2020 Speakers

It’s been over 30 years since Linda Ambury answered a classified ad for a Producer’s assistant. Since that time Ambury has successfully worked her way from production managing and line producing several high profile film and television projects into her current role producing the second season of Netflix’s ‘Black Summer’.

Ambury is proud of her involvement on several projects that have been key to the development of the Alberta Film Industry. Some of these projects include Disney’s ‘Honey, I Shrunk The Kids’ which was an early adopter of VFX, the then highest budgeted Canadian feature film ‘Passchendaele’ which recreated the horrific battlefields of WWI France, and HBO’s ‘Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee’ which yielded an impressive 17 Emmy nominations and 6 wins.

Some of Ambury’s more recent work includes series 1 and 2 of Sky Atlantic’s ‘Tin Star’, the wolf unit for seasons 5 through 8 of the HBO series ‘Game Of Thrones’, Focus Features upcoming theatrical release ‘Let Him Go’ and the aforementioned Netflix series ‘Black Summer’.

In addition to producing, Ambury met the challenge of overseeing the conversion of air hangers to film support/stages at the Currie Barracks, has sat on studio insight committees and has had the pleasure of instructing at the Banff Centre. Her passion for mentoring, the stewardship of environmentally responsible production practices, and advocating for a safe work place have further enriched her career and the community that she works and resides in.

Jann Arden is a singer, songwriter, broadcaster, actor, author, and social media star. The celebrated multi-platinum, award-winning artist catapulted onto the music scene in 1993 with her debut album, Time for Mercy, featuring the hit single ‘I Would Die for You’. A year later, she had her international break-out hit ‘Insensitive’. Arden stars as a fictionalized version of herself in the CTV original comedy series Jann, and has written four books, the most recent being the Canadian bestseller Feeding My Mother – Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives with Memory Loss.

She has written four books, the most recent being the Canadian bestseller Feeding My Mother – Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives with Memory Loss. She is much in demand as a public speaker, and a favourite frequent guest host on CTV’s The Social. Jann’s most recent album, These Are the Days, is available now. Once again, Grammy Award®-winning producer Bob Rock was behind the console of what could arguably be Jann’s most personal and poignant offering to date.

Find her on Twitter @jannarden, Facebook, and Instagram.

Luke Azevedo, Commissioner, Film, Television, and Creative Industries – In 2007 Luke joined Calgary economic development as the Commissioner for Film, Television and the Creative Industries, Luke works with Studios, government, unions & producers in Southern Alberta to facilitate and develop local projects and attract new foreign film, television & digital media productions to the area.

Prior to joining CED, Luke was the Director of the Creative Electronic Environment, as well as the Banff New Media Institute and the Acting Director of Literary Arts at The Banff Centre, where he developed and directed television and interactive media facilities and personnel.

As President of Rogers Sports & Media, Jordan Banks is responsible for the current $2 billion business and approximately 4,000 employees across Canada from a variety of sports and media properties, consisting of 23 conventional and specialty TV channels including Sportsnet, 29 local TV stations, 56 radio stations, 3 OTT services, 2 podcast networks, The Shopping Channel, a multiplatform content studio, and data offerings.

With deep strategic insights in the digital space and global content experience, Banks is uniquely positioned to lead the next chapter of Rogers Sports & Media and its cross-channel consumer experience. A highly respected business leader, Banks was named one of Canada’s 50 Most Powerful Business People by Canadian Business magazine, one of the 25 Most Influential Innovators in Canada by Financial Post magazine, as well as being named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.

Prior to joining Rogers Sports & Media, Banks was the Managing Director of Facebook & Instagram Canada, leading all domestic commercial operations, while also serving for a period of time as Facebook’s Global Head of Vertical Strategy.

Banks’s previous roles include CEO at JumpTV, Managing Director of eBay Canada, and working as an executive at the National Hockey League Players’ Association in their international business and licensing group. Banks also practiced corporate law at Goodmans LLP, and was the co-founder of Thunder Road Capital where he provided investment and advisory services to tech companies.

