Hot Shots 2025: Karis Winstanley

When Nicola Shindler opened Quay Street Productions in 2021, Karis Winstanley – a runner on Red Production Company dramas The Stranger, It’s A Sin and Ridley Road – was her first hire.

“I knew immediately she was someone I could completely trust to build Quay Street’s culture, represent us socially and deliver over and above on her remit as executive assistant,” Shindler says. Within 18 months, Winstanley’s title expanded to include operations and communications manager, and she created and managed the indie’s website and social platforms.

“Karis is the heartbeat of Quay Street,” says Shindler. “Smart, intuitive, eager to learn, she embodies our values with everything she does to ensure that those around her feel fully supported to deliver their very best work – like she does every single day.”

Shindler says Winstanley’s infectious energy and ability to forge an inclusive workplace that embraces each person’s individuality was integral to Quay Street’s high ranking in Broadcast’s Best Places to Work 2025 and its recognition as Best Employer for Women in TV.

Winstanley has also made it her mission to bridge the gap between staff and freelancers, and to break down any geographical or ideological disconnect.

Last year, she project-managed Quay Street’s move into a new office, with a dedicated room for new mothers and gender-neutral toilets.

Shindler concludes: “Karis is a force of nature and an instigator of positive change. Every company should have a Karis.”