Our Board
Our Board Members
Our board is made up of leaders from across the worlds of animation, education, media, and the arts, who lend their insight, experience, and support to guide the festival’s growth and ambition. With a shared commitment to nurturing talent, championing creativity, and strengthening the Irish animation industry, the Animation Dingle Board plays a vital role in shaping the festival’s direction year after year. We’re proud to work alongside such passionate advocates for the power of animation and storytelling.
Academy Award® nominee Bonnie Arnold is a veteran filmmaker and a leading force in imaginative storytelling. As an accomplished and prolific producer in almost every genre, the combined revenue for the films that Arnold has produced totals more than US $3.5 billion at the box office. In addition to Toy Story, her animation credits include the three Academy Award®-nominated animated “How to Train Your Dragon” films, “Over the Hedge,” “Tarzan,” and the upcoming original “Snoopy Unleashed” animated feature film.
Alan is the CCO Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder of JAM Media and oversees the creative content conceived, animated and produced by the company.
Alan is currently Executive Producer on ‘BeddyByes’ 52 x 11 for CBeebies/RTE. He was recently Executive Producer on ‘Nova Jones’ series 1 & 2 30 x 22 minutes for CBBC. Other recent credits include Executive Producer on ‘Jessy & Nessy’ – 40 x 11 for Amazon Studios and Becca’s Bunch – 52 x 11 minutes for Nickelodeon US & UK.
He has also directed the BAFTA® award winning series ‘Roy’ series 01 – 04 for CBBC. Other directorial credits include, ‘Little Roy’ – 52 X 14 minutes for CBBC/CBeebies. ‘Baby Jake’ 02 – 26 X 11 minute preschool animation series and ‘Tilly and Friends’ – 52 X 11 minute preschool animation series for CBeebies, along with various other series such as ‘Funky Fables’ – 26 x 11 minute, and the award winning preschool animated series ‘PICME’ – 104 x 5 minute for RTE/Nickelodeon.
As CEO & co-founder of JAM Media, Bafta winning John
Rice has led the company since its inception in 2002. He has exec-produced over
200 hours of original children’s programming, distributed JAM’s brands
globally, selling to over 100 territories. Prior to JAM Media, John has
previously worked with a variety of International studios, including 20th
Century Fox Animation and MTV in the U.S.A.
John is currently Executive Producer on the series
‘BeddyByes’ 52 x 11 for CBeebies/RTE. Most recently he exec produced JAM’s
first Feature ‘Greyhound of a Girl’ as well as delivering 3 series of the live
action, sci-fi comedy “Nova Jones’ to BBC/RTE. In his role as Executive
Producer John has worked with Nickelodeon on Becca’s Bunch, Prime Video on
Jessy and Nessy and has worked with partners across Europe delivering
unique, story driven content with high production values.
Under John’s leadership, JAM is now expanding its
horizons with a comprehensive animation services division. This strategic
initiative aims to harness JAM’s rich production history to meet the evolving
needs of the international animation market, positioning the company to
collaborate across a broader spectrum of projects and partners.
John holds a Masters in Multimedia from Trinity College,
has served on the board of Screen Ireland, is currently serving on the board of
Europe’s Cartoon Media.
Mark is the COO – Chief Operations Officer & Co-founder of JAM Media since its inception in 2002. His position makes him responsible for the smooth running of all operations and productions of the company ensuring that all productions are consistent with the world class high standard synonymous with JAM. Prior to co-founding JAM Media, Mark worked with Walt Disney Feature animation on The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules in Paris and Los Angeles, and also with Don Bluth Studios in Ireland as a Special Effects Animator.
Mark is currently Producer on Becca’s Bunch and is also producing Little Roy – 52 x 14 minutes. Mark has just recently completed producing, Zogcasts, Zig and Zag, and Roy 03 + 04 for CBBC. He was also Producer on the BAFTA award winning Roy, seasons 01 + 02, Baby Jake, PICME and the Media funded, Tilly and Friends, and Funky Fables. Mark has also produced several award-winning Irish Film Board funded short films such as Badly Drawn Roy and Escape.
Mark switches hats in Dingle to be conference M.C.
Maurice Galway is the Festival Director and co-founder of Animation Dingle. Maurice has over 30 years of festival experience and he brings this each year to Animation Dingle. As a festival director, programmer, exhibitor and as an artist and filmmaker himself, Maurice has a deep understanding of what works, what needs to be seen, what audiences want to see, how to exhibit that and, ultimately, what is good!
Maurice has presented Irish Animation at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Toronto Irish Film Festival & Soho House Festival.
In recognition of his work, Maurice was presented with an Ambassador Award by Fáilte Ireland; Gregory Peck’s family presented him with The Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in The Art of Film and he is the recipient of The Founding Kerry Ambassador Award.
As a visual artist & filmmaker, his feature film documentary Pauline Bewick: Yellow Man Grey Man screened on RTÉ & Sky Arts. His short films have been exhibited in Ireland, London, New York & China.