Banks sits on the Board of Directors for SickKids Foundation, the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation, Cineplex Inc., and the BlackNorth Initiative, and has spent the past two decades tirelessly raising money and awareness for Alzheimer’s research and care.

Andrew Barnsley is a Toronto and Los Angeles based Executive Producer of film and television. He is a two-time Emmy nominated (Outstanding Comedy Series) and multi-nominated/three-time Canadian Screen Award winning (Best Comedy Series) Executive Producer. Barnsley is currently the Executive Producer on CTV/Bell Media’s 14 x ½ hour comedy series Jann starring Jann Arden, CBC/PopTV’s 80 x ½ hour series Schitt’s Creek starring Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, Family Channel/CBBC’s 15 x ½ hour tween series My Perfect Landing. His 2020 development and production slate includes series with CTV/Bell Media, CBC, City TV/Rogers Media, Amazon Studios, and Hulu. He has served previously as the Executive Producer on CTV’s 26 x 1/2 hour sitcom Spun Out starring Dave Foley, the TMN/Movie Central documentary series Sports On Fire and the HBO Canada documentary feature Spirit Unforgettable (2016). Since 2001, Barnsley has produced content across multiple genres and formats including comedy, animation, live-action, children’s, documentary and multiple live concert specials.

Barnsley currently serves Executive Producer in Residence at Toronto Film School. He is a member of the Canadian Media Producers Association, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (USA) and the Academy of Canadian Film & Television. He holds an MA in Communications and Culture from Ryerson and York Universities, a BAA from Ryerson University’s Radio and Television Arts Program and a BEd from St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Sherien Barsoum is a film director and producer based in Toronto. She is a founding member of the Racial Equity Media Collective, which uses research to advocate on behalf of racialized creators in Canada.

Barsoum directed and produced Ride For Promise and Player Zero, winning the HotDocs Short Film Pitch and Best Canadian Documentary at NorthWest Fest. She produced Babe, I Hate To Go, which played top festivals internationally and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. Barsoum was the story consultant on the Oscar-shortlisted Frame 394 and co-produced House Of Z, the first feature bought and distributed by Condé Nast, now on Netflix.

She is the former Director of Programming for the Reelworld Film Festival and serves as a board member of the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Ontario chapter.

Tashi Bieler is Senior Vice President, Production, Film, Television & Digital at Entertainment One (eOne), where she oversees the studio’s diverse and impressive slate of television series and features shooting in Toronto and abroad. Her credits include series such as the critically-acclaimed Mary Kills People (Lifetime/Global), global ratings success Private Eyes (Global/ION), international hit Ransom (CBS/Global), cult comedy Call Me Fitz (TMN), as well as genre favourites Haven (Syfy/Showcase) and Bitten (Syfy/Space). Prior to joining eOne, Tashi made her mark producing both films and television series, including Siblings, Moon Palace and the Gemini-award winning The 11th Hour. A well-respected veteran of the industry, Tashi has over 20 years of experience producing world-class content in Canada, the US and Europe.

Barbara Bowlby joined Insight in 1984 and made a major contribution in building it into an industry leader in the creative development, financing and production of high quality television programs. She was the driving force behind Insight’s business affairs in every respect for 34 years and played a leading role in the expansion of the company. In July 2018, Bowlby retired from Insight Productions but she continues to contribute her expertise to the company in her continuing role as a Shareholder.

Bowlby’s keen business sense was a vital component of Insight’s ability to bring the company’s creative initiatives to the international marketplace. She always encourages excellence in both a creative and entrepreneurial environment and she built everlasting partnerships worldwide with broadcasters and distributors. In 2014 Bowlby was honoured to receive the Crystal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business at the Women in Film & Television Awards, and in 2019, Bowlby, together with her brother and business partner, John Brunton, was appointed to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the Canadian broadcasting industry.

The company has thousands of hours of programming to its credit and Bowlby had her fingerprints on every project for the last 34 years. During her tenure and in addition to her imperative role as President & COO, she has also served as Executive Producer on Insight’s extensive roster of productions, allowing her to handle the operations for both the production company and its television programming. Bowlby’s strength was in her ability to support the creative environment while managing financial and operational priorities.

2014 marked Insight’s 35th anniversary and along with their numerous award wins, Insight was honoured to be the inaugural recipient of The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Televisions Icon Award. This award is a special award presented by the Academy Board of Directors to mark important achievements in Canada’s screen industry. Bowlby received a number of national and international television industry awards for the caliber of quality programs produced including Cable Ace Awards, Cine Awards and many more.

Tom’s creative vision and leadership have played an integral role in helping to establish Arrow as one of the most admired factual producers in the UK.

His credits include returning series America In Color, which delivered one of the highest ratings of the year for Smithsonian Channel; and highly acclaimed high-end feature documentary Under the Wire for History Films, BFI and BBC4. Tom has also spearheaded Arrow’s successful foray into the True Crime genre, which includes a slate of successful returning series for Investigation Discovery including Body Cam, See No Evil and American Monster. Tom’s UK credits include Inside Balmoral for Channel 5; Pearl Harbor: The Truth for Channel 4; and the landmark BAFTA- and RTS-winning Live From Space (a National Geographic Channel/Channel 4 co-production). Tom’s storytelling skills see him continue to produce hit returning series for broadcasters in both the UK and US.

Erin Brock has embraced her passion for storytelling at Insight for over twenty years, helming some of Canada’s highest rated reality, lifestyle & documentary series. As a Senior Vice President and Showrunner, Brock makes sure riveting stories and compelling characters are at the heart of all her shows. In addition to both her development and production responsibilities, Brock is a member of Insight’s executive leadership team responsible for long term strategic planning and international business development.

Brock acts as the Executive Producer and Showrunner on the Canadian version of Big Brother (#1 Canadian Show in 18-49 demo) now heading into its 9th season, Erin has spearheaded the multi-platform ground-breaking hit series since its launch in 2012. Global’s Big Brother Canada continues to dominate in its timeslot on multiple platforms, broadcasting 3 nights a week as well as 24/7 on the live feeds. Before moving over to Global in season 3, Big Brother Canada launched on Slice and was the most-watched reality program of all-time across all specialty channels in Canada. Brock’s focus on creating unique and innovative cross-platform engagement and social media opportunities resulted in record-breaking page views for broadcaster Shaw Media.

Brock also recently helmed the original series I Do, Redo (most watched new lifestyle show) as Executive Producer and Showrunner. She also acted as Executive Producer on the COVID-19 fundraising special Canada Stronger Together (most watched Canadian non-sports show on record) that raised over 8 million dollars for Food Banks Canada. Other recent credits include Co-Executive Producer for American Beauty Star, Insight’s original format Canada Sings! and Executive Producer on Battle of The Blades (highest rated original format in Canadian history).

Brock is also chief creative officer of Insight’s new media brand, Youngster. Youngster launches as a sister company to Insight and connects, informs and entertains a new generation of Moms and Dads across digital platforms.

John Brunton thinks TV. All the time. As the Globe and Mail writes, he “has airwaves between his ears.”

A natural-born storyteller, Brunton is now celebrating forty years at the helm of Insight Productions Ltd. As Chairman & CEO, Brunton’s entrepreneurial ingenuity, creative vision and passion for television have enabled him to position Insight as an industry leader in the development, financing and production of world class television programs. In 2019, Brunton, together with his sister and business partner, Barbara Bowlby, was appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Canadian broadcasting industry.

Brunton has always been at the forefront of the cultural vanguard. He began his career in news and current events and produced some of the first social commentaries on television about acid rain and nuclear power and produced and directed a number of hard-hitting investigative reports for NBC’s Speak Up America in 1980. In the same year, the short film Don’t Mess With Bill, which he produced, was nominated for an Academy Award. 2015 marked a year where Brunton’s personal passion project, a feature length documentary co-produced with MET Films on the Canadian story of Greenpeace, How To Change The World was nominated in the World Cinema Documentary Competition and debuted to great acclaim winning two awards at its world premiere on opening night of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

Brunton was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Awards Hall of Fame during Canadian Music Week in 2008. In 2013, Insight was honoured by Playback Magazine and given the title TV Producer of the Year. Insight was the inaugural recipient of The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s Icon Award in 2014.

