Felicity Cockram is leaving her job as senior business manager with the Montecito Picture Company in Los Angeles and returning home to take up the role of general manager of the Australian Film Institute (AFI) from July 29.

During the past six years Cockram has worked as executive liaison for both the American Film Institute's chair and the president of the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. She has also worked as an independent producer and in other production-related roles in the US, Italy, the UK and Australia.