WENDY DARKE
FOUNDER & CEO

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Dr Wendy Darke has a PhD in Marine Science, from the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences and James Cook University, Australia (1991), and a BSc Joint Honours Degree in Geology and Zoology, from the University of Bristol (1986). Following on from her 25-year career at the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU), which included 4 years as Head of the NHU, (2012-2016), Wendy founded True To Nature (TTN), an independent production company, based in Bristol, specialising in innovative, premium nature, animal character led series, premium adventure travel, children’s and specialist factual productions. Since launching TTN Wendy and her team have secured over 30 commissions, and made over 240 programmes, including PREDATORS narrated by TOM HARDY, 5 X 60’ for Sky Nature and Netflix, released in Winter 2022; WHALE WITH STEVE BACKSHALL, 4 x 60’ for Sky Nature due to premiere in Winter 2023, following on from the success of SHARK WITH STEVE BACKSHALL, 4 X 60’, and a 10 X 10’ SHARKS UP CLOSE for Sky Kids which were both showcased at COP 26 in 2021 in the IMAX theatre; the ‘Gangs of’ brand has included GANGS OF LEMUR ISLAND, 5 X 60’, which premiered in the UK on Sky Nature and was produced for Blue Ant Media, Love Nature, Smithsonian Networks and Arte, and GANGS OF BABOON FALLS, 5 X 60’, for Sky Nature and distributed by Sky Studios and NBCU. TTN have also produced 20 X 60’ programmes to build the EXPEDITION WITH STEVE BACKSHALL brand including: EXPEDITION WITH STEVE BACKSHALL SERIES I, 10 X 60’, for UKTV Dave and PBS, UNDISCOVERED WORLDS, 4 X 60’, for BBC Two, and EXPEDITION WITH STEVE BACKSHALL SERIES II, 6 X 60’, for UKTV Dave and distributed by Fremantle. And over 100 children’s programmes including the recently announced OZT GOES WILD IN BRITAIN, 5 X 22’, following on from the success of ONE ZOO THREE SERIES I and II, both 26 X 22’, for CBBC, 3 series of DREAMFLIGHT, all 20 X 5’, 12 episodes of which are available on Sky Kids’ brand new You Tube channel, and GARDEN TALES, a 26 X 7’ series for CBeebies. Specialist factual titles include LIVING VOLCANOES, 1 X 60’, a co-production between ZDFE, PBS, WNET Thirteen, Nature, ZDF and ARTE, and premiered in the UK on Sky Nature. Prior to this, as Head of the BBC NHU, Wendy was responsible for ground-breaking award-winning titles such as: BAFTA winning Big Blue Live (2015), double BAFTA winning Deadly 60 with Steve Backshall; Life Story (2014); Africa (2013), and multiple trilogies such as Wild Japan (2016); Wild New Zealand (2016), Wild Patagonia (2016) and the multi-award winning Planet Earth II (2016) & Blue Planet II (2017).

NICK JONES
ART DIRECTOR (CONSULTANT)

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A passionate and commercially driven creative with unwavering commitment to precision, consistency, and execution. With a Specialism in TV pitch deck design over the past 7 years and over 20 years of combined professional experience in design, film, animation, identity, print, digital and social for global brands. Thrives working on multiple projects, collaborating with colleagues and adjacent teams to present a full range of solutions. Personal ethos to push boundaries, crafting ideas into strategic and purposeful content. Award winning filmmaker, commercial diver and drone pilot, he has worked on development and productions for BBC, Sky, Netflix, Prime, NatGeo and more.

STEPHEN BATTY
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR & CFO

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Coming soon...

NORMAN CLARKE
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

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Norman Clarke has worked in the TV industry for some 30 years to date and has built up a wealth of senior finance management experience in the industry. He has worked as a production accountant in the early years on documentaries, reality shows, light entertainment comedy shows etc…. but over the past 15 years has focused more on management accounting and financially managing production companies. He has previously worked for Avalon TV Ltd, Mammoth Screen Ltd, The Forge Entertainment, New Pictures Ltd, Sony Pictures, Nat Geo, Greenbird Media Ltd to name but a few. He also has a proven track record for turning companies around and improving finance systems to help companies improve performance.

