Emida Natalaray, School of Technology for the Arts, Republic Polytechnic

Emida joined Republic Polytechnic in 2011, where she is living out her calling in nurturing young adults for the creative industries. Currently she is the Director for the School of Technology for the Arts where she heads 5 diplomas (Diploma in Arts and Theatre Management, Diploma in Design for User Experience, Diploma in Game Design, Diploma in Media Production and Design, Diploma in Sonic Arts).

A seasoned executive producer and director in the local television industry, Emida was responsible for producing some of the most prolific, pioneering and ground-breaking local English television series in Singapore.

With her two production companies, Ark Pictures Pte Ltd and Pics Can Fly Pte Ltd, she produced, wrote and directed the popular local drama, Like My Own, starring Hong Kong TVB star Flora Chan,  Tiramisu, En Bloc and local reality hit series, Villa Wellness. She also produced the special audition episodes of Singapore Idol season 1 which won a Finalist award in the 2005 International New York Festival.

She expanded her work into new genres and exciting platforms like telemovies : the critically acclaimed Stories of Love Anthology series For Sentimental Reasons (2006), the Grand Dame of Kallang (2007), a documentary and for mobile, Disney’s As The Bell Rings (2007/8).

She also found fulfilment in inspiring young minds to create stories of their own. She conducted communication skills, scripting and video production workshops for ITE students. She also mentored  interested interns from the various Polytechnics and NTU, under her company Ark Pictures, some of whom have gone on to develop employment opportunities with her. She was also invited to mentor with Noise Apprenticeship Programme for 2008/2009.