Meet the GTC Council

Riccardo M Alfano
International Liaison Officer

I’m a London based freelance camera operator specialised in single camera ENG and multicamera OB production.

I’m a regular with BBC News and several Foreign broadcasters such as Rai, CNN and Al Jazeera for more than a decade covering the most important events in these incredible times in Documentary, News and Current Affairs.

I also spend some time in Rome where my family is based, where since the beginning of the pandemic I’ve also been helping foreign productions.

I have credits in Amazon Prime’s series, UEFA Champions League, Motor Racing, ATP Tennis and UFC.

I also have contributed to the screens or live performance recordings for Pearl Jam, Adele, Janet Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams, Robbie Williams and Coldplay. 

I’ve been a GTC Member for over 15 years now and always found invaluable the wealth of knowledge and help I had in situations of need when, for example, a simple post on the Forum to ask for suggestions to resuscitate a nearly dead camera while on assignment away from home, lead to a multitude of direct email and phone calls to offer help to a “stranded” colleague.

Having been nominated International Liaisons Officer at the beginning of the last Council term, while I was forced to stay in Rome during the second (or third…I honestly lost count) lockdown, I decided to stand again to keep helping this great organisation.

As international Liaisons Officer for the GTC I hope to build relationships with other camera professionals, organisations and companies around the world.

Sam Aries
Co-opted Student Member

I'm a recent Television and Broadcasting graduate, I worked as camera operator and Vision mixer at Portsmouth football club while at uni as well as taking every runner opportunity available!

I have an interest in OB and am currently navigating my way into the industry. I also have a bit of a hobby for climbing mountaineering and macro photography.

Simon Edwards
Advertising and Partnerships Manager

I am a working cameraman now in my fourth term on Council, being Vice Chair from 2016–2020.

In May 2020 I took on the role of Advertising and Partnership Manager, looking after the many companies that help the GTC grow and develop as an organisation.

I’m often at exhibitions, meeting members, talking to potential new members and our industry partners, promoting the work of the GTC. I have helped with the GTC Mental Health Supplements and also sat on both the ‘Scripted’ and Fact/Ent/OB working groups for COVID-19 protocols.

I am a member of the Department of Education and Institute for Apprenticeships panels on new qualifications for our industry and robustly defend the role of the camera people within those, helping to ensure that any qualification that is launched reflects what we need now and for the future.

Read Simon's Q&A from InFocus

Rob Emmanuel
Co-Exhibitions Organiser

I have been a freelance camera operator for over 25 years, now mostly for multicamera TV and other platforms, but with a background in PSC lighting camera. I've been a proud member of the GTC for many years, having always appreciated the numerous benefits this great organisation offers in creating a community where we can strive together to maintain high standards of camera craft.

Alongside my ‘day job’, I am now Commissioning Editor of Zerb. It's a privilege to collaborate with the incredible people who so generously and enthusiastically share their knowledge and experiences, as well as to search out and showcase people behind the lesser-known roles, all of which are vital to what ends up on our screens.

It is vital that Zerb and the GTC proactively forge a progressive path, reflecting diversity and being open and relevant to all camera professionals in every sector and stage of their career paths.

Barry Grubb
Co-opted Sponsor Member

Working with some of the industries top brands in equipment supply and image capture around the world I have been fortunate enough to have experienced many developments and changes in the Film/TV and broadcast markets. It's this experience and thirst for knowledge that I apply in my work with the GTC as a Co-opted council member.

Derek Halls
Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Kate Harvest
Co-Exhibitions Organiser

I’m a freelance camera person, and have been on Council as Exhibitions Officer for the past two years.

I will continue to look after the GTC’s presence at exhibitions and shows, when they get started again; it’s a great way to get out and about and I love meeting existing and potential members, talking about what we can offer and finding out what our members most value and would like more of.

Working in this industry is a rewarding but at times precarious career, and building and maintaining strong networks is key. The GTC is an invaluable resource whatever your level in the industry, providing workshops, webinars and skills; opportunities for networking and increasing our community; and creating a pool of knowledge and experience which we can all access and benefit from.

Martin Hawkins

Director of Photography / Camera Operator

My television career started in the Camera department at London Weekend Television in 1976 working on a variety of shows, both studio and outside broadcasts.