Julie Chang is focused on the identification, structuring and closing of content creation and financing opportunities for Blue Ant Media’s production businesses around the globe. Prior to joining Blue Ant Media, Julie was the Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs with Peace Point Rights and Peace Point Entertainment Group. She had a first hand in building Peace Point’s International Rights division and oversaw the business and legal affairs of all production for various Licensees on a global basis. Prior to Peace Point, Julie was with Behind the Scenes Services Inc. and was an associate at Lewis Birnberg Hanet, LLP where she represented international distributors and executive producers for scripted/lifestyle/factual programming. Chang has held executive positions in a number of areas of the industry including home distribution for Lions Gate Films, business and legal affairs for the former Alliance Atlantis and UK-based Café Productions. Well versed in legal and business affairs for international distribution and productions, Julie has extensive experience with Canadian tax credits and equity funds and has overseen interim financing transactions for numerous Canadian Productions and International Treaty Co-Productions.

Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming for Bell Media’s English-language channels and platforms. With a company-wide focus, she is responsible for the overall development and production of all content commissioned from independent producers for CTV, Bell Media’s specialty channels, and for Crave, Bell Media’s pay and SVOD service.

Coe has overseen the development and production of Bell Media’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning original series, including Cardinal, Jann, Letterkenny, The Disappearance, Killyjoys, Wynona Earp, Orphan Black, Cartier, The Amazing Race Canada, Master Chef Canada, Corner Gas Animated, 19-2 and the new series Transplant, New Eden, Canada’s Drag Race and others.

Coe currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Film Centre and the Harold Greenberg Fund, and on the Board of Governors of the ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society.

Coe is a recipient of WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award, has received a Women in Film and Television (WIFT-T) Crystal Award, a Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) Leadership Excellence Award and was named Production Executive of the Year by Playback magazine.

Lindsay Cox is Canada’s preeminent and most respected showrunner of highly rated and award-winning music specials, award shows, variety programming and live spectacles. She has also been credited as Executive Producer on several scripted projects in the comedy genre as well as pursuing documentary work.

Lindsay produces and creates ambitious and technically challenging live shows that showcase the world’s best musical talent. In addition to 18 editions of The JUNO Awards, she produced The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration watched by 1 in 3 Canadians and counts among her credits several philanthropic endeavours such as Stronger Together which is Canada’s highest rated Canadian produced program, Young Artists for Haiti and Music Without Borders. Lindsay was also an integral part of the team who created The Launch for CTV, an original new format that aimed to reinvent the music television series genre, and documents what it takes to break a new Artist and successfully launch their hit single. Lindsay has also produced multiple specials and variety series including; Canada Day 150! From Coast to Coast to Coast; Canada’s New Year’s Eve Countdown, Battle of the Blades and Canada’s Walk of Fame among others.

Lindsay is currently producing a documentary for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation shining a light on Canada’s devastating history of Residential Schools entitled “Every Child Matters: Education through Reconciliation” as well as preparing for Season 6 of Battle of the Blades set to air October 2020.

She is a member of Insight’s Senior Executive team that guides and shapes Insight’s long term strategic planning including international business development and sales.

Additional credits among various genres include: Comedy (Never Ever Do This At Home, The Jon Dore Television Show), Game Shows (Deal or No Deal & Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader), Sports (Stars on Ice, Pumped!), and Documentary (100 Years of Canadian Sports).

Tom Cox is Managing Director of SEVEN24 Films. His producing credits include award winning feature films, dramatic series, mini-series and television movies.

Current productions include Family Law, a dramatic series for Corus, Fortunate Son, a political thriller series for the CBC and NBCU International, Jann, a half hour comedy for CTV, Wynonna Earp, the People’s Choice Award winning series for Syfy and Space and Heartland, the beloved CBC family drama.

