Animal Logic, Australia's foremost visual effects studio, has appointed Greg Smith to the newly created position director of communications and public affairs.

The former executive, who was instrumental in the firm's key move to Sydney's Fox Studios in 1998, will be Animal Logic's "senior liaison person with government and industry bodies", according to managing director Zareh Nalbandian. "Greg brings with him extensive industry knowledge and insight."

Smith has held high-profile CEO positions with Government film agencies Film Victoria and the NSW Film and Television Office. He has also been executive director of film financing company Content Capital.

"As an industry," says Smith, "we need to be energetically identifying trends and looking for ways to be successful -- outside of our assumptions and comfort zones."

Last November, Animal Logic announced the appointment of US visual effects veteran Hael Kobayashi as Digital Artists Manager. The company is currently in production on Happy Feet, a major Kennedy Miller digitally animated feature for Warner Brothers, directed by George Miller.