Staff
Alison Small, Chief Executive Officer
Alison started her career in the film industry at the British Film Commission as events and marketing co-ordinator, and over the years progressed to Senior Executive International Production at the UK Film Council. Her work involved attracting international productions to the UK by providing them with advice and information about the UK. The role also involved working with UK government and industry in ensuring the UK remained competitive and film friendly for both international and domestic productions, and developing strategies to increase opportunities and finance for the UK. After this, Alison was a freelance consultant and project manager to the international film and TV production communities, working for clients with interests in Europe, USA, Middle East and Asia. Most recently, Alison was the inaugural Director of the Skillset Craft and Technical Skills Academy Working closely with studios and film production companies, the Academy provides training and qualifications for people working within the craft and technical departments of the UK film industry. The long term vision is to keep the UK's craft and technical workforce the best in the world.
Alison is a member of BAFTA, the Royal Academy and the Tate, a founding member of the Institute of Ideas Parents Forum, and lives in London with her husband Tony and two daughters Millie and Sylvie.
Fran Triefus, Training & Development Manager
Fran started working in the film and television industry in 1983. She started as a Producer’s Assistant working on development and post-production and in 1986 became a freelance Production Co-Ordinator and Production Manager working on a range of feature film and television dramas such as ‘Birthday Girl’, ‘The Crying Game’, ‘Emma’, ‘The Hollow Reed’ and ‘Backbeat’. In 2000 Fran moved into the Accounts department and worked as an Assistant Production Accountant on several major television dramas and feature films such as ‘Love Actually’, ‘Anita & Me’, ‘The Commander’ and ‘Fingersmith’.In April 2005, Fran was appointed the first Training & Development Manager for the Production Guild. She took over the management of the Assistant Production Accountant Training Scheme III and developed it further to deliver APATS IV to VIII. During her tenure she has developed and funded a wide range of training provision, both for new entrants and for the continuing professional needs of the Production Guild membership such as PG PROGRESS Production Management and Accounting. Fran has worked closely with members to develop and deliver bespoke training courses that respond to the training needs of the membership and wider industry. Fran lives in South Bucks with her children, Tom and Maddi.
Gareth Blake, Head of Communications and Operations
Gareth manages the PG website, social media, online publications, marketing and PG and wider industry related editorial as well as the running of The Production Guild office at Pinewood Studios. Gareth also deals with all office, server and website technical issues and assists in the management or The Production Guild's availability list service, providing UK and overseas Studios, Broadcasters and Productions with Production, Accounting, Locations, Post Production and Assistant Director crew. Gareth acts as the first point of contact for The Production Guild.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Screenwriting, Gareth wrote a number of scripts whilst on the course within the feature, television drama and short formats. Upon graduation, Gareth moved into a Case Administrator position for the National Probation Service based at one of London's busiest Crown Courts. Within this role Gareth managed a large client base, created and organised confidential documentation, managed content on several databases and developed professional relationships with other court users, including solicitors, barristers, police officers and judges.
Gareth also has a busy personal background in website administration and design as well as editirial and studied I.T, Media Studies, English Language and English Literature at A Level. From December 2008 he has also been a regular writer for a national in-print cricket magazine, covering county cricket and Middlesex County Cricket Club in particular where he has been a full member since 2006.
Gareth joined the Guild in January 2010 and lives in Twickenham, spending much of his spare time working on various writing and web based projects, watching and playing sports and enjoying local restaurants!
Sham Whittaker, Membership Administrator
Sham joined the Guild in January 2011 on a part time basis, following a nine year gap to bring up her three children.
She processes all applications made for membership with the Production Guild and oversees the continuity of subscription payments received from its members.
Her working life started as a runner for a camera rental company, which lead her to work in commercial production. Until, in her mid twenties, she took a P.A. position working for a reputable Wine Importers. Her last full time role was as a legal PA in matrimonial law.
Sham lives in South Bucks with her husband Hugh, and three children Carmen, Bruno and Leo.