Excited to hear that you are in consideration by the Saudi Motion Picture Commission to help develop and produce their motion picture safety protocols. You’re singularly perfect for the position as I can attest to first-hand by virtue of the way you guided my own ship through the most dangerous waters any film in modern times has ever navigated, i.e., the only film on earth to shoot during Covid 19 during the spring of 2020 with a crew of young children.

You were the even and steady hand at the helm that kept us all afloat. I wish you even further success in this new potential endeavour.

Your Friend and Colleague
Kurt Wimmer
Director

Jon Heaney was a great asset to the movie we made in Australia, in 2020. He was extremely, knowledgeable, professional with the cast and crew, easy to work with and detail oriented.

It’s not an over-statement to say that he literally saved the production during a very tricky time (the worldwide pandemic), and made it possible for us to continue shooting when everyone else was shut down.

We owe him a great debt for his tireless efforts on our behalf and I would work with him again, anywhere in the world.

Lucas Foster,
Producer

Jon has worked with me on several Kennedy Miller Mitchell projects, namely Mad Max Fury Road, where he was the head of the Australian Safety team,
overseeing some major hazardous action elements on the film while looking after the safety of up to 1,000 cast and crew at any given time.

Jon also set up the safety protocols and onboarding paperwork for our subsequent feature films, Three Thousand Years of Longing and Furiosa. Jon
produced risk assessments for some of the larger elements and back of house operations for our production company.

Jon communicates clearly the required safety procedures to production as well as his team and remains calm and professional while managing safety on
our productions.

I have one hundred percent faith in Jon and his skills to keep my film sets safe and workable. I have no hesitation in recommending Jon to undertake all levels
of production safety and management.

Best regards,

Dean Hood
Executive Producer

My name is Nigel Simpkiss. I have been a senior Director on BBC Top Gear for over twenty years. I have directed over 200 items for the show at locations all
over the world.
I had the worked with Jon on Top Gear Australia, which we made for BBC Studios in Sydney and for the Paramount + Channel.

As you may be aware, Top Gear is a very challenging show to make as it involves dangerous stunts, high speed cars and working in challenging and
often remote environments.

I worked closely with Jon in Columbia, Texas, Los Angeles and in Sydney on very difficult shoots that demanded a great deal of planning and many potential
risks.

Jon was responsible for ensuring the safety of the crew and presenters, preparing detailed Risk Assessments and collaborating with local safety teams
and security officers.

He is very hard working, extremely professional and a pleasure to work with.

I respect his experience an expertise enormously and I highly recommend him.

Yours sincerely,
Nigel Simpkiss
Director

Jon Heaney is an exceptional Safety Supervisor whose expertise and professionalism have made him an invaluable asset to the Australian film and television industry. With an eye for detail and a deep understanding of industry safety standards, Jon ensures that every production he works on runs smoothly and safely, allowing cast and crew to focus on their craft with confidence.

His proactive approach to risk assessment, problem solving and on set safety protocols has earned him an unmatched reputation. Beyond his technical expertise, Jon is a pleasure to work with – approachable, communicative and always willing to go the extra mile – his passion for safety is evident in everything he does. I’ve worked with Jon for 25 years and in my opinion he is the best in the business.

Bianca Wolloghan
Production Supervisor
Endemol Shine Australia

I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Jon Heaney for any opportunity within your organization.

I had the privilege of collaborating with Jon in 2016 on the China-US co-production film “The Dreaming Man” (produced by Walt Disney Studios). As the on-site safety supervisor, Jon consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and meticulous attention to detail throughout this large-scale production. His ability to anticipate potential risks, implement proactive safety protocols, and communicate clear guidelines to diverse teams was instrumental in maintaining a smooth workflow.

Beyond his technical expertise, Jon’s collaborative nature and calm demeanour fostered a positive working environment. He actively engaged in problem-solving discussions and offered valuable insights that enhanced both safety and efficiency. Any team would benefit greatly from his wealth of experience in high-stakes productions and his unwavering dedication to excellence.

