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Patricia Powell-Hughes 

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Patricia  Powell-Hughes

Managing Director
Patricia Powell-Hughes is the visionary force behind EP Australia, a leading executive search and recruitment powerhouse dedicated exclusively to the media, film, TV, arts, music, sports, and entertainment sectors in Australia. With a remarkable 30-year track record in the creative industries, Patricia and her team at EP Australia have forged an indelible reputation as the premier consultants for the creative economy.

Deep industry knowledge, networks, and candidate intelligence have positioned Patricia as a trusted executive search and recruitment advisor to the creative industries and enabled her team to deliver high-quality results to their clients.

A stalwart advocate for the arts and its profound impact on well-being and cultural identity, in addition to her 25 years as EP Australia’s Managing Director, Patricia has curated an illustrious career spanning various Board, leadership, and community roles across the spectrum of screen, performing and visual arts, and education. Her particular emphasis on reconciliation and women's empowerment has brought about transformative change. Patricia is fervently committed to nurturing resilient, sustainable, and triumphant careers for women within the creative realm.

Between her pivotal roles at EP Australia and MediaRING, Patricia has been a driving force behind the inception of initiatives that have created positive change in the screen industry, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners.

Affectionately known as "PPH” within the industry, Patricia has been invited as a discerning judge for prestigious events like the AFI/AACTA Awards, the Australian Teachers of Media Awards, and The Australian Subscription Television Awards. Furthermore, she has graced panel discussions on pivotal subjects including Leading the Change: The Role of the Media in Reconciliation, Screen Australia's Gender Matters Brilliant Careers ‘Mind the Gap', Australian Women in Music’s Your Roadmap to Success, Generation Next’s Talent Regeneration, mUmBRELLA’s Tackling Diversity in Australian Media and Advertising, and Women in Media’s Relaunch 2023.

Patricia is a former Board member of SPRUNG!!, a community-focused organisation providing specialised training in dance and theatre for individuals with disabilities, Patricia embodies a spirit of inclusivity and compassion. She is a dedicated member of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN) and holds a valued spot in Women on Boards (WOB).

Patricia currently sits on the Board of Australian Women in Music (AWMA), an organisation established in 2018 to address chronic gender inequality across the full spectrum of the Australian Music Industry. In just four years, AWMA has delivered programs that have driven systemic change to make visible female First Nations and multi-cultural artists, women working in remote and regional communities, female producers, engineers, and technicians, emerging artists, elders, leaders, and non-binary and GNC music practitioners across all genres of music. AWMA's clarion call for the Australian music industry to embrace Gender Equality as a foundational core value resonates through Patricia's leadership.

As a further recognition of Patricia’s extraordinary impact and influence, Patricia currently stands as a finalist for the 'Influential Woman' category in the esteemed Australian Women’s Small Business Champions Awards in 2023.

In essence, Patricia's journey encapsulates a symphony of leadership, transformation, and unwavering advocacy. Her trailblazing spirit continues to amplify the resonance of creativity and inclusivity across Australia's vibrant cultural tapestry.


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