Established in 2010, Northern Pictures has one of the strongest storytelling reputations in Australian television, with its award-winning content recognised around the world.
Delivering Scripted, Children’s, Factual Entertainment and Documentary content to the international market, Northern Pictures is continually acknowledged for its significant contribution to diversity and representation on and off screen.
COMPANY AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Screen Producers Australia’s Production Business of the Year 2025
Realscreen’s Global 100 Production Companies “Trailblazers” 2025
Media & Creative Industries Award, Australian Human Rights Awards 2023
Screen Producers Australia’s Production Business of the Year 2022
Realscreen’s Global 100 Production Companies 2022
Matt Vitins
Managing Director
Matt is a commercially focused executive who has worked across drama, comedy, children’s, factual and reality television projects, for commissioners including Netflix, Amazon, Peacock, TVNZ, CBBC, ABC, SBS, Stan, Foxtel, Seven, Nine and Ten.
Prior to Northern, Matt was COO at Matchbox Pictures and Tony Ayres Productions. Matt also worked as a corporate lawyer at Allens in Sydney and Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York. He is a co-author of the text-book Media Law published by Oxford University Press and has an LL.M from Harvard Law School.
Karina Holden
Head of Factual
For almost three decades, Karina has been a trailblazer in the field of non-fiction television, As Head of Factual at Northern Pictures she has overseen more than 20 series including See What You Made Me Do, Employable Me and the globally successful Love on the Spectrum winner of 5 Emmy® Awards. Her environmental programming has taken many forms including theatrical documentaries, blue chip natural history series, live broadcast and 360-degree immersive film making. Karina was named UNESCO’s Sydney City of Film, film maker of the year (2021), has been recognised in the 100 Women of Influence by the Financial Review and her broad slate of programs was awarded the prestigious Human Rights Award for Media and Creative Industries (2023). She was awarded the inaugural Southern Light Award (2024) in recognition of her contribution to non-fiction film making.
Catherine Nebauer
Head of Scripted & Kids
Catherine has had over 25 years’ experience in the media space in a wide range of roles including channel management, distribution and as an executive producer. Since joining the Northern Pictures team in 2014, she has had a slate of over 600 episodes commissioned in Australia and internationally for Channel Seven, Network Nine, the ABC, Nat Geo Kids and now Paramount+. Most recently, Catherine has executive produced the Emmy Award-winning series HARDBALL and new series SPREADSHEET, starring Katherine Parkinson, for Paramount+.
Catherine was previously General Manager, SVP, for Nickelodeon Asia where she oversaw distribution, production, programming and marketing. Before moving to Asia, Catherine was the Managing Director for Nickelodeon Australia where she was responsible for launching Nick Jnr., as well as delivering the #1 Channel and online portal for kids.
Darren Ashton
Co-Head of Scripted Development / Director
Darren is a highly experienced award-winning director and producer across television and film. In his role as director and Co-Head of Development at Northern Pictures, Darren co-created SPREADSHEET with Kala Ellis and went on to be set up director, for which he was nominated Best Director in a Comedy Series at the Australian Director’s Guild Awards (ADG). More recently he completed production on the ABC/ITV Studios UK/Australian comedy series AUSTIN, Starring Ben Miller (JOHNNY ENGLISH, PROFESSOR T), Sally Phillips (VEEP, BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY) and Michael Theo (LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM). Darren also directed the Emmy Award winning series Hardball, both Season 1 and 2 for Northern Pictures. Darren co-wrote and directed the successful feature THUNDERSTRUCK (Icon) and RAZZLE DAZZLE which competed in over 20 International festivals – Including Toronto, Berlin, London and New York Film Festivals. Darren was EP on the feature film NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN starring Ryan Kwanten (TRUE BLOOD) and Sarah Snook (SUCCESSION, PREDESTINATION). Prior to joining Northern Pictures, he was set up director for the hit series HERE COME THE HABIBS! for Jungle and the Nine Network and associate script producer on Season 2.
Darren previously served on the Federal Arts Advisory Board, is a current member of the Australian Writers Guild, and President of the Australian Directors Guild.
