Meet The Committee

Hi. I'm Suvi, the newly elected chair of the branch. I work in the costume department as principal truck supervisor and I've been an active member of the Scottish Freelance Branch Committee since covid times.

As chair I'm looking forward to continuing Mike and Alex's work in developing this branch. There's a lot of stuff coming up this year from revisiting the TV Drama Agreement to continuing our work in developing the working relationship between regional freelance and London craft branches. I also think we have an amazing group of people in the committee this year so watch this space!

Patiently waiting for the blurb where you briefly say who you are and what you do.

Hi folks, Ross McCluskey here, I work az park of  Special Effects Department. Ive been working across the uk for 15 years now. I have  been a member just as long. I am passionate about the union being able to represent freelance workers across scotland. I hope as Vice Chair I can be a force for good with our membership and keep the Union thriving.

Is this you?

I'll continue trying to the best of my knowledge to fill in the screen or content policy context with information I have  re the policies of various media organisations and agencies (eg Screen Scotland, Scottish government, BBC, Ch4, Pact, Offcom and others),  affecting crew terms and conditions or on issues affecting wider media sectors employment. Eg last year the TV broadcast quota issues re BBC Scotland and Ch4s Offcom agreement.

Patiently waiting for the blurb where you briefly say who you are and what you do.

Hello there my name is Vito Milazzo. I’m currently a representative for post in Scotland. Since starting, I have worked on raising rates of pay for BBC editors and have become a contact point for reps in London, Wales and Northern Ireland. I have also investigated high profile incidents involving abuses of power within the industry, and I am actively researching further cases in conjunction with major news channels and national newspapers. I wish to continue this work as a representative, and help efforts to improve the working environments for us all, including getting collective agreement for facility workers.

I’m the Greens rep for SFB, having been in my craft for a few years I realised as Greens we often come across issues specific to us and our treatment by production companies. With no union presence, I joined and started to help raise the visibility of our Greens craft. I believe in fair rights across all departments, for too long our craft has been pushed to being subcontractors or “just Greens”which has had a negative impact on workers.  I look forward to continuing to support and improve workers lives and rights in SFB.

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I’m Mark Lacey, representing production for the SFB Committee. I have worked in the industry for over 15 years, firstly as an AD and now as Line producer/Producer. I have been involved with the branch since 2020 and keen to continue the work. I often work on features that aren’t covered by the MMP and keen to make sure rates and working conditions are being upheld on the types of productions.

Sinéad Kirwan is an independent producer working on feature docs and commercials. Her focus is on spreading the message about the benefits of union through social media and offering support to members working in production, as well as campaigning for better support for the Scottish documentary industry.

Hello, My name is Simon Tardivel, I work as a freelance Greensperson. I am a firm believer in unions and in workers organising themselves to improve and safeguard their working conditions. I am happy to be involved in the Scottish Freelance Committee and to stand-up for Scottish film and tv and the people who have made it what it is today. I'm proud of what the members of BECTU have achieved and I look forward to more positive results in the future."

Hi,

I'm Hazel, the PurpleSoundFairy of Audio departments near and far, working in O.B's, Studio, Unscripted Factual/Reality, with the odd Scripted venture, and dipping my toes in live music events too.
I started out age 14, arranging work experience for myself at a recording studio, then went on to spend 17 years working my way up in the land of Musical Theatre in the West End and on tour nationally and internationally.
I crossed over into all genres of TV after that and have been enjoying the adventures life brings me.

Patiently waiting for the blurb where you briefly say who you are and what you do.

Hi, I’m Helena and I’ve been working in costume for the past 15 years, mostly in Scotland. It’s been great to see and benefit from so many aspects of working in film and television improving in recent years, and I want to do my part in helping to keep and build on those changes going forward. I’m particularly interested in creating a safe, fair, and inclusive working environment across the industry.

Hi there! I’m Kirsty, the new neurodiversity rep. 
I’ve been working in costume for the last 15 years.
I’m a relatively new member of BECTU but I’m eager to get stuck in and help to improve our industry, making it easier and more accessible for those in the neurodivergent community.

I am a member of the British Cinema and Television Veterans, having started my career in 1991. I left film school as a director, editor and was producing my own shorts and pop promos. After a nasty hit and run bike accident I moved onto the floor as a Script Supervisor in 1994, where I have been ever since, with a small break when I had my 2 children. I see the role of Script Supervisor being devalued ever year: we are no longer treated as HoDs, we have little negotiating power on rates as directors seem no longer able to ask for their preferred Script Supervisor in TV, and our safety as a department of 1 getting to work and back with no provision to share transport and no 
shuttle bus offered, except in rare occasions, concerns me. I want to raise our profile, get us 
recognised as the HoD which we are, and get the safety concerns of working 11 plus hours non stop, often in difficult conditions, and then being expected to drive home, (and back again 10 hours later) acknowledged and addressed.
I have helped to train several young Script Supervisors, I am a mental Health First Aider, and am always keen to help anyone, but especially young people coming into the industry who are 
struggling.

Hello everyone, my name is Laura Masters. I’m a freelance Assistant Editor in Factual/Scripted TV. I have worked for: BBC, ITV and independent companies. In July 2024, I was the first woman in Scotland and the third recipient across the UK to win The Elouise Carden Rising Star Award in Post Production from Women in Film and Television. My previous contract job was working as an Assistant Editor on Coronation Street at Media City in Manchester for 16 months. I was 1/10 selected across the UK to train at Soho Editor’s in London for HETV in 2024. I’ve been a BECTU Union member for three years. This is my first-time being on the committee as both joint Young Rep and Post Production. The reason for joining the committee this year was to learn a bit more about the people behind the committee, the work they do for its members and if I can play a small part in that, that’d be brilliant! Having worked on a lot of shows and with a variety of personalities, there are things I’d like to change to make enhancements to freelancers working in Television where they can be valued, appreciated and respected for the hard work they do for companies.

My name is Siiri, and I work in the costume department as an assistant designer, illustrator and principal standby. I’m originally from Finland and moved to Scotland in 2014 to study, but have ended up staying for over ten years!

In May 2025 I had the opportunity to attend the National Conference of Bectu and that experience inspired me to take a more active part in the union. Therefore I’m excited to take on the role as one of your Young Members Representatives.

As a Young Members Representative, I hope I can help our new members understand how to get involved and become more active members too. I’m also here to listen and to be an approachable presence for anyone newly navigating the industry. "