I wholeheartedly endorse Jon and am confident he would be an outstanding asset to your organization. Please feel free to contact me at [your email/phone] for further details.

Bai Zhou
Producer /Director

I am pleased to write this letter in strong endorsement of Jon Heaney for his pursuit of an opportunity to develop motion picture safety protocols in Saudi Arabia. I had the privilege of working alongside Jon on a Disney film project in China during 2016-2017, where he served as the Safety Supervisor and I as the Safety Assistant.

Throughout our collaboration, I witnessed firsthand his extensive knowledge and expertise in film production safety. His ability to assess risks, implement effective protocols, and ensure a secure working environment for cast and crew was truly commendable. He demonstrated exceptional leadership in coordinating with various departments, enforcing industry safety standards, and swiftly addressing potential hazards in a high-pressure production setting.

Jon not only possesses deep technical expertise but also brings a proactive and solution-oriented approach to every challenge. His commitment to safety, combined with his ability to adapt to different cultural and regulatory landscapes, makes him an excellent candidate for this role.

I have no doubt that his experience and professionalism will contribute significantly to the development of comprehensive and effective safety protocols in Saudi Arabia’s growing film industry.

I highly recommend Jon for this opportunity and am confident that he will bring value and excellence to any project he undertakes. Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information.

Best regards,
Miao Yu
Film Maker

My name is Duane Manktelow and I am currently a Heath and Safety/ Medical advisor for the RT Group. I am writing this letter of reference entirely on my own initiative to express my genuine support for Jon Heaney.

In fact, i am honored to write a personal reference for Jon Heaney.

I first met Mr. Heaney approximately 4 years ago whilst filming The Real love boat and subsequently Million dollar Island.

I have found Mr. Heaney to be exceptional, nothing seemed to be a problem no matter how big or how small the task was. He’s ability to adapt and overcome with genuine great advice that allowed production to keep moving forward even in the darkest of days such as COVID.

Over the years Mr. Heaney has not just become a good friend but also mentor, Mr. Heaney has always had the time to give great advice be professional in solving problematic issues.

I can’t endorse Mr. Heaney enough.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me

Your sincerely

Duane Manktelow
Conflict field paramedic Health and safety consultant

My name is Vicki Popplewell and I have been a Line Producer in the Australian Film and TV Industry for many years. During my career I have worked on Australian films and television series as well as International productions.

During that time I have worked with many Stunt Co-ordinators and Safety Supervisors on a variety of genres.

I first met and worked with Mr Heaney in 2005 on a medical drama series. I was very impressed with his professionalism and his attitude to his job. One of my responsibilities is to insure that the cast and crew are safe and I always felt that I was doing the best I could if I employed Mr. Heaney. Mr Heaney was the Safety Supervisor for the 3 years on this particular series.

My other long term relationship with Mr Heaney was during my time at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. I was the manager of a new programme for the Acting Students. The course was aimed at assisting the students to learn the art of acting for film and television. Part of this course also consisted of the students learning about the production side of film and tv making. Mr. Heaney also taught on this course as we were very aware of the importance of Health and Safety and the need for students to be fully aware of the hazards that can occur on a set. I feel that the students who did this course entered the work force with a much rounder understanding of the whole process.

Mr Heaney is very thorough in his preparation which shows in his detailed Safety Reports. These reports will then guide the production in any and all safety issues that need to be addressed.

Mr. Heaney has always had a great rapport with cast and crew which greatly influences the respect for safety on set.

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Mr Heaney to you and I would be happy to discuss anything else you may need and can be contacted by email on – vappl@ozemail.com.au or by phone 61419233758.

Yours faithfully,

Vicki Popplewell

I have had the pleasure of working with Jon Heaney across numerous productions during the past 15 years in his capacity as Safety Supervisor and Stunt Coordinator. Jon has extensive experience in his field and he is highly regarded by his peers and colleagues.

Jon works collaboratively to achieve the Director’s vision for a project while maintaining the highest of safety standards for all cast and crew.

He is a pleasure to have on any team. I have no hesitation in recommending Jon for any future employment in his field.

Yours sincerely
Diane Haddon
Producer