An opportunity in 1982 to join Limehouse Studios as part of their camera crew was an opportunity I couldn’t miss and eventually I went on to become Head of the Camera department.

When Limehouse Studios was demolished in 1988, I briefly joined Mentorn Films working on Challenge Anneka, for which I received a BAFTA nomination for outstanding camerawork in 1990 before leaving to make my name in the variety of the freelance world.

In 2011, I was honoured to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTS, followed by the GTC’s very own TiCA Award in 2015.

I’ve been a GTC member since 1977 and really believe in what they stand for and do for us all.

John Henshall
Honorary President

Whilst a BBC cameraman in the 1960s and 1970s, I met Dick Hibberd and helped him establish the Guild in 1972, serving on our first council.
 
I left the BBC in 1976 to run my camera effects company, Telefex, and to work as a freelance Director of Photography on some of the earliest music videos. I formed my own group of DoPs, our work including MTV Europe for its first 10 years. Other credits include Channel 4's Network Seven, ITV's Spitting Image and many other programmes and commercials.
 
More recently, I have been heavily involved in the emerging field of digital imaging since its birth, organising conferences in the US and consulting for major imaging companies.
 
I am immensely proud to have been made Honorary President of the Guild in succession to Dick Hibberd and to be able to support all the dedicated people who run the GTC on a daily basis.

Read John's Q&A from Zerb

Graham Maunder
Chair & Treasurer

I’m a DoP/Lighting Cameraman working as a freelancer. I originally trained at the BBC, working at TV Centre and on OBs, then independent companies TVi. Trilion & Limiehouse Television before starting my own Company.

My work is a varied mix of documentaries, sport and occasional drama. I also do motorbike and skiing camerawork as well as charity work for UNICEF. I am proud to have received multiple awards over the years.

Since originally joining the GTC I have been involved through Zerb and the Forum, and was honoured to be voted on to the Council in 2016 where I was then elected as Chair. During my time as Chair I have overseen many positive changes including the name change and implementing the free 1st Aid Courses we provide for our members.

I hope that whilst on Council, and particularly in my role as Chair, I can help promote the GTC in a positive way to encourage more people to join and be active in a forward-thinking, positive and modern GTC.

Graeme McAlpine
Vice-Chair

I have been a proud member of the GTC since the early 1980s and have served on Council in many positions, including as Chair.

My career began as a trainee camera assistant at ITV in the late 1970s. Whilst staff at LWT, I worked in many roles including as a studio, OB and PSC camera operator. Since going freelance in 1991, I have continued to work in all genres of camera operations, adding documentary, natural history and news to my experience.

Recently most of my work has been as a studio camera operator/supervisor, although I still enjoy working on PSC and OBs whenever the opportunity arises. I have been fortunate to operate on major events, including royal weddings and funerals, papal and presidential visits, as well the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

I hope that I can bring my broad background and abilities to help the GTC membership and also encourage younger members to serve on Council.

Hannah Mellish
Co-Social Media Manager

I am currently working as a staff camera operator for itv daytime, working on shows including This Morning and Good Morning Britain, which I absolutely love. I have been there for a year now, but before that I was an operator for shopping channels, and dabbled in freelance assisting on shows such as Strictly and Dancing on Ice.

A lot of my career progression has come through making contacts through the GTC, providing me with shadow days with various camera teams. As well as this, being on council has really helped to build my confidence, both socially and professionally, and I am really grateful for that.

During the last 2 years, Peter and I have worked hard to build up the Guild’s social media presence, as well as creating a more cohesive ‘look’ across all our digital output. We’ve seen a real increase in engagement, especially through our new Facebook Members Hub, and I am especially proud of the work we do during our annual Awards Ceremonies.

I hope that we can continue this work over the next 2 years, and my main goal is to continue to try and attract and retain younger members, through our social media engagement. I am also looking forward to being able to attend and document more physical events, now that things are back to ‘normal’!

Peter Newman
Co-Social Media Manager and
Environment Officer

I am a Freelance Camera and Jib Assistant working primarily in Light Entertainment and Outside Broadcasts. Since starting my career in 2013, I have worked as a Runner, Technical Assistant and Multi-skilled Studio Operator.

