Tony Sweeney

He has an international reputation in the fields of film, television, education and new media, and wide experience as an innovator and driver of the relationship between the arts, creativity, technology and a variety of audiences.

Before his move to Australia, Tony was the Deputy Director of the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television (UK) focused on developing the Museum's brand profile and content strategies. He also led its major innovation projects and programs.

He directed the Museum's Imaging Frontiers masterplan re-development, which generated record visitor numbers and international critical acclaim. This £20 million (approx $50m) lottery-funded project completely re-created the Museum's physical presence and content, re-vitalising its international agenda-setting role and popular profile.

The Museum is now seen as one of the leading international centres for culture and learning of its kind in the world.

Before joining the Museum, Tony had an impressive track record in the media, cultural and educational sectors, and pursued subject interests in creative and digital media. In his early career he acted as commissioning editor in commercial book and journal publishing, initially at the Pergamon Press and then at Basil Blackwell International Arts and Humanities Publishers.

Subsequent to that he produced pioneering multimedia open-learning courses for the UK's Open College, supported by television programs broadcast on Channel 4.

Tony was born in the North of England, and returned there to the NMPFT after living and working in Oxford and London for many years.

He has an Honours Degree in science from the University of Southampton, and although he switched his life and work to the cultural field, he has maintained his interest in exploring how the 'two cultures' and perspectives of the arts and sciences relate.