He is also the founder of Dingle Film Walks: Follow in the footsteps of iconic Hollywood filmmakers on the Dingle Peninsula.
Maurice also founded Kerry Film Festival and Dingle International Film Festival.
AD Board Member
Academy Award® nominee Bonnie Arnold is a veteran filmmaker and a leading force in imaginative storytelling. As an accomplished and prolific producer in almost every genre, the combined revenue for the films that Arnold has produced totals more than US $3.5 billion at the box office. In addition to Toy Story, her animation credits include the three Academy Award®-nominated animated “How to Train Your Dragon” films, “Over the Hedge,” “Tarzan,” and the upcoming original “Peanuts” animated feature film.
AD Board Member
Alan is the CCO Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder of JAM Media and oversees the creative content conceived, animated and produced by the company.
Alan is currently Executive Producer on ‘BeddyByes’ 52 x 11 for CBeebies/RTE. He was recently Executive Producer on ‘Nova Jones’ series 1 & 2 30 x 22 minutes for CBBC. Other recent credits include Executive Producer on ‘Jessy & Nessy’ – 40 x 11 for Amazon Studios and Becca’s Bunch – 52 x 11 minutes for Nickelodeon US & UK.
He has also directed the BAFTA® award winning series ‘Roy’ series 01 – 04 for CBBC. Other directorial credits include, ‘Little Roy’ – 52 X 14 minutes for CBBC/CBeebies. ‘Baby Jake’ 02 – 26 X 11 minute preschool animation series and ‘Tilly and Friends’ – 52 X 11 minute preschool animation series for CBeebies, along with various other series such as ‘Funky Fables’ – 26 x 11 minute, and the award winning preschool animated series ‘PICME’ – 104 x 5 minute for RTE/Nickelodeon.
AD Chairperson
As CEO & co-founder of JAM Media, Bafta winning John
Rice has led the company since its inception in 2002. He has exec-produced over
200 hours of original children’s programming, distributed JAM’s brands
globally, selling to over 100 territories. Prior to JAM Media, John has
previously worked with a variety of International studios, including 20th
Century Fox Animation and MTV in the U.S.A.
John is currently Executive Producer on the series
‘BeddyByes’ 52 x 11 for CBeebies/RTE. Most recently he exec produced JAM’s
first Feature ‘Greyhound of a Girl’ as well as delivering 3 series of the live
action, sci-fi comedy “Nova Jones’ to BBC/RTE. In his role as Executive
Producer John has worked with Nickelodeon on Becca’s Bunch, Prime Video on
Jessy and Nessy and has worked with partners across Europe delivering
unique, story driven content with high production values.
Under John’s leadership, JAM is now expanding its
horizons with a comprehensive animation services division. This strategic
initiative aims to harness JAM’s rich production history to meet the evolving
needs of the international animation market, positioning the company to
collaborate across a broader spectrum of projects and partners.
John holds a Masters in Multimedia from Trinity College,
has served on the board of Screen Ireland, is currently serving on the board of
Europe’s Cartoon Media.
AD Company Secretary
Mark is the COO – Chief Operations Officer & Co-founder of JAM Media since its inception in 2002. His position makes him responsible for the smooth running of all operations and productions of the company ensuring that all productions are consistent with the world class high standard synonymous with JAM. Prior to co-founding JAM Media, Mark worked with Walt Disney Feature animation on The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules in Paris and Los Angeles, and also with Don Bluth Studios in Ireland as a Special Effects Animator.
Mark is currently Producer on Becca’s Bunch and is also producing Little Roy – 52 x 14 minutes. Mark has just recently completed producing, Zogcasts, Zig and Zag, and Roy 03 + 04 for CBBC. He was also Producer on the BAFTA award winning Roy, seasons 01 + 02, Baby Jake, PICME and the Media funded, Tilly and Friends, and Funky Fables. Mark has also produced several award-winning Irish Film Board funded short films such as Badly Drawn Roy and Escape.
Mark switches hats in Dingle to be conference M.C.
AD Festival Director & Co-Founder
Maurice Galway is the Festival Director and co-founder of Animation Dingle. Maurice has over 30 years of festival experience and he brings this each year to Animation Dingle. As a festival director, programmer, exhibitor and as an artist and filmmaker himself, Maurice has a deep understanding of what works, what needs to be seen, what audiences want to see, how to exhibit that and, ultimately, what is good!
Maurice has presented Irish Animation at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Toronto Irish Film Festival & Soho House Festival.
In recognition of his work, Maurice was presented with an Ambassador Award by Fáilte Ireland; Gregory Peck’s family presented him with The Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in The Art of Film and he is the recipient of The Founding Kerry Ambassador Award.
As a visual artist & filmmaker, his feature film documentary Pauline Bewick: Yellow Man Grey Man screened on RTÉ & Sky Arts. His short films have been exhibited in Ireland, London, New York & China.
He is also the founder of Dingle Film Walks: Follow in the footsteps of iconic Hollywood filmmakers on the Dingle Peninsula.
Maurice also founded Kerry Film Festival and Dingle International Film Festival.
