Russel Howcroft’s recipe for success: keep laughing and stay tough

Imbued with the spirit of competition, one of our favourite larrikins sees the fight over revenue and regulation in TV from a different perspective.

The income to the small screen sector relies on only two sources: the government, and advertising. It is that simple. In 2016, Russel Howcroft became chair of Think TV, a peak body to campaign for traditional television advertising and therefore a guardian of screen revenue. It is in his blood. 

The government has just reappointed him as chair of the AFTRS board. He has run advertising outfit Young & Rubicam Brands. Ditto Network Ten. He is now Chief Creative Officer and a Partner at PwC Australia. He is known for his appearances on The Gruen Transfer and is turning up as a breakfast host on Sydney radio. So he sits at a really interesting nexus in Australian culture – he is a public larrikin with a good brain, an advertising dude who defends our culture. He runs on his own need for amusement but accumulates responsibility.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.