Over the last 2 years on Council, I have: been part of the social media team; created the Guild's environmental policy; supported the Bill Vinten GTC University Awards Officer in running the competition; and attended exhibitions on behalf of the GTC.

I look forward to continuing to support the Guild by further developing its social media channels to enable us to engage with members and keep them updated on both GTC and GTC sponsor news, as well as working with the newly formed committee to promote the organisation to potential new members. I will also continue to focus on GTC social responsibility, including our environmental policy as well as initiatives to help both the GTC and the wider industry become more inclusive.

Clive North
 

I'm now a happily retired freelance lighting cameraman after 40-odd years on the road shooting local news for  around 15 years, and the rest mainly on documentaries with special emphasis on science and history.

When I took over the role of Workshops Organiser some years back, I rather cheekily tried to set up the kind of workshops I would personally find of interest and benefit. That seemed to work well but now I have a more democratic approach and set up events that I feel will benefit the most members!

Thanks to COVID-19 I’ve discovered the possibilities afforded by Zoom technology to enable e-workshops to take over from our traditional style of workshop event.  Hopefully we can run both types in the future.

Read Clive's Q&A from Zerb

Andy Reik
Press Card Gatekeeper

I am a freelance lighting cameraman working in Sports, Documentary and Corporate content. I have a keen interest in technology and design and I'm also a licenced drone pilot and Gatekeeper for the UK Press Card Authority. I have just completed work on ‘Blood, Sex and Royalty’ for Netflix and spend my spare time working as an Instructor with the Army Cadet Force.

Any enquiries for Press Cards should be sent to presscards@gtc.org.uk

Roger Richards
Membership &  Administrator Officer / 
GTC In Focus Editor

I joined HTV in 1971 as a trainee assistant cameraman in the film department and, over the next 20 years, worked my way up to lighting cameraman. I became freelance in 1991 as a lighting cameraman and director of photography.

I became editor of the GTC Newsletter in 2004, renaming it GTC In Focus and, in April 2011, I was appointed GTC Membership Administrator.

Graham Risdon
Secretary and 
Kit Review
Co-ordinator

Since joining the GTC, I’ve been massively impressed with the whole organisation and the support it offers – truly exceptional value for money.

I came to camerawork in a roundabout way; whilst working in IT, I was tasked to set up a multicamera internet broadcasting studio – quite a challenge in 1999 with dial-up internet connections!

I started my own small production company, Media Inventions Ltd, in 2002. I work mainly with corporate automotive clients and have a PfCO for drone work. I also shoot and stream multicamera shows, conferences, and webinars. I’m a self-confessed kit junkie and have accumulated a wide range of cameras as well as the usual mountain of “bits and pieces”.  I’m much better at buying kit than selling it!

Having got more involved during my first term on Council, I'm pleased to take on the role of Secretary this year, as well as continuing to co-ordinate kit reviews.

Fiona Schimmel

I've been working in studio and outside broadcast cameras for roughly 10 years, both a staff camera guarantee/ operator and in the last few years as a freelance camera person. My main work these days is on live sports such as football, rugby, cricket, tennis and athletics as well as a bit of studio camerawork. 

I've been a GTC member since starting my career in 2012 and it was an invaluable resource then as well as it is now. I'm looking forward to contributing to the organisation that has been so enriching with its magazine, workshops and networking opportunities for me. I'd also like to encourage young people who are starting out to make use of the opportunities the GTC can provide.

Luke Sheehan
Education & Academies Events Officer / Bill Vinten Awards Organiser / Picture Archivist

I am a Freelance Camera Operator and Camera Assistant primarily working in Sports and News. As well as regular Studio and OB work, I have been fortunate enough to work on a range of large-scale events such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, HM The Queens' Platinum Jubilee, COP26 and the G7 Summit as well as Studio shows for the Champions League and the NFL Superbowl. 

Robin Smith
IAWF Representative

 John Tarby
Bill Vinten Awards Voting Organiser

John Tarby, former Vice Chairman of the GTC, is a Documentary Lighting Cameraman in London, working in broadcast and business television, stereography and tutoring cinematography.

