WITBN

Masao Aki – Chairman, representing Taiwan Indigenous Television / PTS, Taiwan

Masao (Atayal) was appointed chief director of Taiwan’s national Indigenous broadcaster, TITV in 2007. He was later elected chairman of WITBN in 2010. In 2005, Masao joined TITV as the news manager. Before joining TITV, he served as a news presenter and producer for Taiwan Public Television Service for more than ten years. Masao is one of the first Indigenous people to become a news presenter in Taiwan’s broadcasting history. In 1994, Masao was among the first group of Indigenous people to receive extensive training in journalism and media production.

Nils Johan Heatta – Vice Chairman, representing NRK Sápmi, Norway

Nils has been the director of NRK Sápmi, formerly NRK Sami Radio, since 1985. As director Heatta is dealing with journalistic and technical subjects and responsible for managing NRK Sámi Radio economics and administration. Nils has been active in the collaboration between the Sámi radio and TV stations in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. In 1998, Nils was invited to help the Russian Sámis to get their own radio station and in 2000 Nils initiated a project to restart Sámi radio broadcasts on the Kola Peninsula. The station in Russia started their broadcast in late 2003.

Jean LaRose, representing Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Canada

Jean was named Chief Executive Officer of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) in November 2002. APTN was one of the host broadcasters for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Jean is a First Nations citizen from the Abenakis First Nation of Odanak. Jean sits on the Board of Directors of the National Screen Institute, the Pay and Specialty Television Board of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and the NISGA’A Commercial Group. In 2010, Jean received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Margaret Mary Murray / Domhnall Caimbeul (Joint Member), representing BBC ALBA, Scotland

Margaret Mary is the Head of Service for BBC ALBA. Margaret Mary attended the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and then went on to study the Celtic languages at Glasgow University. Margaret Mary joined BBC Scotland as a television researcher in 1988 and developed her program making skills on a wide variety of genres ranging from children’s programs to award-winning documentaries, drama as well as news and current affairs. Margaret Mary became the BBC’s Head of Gaelic programming in 2005 and the Head of Service for BBC ALBA in 2008.

Jim Mather, representing Māori Television, Aotearoa New Zealand

Jim Mather was appointed chief executive of Māori Television in February 2005 and the inaugural chairman of WITBN till March 2010. Jim holds a Master of Business Administration from the Henley Management College in England and a Bachelor of Business Studies. His business management experience spans over 15 years. Prior to joining Māori Television, Jim was chief executive of the Pacific Business Trust based in Auckland, New Zealand. Jim is also a former officer in the New Zealand Army and was awarded the Sword of Honour in recognition of his distinguished achievements in officer training.

Tim Hartley, representing S4C, Wales

Tim is Head of Corporate Affairs for S4C. Tim studied Politics at University of Wales Aberystwyth. He also has a Business Management Diploma from Bradford University, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Public Communication from Leeds University. Tim began his career with the BBC as a researcher, reporter and producer on radio and television in Wales and England before being appointed editor of the news program, Newyddion. He went on to work as BBC Wales’ Head of Production Planning. In 2001 Tim was appointed Head of News for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Pól Ó Gallchóir, representing TG4, Ireland

Pól has been the director general of TG4 since 2000. Pól has been working in Irish TV and Radio for over thirty years. After graduating with a degree in History and Political Science from University College Galway in 1979, Pól joined the National Public Service Broadcaster RTE as a News Journalist in TV and Radio. In 1987, he was appointed Regional Manager for the National Irish Language Radio Service, Raidio na Gaeltachta and in 1994 was appointed Head of the service.

Michael McMichael, representing National Indigenous TV, Australia

Michael is currently the interim CEO of NITV. A commercial lawyer, Michael practices principally in the fields of media and entertainment law. He holds the positions of Company Secretary and General Counsel and Head of the Commercial Department. Before commencing with NITV his film and television credits included legal work on numerous films, television series and television documentaries, on some of which he acted as an executive producer. He has also acted as the legal adviser on numerous theatrical productions and arena-style live events.