Academy Hires Alum Meredith Shea in Leadership Role – IndieWire

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expanding two-fold, naming Meredith Shea to the newly created position of Director of Membership, Impact and Industry. He reports to Academy CEO Bill Kramer, who also announced Shea on Monday as the first person to fill the job.

In his new role, he will strategically bring together the Academy teams who manage the Academy’s new member development and outreach strategy and implementation, awards administration, rules and regulations, membership industry restructuring, member and industry engagement, film festivals and international strategies. . , talent development programs, and industry DEAI and sustainability efforts.

Shea returns to the organization, having previously spent a decade with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as Executive Director of Membership and Awards. This role required him to oversee the Directors, Film Editors, Short and Feature, and Writers divisions, including rules administration, voting for the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Oscar categories.

“We are delighted to welcome Meredith back to the Academy in this leadership position. His extensive knowledge of the film industry and Academy membership, as well as his commitment to building and nurturing a diverse and equitable global film community, make him the perfect fit for this new role. In addition, Meredith’s strategic acumen will help the Academy as it moves toward its 100th year,” Kramer said in a statement.

“I have a deep connection with the Academy and its membership. This is a pivotal time in the Academy’s history, and it is both a pleasure and a tremendous responsibility to support our industry and lead initiatives that connect people and communities through film,” said Shea. “I am incredibly grateful to Bill, (President) Janet (Yang) and the Academy Board for their visionary leadership and commitment to positive change in the world for filmmakers, audiences and the industry. I look forward to working with the Academy’s exceptionally talented staff and dedicated members again to support the Academy’s mission.”

Shea most recently served as Director of Industry Relations at ARRAY, a narrative change collective founded by Ava DuVernay, where she oversaw ARRAY Crew, a staffing database designed to connect underrepresented crew members with studios. He is also a frequent participant in industry panels including the Directors Guild of America, Producers Network Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, Mifa at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival.