She moved to TVNZ in 1986 as commissioning editor of projects including the film, An Angel at My Table, and television series, such as Public Eye and That’s Fairly Interesting.

[4] From 2008 to 2013 Harley served as the inaugural chief executive officer of Screen Australia.

Projects funded under her leadership included films such as The Sapphires and the television series Redfern Now.

[5] Harley was appointed chair of NZ On Air Irirangi Te Motu in 2018[6] and reappointed for a further three years in 2021.

[8] She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1996 New Year Honours for her work in broadcasting[9] and in the 2006 New Year Honours, she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition for her service to the film industry in New Zealand.