Helen McAleer runs a media consultancy specializing in IP, publishing, and TV production. Drawing on almost 30 years of experience in the children’s sector across all key media she works with clients including publishing houses Macmillan Children’s Books UK and Macmillan Children’s US, literary agents the Soho Agency and Producers Fourth Wall and Kelebek and International Literary Properties.

Helen is also a non-executive Director of Irish production company Jam Media, a non-executive Chairperson of UK Producer and Publisher Fourth Wall, and a non-executive Director of Rocket Licensing Agency.

Before setting up her consultancy business, Helen spent several years at the Walker Books Group, joining as Managing Director of Walker Books UK and founding Walker Productions. She went on to become Chief Global Development Officer, responsible for globalizing her successful UK strategy in TV, licensing, digital, and rights management across the group. As Managing Director of Walker Productions, she developed and co-produced award-winning TV series and films for Disney Junior, CBeebies, CBBC, CITV, and Channel 4. She is the Executive Producer of the series Tilly and Friends, Hank Zipzer, Scream Street, and C4’s 2016 animated Christmas family film, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In 2017, the Hank Zipzer Christmas Special won an International Emmy.

Prior to joining Walker, Helen was Deputy Managing Director of BBC Worldwide’s Children’s Business where she was responsible for Worldwide’s children’s programming investment budget, as well as running the DVD, global licensing and merchandising, and digital businesses. She also sat on the BBC/Penguin Joint Venture Kids Publishing Board. In her time at Worldwide, she worked across several major global franchises such as Teletubbies, Tweenies, Doctor Who, Bob the Builder, Wallace and Gromit, and Charlie and Lola.

Helen began her career working for Random House and Penguin Books working on books by such esteemed authors as Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake, and Raymond Briggs, to name just a few.

Helen is a member of the Children’s Media Conference Committee, a member of the London Book Fair Advisory Committee, and a patron and Director of the Children’s Media Foundation.

Featured in: Pitch Prep 1