Our People

Caitlin Friedman oversees global production at Brown Bag Films across owned IP and service work, ensuring a seamless connection between creative vision and execution. She is also executive producer on several current projects for Scholastic legacy brands including Goosebumps, 39 Clues, Animorphs, and the Magic School Bus feature.

As Chief Innovation Officer, Cathal Gaffney leads BBF Labs, a new division dedicated to shaping the future of animation across Brown Bag Films’ global studios. He oversees the development of new production workflows and artist-first tools designed to enhance quality, efficiency, and creative collaboration.

Darragh O’Connell is Group Creative Director at Brown Bag Films and 9 Story Media Group, where he leads the creative vision across global studios. He co-founded Brown Bag Films alongside Cathal and has directed numerous award-winning productions including Octonauts, Olivia, and Chico Bon Bon. 

Gillian Higgins, SVP of Production (Europe), leads Brown Bag’s TV division. With over 20 years in animation, she’s produced Doc McStuffins, Octonauts, Bing, and more. After working in LA with Disney and Warner Bros, she returned to Ireland in 2005, bringing global production expertise to every frame.

Lily Wang is SVP of Production (Asia) at Brown Bag Films and co-founder of BASE in Bali. She oversees studio operations, motion capture, and CG pipelines across Asia. Lily bridges creative excellence with global collaboration, helping bring shows like Vampirina to life with innovation and leadership.

Coral Schoug is VP of Production at Brown Bag Films Toronto. With over 15 years in children’s media, she’s produced Go Away Unicorn!, Wild Kratts, and Sago Mini Friends. Formerly at Nelvana and Corus Kids, Coral leads with a focus on talent development and streamlined production—plus rink-side parenting.

As VP, Studio Strategy at Brown Bag Films, Nicole is responsible for driving growth, focusing on securing new business and expanding client relationships, and elevating operational excellence across our global studio. Working in close collaboration with regional production leadership she leads service sales efforts and helps elevate operational excellence across the global studio.

Sanatan (San) Suryavanshi is Executive Creative Director at Brown Bag Films, helping shape creative direction across TV, features, and digital, partnering with clients and show leadership to drive the vision for our slate. 

Faseh Hulisan is Head of Production at Brown Bag Films' Bali studio, overseeing budgets, project line-ups, and team success. With past roles at Infinite Studios and BASE, he mentors and teaches with passion. He enjoys traveling with family, music, and movies—and was once a radio announcer.

John Brady, SVP of Technology (North America & Europe), oversees technology and IT at Brown Bag Films. A Trinity graduate, he’s led tech teams at BBC, Screen Scene, and Windmill Lane. Since 2017, he’s ensured world-class animation delivery—and occasionally finds time for a round of golf.

Daniel Harjanto is VP of Production Technology and Pipeline (Asia) at Brown Bag Films. A former civil engineer, he co-founded BASE in 2015 and leads tech innovation across Asia. With decades in post-production and a board role at AINAKI, Daniel drives Indonesia’s animation industry forward.

James Stacey is VP of CG Production at Brown Bag Films in Ireland and the UK. With over 24 years in animation, he’s led CG on Octonauts, Peter Rabbit, and Doc McStuffins. A technical leader and storyteller, James has scaled workflows to meet modern animation demands.

Sean Macrae is Senior Director of Technology at Brown Bag Films Toronto. With over 25 years in broadcast, VFX, and animation, he’s known for solving technical challenges and leading artist-first pipeline teams. From Discovery Channel to SPINVFX, Sean blends clear communication, inclusion, and respect for the creative process.