Robin Hughes (filmmaker)

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Robin Hughes
Born
Eleanor Robin Hughes

Sydney, Australia
NationalityAustralian
EducationPhD in Creative Writing, Macquarie University, 2019
TitlePro-Chancellor of the Australian National University
Term2014–2017
SpouseDavid Throsby

Robin Hughes AO (born Eleanor Robin Hughes) is an Australian filmmaker, producer and writer. She was Pro-Chancellor of the Australian National University from 2014 until 2017.[1]

Early life[edit]

Hughes was born in Sydney, and attended Fort Street High School. She received a BA in Psychology from the University of Sydney.[2]

Career[edit]

Hughes started her career in London as a producer for BBC Radio before moving back to Sydney to join ABC Radio's newly-formed Science Unit. She was head of Film Australia from 1985–1989, where she restructured the entire company and established the first animation unit.[3] She went on to produce a number of award-winning documentaries for television, including Australians with Mike Willesee.[4] From 1991-1997 she served as Chair of the Council of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.[5] From 1992 until 2007 she was the writer and interviewer for Australian Biography, an archival project and television series produced by Screen Australia that aired on SBS television, and included interviews with some of Australia's most important thinkers, entertainers, artists and musicians, including Nugget Coombs, Smoky Dawson, Thomas Keneally, Malcolm Fraser and Donald Horne.[6] Hughes wrote a book based on the series, entitled Australian Lives, published by Angus & Robertson.[7] In 2012 she wrote, presented and co-produced a follow-up television series, Creative Minds, which included interviews with Geoffrey Rush, Kate Grenville and Bill Henson and also aired on SBS.[8] Hughes has acted as Chair on the boards of several performing arts companies, including Performing Lines and Bangarra Dance Theatre. In 2019, Hughes earned a doctorate in Creative Writing from Macquarie University. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to film and broadcasting in 1993.[9][10] She won the Stanley Hawes Award for contributions to Australian documentary-making at the 2004 Australian International Documentary Conference.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Hughes is married to cultural economist David Throsby and lives in Hunters Hill, Sydney.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dr Robin Hughes AO". ANU. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Filmmaker interviews - Robin Hughes on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online". aso.gov.au. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  3. ^ Australia, National Film and Sound Archive of (17 October 2019). "Filmmaker interviews: Robin Hughes". www.nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Australian Television: Michael Willesee's Australians: episode guide". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Our history | Australian Film Television and Radio School". www.aftrs.edu.au. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Australian Biography (1992 - 2007) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  7. ^ Hughes, Robin (1996). Australian Lives: Stories of Twentieth Century Australians. Angus & Robertson. ISBN 9780207191251.
  8. ^ "Creative Minds (2012) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b Melbourne, The University of. "Hughes, Robin - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Robin Hughes". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Robin Hughes". IMDb. Retrieved 16 October 2019.