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FreeTV CEO Julie Flynn to retire after 15 years leading the free-to-air television body

FreeTV CEO Julie Flynn has announced she will depart the role after 15 years as the head of one of Australia’s most powerful media industry bodies.

Flynn departing the TV industry role after 15 years.

Flynn: the voice of the commercial FreeTV industry in Canberra for 15 years

Flynn, who has been in the role since 2001, was a key lobbyist for the industry at a time of major change for sector.

Chairman of the FreeTV Board, Harold Mitchell, said the Board had reluctantly accepted Flynn’s decision to retire, and praised her contribution: “Julie has been a remarkably effective participant and advocate in a complex area of public policy. 

“Julie’s leadership of Free TV is valued highly across the industry and her work is respected by broadcasters, regulators and politicians from all sides of politics.

“Her retirement will be a loss for Free TV and for the industry,” Mitchell said.

Flynn led the industry body as it dealt with the move to digital and has been a vocal advocate of the free-to-air industry’s calls for reductions in the licence fees and attempts to fight calls to reduce the number of sporting events on the anti-siphoning list.

“Julie has been the voice of the commercial free-to-air television industry in Canberra for 15 years and has made a significant contribution to our industry and the media sector in general,” said Paul Anderson, CEO of Network Ten.

“Her passion for the sector and her commitment to ensuring Australians continue to receive the best free-to-air service in the world has made her an incredibly effective and valuable advocate for the industry.

“We will miss her contribution to our industry and wish her all the best for her future endeavours.”

Flynn has thanked the Board for the opportunity to represent the industry. “This has been a difficult decision for me. The past 15 years has been an extraordinary privilege and a pleasure and I am extremely proud of all that we have been able to achieve over that time.”

Flynn joined Free TV after 25 years in journalism at the ABC and commercial broadcasters. She is a Walkley Award winner and a former President of the Canberra Press Gallery.

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