Abby Dorrian
Coledale,NSW
Summary
Opportunity maker. Relationship builder. Celebrator of creative talent, keeper of my own. Master of Arts in Linguistics. Mother. A natural hunter and authentic communicator, I boast a global network in film and advertising & marketing industry through creative outreach and meaningful relationships. I drive new business, growth and engagement. I create buzz. Make noise. A hybrid creative business woman with exceptional presentation and people skills. Voiceover Artist. ARIA Awards 2024 Jury, shots APAC 2023 Jury
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of New Business
Smith & Western Sound
01.2022 - Current
- Developed Smith & Western into a leading sonic branding agency in APAC, driving new business in sonic branding, original music composition, sound design and audio post in Film, Television, Radio and TVC's globally
- Lead marketing and communications and devised tone and narrative
- Developed and delivered presentations to clients and creative departments
- Acted as ambassador at industry events
- Researched and evaluated potential new clients and markets
- Wrote engaging and successful marketing, advertising, and professional networks and press copy
- Enhanced client relationships through consistent networking and creative outreach
- Evaluated partnership opportunities strategically, considering both short-term gains and long-term value creation potential
- Spearheaded email marketing campaigns resulting in higher open rates and increased conversions from prospects into customers.
- Strengthened brand awareness with creative marketing materials that resonated with target audiences
- Analyzed competitors'' offerings to identify potential opportunities for growth and differentiation.
Head of New Business
MINT FILMS
01.2019 - Current
- Drive in briefs through one-to-one meets and group screenings with Producers, CCO's, ECD's, CD's and Creatives and present MINT FILMS Directors' roster of work
- Attend shoots to nurture client relationships
- Deal with all incoming enquiries, briefs, requests for quotes and treatments
- Respond to briefs making Director suggestions based on budget, creative, interest and avails and create and edit suitable reels
- Maintain a market presence through social media strategies, marketing campaigns and networking
- Act as go-between for in-house Producer and Agency throughout the Treatment and pitching stage
- Network at Award shows and industry events by acting as Ambassador for the Production Company and roster of Directors
- Build and nurture the roster of Directors
- Create social activity for networking purposes with monthly marketing budget
Directors' Representative
Sweet Shop
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Represent a roster of 30 international cinematic Film Directors and present their body of work through self booked meetings with TV Producers and Creative Directors at leading Advertising Agencies in London and Europe and achieve maximum exposure of their craft and unique offerings
- Attend Award shows and Film Festivals such as Cannes to network, build relationships, collect market intel and follow up on leads
- Take a consultative approach to identify brands and campaigns worked on by Digital and Broadcast media companies to target accordingly and screen the appropriate roster of Directors
- Generate own leads daily using existing contacts and social media, updating the global CRM and build customer story and company history
- Present screenings to individual clients in addition to conducting large group formal screenings to showcase Sweetshop’s global roster of talent and production offering
- Host breakfasts, lunches, dinners for both perspective and existing clients in order to build and nurture relationships
- Network at Award shows and industry events
- Liaise between Directors, clients, producers and advertising agency personnel on receipt of new briefs, scripts and pitches supporting the Director where appropriate before handing over won pitches to Sweetshop’s Executive Producers
- Devise PR, marketing and sales strategies to develop and expand client list
- Nurture and support the company’s existing roster of Directors as well as scout and meet with new talent to present to the Managing Director
Costume Standby and Buyer
Lucy Hagan Costume Designer
02.2007 - 01.2014
- On set costume stylist and buyer for Scoundrel, Outsider, Rattling Stick, RSA FILMS, Sweetshop, Biscuit, Academy Films and more...
Live 24-Seven Lifestyle Magazine (Advertising Sales)
BBC CWR
06.2001 - 01.2007
- Internal and External selling of advertising space to independent and multi-national companies
Education
Media and Communication Diploma W/N -
BBC Television Centre
MA APPLIED LINGUISTICS -
University of Bedfordshire
09.2011
BA (HONS) FILM STUDIES -
London Studio Centre (Middlesex University accredited)
07.2001
A Level -
Bablake School, Coventry
07.1998
GCSE -
Pattison College, Coventry
07.1996
Skills
- New Business
- Presenting
- Growth
- Production
- Networking
- Communications
- Sales and Marketing
- Business Development
- Relationships
- Clients Services
- Event Manager
- Public Relations
- Researcher
- Trainer
- Voiceovers
Professional Highlights
- Hosted a lunch with Foxtel in my first week at Smith & Western converting it into the company's biggest ever project to date.
- Instrumental in updating Smith & Western's new brand tone, narrative and specialism
- Brought in £900k of business in my second meeting representing Sweetshop, London
- Brought in 2024 Cannes Lions winning brief for Smith & Western
- Cultivated a roster of Film Directors at MINT FILMS from the ground up. Tripled project budgets and maintained a continuous stream of higher quality briefs per quarter, year on year
- Established Smith & Western's narrative as a leading Sonic branding Agency in APAC
- Established MINT as a go-to Production House for top-line agencies
- Dressed David Beckham, HRH Prince William and Ricky Gervais when freelancing in Production
- Lived in Cape Town working for International Director, Roel Reine's Rebel Films company
- Voiced campaigns for Fifa World Cup, British Airways, Gordons Gin, Foxtel, The Australian Open, Spotify and Universal Pictures
References
Available upon request
Hobbies and Interests
- Voiceover work
- Film
- Travel
- Theatre
- Music
- TV
- Literature
- Food
- Rugby Union
Timeline
Head of New Business
Smith & Western Sound
01.2022 - Current
Head of New Business
MINT FILMS
01.2019 - Current
Directors' Representative
Sweet Shop
01.2015 - 01.2019
Costume Standby and Buyer
Lucy Hagan Costume Designer
02.2007 - 01.2014
Live 24-Seven Lifestyle Magazine (Advertising Sales)
BBC CWR
06.2001 - 01.2007
Media and Communication Diploma W/N -
BBC Television Centre
MA APPLIED LINGUISTICS -
University of Bedfordshire
BA (HONS) FILM STUDIES -
London Studio Centre (Middlesex University accredited)
A Level -
Bablake School, Coventry
GCSE -
Pattison College, Coventry