John Fairhead

1st Assistant Director · Safety Consultant & Supervisor · Stunt Professional · Stunt Actor

📞 0403 157 307

🇦🇺 Australian

📍 Perth, Western Australia

📧 jbfilm@mac.com

🌐 Australian Stunt Management

IMDb: John on IMDb

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

John (Jb) Fairhead is a highly experienced First Assistant Director, Safety Supervisor, and Stunt Professional, with more than three decades in film, television, and commercial production across Australia and internationally.

Known for his calm leadership under pressure, meticulous planning, and deep industry knowledge, John has worked with directors including Ben Elton, Bruce Beresford, and Rachel Ward, and producers such as Michael Boughen, Tim White and Andrea Kier. His dual expertise as both Assistant Director and accredited Safety Supervisor makes him a trusted choice for productions requiring efficiency, precision, and compliance at the highest level.

John’s credits span feature films, television drama, commercials, docos, and live-action stunts, demonstrating his adaptability and broad technical skillset. A passionate advocate for crew welfare and safe sets, he has also served extensively on industry committees, helping shaping policy and supporting WA crew at state and national levels.

KEY SKILLS

Leadership as 1st AD on high-pressure film and television sets

Comprehensive safety supervision & compliance management

Scheduling, logistics, and crew management

Effective collaboration with directors, producers, and HODs

Proven record of supporting safe, efficient, and professional productions

Active industry representation and mentoring in WA

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

• Equity Graded Safety Supervisor/Stunt Actor
• Diploma of Screen & Media
• Advanced Traffic Management & Traffic Controller
• Certificate IV Occupational Health & Safety
• First Aid Certificate (level 2)
• Mental Health First Aid Certificate
• Black Card Cultural Capability Workshop
• OHS Construction Induction Industrial
• Rope Access – Level I
• Working with Children Check Card
• National Police Certificate
• Divemaster & Master Scuba Diver (P.A.D.I.)
• Motorboat License
• Intermediate Scaffolding & Intermediate Rigger
• Elevated Work Platform
• Dogging Certificate
• Driver’s License (car, articulated truck, motorcycle)
• DECA Stunt Driver
• Fire Warden
• Former Prison Officer Trainer for WA Dept of Justice: Training & Specialist Services Branch

SELECTED CREDITS | First Assistant Director

• Reckless (2025) – TV Series (BBC) | Dir Beck Cole
• Whale Shark Jack (2025)– Feature | Dirs Miranda Edmonds, Khrob Edmonds
• The Travellers (2024) – Feature | Dir Bruce Beresford
• Invisible Boys (2024) – TV Series (Stan) | Dir Nicolas Verso
• Inheritance (2023) - Short | Dir Myles Pollard
• The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race (2022) Feature | Dir Lynn Hegarty
• Avarice (2021) – Feature | Dir John V Soto
• Blueback (2021) – Feature – Marine Unit | Dir Robert Connelly
• Itch (Series 1 & 2) (2020/21) – TV Series (ABC) | Dir Nicolas Verso
• The Furnace (2019) – Feature | Dirs Tim White, Tenille Kennedy
• H is for Happiness (2018) – Feature | Dir John Sheedy
• The Koko Story (2018) Feature Doco | Dirs Aaron McCann, Dominic Pearce
• The Heights (2018) TV Serial (casual) (ABC) | Dirs James Bogle, Andrew Prowse
• Slam (2017) Feature | Dir Partho Sen-Gupta
• Small Town Hackers (2017) Web Series | Dir Henry Inglis
• Three Summers (2016) Feature | Dir Ben Elton
• Looking for Grace (2015) Feature | Dir Sue Brooks
• An Accidental Soldier (2013) – Tele-movie | Dir Rachel Ward
• Desert War (2013) Doc/Drama | Dir Steve Westh
• Drift (2011) 2nd Unit Feature | Dir Ben Nott
• Jandamarra’s War (2010) Doc/Drama | Dir Mitch Torres
• Southern Cross (2001) Telemovie | Dir Mark DeFriest
• See CV for Full list of Credits

