Jo Dyer

Jo Dyer is an Australian theatre and film producer, and director of Adelaide Writers' Week from 2019 to 2022. She is known for the films Lucky Miles (2007) and Girl Asleep (2015). A former Labor preselection candidate, she is currently running as an independent candidate for Boothby at the 2022 federal election.[1]

Biography

Dyer grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, and her first job was as receptionist for the State Theatre Company of South Australia, which diverted her from a career in insurance law. After a stint at the Australian Human Rights Commission, she took on the role of general manager of Bangarra Dance Theatre.[2][3]

Dyer was executive producer of Sydney Theatre Company for ten years, and executive director (2015) and then CEO (2016) of Sydney Writers' Festival until 2018.[4][3]

In March 2018 Dyer was appointed director of Adelaide Writers' Week, which takes place in March each year as part of the Adelaide Festival, starting with the 2019 event.[5][6][2] [7] After presiding over two events under challenging conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, restricting the movement of international and interstate authors, as well as some personal challenges, in August 2021 it was announced that Dyer would be stepping down after the March 2022 edition.[8]

Dyer has also been a member of the external advisory panel to the Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts at Flinders University, headed by Garry Stewart,[9] along with Greg Mackie, Wesley Enoch, Rebecca Summerton, and others.[10]

Professional career

Films and accolades

Dyer is known for the films Lucky Miles (2007) and Girl Asleep (2015). Her films have been nominated twice for Best Film at the AACTA Awards,[3] and she was given the Best Producer Award at the 2007 Asian First Film Awards at the 3rd Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore.[11]

Companies

She established Soft Tread Enterprises in 2008, which produces independent projects in the performing arts.[3] She also co-founded Rose Tinted Enterprises with magician James Galea, which produces magic and comedy shows on a variety of platforms.[12]

Christian Porter court case

In 2021, while she was running Writers' Week, Dyer became involved in a legal case relating to the rape allegations against Christian Porter. Dyer had been a friend of the alleged victim in the 1980s when she was told about the alleged rape by the Christian Porter. The alleged victim later committed suicide and Porter had subsequently become the Attorney-General of Australia.

The ABC recorded an interview with Dyer in which she said that she had believed her friend because of the level of detail she described. After Porter brought a defamation case against the ABC, Dyer brought litigation to prevent one of Porter's lawyers from representing him, believing that she had conflicting interests in the case, as she (the lawyer) had previously had access to confidential information about the victim and Porter involving Dyer relating to a separate incident.[13] Dyer was eventually awarded A$550,000 in costs from Porter.[8][14]

Politics

Dyer was endorsed by Voices of Boothby to run as the independent candidate for Boothby at the 2022 federal election.[15][16] Dyer has been criticised by Liberal opponents for not being authentically independent by reason of her past association with Labor, with suggestions she intends to preference to Labor in Boothby to ensure the Liberals lose the seat.[17]

Personal life

Dyer has a son,[8] who went to school in Adelaide when she became director of AWW.[2] Her partner Tom Wright is a notable Australian playwright. [18]

References
  1. Kathryn, Bermingham (14 December 2021). "Liberals accuse Boothby candidate Jo Dyer of GoFundMe hypocrisy after Christian Porter scandal". The Advertiser. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. Wallace, Ilona (28 February 2019). "Adelaide Writers' Week: Jo Dyer's write connections". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. "About Us". Soft Tread. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. "McGuire appointed SWF artistic director". Books + Publishing. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  5. "New director announced for Adelaide Writers' Week". InDaily. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  6. "New Director announced for Adelaide Writers' Week". Australian Arts Review. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  7. Dyer, Jo (24 February 2020). "On the Couch with Jo Dyer". Australian Arts Review (Interview). Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. Debelle, Penelope (6 August 2021). "Writers' Week chief to leave after 2022 festival". InDaily. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  9. "Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts". Flinders University. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  10. "Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts - External Advisory Panel". Flinders University. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  11. "Lucky Miles". Soft Tread. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. "About Rose Tinted Enterprises". Rose Tinted Enterprises. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  13. Mitchell, Georgina; McPhee, Sarah; Evans, Michael (24 June 2021). "Christian Porter rape allegation dossier revealed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  14. McGowan, Michael (11 June 2021). "Court orders Christian Porter and lawyer Sue Chrysanthou to pay substantial legal costs of Jo Dyer". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  15. "Adelaidenow.com.au | Subscribe to The Advertiser for exclusive stories". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  16. "Jo Dyer, advocate of Christian Porter's accuser, to stand as independent in Boothby". the Guardian. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  17. Andrew, Clennell (14 December 2021). "Government 'pushing line' about Independents being a 'Labor front'". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  18. Wright, Ilona (28 February 2019). "Adelaide Writers' Week: Jo Dyer's write connections". Adelaide Review. Retrieved 15 December 2021.

Jo Dyer at IMDb

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