLD Committee and QLD Chair for the past two years, together we will ensure WIFT continues to grow its impact nationally and globally.”
Tonkes and Dionysius officially began their three-year terms on 31 July 2025.
The current WIFT Australia Board comprises: Leanne Tonkes (Chair), Bobbi-Lea Dionysius (Deputy Chair), Jatika Maheshwary, Jacinta Legge-Wilkinson, Annisa Belonogoff, Amanda Browne, Manda Flett, Maya Kavanagh, Dianna La Grassa, Sue Marriott, Yolanda Peart-Smith, Sarah Price, Nadine Torney, Dale Thain, and Ursula Woods.