Previous series include Damnation, Young Drunk Punk, Wild Roses, Tom Stone and North of Sixty. Television, movies and mini-series include Borealis, Burn Up, Mayorthorpe, Waking Up Wally, Chasing Freedom and After the Harvest. International feature film co-productions include Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Resurrecting the Champ.

Tom is a board member and past chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association. He is a board member of the Banff International Media Festival Foundation, and past board member and chair of the Alberta Media Production Industry Association and the National Screen Institute. He has served as a member of the Alberta Premier’s Council on Culture and the Alberta Film Advisory Council. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contribution to the arts.

L.C. Crowley serves as Chief Executive Officer of Trioscope Studios, a groundbreaking new studio dedicated to next-generation enhanced hybrid animation. The Los Angeles based studio develops original dramatic content as well as adaptations and produces third party intellectual property, all on its revolutionary new platform.

Crowley, along with veteran producer and entrepreneur Brandon Barr, and acclaimed animator and VFX artist Greg Jonkajtys formed Trioscope Studios in 2020. Reinventing the way animation is made, Trioscope marries human performance with animated environments to produce a first of its kind viewing experience filled with powerful human emotion and breathtaking cinematic visuals.

Trioscope is currently in production on the upcoming World War II animated drama series The Liberator, written by Jeb Stuart, directed by Jonkajtys and produced by A&E Studios and Unique Features for Netflix. Additionally, Trioscope has partnered with Truly*Adventurous, Dark Horse Comics, Oni Press, Unique Features and Netflix for unannounced projects.

Crowley and Barr have a long history, having launched the successful Atlanta based production company School of Humans a decade ago. The company built a reputation on genre defying and experimental projects such as Daytime Fighting League (Adult Swim), Stuff You Should Know (Science Channel) and Behind the Screens (Netflix) as well as progressive approaches to content through their podcasts, including the critical hit Hell and Gone.

Mohawk filmmaker Tracey Deer led the acclaimed dramedy Mohawk Girls, produced by Rezolution Pictures, to five award-winning seasons as its co-creator, director, and co-showrunner.

She has worked with CBC, the National Film Board (NFB), and numerous independent production companies in both documentary and fiction. She was nominated four years in a row for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction in a Comedy Series for Mohawk Girls and has been honored at TIFF with the Birks Diamond Tribute Award.

Deer recently completed her debut feature Beans, a coming-of-age story about a young Mohawk girl’s experiences during the Oka Crisis, a 1990 land dispute between the Mohawk and their Francophone neighbors in Quebec. It has been selected for the Discovery, TIFF Next Wave Section at TIFF 2020. She began production right after returning from LA, where she was a writing co-EP on season 3 of the Netflix/CBC series Anne with an E. Her projects in development include Inner City Girl, a feature about Aboriginal gang life, with Original Pictures.

Deer strongly believes in giving back to the community. She chairs the Board of Directors of Women in View, a non-profit that promotes greater diversity and balance in Canadian media, from the standpoint of employment equity, creative authority and gender representation. She has mentored emerging talent as leader of the Director Training Program at the imagine NATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival. She has also been a guest mentor at the National Screen Institute (NSI) New Indigenous Voices Program and a directing mentor for NSI’s new IndigiDocs training course.

Jennifer Dettman is an award-winning television executive with 15+ years of experience leading innovative television and digital content creation. She is one of the top female executives in the country and an internationally respected voice in the industry. Jennifer has played a leading role in the industry’s ongoing digital transformation to define new paths for a changing media landscape and is dedicated to creating best-in-class Canadian unscripted content on all platforms, including CBC and documentary Channel award-winning documentaries, and hit CBC factual entertainment series Battle of the Blades, Dragons’ Den, Family Feud Canada, The Great Canadian Baking Show and Still Standing.

As Vice-President, Programming, CTV and Specialty, Pat DiVittorio is responsible for all linear and digital content and programming strategy for CTV, CTV2 and Bell Media entertainment channels including CTV Comedy, CTV Drama, CTV Sci-Fi, CTV Life, Much, MTV, and E!. In addition to this portfolio, DiVittorio plays a key role in the strategy and execution of original content for these channels and in the international market.

