PRESIDENT

Karyn Chapman is the President of ATOM QLD, with over 25 years of experience in Film, Television, and Media Arts education. Passionate about storytelling, she empowers students to think critically and create with confidence. Karyn is a Media Arts and Film, Television and New Media teacher at Mary MacKillop College, Nundah.

The inaugural winner of the Helen Yeates Excellence in Media Education Award (2017), Karyn joined the ATOM QLD Executive in 2018, serving as Vice President and State Conference Convener until 2023. She co-founded the Asia Pacific Screen Academy Youth Jury, offering students real-world media experiences.

A curriculum writer for the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Karyn has represented QCAA, QCEC, and ACARA at national levels and serves on the Screen & Media Industry Advisory Board, bridging the gap between industry, schools, and communities. She continues to advocate for media and arts education, ensuring Queensland students are prepared for the future.

VICE PRESIDENT

Aimee Gust is Vice President of Australian Teachers of Media Queensland, in which capacity she helps organise learning and professional development experiences such as the Asia Pacific Young Audience Awards and the upcoming North Queensland Regional Conference. Aimee is currently Head of Department of the Arts at Brisbane State High School, where Media Arts and Film, TV and New Media (FTVNM) are taught from years 7-12. Aimee is a co-author of the recently published textbook, Nelson’s FTVNM QCE Units 1-4, and sessionally lectures FTVNM curriculum students at several universities. 

VICE PRESIDENT

Kelsey Hall is a senior Film, Television and New Media high school teacher in Queensland. She has recently completed her Master in Creative Industries: Film at SAE focussing on disruptive television and is involved in various minor film projects through her tertiary connections. Kelsey is a QCAA confirmer and external examination marker. She has a passion for teaching teachers and loves connecting with other media arts teachers.

SECRETARY

Renee is a Secretary of the Australian Teachers of Media, Queensland and is an experienced Media Arts and Film, Television & New Media teacher who has taught across all levels of the secondary Queensland curriculum for 15 years. Renee is currently Curriculum Leader of The Arts and Technologies at St Peters Lutheran College Springfield. In 2021, Renee was the recipient of the Helen Yeates Excellence in Media Education award. Renee maintains an artistic practice centred around animation and moving-image artwork.

TREASURER

Ben Higgins is the Treasurer of Australian Teachers of Media Queensland. He is currently the Deputy Head of the Junior School at a Brisbane College, and a passionate educator in Media and Visual Arts education. Ben is dedicated to fostering student success and wellbeing through collaboration, learner agency, innovation, and the creation of an inclusive learning environment and brings this dedication to the planning and delivery of professional learning opportunities with ATOMQLD. Ben is driven to develop resilience in students, empowering them with the skills needed to flourish academically, socially, and personally.

PRIMARY EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE

Sofia Hobson is a Highly Accomplished and Experienced Senior Teacher. She is an executive member of ATOM Qld (Australian Teachers of Media) as the Primary Media Education Representative, supporting Primary teachers across Queensland and is a recipient of the Helen Yeates Award for Excellence in Media Education. Her work has been published by ACARA for the Australian Curriculum. Sofia has over 30 years of teaching experience and has developed and taught the Performing Arts (Music/Drama/Dance/Media) program at Peregian Springs State School for the past fifteen years.

GOLD COAST REPRESENTATIVE & MARKETING

Zoe is a senior Film, Television and New Media teacher, with a background in e-Photojournalism. She has been leading the FTVNM and Media Arts program within her context on the Gold Coast, Queensland for a decade. Zoe is passionate about providing students within Film, TV & New Media a space to not only reach their creative potential, but surpass it, through industry related learning and experiences.  

ASSISTANT TREASURER

Judilyn Bauer, with a background in Creative Industries from Queensland University of Technology, is a Film, Television, and New Media Subject Co-ordinator at Brisbane Boys’ College.  She introduces and developed the media studies program for Middle School  students and manages the Brisbane Boys Film Crew. In the film industry, she’s worked as a Producer and Unit Manager on projects like “If You Never Know” and “The George.” 

CENTRAL QLD REPRESENTATIVE

Marcia Prior is an Experienced Senior Teacher and ATOM Regional Executive representative for Mackay and Coalfields.  She has been a teacher of Media and Film/TV since 2005 and has implemented Media Arts NCEA Level 2+3 in NZ, as well as leading the implementation of QCE/ATAR Film, Television and New Media and ACV9 at Mackay Northern Beaches SHS where she is Curriculum Lead.  Marcia is also a QCAA Assessor.  She is a passionate film educator with a strong focus on sound design and editing. In her spare time, Marcia is a busy mum of two and writer.