Arts Global

William Earl has thirty-five years experience in senior management and policy and planning positions with public and commercial broadcasters and telecommunications companies, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, Television New Zealand, Wharf Communications Investments Limited, Faxcast Asia and Asia Business News.

After four years as Controller of Distribution with the BBC, and ten years in China and Asia, Mr Earl returned to his native New Zealand to develop and implement a combined Government and broadcasting industry plan to convert the country's broadcasting systems to digital.

Mr Earl has had planning and execution authority for multi-million dollar capital investment projects with the BBC and in New Zealand, and served as the Chief Executive or adviser on strategy and policy for commercial organisations and Government agencies in Asia. His governance experience includes establishing NGO sector groups in Eastern Europe, and he continues to work as a strategic adviser to advertising agencies and media companies in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Earl's earlier career included periods as a programme-maker and executive in public affairs and information television. He was Head of General Features for both networks of Television New Zealand -- this title included responsibility for Arts programming. While in this role he personally produced or directed a number of international television co-productions, and served on the jury of international arts programme competitions, including the Prix Italia.