In November 2019, DiVittorio was appointed to the Content Advisory Board for The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF). In 2015, DiVittorio was awarded Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) Mentor of the Year Award. She is a member of Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Previously, DiVittorio served on the board of directors for Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T).

DiVittorio joined the company in 1990 as Program Coordinator for local station CTV Toronto, and has held positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice-President, Program Planning. Throughout her television career, DiVittorio also worked at Showcase as Program Scheduler, where she was involved in program scheduling, planning, and creating an inventory and traffic system. Prior to joining the television industry, DiVittorio worked as a Media Buyer at Harrison, Young, Pesonen & Newell.

In May 2019, DiVittorio participated in Rotman School of Management’s initiative for women in business, The Judy Project, one of Canada’s leading executive forums for women. In 2017, she attended Harvard Law School’s Negotiation and Leadership Program. DiVittorio holds a double honours degree in Mass Communications and Sociology from York University.

Alison Duke aka ‘Golde’ crafts dynamic stories for television that illuminate the arts, history and present-day social-political issues to push our culture forward. She has experience producing and directing episodic doc/factual series and her one-off directing credits include ‘Cool Black North’, ‘Positive Women: exposing injustice’, ‘A Deathly Silence’, and ‘Raising Kane: a rapumentary’. She earned two 2020 Canadian Screen Awards for co-writing and co-producing Mr. Jane and Finch and the 2020 Wiston M. Moxam Award at the Afro Prairie Film Festival for ‘Promise Me’ her powerful debut short fiction inspired by true events in the life of a woman living with HIV.

Anthony Q. Farrell has written for NBC’s The Office, Canada’s international hit Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans. He has developed TV with CBS Studios, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network amongst others. Farrell is the creator of Secret Life Of Boys, the BAFTA-winning CBBC series, which is currently shooting its fifth season.

At the moment he is showrunning two primetime comedies and is in active development on several others. He lives in Toronto with his amazing family.

Paul Feig is a multi-talented creator, working successfully as a filmmaker, writer, producer, and author whose films have grossed over one billion dollars worldwide. Most recently, Feig directed and produced the Emma Thompson-scribed holiday romance film Last Christmas for Universal. The film stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding and was released in November, 2019. His next directing projects include The School for Good and Evil for Netflix, and Dark Army for Universal, which he will also write and produce. His most recent work includes directing the stylish thriller A Simple Favor for Lionsgate, which stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively and Henry Golding, and producing The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale for Netflix.

Feig is the founder of Feigco Entertainment, which produced Spy, A Simple Favor and Last Christmas and which has first-look deals with both Universal Studios and Lionsgate TV. Feigco specializes in developing edgy and commercial comedies with an emphasis on complex female lead characters. Feigco also produced the comedy Snatched, which starred Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn.

Feig also recently launched Powderkeg, a digital content company that aims to champion new voices with a commitment to female, LGBTQIA+ creators and filmmakers of color. Their first projects include the Muslim-American digital shortform series East of La Brea and the Powderkeg: Fuse program, which produced six short films written and directed by diverse female filmmakers.

A three-time EMMY nominated writer/director and DGA Award winner, Feig is also known for creating the beloved and critically acclaimed series Freaks and Geeks and serving as director and co-executive producer of The Office. Feig was selected as the Distinguished Artist for the American Film Institute Conservatory’s Directing Workshop for Women and won the first ever Artemis Action Rebel Award in 2016. That same year he was also awarded the inaugural Athena Leading Man award at Athena Film Festival in celebration of his extraordinary body of work, support and outspoken stance for women throughout his career. Feig is the first male to ever be honored by the Festival. He was most recently given the second annual Spirit of the Industry Award by the National Alliance of Theater Owners.

Leah Gauthier is a Vancouver and Toronto based Writer-Producer. She’s currently Co-Creator, Executive Producer and Writer on JANN, CTV’s half-hour comedy starring Jann Arden, ranked the #1 new Canadian comedy.

