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8 July, 2015
A dear friend of the Australian Writers’ Guild’s, Geoff Brown, has died aged 65.The executive director of the Screen Producers Association of Australia for 16 years until stepping down in 2012, Brown died on Tuesday 7 July 2015, after a long illness.AWG Vice President Roger Simpson described Brown as “a genuine friend of the AWG” and someone who loved the industry and left his mark.“He understood screenwriters and what they did,” said Simpson, “which is one of the reasons he was so effective as the highly respected and much loved executive director of Screen Producers Australia, or SPAA, as it then was, with its much deserved 'Double A' rating. (It has lost an ‘A' since then, though I am told this was purely cosmetic and nothing to do with Geoff’s retirement in 2012).“Geoff was of course the producers’ advocate first and foremost - but when he led a delegation and lobbied for the industry, he was always inclusive, smart and coherent. He was a genuine friend of the AWG, and though never one to take a back-step in negotiations, Geoff understood that negotiations had to make sense for both sides.“Geoff loved the industry. He grew the SPA conference into that essential annual meeting place it has become and was Australia’s most enthusiastic ambassador at Cannes. His contribution was monumental. Maybe they should rename SPA again in his honour. Spag b.“A very good man and very good company,” Simpson added, “he has left his mark.”AWG executive director Jacqueline Elaine said: "Geoff Brown dealt with writers, with the Guild and with me with integrity, humour and respect. He could be both a fierce, intelligent industry advocate and industrial adversary, whilst being a warm and engaging colleague who one would look forward to sharing a nice red with at the end of a hard day's battle. He was a win-win kind of guy who worked hard to get the job done. A genuinely good bloke who will be sadly missed.”Other tributes flooded into the industry magazine IF. The full vale by Don Groves can be found here[1] .AFI|AACTA chair Alan Finney and CEO Damian Trewhella described him as “a good man, a passionate screen advocate and a huge contributor to our industry and to AFI | AACTA. He will be missed.”ADG executive director Kingston Anderson said: "We have lost a great champion of Australian film and television and a great supporter of Australian producers, directors and writers."Former SPAA president Antony I Ginnane said: "Geoff was a tireless supporter of the Australian film and TV industry. It was his life.Screen Producers Australia CEO Matt Deaner acknowledged Brown's "immense contribution to the industry and his achievements over 16 years, 11 of which he led the organisation through a number of challenges”.Before joining SPAA, as it was then known, Brown spent 11 years with the ABC in senior management roles in production, broadcasting and operations. In 2011 he was appointed an official ambassador for SBS and he served on the executive committee of FIAPF, the international film producers association based in Paris, and was the co-chair of FIAPF's Asia Pacific policy committee. He served on the board of AFI|AACTA for two years until June.Brown lost his wife to cancer in 2010 and his 34-year-son Alex died in 2011. He is survived by his son Nick.The funeral service will be held in the South Chapel of Rookwood Gardens Crematorium, Memorial Ave, Lidcombe on Friday July 10 at 10.30 am, followed by a wake at Massey Park Golf Club in Concord. 
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