Cate McQuillen
From her home base in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, Cate McQuillen and her partner Hewey Eustace are mememe productions, creating ‘out there’ content for the instalife generation. These changemakers, dreamed up and produced the visually distinctive animation series ‘dirtgirlworld’ and the nature driven live action series ‘Get Grubby TV’ for the ABC and 128 countries around the globe. Big believers in the power of a story, this hothouse of innovation has scooped up awards, including an Emmy, AFI, green Globe, ADG and SPAA digital producer and the prestigious NSW Service to the Community award in 2017. They have changed how families see the big world outside, creating a generation of kids across the globe who believe getting outside and getting grubby is only natural. They have infiltrated Australian homes with their ‘Handle with Care’ projects, their web series- ‘Compost Rocks’ and a fleet of branded rubbish trucks. In 2019 Cate travelled the top of Australia writing , directing and producing a 6 part documentary series about our Indigenous rangers ‘Country - handle with care.’ This was followed by a digital power packed project including a YouTube and podcast series ‘Mission Biosecurity,’ hosted by Costa Georgiadis. IRL she was commissioned to write and direct, Get Grubby -The Musical for a summer season at the Sydney Opera House and has produced a swag of festival and touring projects over the last 5 years. With millions of people hanging out with her and her BFF uber eco ego, dirtgirl, every week on Facebook and Instagram and an early childhood online subscription film led curriculum – the Get Grubby Program…it’s a wonder that she ever sleeps Right now she’s busy reimaging her creative forces, breaking rules and exploring new ways to tell story in her post bushfire, mid pandemic landscape, as she hatches ‘REgener8’ and explores zoom theatre to reach both remote and urban audiences. Never daunted, for this well practiced disruptor, these are the times in which she thrives. With myriad of skills and interests, Cate’s greatest assets are her bold approach, positive attitude and ability to generate ideas, innovate, motivate, inspire and see the ‘big picture’.