She has also worked as a Producer of Factual and Reality content, serving as Talent Producer and Assistant Director for The Real Housewives of Vancouver, Casting Producer on HGTV’S Worst to First and YTV’S Tricked, and as Story and Casting Producer on First Dates Canada.

Prem Gill is Chief Executive Officer of Creative BC. The organization is designated by the Province of British Columbia to focus on uniting, sustaining and growing British Columbia’s dynamic and diverse creative sector including motion picture, music and sound recording, interactive and digital media, and magazine and book publishing.
Gill has been named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women, Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” and received the Community Catalyst award from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. She brings more than 20 years of experience from the digital media and entertainment industries to her current role as CEO, where she is responsible for delivering a wide range of programs and services that will expand BC’s creative economy to reach its economic and creative potential both at home and globally.
Before Creative BC, Gill spent eight years with TELUS, most recently in the role of director of production & original programming. Her commitment to the advancement of BC’s creative economy can be seen through her achievements there, including the successful development and launch of the StoryHive program and TELUS’s Optik TV community channel.
For many years, Gill has championed Canadian creativity as a representative and spokesperson to media, industry and government at all levels. Previous roles and responsibilities have included government and regulatory affairs, independent media consultation, cross-platform marketing, communications, research, public affairs and multicultural programming.
Gill is currently on the board of directors of The Bell Fund, a not-for-profit organization. The Bell Fund’s mission is to support Canadian Media content makers in creating for and connecting with, audiences here and everywhere.

A six-time Emmy award winning journalist and television host, Nancy Glass is CEO and Executive Producer of Glass Entertainment Group (GEG).

Headquartered in Philadelphia, GEG is a full-service production company specializing in unscripted television, film production, new media content and podcasts. Since launching 20 years ago, the company has produced over 3,000 hours of programming. Currently, GEG is producing over a dozen series, including Lincoln: An American President (CNN), The Vet Life (Animal Planet), Heartland Vets: DVM (NatGeo Wild), Queen of Stylz (snapchat), Frozen in Time (HGTV) as well as unannounced projects for HGTV, Oxygen, MTV, Magnolia, and HLN.

A leader in the podcast space, the company recently produced the hit Apple podcast Dating Diaries: Quarantine Confessions as well as one of the most downloaded podcasts Confronting: O.J. Simpson, which earned a top 5 position on AP’s Top 2019 Podcasts.

Earlier this year, GEG launched pop culture host and HGTV executive Brian Balthazar’s Balthazar Entertainment.

Previously, Glass was an anchor and reported for several national TV shows including Inside Edition, American Journal, Sneak Previews, This Evening, The Miss America Pageant, and Attitudes on Lifetime. Paving the way for woman, she is well-known for being the first women to solo host a nationally syndicated news show, the first person in syndication to be nominated for a national news Emmy, and the first person in cable to be nominated for an Emmy for Best Daytime Talk Show Host.

Mark Ham is the Executive Director of Cultural Industries and Alberta’s Film Commissioner. Mark has been with the Government of Alberta for 17 years and has served in a variety of policy and planning roles with Municipal Affairs, Justice and Solicitor General, and Treasury Board and Finance before joining Culture, Multiculturalism and the Status of Women two years ago in his current role. In addition to supporting Alberta’s film and television industry, the Cultural Industries branch also supports the growth of the magazine and book publishing and music sectors and is responsible for the day to day management of two 2500 seat government-owned theaters in the cities of Edmonton and Calgary. Mark believes Alberta has a significant opportunity to be a destination of choice for productions that are looking for a versatile location that is successfully and safely relaunching.

Nelu (pronounced knee-loo) is a writer, producer and actor who has written and performed on every season of JANN (CTV), Baroness Von Sketch Show (CBC/IFC), The Beaverton (CTV), Odd Squad (PBS), and the upcoming series Sort Of (CBC). She also plays recurring character Jade on the Emmy nominated show Workin’ Moms (CBC/Netflix). An outspoken advocate for increasing diverse representation in the industry, Handa is the creator and host of MIRCHI (formerly Yas Kween), the ground- breaking monthly night of live comedy that showcases Women of Colour.