KATIE HALL
PRODUCTION EXEC. (CONSULTANT)

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Katie has delivered and managed multiple, complex and ambitious specialist factual series including the critically acclaimed BAFTA and Emmy award winning series ‘Blue Planet II’. She has a broad range of experience managing a large slate of blue-chip natural history productions for both the BBC and Netflix. Katie has over 20 years international filming experience with specialist knowledge of health and safety and has worked across a variety of genres including arts, observational documentary, popular factual entertainment and natural history.

ANTHONY ALDERSLEY
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT

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Anthony has had the opportunity to work in the Finance Department on shows of all shapes and sizes for Netflix, Nat Geo, Apple and all major UK broadcasters. He enjoys being able to support the busy Production Teams with managing and forecasting budgets, as well as reporting for the Senior Management Team and True To Nature’s busy Development Team. Being involved in productions from inception through to delivery and ensuring accurate and well-managed finances is something that Anthony takes pride in. As well as being a Production Accountant, Anthony has a passion for composing music for Film & Television and was nominated for the PRS ‘Best Newcomer’ Award as well as having credits on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Smithsonian Network.

ROWAN MUSGRAVE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR (CONSULTANT)

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Rowan Musgrave is an award-winning expedition and wildlife filmmaker. He has two decades of experience across a broad range of natural history content ranging from kids’ series DEADLY 60 (BBC), to blue-chip character-led series PREDATORS narrated by TOM HARDY (NETFLIX, SKY) and adventure format EXPEDITION with STEVE BACKSHALL (DAVE). Rowan has regularly worked alongside Wendy at True to Nature for the last 7 years, and most recently Series Produced SHARK with STEVE BACKSHALL (SKY, NBCU). Previous to this, Rowan spent 14 years at the BBC Natural History Unit, where he produced ground-breaking documentaries such as: YELLOWSTONE: COLDEST WINTER TO BLAZING SUMMER (BBC, PBS). LOST LAND OF THE TIGER (BBC) and THE DARK, NATURE’S NIGHTTIME WORLD (BBC). Rowan has a passion for conservation filmmaking and highlighting big issues through engaging storytelling. In 2018 he and produced the GRIERSON nominated RED APE (BBC, DISCOVERY).

STEVE WILLIAMSON
HR (CONSULTANT)

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Steve is an HR Professional, Chartered Member of the CIPD, with a Level 7 Diploma in HR Management. He joined TTN in early 2022, and for the 7 years prior to this had been working for a voluntary adoption agency, as Head of HR, Facilities and Administration. Steve has lots of experience in the charity sector, mainly within HR & Facilities management. He loves sport and challenging himself. He regularly runs marathons and takes part in Triathlons.

SHIRIN GHADIALI
RESEARCHER

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Shirin recently graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Geography and is thrilled to start her career in television at True to Nature. During her time here, she has worked as a Production Assistant on ‘OZT Goes Wild in Britain’ and the upcoming show ‘Whales with Steve Backshall’. She is excited to expand her knowledge of the industry and take on all the new challenges that come her way. In her spare time Shirin loves playing football and cricket and is an avid Manchester United Fan!

AXEL JUSSERAND
EDITOR

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Having been born in and grown up in France, Axel started his editing career in 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as an in-house Editor and Edit Assistant where he had the opportunity to work on a variety of content for both private agencies and government entities. After spending 3 years there he decided to relocate in the United Kingdom in 2019 in order to get experience of working in HETV,factual and Natural History programming as this is where his passion lies.


Aneesa is a storyteller who’s just come off the BBC’s rigorous AP Accelerator training programme. She’s obsessed with finding and telling untold stories and revealing unlikely heroes through brave storytelling methods, and she’s delighted to be doing this with True To Nature! With North African roots, she’s most at home in a desert, but she’s got fire in her belly to make inspiring and enlightening films that represent every part of our formidable planet and beyond.