29/05/2025
VALE LIZ TOMKINS
We are deeply saddened to share that our cherished long-time friend and collaborator, Liz Tomkins, tragically passed away in a car accident on the night of 26th May.
Liz’s journey with Dicentium began before the company was even founded back in 2008, when Dicentium Founder Judd Tilyard joined Liz and an ambitious team fresh out of university in making an even more ambitious film, “Sleeper”. Working together closely on the film, the pair formed a friendship and working relationship that would span the next 17 years and three continents, with Liz and Judd collaborating both in person and remotely on projects in Australia, Canada and the UK.
While Judd focused on independent features, Liz forged her own path, building her skills in series production. Fearless in pursuit of her passion, she got her first inroad after finding the number for the production manager on Steven Spielberg's “The Pacific” and talking her way into a job interview in far North Qld the next day, booking a last minute flight the following morning Liz joined the team and has never looked back.
Another highlight of her early days working in Australia was on the series “K9”, The Doctor who spin-off, produced in Brisbane, saw Liz connect with two lifelong friends and supporters, in Bob Baker and Paul Tams. Bob, as the writer behind the Academy Award-winning Wallace and Gromit and the co-creator of numerous iconic Doctor Who characters, including K9 and Omega, was both an inspiration and mentor to Liz, whom she was proud to connect with Dicentium.
One of countless relationships Liz forged for the organisation, and like all of those, one founded on true personal connection.
Liz wore many hats at Dicentium over the years from production and financial management, to marketing and development, culminating in 2020 when Liz left Canada where she had been privileged to work with the likes of First Nation owned and run Taqqut Productions and E-One amongst others, to take on the mantle of CEO of Dicentium Films.
In that position, Liz worked with creatives across Australia and the world, developing Dicentium's slate of projects, and in 2023, producing “Rippy”, starring Michael Biehn, Tess Haubrich, Angie Miliken and Aaron Pedersen. It was not the easiest of productions for Liz, but ever able to find the positives in any situation, the journey and the experience became one of empowerment, which allowed her for the first time to truly see herself as a Producer.
During this period, Liz volunteered her time and skills to a variety of extraordinary organisations, including serving as the Creative Liaison for the Australian Canadian Chamber of Commerce and, most recognisably, joining Women In Film and Television (WIFT) Australia.
Inspired by her time in Toronto and some of the amazing women she had encountered from WIFT chapters around the world, Liz stepped onto the board of WIFT in 2021 as a financial specialist, going on to serve as Chair of the organisation for the past 3 years. Building deep friendships and leading some incredible initiatives.
The team at Dicentium are so proud to have supported and borne witness to countless hours Liz contributed to WIFT and helping others. Liz, across all of her roles, and throughout her life, has had the uncanny ability to reach out, to connect and bring together like-minded and passionate people, at a truly human level.
This is evident in the hundreds of people Liz touched during her time on this planet, whatever walk of life, from industry professionals to emerging creatives. Liz has always made time to help others, as she followed her personal belief that everyone deserves the support and opportunity to be creative.
In handing the reins of Dicentium back to Judd in 2024, Liz remained a close part of the team, working alongside Travis Akbar, who she had first connected with at Screen forever, as an emerging writer, recognising his talent and passion he became a core collaborator before joining the organisation full time last year, working alongside Liz on the Dicentium Slate.
Liz would continue discovering and championing talent like Travis as she focused on her own slate, and a shared grander vision for a regional studio in central Queensland.
This vision, supported by Dicentium Films, its sister company Qld Regional Film Services and the recently founded Red Barron Creative, established by veteran SPFX artist, and creature creator Toby Barron, was born of Liz’s own experience as a young woman, growing up in regional Queensland, just loving movies, and dreaming of one day being a part of that magic.
We are proud to have seen Liz take on the world as she carved her own path, in the end finding her way back to her origins, her dream firmly in hand.
Liz will be forever in our hearts, as we strive to embody that dream, to champion regional storytellers, celebrate authentic regional stories, and create opportunities for the next generation of Australian filmmakers.
We hope that in doing this, Liz’s legacy and her spirit live on as an inspiration for those to come.
If you would like to leave a tribute to Liz via WIFT, please go to this link:
https://www.wiftaustralia.org.au/vale-liz-tomkins
