Ruth Harley
{{Short description|New Zealand theatre, film and television executive and administrator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ruth Harley
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|OBE|size=100}}
| image = Ruth Harley (cropped).jpg
| caption = Harley in 2019
| birth_place = Nelson, New Zealand
| education = University of Canterbury
| alma_mater = University of Auckland
| employer = QEII Arts Council
}}
Ruth Elizabeth Harley {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|OBE}} is a New Zealand theatre, film and television executive.
Early life and education
Harley was born in Nelson, New Zealand and completed her secondary education at Nelson College for Girls.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ruth Harley |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/ruth-harley/biography |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}} She graduated from the University of Canterbury with a BA and then moved to the University of Auckland for her PhD.{{cite thesis |last=Harley |first=Ruth |year=1980 |type=Doctoral thesis |title=Politics and public themes in New Zealand literature 1930-1950 with special attention to Mulgan, Sargeson, Mason, Fairburn, Curnow |publisher=ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland |hdl=2292/1633 |url=https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/1633}}
Career
Harley worked for the QEII Arts Council, where she was responsible for theatre funding and worked in a liaison role.
She moved to TVNZ in 1986 as commissioning editor of projects including the film, An Angel at My Table, and television series, such as Public Eye and That’s Fairly Interesting.
Harley was appointed chief executive officer of the New Zealand Film Commission in 1997. Films funded during her tenure included Whale Rider, starring Academy Award nominated, Keisha Castle-Hughes{{Cite web |title=Whale Rider |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/whale-rider-2002 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}} and The World's Fastest Indian, starring Anthony Hopkins.{{Cite web |title=The World's Fastest Indian |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-worlds-fastest-indian-2005 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}}
From 2008 to 2013 Harley served as the inaugural chief executive officer of Screen Australia. In this role she oversaw the amalgamation of three film agencies to become Screen Australia. Projects funded under her leadership included films such as The Sapphires and the television series Redfern Now.{{Cite web |date=2013-07-31 |title=Graeme Mason appointed as Screen Australia CEO |url=https://theabe.com.au/graeme-mason-appointed-as-screen-australia-ceo/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=The Australian Business Executive |language=en-US}}
Harley was appointed chair of NZ On Air Irirangi Te Motu in 2018{{Cite web |title=Our team |url=https://www.nzonair.govt.nz/about/our-team/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.nzonair.govt.nz |language=en}} and reappointed for a further three years in 2021.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-04-21 |title=Dr Ruth Harley Reappointed As Chair Of NZ On Air |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2104/S00319/dr-ruth-harley-reappointed-as-chair-of-nz-on-air.htm |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Scoop News}}
Awards and recognition
Harley was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993.{{Cite web |title=The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – Register of recipients |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/types-new-zealand-royal-honours/other-distinctive-new-zealand-honours/suffrage-medal-register |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |date=26 July 2018 |language=en-NZ}}
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1996 New Year Honours for her work in broadcasting{{Cite web |title=New Year Honours List 1996 |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-1996 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |date=30 December 1995 |language=en-NZ}} and in the 2006 New Year Honours, she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition for her service to the film industry in New Zealand.{{Cite web |title=New Year Honours List 2006 |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2006 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |date=31 December 2005 |language=en-NZ}}
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People educated at Nelson College for Girls
Category:University of Canterbury alumni
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993
Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire