Vale Chris Winter - ABC Broadcaster and a leading figure in the development of new technology and community involvement

Chris Winter

Editor's Note: Thanks to Malcolm Smith for providing this detailed CV of  Chris Winter, an extraordinary life

Born – 20 November 1946 in Beecroft NSW to German parents, who had arrived in Australia January 1939 with three young daughters.

Primary schooling – Beecroft to Year 4, Eastwood opportunity class years 5 & 6. Moved to Normanhurst 1958.

Secondary schooling – Normanhurst Boys High 59-63 (Leaving Certificate 1963 – in first 100 in state).

Sydney University – enrolled in Engineering on Electricity Commission of NSW cadetship. Failed first year 1964, passed well second time around 1965, completed Engineering 2 1966. Enrolled Science 3 in 1967, as Science degree prerequisite for Elec Eng Honours. Became very distracted by amateur theatre (SUDS and UNSW Dramsoc) and poetry reading performances. Failed Science 3, enrolled in Engineering 3 1968 then dropped out.

Worked as technical copywriter for industrial advertising agency LB Rennie & Partners, and then their account executive for circuit breakers, office machinery and confectionary machines (1968-69). 

During that period hired as a bikie by Tom Jeffrey on episode of ABC TV Delta series, D is For Destruction (1969) and for two small roles in episodes of Matlock. 

Auditioned successfully for Killara Community Theatre (now Marian Street) in 1969 as actor and stage manager for their 4 week rep seasons and left agency. As stage manager, responsible for recording, managing and operating all audio cues – music and FX.

Left theatre and worked as Hair sound operator last 6 weeks in Sydney then a year in Melbourne (1971). 

Recorded a pilot radio program for ABC early in 1971 with Ted Robinson. ABC accepted, and began as host for national rock music program Room to Move – first one hour then two, with one hour on ABC regional stations. After returning from Melbourne to work on national concert tour of Superstar and its first year in Sydney in 1972, became involved in various groups discussing getting a licence for a community FM station.

September 1974 summoned with Marius Webb by ABC management to discuss preparing for the use of a new AM licence given by the Whitlam government. Launched 19/1/1975 as Sydney station DoubleJ. On air with them in 1975, left early 1976 for a year in South America. Returned 1977, on air to 1979 then became co-manager until 1985. Converted to FM in 1980 (and renamed TripleJ), and became national in early 90s. 

Acting manager for Perth equivalent of 702 - 6WF - 6 months in 1986. During this period email launched at ABC and computerised news copy management system BASYS. 

87-90 four years as assistant manager/resources manager for ABC radio in NSW and Vic - two years in each, and acting as client rep for the development of new headquarters at Ultimo - featuring a number of new on-air studio systems - touch screens and audio servers. 

In 90 joined a team as international marketing manager for ABC developed audio editing system directed at big radio newsrooms. Sold to BBC, American Broadcasting Company, CBC, Minnesota Public Radio, Televisa (Mexico), Radio The Voice of Vietnam, Europe 1 (Paris), Westdeutscher Rundfunk, RTHK (Hong Kong), Radio Limburg (Holland) and also used by the ABC. 

Left ABC end 96, travelled US for 3 months. 

Returned to job at NSW FTO (now Screen NSW) until late 99. Completed their half finished website and assisted with establishment of digital FX traineeship scheme. 

Returned to ABC in 2000 in New Media and Digital Services division, working on mobile, online and interactive TV projects. Became manager of ABC2 (digital only TV network) from late 2004 until mid 2007, by which time New Media division replaced by Innovation Division. 

In 2008 worked with NLA following their approach regarding their wish for ABC archival metadata to be searchable by TROVE, and on an online and mobile project associating archival stills, video and audio with points of historic interest in the Sydney CBD. 

From 2003 was a mentor for the XMedia Lab, and spoke at one of their international events in Amsterdam in 2009 - Public Media - following which met with Controller of Archive Development at the BBC in London, now just moved to the New York Public Library as their Chief Digital Officer. 

In 2004 was joint recipient of ARIA best music DVD award for production work on Midnight Oil's Best of Both Worlds release and in 2007 received AIMIA's Outstanding Achievement award. 

Since leaving the ABC in August 2012 worked for CSIRO's erstwhile Australian Centre for Broadband Innovation on a study of the GLAM sector in Australia, report published in September 2014, examining the opportunities and challenges for them facing new broadband and digital services.

On the board of the NSW screen development body Metro Screen for two periods, most recently from 2009 to 2015, a member of the Australian Government's IT Industry Innovation Council from May 2009 until its dissolution in 2013, on the Queensland Government's ICT Ministerial Advisory Group from 2010 until the change of government, and was on the advisory committee of Enterprise Connect's Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) from 2010.

Currently on the management committee of the Australian Smart Communities Association and a juror for New York NFP the Intelligent Community Forum.