Joe Weatherstone
Co-Head of Scripted Development
Joe is a producer and part of the scripted development team at Northern Pictures. Having studied producing at AFTRS where she was nominated for an Oscar for INJA, she then produced a large portion of Paul Fenech’s multicultural, social commentary comedy series including SWIFT AND SHIFT COURIERS, the Logie winning and controversial show HOUSOS (Series 1 and 2), DUMB CRIMINALS, and three feature films all distributed by Transmission Films and currently streaming on Netflix. Joe produced the feature film KILLING GROUND, which was selected for Sundance Film Festival and the feature documentary RIGHT HERE: THE GO BETWEENS, which screened at Melbourne International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival. In her time at Northern Pictures she has been developing up a varied scripted slate as well as series producing two seasons of the International Emmy Award-winning kids’ series HARDBALL for ABCME.
Tosca Looby
Factual Producer / Director
Tosca is a creative director, writer and producer of factual programming and has been series director on a cross section of Northern Pictures' most celebrated and awarded output, including: THE JURY: DEATH ON THE STAIRCASE, ASKING FOR IT, SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO and nationwide blue-chip natural history series, MAGICAL LAND OF OZ. Tosca also made the feature documentary STRONG FEMALE LEAD which charts the besieged leadership of Australia’s one and only female PM. Trained in journalism and programme making, Tosca now lays claim to a signature range of landmark thesis driven programmes tackling our most pressing social issues. She is also a seasoned creator of natural history and even side steps into arts programming, reflecting her curiosity and versatility as a storyteller.
Steve Morgan
Chief Financial Officer
Steve Morgan is the CFO of the RACAT Group, providing oversight of the finance operations and strategy for Northern Pictures and the Australian Geographic businesses based in Australia, and Runaway Play in New Zealand. A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, he has over 10 years’ experience across commercial and public practice.
Before joining RACAT, Steve was the commercial manager for productions at Seven West Media, which at the time was Australia’s largest producer of long form premium content, providing financial oversight for the entire production slate. Prior to this, working at Ernst & Young he managed audit engagements for a number of ASX listed entities in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications industries.
Kate Bailey
Head of Production
Kate joined Northern Pictures in 2015 and is the Head of Production across both Scripted and Factual content. In this role, she works closely with Executive Producers to transform creative concepts into compelling, high-quality productions. During her tenure, she has successfully delivered projects to national broadcasters and global streaming platforms, collaborating with international partners, talent, and production companies. Known for her energetic approach, love of budgets, and exceptional multitasking skills, Kate is passionate about assembling effective teams and is committed to delivering outstanding content that upholds the high standards of Northern Pictures.
James Spicer
Head of Post Production
James was appointed as Northern Pictures’ Head of Post-Production in 2017. After graduating from the University of Newcastle in 2013, James started his career in post-production across several editorial and DI positions on a wide range of film and television productions. James focused his career on moving into technical supervision and workflow design roles within the industry. Since joining Northern Pictures as Head of Post-Production James has been able to provide production and post-production creative reviews, technical advice, and workflow design ranging from the inception of an idea through to the final delivery. James has been involved with every production that Northern Pictures has produced since 2014 and has formed a strong bond with the company which has been able to facilitate his expansion of knowledge and technical ability within post-production.
Page Henty
General Counsel, RACAT Group
Page Henty is General Counsel of RACAT and its businesses, including Northern Pictures, Australian Geographic, Scout Publishing and Runaway Play, providing legal, operational and strategic advice across the group.
Page is a corporate and commercial lawyer specialising in film and television production, entertainment, communications, media and technology law. She has over 30 years’ experience in Asia, the United States and Australia advising some of the world’s best known media organisations including Star TV in Hong Kong, Fox Studios, Fox Sports and National Geographic in the United States and Austar and Network Ten in Australia.
Page is admitted to practice in Australia and New York and is a former President of the Australian Communications and Media Law Association (CAMLA).
David Haslingden
CEO, RACAT Group
David has worked in various roles in the media in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States over the last 30 years. Before starting the RACAT Group in 2012 with the acquisition of NHNZ, he worked for 20 years for News Corporation where his roles included President and COO of Fox Networks Group, CEO of Fox International Channels and CEO of National Geographic Channels.
David has sat on a number of industry, corporate and charity boards including the National Cable and Telecommunications Association in the US, Network Nine in Australia and WildAid in the US. David also serves on the board of the Australian Geographic Society.
Peter Anderson
Executive Consultant
Peter Anderson was Managing Director of Northern Pictures from 2018-2025.
He was previously Director of Operations & Finance at Endemol Australia from 2009 and was responsible for the management of the company’s operations, strategy, business development, financial risk and performance, IT and business affairs. Prior to this Peter was Chief Financial Officer of Southern Star Entertainment for many years and also held various other senior finance roles in the company since joining in 1984.
Peter is a CPA with over 30 years’ experience in commercial accounting.
