Screen Producers Australia names Liam Heyen and Madeleine Hetherton-Miau inaugural Producer Fellows – Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has named producers Liam Heyen and Madeleine Hetherton-Miau as its first Producer Fellows.
The SPA Producer Fellowship is a six-month mentoring program. It helps accomplished Australian producers grow their businesses, expand international partnerships and develop projects for the global market.
The announcement completes the first round of the program, which SPA launched in August for mid-career producers. Together, the two Fellows cover scripted drama, feature film and documentary. Their credits have also reached Sundance, Series Mania and audiences in more than 60 countries.
Heyen and Hetherton-Miau were selected from a competitive field of mid-career producers. As a result, they bring extensive experience across scripted, documentary and factual production, with work reaching audiences in Australia and overseas.
SPA CEO Matthew Deaner welcomes the inaugural Fellows
SPA CEO Matthew Deaner congratulated the Fellows. He said their selection reflected the depth and ambition of Australian producing talent.
Liam and Madeleine are accomplished producers who have already demonstrated their ability to create distinctive Australian work that resonates internationally.
Matthew Deaner, CEO, Screen Producers Australia
The SPA Producer Fellowship is about supporting producers at a pivotal point in their careers, helping them deepen international relationships, create new partnerships and build sustainable businesses with a global outlook.
Matthew Deaner, CEO, Screen Producers Australia
We’re delighted to welcome Liam and Madeleine as our inaugural Fellows and look forward to supporting them through the program.
Matthew Deaner, CEO, Screen Producers Australia
Liam Heyen
Liam Heyen is a producer and co-founder of Mad Ones with Cyna Strachan. His growing body of work focuses on elevating LGBTQI+ stories and filmmakers.
For example, his feature credits include Sophie Hyde’s Jimpa, starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow. It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. He also produced Tilda Cobham-Hervey’s upcoming It’s All Going Very Well…, starring Cobham-Hervey and Jonathan Pryce.
On television, Heyen’s credits include the AACTA-nominated Erotic Stories. He also produced Latecomers, which screened in Official Competition at Series Mania. It won multiple awards, including an AACTA Award and a Screen Producers Award. In addition, his series Homebodies premiered at Series Mania in 2026.
He began his career at Goalpost Pictures and is a graduate of AFTRS and Griffith Film School.
Madeleine Hetherton-Miau
Madeleine Hetherton-Miau is a producer and director of feature documentaries and premium factual series. She co-founded Media Stockade with Rebecca Barry in 2012.
Since then, she has built an extensive body of documentary and factual work. Her productions have reached audiences in more than 60 countries. Broadcasters and platforms include National Geographic, Netflix, ABC, BBC, SBS, PBS, Sky, Discovery and Hulu.
Most recently, she directed and produced the feature documentary Mozart’s Sister. It won two AACTA Awards and earned a Rose d’Or nomination.
Her credits also include The Surgery Ship. She developed it from a feature documentary into an eight-part series for National Geographic. Other credits include The Family Court Murders, Debi Marshall Investigates: Frozen Lies and Power Meri.
Currently, Hetherton-Miau is working on a slate of international projects. These include Saving Tuvalu, a ZDF/ARTE co-production with Germany’s Filmtank. Meanwhile, Vivaldi’s Orphans is in advanced financing with French and Austrian partners.
What the SPA Producer Fellowship includes
Over six months, Heyen and Hetherton-Miau will receive one-on-one mentorship from an established SPA member. They will also get introductions to key industry partners and free access to SPA’s Masterclass series.
In addition, the Fellows will receive a suite of opportunities through SCREEN FOREVER. These include Global Connect and curated one-on-one meetings with international guests. They also include early access to Partnerships Forum and Pitch Meetings, plus 50% off a Gold Coast 3-Day Badge.
SPA launched the fellowship in August 2026 to support mid-career Australian screen producers. In particular, it aims to help them build sustainable businesses, strengthen international relationships and pursue new global opportunities.
For more TV Central Screen Producers Australia news, head here. For more on the fellowship, visit Screen Producers Australia.