SELECTED CREDITS TVCs | 1st Assistant Director

Road Safety Commission · LotteryWest “ Thats the Ticket” · Tuart Lakes Lifestyle Villages · Dept of Transport

· Synergy ‘Greater Connected’ · Western Power “Underground” · LotteryWest “ Powerball” · Western Power “Make the Safe Call” · Tourism Australia - Brand · Road Safety Commission · Police & Nurses · Transperth- Ready for Take Off · Crown Casino · Kleenheat “Thinking About Gas” · RSC “Not Dress for the Job” · Dell “Change Maker” · DOC - Build a Life · NRMA· Fare · RAC Car Loans · Lotterywest (Sat Lotto) · Coward Punch 2021 · iiNet “Mega Finn” · WA Museum ‘Conversations Gallery’ · iiNet “25 years” · Transperth ‘Safety Around Buses · Western Power ‘Value of the Grid’ · Amazon ‘The Test’· Lotterywest · TAB Touch · Nike AU Perth · RAC ‘Interstate Strangers’ · P&N Lift · AMEX FXIP Aust Campaign · Alinta ‘Brand’ Kleenheat · iiNet “25 years” · HBF “Hospital” · City of Perth “Christmas” · Ikea ... (see CV for full list)

SELECTED CREDITS | Safety Supervisor / Consultant

• Scrublands: Silver S2 (2024) TV Series
• The Surfer (2023) Feature
• Our Law S2 (2023-2024) TV Series
• Blueback (2022) Feature
• Mystery Road: Origin (2021) TV Series
• Avarice (2021) Feature
• Under the Volcano (2021) Doco
• Making Their Mark (2021) TV Series
• The Beach (2020) TV Series
• Breath (2016) Feature
• Jasper Jones (2016) Feature
• Other Life (2015) Feature
• Red Dog: True Blue (2015) Feature
• Bad Girl (2015) Feature
• Drift (2011) Feature
• Blame Feature
• Mad Bastards - Feature
• All The Tired Horses - Feature
• Wasted - Feature
• Knowing – Main Unit (Nicolas Cage)
• Ghost Rider – Main Unit (Nicolas Cage)
• The Children of Huang Shi – Feature
• Strange Bedfellows – Feature
• Ned Kelly (2002) Feature (2nd Unit)
• Mystery Road: Origin – TV Series (Easy Tiger)
• MasterChef Australia (multiple seasons)
• Shark Tank Australia – Series 3
• Australia’s Got Talent
• See CV for Full list of Credits

SELECTED CREDITS | *Stunt Performer / **Assistant Stunt Co-ordinator

• H is for Happiness (2019) - Feature **
• Jasper Jones - Feature * + **
• Sacha Baron Cohen - LIVE *
• Drift – Feature *
• Ned Kelly – Feature (2nd Unit) *
• Below – Feature *
• Neighbours – TV Series *
• Wild Kat – TV Series *
• Ship to Shore (1994) – TV Series *
• See CV for Full list of Credits

Industry Leadership & Committees

• MEAA - ECS Federal Delegate 2024-present
• Screenwest Industry Advisory Group (Inaugural member) 2017-2019
• Australian Institute of Health and Safety (2017-Present)
• Professional Film Crew of WA – Committee President 2012-2014, 2015-2019
• National Stunt Grading Committee –2001-2003 (Inaugural member), 2009-2013, 2015
• West Australian Stunt Committee 1996-2001
• MEAA – Equity Section committee member 2001-2005
• Actors Equity Benevolent Guild of WA 2001-2005
• Open Channel (Victoria) – Industry Training Focus Group 2008

REFEREES

• Andy Walker - Producer
• Ben Elton – Director
• Bruce Beresford – Director
• Michael Boughen – Producer
• Andrea Kier – Producer

Additional CV Options

Due to John’s extensive breadth of work, we provide both:

• A 1-page CV Summary for quick reference.
• A Full 6-page CV with detailed credits and work history.

Both are available for download directly from this profile.