It is with immense pride that we celebrate our CEO Barbara Stephen’s win at the Premier’s NSW Export Awards on Friday. Babs was honoured with the NSW Women in International Business Award, which recognises outstanding achievements in international business by women who have developed or led international enterprises.

As the CEO of Flying Bark Productions, Babs has not only led the company to international acclaim but has also been a driving force for gender equality in what is still a predominantly male-dominated industry. 

Today, Flying Bark proudly boasts an executive team led by a formidable group of women, including our CEO Babs Stephen, CFO Emily Price, Head of Production Alexia Gates-Foale, Head of Legal and Business Affairs Jackie Emery, and Head of People and Culture Natalie Oreskovic. Under their leadership, a majority of our projects are directed and/or produced by women, contributing to a vibrant, creative community.

Babs and the executive team have set in place policies and initiatives that encourage an inclusive working environment, one that supports both personal and professional growth. These include:

• Paid parental leave and flexible work arrangements that enable team members—regardless of gender—to balance their personal and professional lives.
• Opportunities for working mothers, non-binary people, and those from marginalised backgrounds to thrive and excel in both 2D and CG animation.
• Skill development programs from school-level outreach to ongoing professional training, ensuring that the next generation of women and diverse voices have a platform to shine.

As a creator-driven studio, we’ve also been proud to work on projects that put women and girls at the forefront, including multi-award-winning Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur for Disney TV Animation, and our upcoming ABC original series Tales from Outer Suburbia, based on Shaun Tan’s best-selling anthology book. The studio constantly receives overwhelming fan support from families who connect with the strong, authentic characters we bring to the screen.

Flying Bark’s inclusive culture is further reflected in the supportive and collaborative nature of our work environment. Animation is a process that requires a diverse range of viewpoints and talents to come together in harmony, and we are proud to have built a creative home for over 500 people across three global offices plus remote workers in over 30 countries.

With the recent launch of After Bark, we are committed to expanding our focus on female-led stories and providing opportunities to emerging creators from diverse backgrounds. Babs’ leadership is setting a precedent for how women can redefine industries, lead successful international ventures, and build inclusive, dynamic teams.

Congratulations to Babs and the entire Flying Bark team on this incredible achievement. Together, we are not just creating world-class content, but we are also fostering a world where diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the creative process. Here’s to inspiring future generations of women in animation and beyond!