Reg Grundy Award 2025

WES DENING

Wes Dening is the Head of Global Formats for Eureka Productions and serves as Executive Producer on a variety of US, Australian and international entertainment series including The Floor (Fox), Kpopped (AppleTV+), The Quiz with Balls! (Fox), Australian Idol (Seven) and previously on Holey Moley (ABC), Stars on Mars (Fox), The Mole (Netflix), Dating Around (Netflix), Full Bloom (HBO Max) and Crikey! It’s the Irwins (Discovery).

Dening’s series have earned commercial and critical success including Rose D'or Award and TCA Award nominations, Realscreen, C21 Awards & TBI International Format Awards for Holey Moley & The Floor, DGA Nominations & C21 Format Awards for Full Bloom, a Critics Choice Award for Dating Around and Logie Award Nominations for Australian Idol.

Dening joined Eureka Productions when it launched in 2016 and previously served as EVP of Development and Programming, overseeing the growth and execution of the company’s slate in the United States. During his time at Eureka, Dening has played a pivotal role in the development, sale and production of original content for all major broadcast networks, streamers and cable networks and has extensive experience growing and operating content businesses.

 Dening also serves on Realscreen’s Pathway Mentorship Program and speaks on multiple media panels.

PAUL HARDY

A BBC-trained professional, Paul began his career in the UK before freelancing in London, New York, and Los Angeles as a showrunner. He now consults for Endemol Americas, bringing his expertise to a wide range of global formats.

His impressive credits include Alone, 7 Year Switch, Bride and Prejudice, Beauty and the Geek, and Living with the Enemy. Paul has also worked on international formats such as Come Dine With Me, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Popstars, Star Academy, Place in the Sun, and Watch What Happens Live. 

STEVE OEMCKE

Steve Oemcke has worked in the content industry for more than 30 years, beginning as a journalist and news reporter, before going on to present and host countless TV programs including ratings juggernaut Talk To The Animals, and Australia’s longest running game show Wheel Of Fortune. Twenty years ago, Steve co-founded highly regarded independent Australian production company WTFN, alongside industry stalwart Daryl Talbot. Known for its out-of-the-box thinking, WTFN had originated more than 60 series in that time. 

The company prides itself on mentoring new talent, with a reputation as a breeding ground for some of Australia’s most talented young content creators. 

MARION FARRELLY

Maz has been to more showbiz parties than Ryan Gosling’s jocks, down more red carpets than a Dyson vacuum, and worked with more A listers, than a Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon.

She has created and been the boss, of some of most watched TV shows on earth, her content has amassed more than eight BILLION views, and she once broke X (Twitter).  Deliberately.

Maz has worked alongside everyone from Beyonce, to King Charles, President Donald Trump to Snoop Dogg, Ed Sheeran to Elton John, Troye Sivan to Buzz Aldrin, Arnie to Mel B, and now she uses the intel and smarts she has stolen, sorry, borrowed, from these world leaders, cultural icons, and international superstars, to help big global brands like Spotify, Meta, TikTok, Vayner Media, Ogilvy, to name a few, be way more influential and utterly interesting - not because she is - if you were stuck in an elevator with her, you’d long to plummet to your own certain demise. 

IAN HOGG

Ian Hogg is an awarded Media Industry Leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist with a Global Career spanning four continents across 25 years. Most recently, he led Fremantle as the Regional CEO for Australia and Asia Pacific and sat on the Global Operating Board. He is a passionate believer in idea generation and execution, storytelling, creatives, creativity, disruption and the power of media to deliver a narrative that can make a real difference in an industry that cannot, and will never, stand still.

SHARON WHEELER

Sharon Wheeler is an Award-winning Senior Entertainment Executive, who has created more than 30 original series and Executive Produced over 2,000 hours of unscripted programming. Her shows have been licensed and produced in dozens of territories. As founder and President of Wheeler/Sussman Productions based in Los Angeles, her hit original formats include: MTV’s SINGLED OUT, Fox’s EXTREME-DATING, THE LAST RESORT, TRIVIAL PURSUIT: AMERICA PLAYS, JUDGE ALEX and REUNION TOUR.

As part of Reg Grundy’s U.S. production operations, she helped develop and adapt Grundy International Series for American audiences, including PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H, IT’S A KNOCKOUT, SCRABBLE, MANN O’ MANN and QUESTIONS POUR UN CHAMPION.