Sally Riley

Sally Riley is an Australian filmmaker, writer, producer and media executive, Head of Scripted Production at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Early life and education Riley, a Wiradjuri woman, grew up in Narromine, in the Central West of New South Wales After her father died when she was 16, she completed Year 12 at Narromine High School.

Riley took on a secretarial role at the local metalworks until she was 19, when she went on a three-year trip around Australia in a troop carrier with her then boyfriend, looking at Indigenous rock and cave paintings. After that she worked for a while as a liaison officer for Aboriginal land councils, before enrolling at the University of Wollongong (UOW) with the intention of becoming an actor. but changed course and went on to do the directing course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, She then took up a traineeship at Film Australia, around 1994. In this role she was determined to develop Indigenous producers and film crews, especially assistant directors and designers, to support the wealth of directing talent". She was also responsible for bringing The Gods of Wheat Street, Cleverman, 8MMM, and The Warriors to the small screen when in this role.

In May 2016 Riley was appointed to the newly-created role of Head of Scripted Production, This position is responsible for all drama, comedy and Indigenous-related programs on ABC Television. In this role, ABC productions commissioned by Riley have included the series Stateless, Mystery Road, Total Control, Aftertaste, Rosehaven, Wakefield and The Newsreader. Fly Peewee, Fly! (1995), one of six films in the series From Sand to Celluloid (1996), about a young boy teaching his white grandmother and Aboriginal father perspective. Nominated for an AWGIE Award in 1996. In Search of Archie (1998, 30 mins), documentary about writer Archie Weller trying to find proof of his Aboriginality. It was also nominated for the Film Critics Circle of Australia's award for Best Australian Short Film, and the AFI Award for Best Screenplay.

In 2017, her alma mater the University of Wollongong awarded the Alumni Award for Social Impact to Riley, saying that she had "used her voice and talent as a filmmaker to advance representation of Indigenous culture globally, and drive a substantial shift in common perception – and misperception – of Indigenous life in Australia".

Personal life Riley has a son, Eli, and is divorced from his father. Eli is also a filmmaker.