Graduate recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Amanda, a Business Studies graduate, originally from the North East (born in Darlington and grew up in Richmond North Yorkshire), received her OBE for services to the film industry in the June Birthday Honours list.

On graduating from Northumbria, Amanda worked for Duncan Heath Associates as a company director and theatrical agent. Her career in television began in 1989, when she took up the position of researcher at London Weekend Television. From here Amanda went to work as a producer and development executive for Scottish Television Enterprises, in both their Glasgow and London studios. During her time there Amanda’s credits included three British Academy Awards.

Since taking up her first position at BAFTA, Amanda has been instrumental in the major changes that BAFTA has undergone over the past few years, successfully positioning it as the “pre-eminent independent charitable body that educates, promotes and rewards excellence in the art forms of the moving image.”  

She was appointed Director of Development and Events of BAFTA in October 1998 and in December 2000 she took up her current position of Chief Executive and it has been said that she in fact instigated the changes that make BAFTA the institution we know it as today. Amanda has managed to raise the profile of BAFTA so much that is has become one of the most influential institutions in the global film world today and it’s award ceremonies is now considered to be “up there” with the Oscars. Amanda transformed the ceremony from what was considered to be an end of season downer to the pre-Oscar star studded event it is now, an event that few celebrities refuse an invitation to.

If you would like to keep informed as to what is happening in the world of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts you can do so at www.bafta.org