Tom Batchelor,
GM Disney
Tom has been working in the film industry since 2002, initially spending 2 years in production before moving into film distribution. After 9 successful years at Warner Bros in the UK – where he was lucky enough to distribute over 200 films including 5 HARRY POTTER titles and all 3 DARK KNIGHT movies amongst many others – Tom became Head of Studio Distribution for The Walt Disney Company, UK and Ireland, in early 2013, spearheading the releases of all Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm titles.
Since then he’s worked on the company’s largest franchises, memorably leading the team that saw STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS become the biggest film of all time in the UK, overseeing the release of 12 Marvel titles, several Pixar and Disney Animation Studios films including BIG HERO SIX, FROZEN, MOANA, COCO and FINDING DORY and being part of Disney’s live action successes including THE JUNGLE BOOK and 2017’s megahit BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
In November 2016, he relocated from London to Singapore to become Disney’s General Manager of Studio Entertainment for South East Asia and also oversees all of the live theatre and music strategy for the region. He is married with 2 children.
Garon De Silva,
HBO Asia
Garon De Silva manages production and development of original content in his role as Vice President, Original Productions at HBO Asia.
Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia with six 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels: HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits, Cinemax and Red by HBO. The network also has an internet streaming platform, HBO GO, and a subscription video on demand service, HBO On Demand. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO and HBO Asia Original programmes produced exclusively for HBO viewers. HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst channel in the region.
De Silva joined Singapore-based HBO Asia in 2005 and has been involved in the Pay Television industry for over 20 years, having previously worked at Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.
Doreen Neo,
Mediacorp
Doreen started her career in international advertising agency McCann Erickson in 1984, and made her mark as its Associate Media Director. In 1999 she joined Mediacorp as Senior Assistant Vice President of Business Planning. Following the media liberalization in 2000, Doreen joined SPH MediaWorks as Senior Vice President, Media Business Group, and was instrumental in setting up its sales and marketing operations as well as its sponsorship, research and agency teams.
In 2003, Doreen took on the challenge of starting-up MediaWise (Singapore and Malaysia), OMD’s second media agency, as its General Manager. She was responsible for starting the company from ground up, and growing it into a viable and successful business.
In 2005, television beckoned again, and Doreen joined Mediacorp to head its Chinese Entertainment Production and Content Distribution divisions. In this role, she was responsible for the bulk of Singapore’s local entertainment content, as well its worldwide distribution and syndication. In 2010, Doreen started Mediacorp’s Malaysia Drama Unit to supplement local production hours. In 2011, Doreen was put in-charge of the Non-Linear Production division to develop non-linear content extensions for Mediacorp’s new media platforms. She assumed the role of Managing Director, Studios in April 2012.
In May 2017, she was appointed as Chief Content Officer overseeing our entire Studio output & operations and The Celebrity Agency (TCA). In this new role, Doreen’s key priorities are to strengthen Mediacorp’s production capabilities, inject digital DNA and ensure a sustainable business.