Speaker Deirdre Brennan

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Deirdre Brennan

Chief Operating Officer

Universal Kids

A highly respected global leader in children’s content,Deirdre BrennanjoinedCorus Entertainmentin March 2016 as Vice President of Content, Corus Kids, overseeing all content aspects of the Corus Kids portfolio in Canada, including YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon, TELETOON, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD. She will lead Corus Kids’ original programming, acquisitions and scheduling teams, and will be responsible for the development, management and execution of the Corus Kids slate of programming. 

Prior to joining Corus, Deirdre was Head of Children’s Television, ABC TV with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, leading programming, acquisition and commissioning across Australia’s most successful children’s services - ABC KIDS, ABC3, iview and online.

In April 2013, BBC Worldwide appointed Deirdre as Director of Content Australia & New Zealand, taking responsibility for content management and development in the region – overseeing the editorial delivery of the ANZ channels, format production and drama investment. Deirdre joined BBCW Australia as Director of Television in August 2010, managing production, programming, acquisitions, on-air promotions and presentation for the local portfolio of channels. As General Manager/Director of Channels and Branded Services Australasia from January 2012, Deirdre was responsible for the performance and development of the linear channel portfolio – UKTV, UKTV NZ, BBC Knowledge, BBC Knowledge NZ and CBeebies – as well as managing local operations for BBC World News and branded non-linear services including Global iPlayer.

Her extensive television career has included roles at MTV Networks and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She joined BBCW from Nickelodeon Australia, where she was Director of Programming from 2007 to 2010. Under Deirdre’s tenure, Nickelodeon twice won ASTRA’s Channel of The Year (2007, 2009). From 2001-2007, Deirdre was Children’s Programmer for ABC TV, establishing ABC KIDS as the #1  destination for Australian families and an internationally recognised brand.

She became one of Australia’s first female television announcers when she joined ABC in 1986 whilst studying Economics/Law at Sydney University, before moving to roles in ABC Marketing and ABC TV Programming (1998-2001). She extended her on-air experience with radio broadcasting, as well as project direction, stage management and choreography.

Deirdre is a Member of the International Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences.

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