Nerida Marshall
Our founder, Nerida Marshall, is presently in far north Queensland carrying out research for an exciting new documentary and book series.
Nerida became an investigative journalist by studying Journalism, English Literature, and Communication at the University of Southern Queensland. Her career began travelling to Cooktown in far north Queensland to research information for a documentary about Chinese funerary jars uncovered. Over the next decade she investigated political unrest issues throughout the Pacific islands and New Zealand. This experience gave her an insight into the struggles of the First Nation people. Once she settled back in Australia she specialised in gathering information for government and justice departments, current affairs shows, animal rights groups, authors and filmmakers.
On moving her family to the Gold Coast she studied screenwriting and filmmaking with Hollywood producer and screenwriter Simon D. Hunter. She was invited to become a member of the Gold Coast City Council Film Industry Working Party and was an active member in establishing, what is now, the glitzy and glamorous Gold Coast Film Festival.
Her friendships with many high profile film industry people and bestselling authors became the catalyst to create an organised body in 2000 where the knowledge of these professionals could be used to guide budding talent and share professional knowledge.
Nerida has been an invited guest speaker at universities, primary and high schools, film festivals, writers’ festivals, retirement homes, celebrity charity fundraisers and libraries.
EARLY YEARS
Nerida trained and performed with the Queensland Ballet Company until her 20’s. As a young teen she modelled under the June Dally-Watkins modelling school for companies such as Myers and David Jones in Brisbane. She credits her time with TV personality, actor and celebrity chef, Bernard King, with her ability to connect with an audience and overcome any nerves in interviewing and public speaking in the early days.