Award-winning documentary filmmaker and storyteller

Overview

Leanne Pooley ONZM is one of New Zealand's most acclaimed documentary filmmakers — director of Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (NZ's highest-grossing documentary), Beyond the Edge, 25 April and The Girl on the Bridge. A New Zealand Arts Laureate, ONZM and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars), she brings 30+ years of storytelling craft to the stage.

Who is Leanne Pooley? Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Leanne immigrated to New Zealand in the mid-1980s after meeting her future husband. She started at TVNZ, moved to England in 1992 to direct for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, PBS and Discovery, and returned to NZ in 1997 to establish Spacific Films. Her documentaries have screened in more than 100 countries on subjects ranging from rugby to the Pope to artificial intelligence. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a former judge of the International Emmy Awards.

Career Highlights • ONZM for Services to Documentary Filmmaking, 2017 • New Zealand Arts Laureate, 2011 • Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars) • Director, Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls — NZ's most successful documentary • Director, Beyond the Edge (TIFF People's Choice runner-up) and 25 April (first NZ animated feature considered for an Academy Award) • Director, The Girl on the Bridge and We Need to Talk About A.I. for Universal Pictures

Key Speaking Themes • Storytelling — for film, business and brand • Creativity, craft and resilience in a tough industry • Documenting hard subjects: suicide, war, AI, ethics • Women in film and behind the camera • Translating real stories into emotional impact

What Your Audience Will Gain Leanne is sharp, curious and a true student of story. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of what makes a story land — characters, tone, pace, courage — and how those craft principles translate to leadership, brand and communication.

Ideal For • Creative industry, brand and marketing events • Leadership and women in business conferences • Education, university and film school audiences • Arts, culture and innovation forums • Awards nights and gala dinners

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Leanne Pooley speak about? Storytelling, creativity, documentary craft, women in film, and the ethics of telling real people's stories.

What are Leanne Pooley's best-known films? Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, Beyond the Edge, 25 April, The Girl on the Bridge, We Need to Talk About A.I. and Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold.

What honours has Leanne Pooley received? ONZM for Services to Documentary Filmmaking (2017), New Zealand Arts Laureate (2011), Best Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival, and "Best Director" honours at the New Zealand Screen Awards.

Is Leanne Pooley a member of the Academy? Yes. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the organisation behind the Oscars.

Where is Leanne Pooley based? Auckland, where she lives with her husband and two children and runs production company Spacific Films.
Is Leanne Pooley available for keynotes and panels? Yes. Leanne is available for keynotes, panels and workshops on storytelling, creativity and the craft of documentary across NZ.