AI and the Actor: Protecting Creativity with Lilia Anderson, Matt Byrne and Michael Balk

Details

  • 30 September 2025
    12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Online
Applications Open 15 September 2025 8:00 am
Applications Close 30 September 2025 10:00 am
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Synopsis

Seventy-one percent of MEAA members are deeply concerned about AI replacing human-led creativity. MEAA is campaigning for strong regulation through an Australian AI Act and for big tech to pay a levy for using artists’ work to train AI. Join MEAA’s Policy team, Lilia Anderson and Matt Byrne, with MEAA President, Michael Balk chairing, for a vital briefing on AI and performers. They’ll unpack how AI threatens the creative industries, the risks for performers, how MEAA is pushing governments and companies to act, and what safeguards could protect your image, voice and data. The session includes time for your questions. Please note: This is event is at 12pm AEST (Sydney/Melbourne time) and 2pm NZ time. You will be sent a Zoom link to tune in.

Host(s)

  • Michael Balk

    Michael Balk is an actor, producer, presenter and singer and current President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). He has had extensive involvement in theatre, film and television with a large portion of the last decade focused on children’s entertainment. Michael was previously Associate Producer Programming with Nine Entertainment Co and appeared as senior actor in the network's children's programs SMASHHDOWN! and BrainBuzz. Michael is also known widely as scrapboy in the AFI & Emmy award-winning ABC kids show dirtgirlworld and Get Grubby TV. Previously, Michael was the Director of Entertainment at Australia Zoo and often works in advertising on television. A professional member of the Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts, Michael been a proud member of MEAA since 2000 and during his time as QLD President of the National Performers Committee he served on the Animation Committee, Screen Committee, and Intimacy Guidelines Committee.

  • Lilia Anderson

    Lilia Anderson is Policy and Strategic Research Lead at MEAA. Before joining MEAA, Lilia worked as a casual academic, in the trade union movement, and as a research fellow at a progressive thinktank. She has a Master of Research from the University of Sydney and is currently completing a PhD on the global regulation of digital platforms at the University of Melbourne.

  • Matt Byrne

    Matt Byrne is the Political Lead at the MEAA. Matt comes to the MEAA after a 15-year career in the Australian Labor Party including five years as the Secretary and Campaign Director of ACT Labor. 

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Free for Equity Members