In the trendy late 1960s, John became a qualified photographer, learning cinematography, on the job, firstly at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and then Unilever Research. He became a freelance TV cameraman in the 1980s and helped start the Electronic Camera Company.

John joined Council in 2004 and has worked on many projects including managing the GTC Awards events 2004–2012; compiling the GTC business plan/strategy document; managing the digitisation of Zerb and GTC In Focus back catalogues; and researching the compilation of a GTC Wikipedia article. Currently, John supports Alan Duxbury with the Bill Vinten GTC University Awards. He has created the online judging system and liaises with the many judges to guide them through the judging process. John is looking to replicate the success of this system for the annual GTC Awards.

John Templeton
Workshop Organiser and
Legal Co-ordinator

I started out as a press photographer shooting on black and white film in the late 1980s. After a degree I joined a production company as a runner, then freelanced as a camera assistant. 
 
Stepping up to the role of cameraman I made a short film in Sierra Leone in 1997 which led to a period of covering major events around the world. More recently I’ve worked on documentary series for clients including National Geographic, Netflix and Discovery. 
I’m now beginning a new development working on comedy projects this year alongside factual work.

I’ve been a GTC member for most of my career. The wisdom and support of the membership is invaluable. I look forward to being an active member of council.

Chris Yacoubian
Welfare Officer

Lucky to having over 20 years' experience in every aspect of television, I've been fortunate enough to work with some of the most incredible people in some of the most unique and wonderful places on the planet. I see being on Council as a fantastic opportunity to try and encourage a new generation of image-makers to strive to be the best in the world, and hopefully join us!

I feel honoured to be the GTC Welfare Officer and am here to offer advice, support and encouragement to all those in our wonderful industry that may be going through difficult times, regardless of circumstance or story.

Being on Council is a chance to provide a link to those out there trying to make inroads into our industry. Whether they are a media student or the next budding amateur Roger Deakins, I hope to be able to help create a platform where our industry is more approachable and understanding.

Terry Abrey
GTC Accountant

Sarah Adams
Zerb Production Editor

Sarah Adams has worked in the media for 37 years as a journalist in newspapers, magazines, online and in television as a producer, as well as lecturing in journalism and PR at The University of Westminster and Oxford Brookes University.

She is currently the producer of Narrow Escapes - a new 20 episode, factual entertainment daytime series for Channel 4 - TX early 2024 and has a number of other series in development. 

Sophie Day
GTC Treasurer's Assistant/Bookkeeper

The GTC became a client in March 2012, when I was working as a self-employed bookkeeper, to give assistance to Simon Roe, who was then the Treasurer. 

The GTC accounts are split into two: the Guild, which deals with subscriptions, workshops, the Awards event and general admin; and Zerb, which produces Zerb and GTC In Focus magazines.

My role is to authorise expense claims for Council members and pay them, code sales and supplier invoices on to Sage, set up payments for supplier invoices, code bank transactions, reconcile the bank accounts and submit quarterly EC Sales Lists and a yearly VAT return for Zerb. The year end is on 31 January, after which I run all the reports the accountant needs for the annual accounts.

Nicola Risdon
Website Administrator

I have taken on the role of Website Administrator, my background is in website management and customer services. I am doing the GTC website updates and maintenance alongside running my small website company.

I am enjoying getting to know Council, GTC members and Sponsors and looking forward to working with Council in developing new features on the site in the future.

If you have any ideas for the website, I’d love to hear from you: nicola.risdon@gtc.org.uk

Bill Shepherd
Zerb Managing Editor

Bill Shepherd is a member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and GTC who films interviews, documentaries and live events.

Bill teaches journalists, content creators, mountaineers, yachtsmen & yachtswomen how to use their smartphones as an electronic newsgathering device, how to use mirrorlesss cameras, action cameras and how to edit video footage on their smartphones.

Alex Wade
Legal Advisor

Alex Wade is a media lawyer, freelance journalist and writer. His legal career has seen him work for some of the best media law firms in the UK as well as many national newspapers. As a journalist he contributes to the UK broadsheets regularly, writing on law, sport, travel and books. He is also the author of three non-fiction books and one novel. Alex is available to advise GTC members on legal problems they may encounter, especially those in media law, including contractual and rights queries.

Find out more