PROFILE
Sevda leads the charge for Film and Content Production for Special Group Australia. In her time at Special the agency has won Global Creative Agency of the Year - Campaign, Agency of the Year - Campaign Brief, APAC Independent Agency of the Year - SPIKES ASIA, and Independent Agency of the Year at local and international award shows including CAMPAIGN UK, CAMPAIGN ASIA, ADNEWS, MUMBRELLA and B&T in both 2020 & 2021. Special has also grown exponentially, winning clients such as Bonds, ANZ, Kathmandu, Netflix, Virgin Australia, PepsiCo and most recently Ebay. At Special, Sevda has been instrumental in producing award winning UberEats work such as ‘Tonight I’ll be Eating for Love’ with Sacha Baron Cohen, ‘The Grey Wiggle’ with Simon Cowell, ‘This Calls For’ and most recently ‘ Get Almost Almost Anything’ with Kris and Kylie Jenner.
Prior to Special, Sevda led DDB Australia’s Integrated Broadcast/Content production offering (one of Australia’s largest production departments & Campaign Brief Agency of the Year 2018) resulting in them successfully delivering some of their most creatively ambitious projects (and winning many international and local creative and craft accolades as a result). When living in NYC she worked at the highly awarded independent agency Johannes Leonardo, producing on Sony and Google. She spent many years before that at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne contributing to a diverse body of work - helping them be named Mumbrella and Campaign Brief’s Agency of the Decade.
Sevda sees her role essentially as a creative collaborator and as such has had the good fortune to work on and oversee many integrated award winning projects such as the multi-Cannes Gold lion winning Four’N Twenty ‘Magic Salad Plate’, Guide Dog Australia’s ‘Support Scent’, ‘#Comeonin’ for Sydney Opera House and ‘Grave of Thrones' for Foxtel. She has produced and overseen awarded campaigns for almost every significant brand in Australia including UberEats, Westpac, Volkswagen, Foxtel, Virgin, Sydney Opera House, NAB (National Bank of Australia), Tetley (Tata Global Beverages Pty Ltd), VB, Carlton Mid, Carlton Dry (CUB) and Bupa healthcare.
A do-er and explorer by nature Sevda thrives on expanding her skill base and embraces working with diverse creatives, agencies, brands and production partners. She is both excited to be inspired and challenged by the world’s work as she judges this year's Cannes lions.
EXPERIENCE
Head of Film and Content Production, Special Australia, NSW — 2020-present
Clients: ANZ, Uber Eats, Virgin Australia, RM Williams, Pepsi Co, Smiths, Red Rock Deli,
Kathmandu, Netflix, Kayo, Bonds and Yalumba,
Head of Integrated Production, DDB Australia, NSW — 2015-2019
Clients: Westpac, McDonald's, Volkswagen, Virgin Australia, Foxtel, Johnson and Johnson, Telstra, Sydney Opera House, Domain, Freedom, Unilever, Expedia, DDB Remedy, Interbrand
Executive Producer, Johannes Leonardo, New York, U.S.A — 2014-2015
Clients: Sony, Google, TTI, Trip Advisor
Senior Producer, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, VIC — 2004 - 2013
Clients: CUB (SAB Miller), MARS Pty Ltd, Tata Global Beverages, Fonterra Pty Ltd, Mercedes Benz, National Australia Bank, Guide Dogs Australia, SCA Australasia (Libra) Pty Ltd, Sensis Pty Ltd, Dulux Pty Ltd, Fonterra Pty Ltd, BUPA Health Pty Ltd, Pacific Brands, MLC, National Gallery Of Victoria, Transport Accident Commission, Crown Casino, Just Jeans, Australian Childhood Foundation, Care Australia, RACV xx
Freelance Producer, Singelton Ogilvy & Mather, VIC — 2003-2004
Clients: Myer, AAMI
Freelance Producer, FCB, VIC — 2003-2004
Clients: Honda, Yoplait
Producer, George Patterson Bates (Y&R) Melbourne, VIC- 2000-2003
Clients: Myer, Kmart, Carlton United Breweries, Ansett, Air New Zealand
Producer, McCann Erickson Brisbane, QLD - 1997-1999
Clients: Myer Centre, Conrad Jupiters Casino, Broadway Centre, Energex
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Visual Arts
Griffith University, Brisbane , QLD
Management Development Programme - DDB
SKILLS
Leading and managing a large and diverse team of production and post producers, production co-ordinators, content creators, cinematographers, editors, sound engineer, motion designers and animators
Sourcing production talent across the globe
Curating bespoke integrated production team
Managing internal production and post production offering
Scoping, providing feasibility, risk, efficiencies assessments and timelines on incoming projects for all Clients
Trafficking workflow and assigning projects within the production department
Developing and implementing production procedures and protocol
Revenue reporting
Mentoring and supporting team members
Management of intricate, multi platform projects from inception to final output
Managing broadcast production - television, film, radio, social
Managing procurement process, providing detailed cost controlling reports when required
Management of all legal requirements relating to projects. e.g: contracts between partners/institutions, bespoke celebrity talent contracts, artist agreements, non disclosure agreements etc.
Negotiating and securing production fees, high profile music tracks and celebrity talent
Develop and manage Risk Register on large integrated campaigns
Overseeing production logistics on experiential projects
Creating cost efficiencies across large and small productions
Support Creative management teams
Develop / manage project infrastructure, budgets and schedules
Manage million dollar plus productions, maximise efficiencies
Develop and maintain internal stakeholder and Senior Client relationships
Problem solving with internal & external production partners
Conduct internal and Client inductions for production
REFERENCES
Available on request