Jennica Harper is an award-winning TV writer and producer. She’s currently Showrunner and Co-Creator of the prime time comedy series Jann, starring Jann Arden (CTV/Crave). Before that Harper was Writer and Co-Executive Producer on Netflix’s supernatural hit The Order and crime drama Cardinal (CTV/Hulu). Other credits include Motive (CTV), Fortunate Son (CBC), Somewhere Between (ABC), and kids comedies Some Assembly Required (YTV/Netflix) and Mr. Young (YTV/Disney XD). Harper lives with her family in Vancouver.

As Head of Scripted Development, Scott Herbst oversees the development of scripted series for Lionsgate’s Television Group, one of the largest independent television businesses in the world. He and his team are responsible for identifying and developing premium content for an ever-expanding array of buyers and leveraging the Company’s production partnerships, including its 3 Arts Entertainment and Point Grey Pictures relationships, to create premium scripted shows.

Lionsgate Television Group renewed all five of its new scripted series this year with Herbst overseeing key shows including the critically-acclaimed high-concept drama Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for NBC and the romantic comedy series Love Life for HBO Max, which were both renewed for second seasons. With over 50 projects set up at multiple networks and 20 producer/writer deals at Lionsgate, he is also shepherding several new pilot and series orders including the Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman comedy Santa Inc. which was ordered straight to series at HBO Max as well as the pilots Home Economics for ABC, Ghosts for CBS, This Country for FOX and Minx for HBO Max. In addition, Herbst is overseeing a number of high-profile projects including Middle West from its Point Grey partnership in development at Amazon and the television spinoff of Lionsgate’s blockbuster John Wick film franchise, The Continental, for STARZ.

Prior to joining Lionsgate, Herbst served as Vice President of Scripted Programming for NBCU International. In this role, he was a producer on You, Me and the Apocalypse and Glitch. In addition, Herbst oversaw shows including London Spy and developed and sold Hanna, which is going into its third season on Amazon.

Herbst began his career working for the President of Lakeshore Films, where he grew into a Vice President of Development role. During his tenure at Lakeshore, Herbst worked on such films as The Lincoln Lawyer, Stand Up Guys and One For the Money. His biggest achievement at Lakeshore was building up the Company’s television department.

Herbst is a New York native and an alum of Syracuse University’s S. I. Newhouse School.

David Jenkinson is an award-winning journalist who manages a portfolio of publishing, events, production and training companies within the international content business.

He is the founder of C21Media which owns and operates Channel21 international, C21Media.net, C21TV, ClubC21, C21Screenings, FutureMedia, Content London, Content LA, Content Nigeria, and, of course, Content Canada.

Jenkinson also leads C21Media Enterprises, the C21-backed investment company that supports high-growth potential businesses within the content industry. Investments include ContentAcademy.TV, WritersRoom, Blonde Mamba and Rose d’Or.

He is also chief executive of Studio21, a development producer with a mission to discover and connect new voices with the global television business.

Floyd Kane started his career as an entertainment lawyer working on productions such as the long-running satirical news program, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and the Oscar winning documentary, Bowling For Columbine. He transitioned into writing with his creation of the half hour CBC drama North/South. Since that time, Kane has written for a range of series including Continuum, Slasher and Backstage as well as producing several feature films including the award-winning, Across the Line (for which he also wrote the screenplay), Shake Hands with the Devil and The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw.

Kane is the creator, showrunner and executive producer for the CBC drama Diggstown, currently in development on its third season. Earlier this year, he was the recipient of the Sandi Ross award from ACTRA Toronto which recognizes the efforts of individuals striving to create a more inclusive media industry.

Michelle Latimer is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, writer and activist. She is currently showrunning and directing the scripted series Trickster (Sienna Films/Streel Films/CBC), and has just completed production on the feature doc Inconvenient Indian (90th Parallel Productions/National Film Board of Canada/Crave), an adaptation of Thomas King’s book.

In 2016, Latimer chronicled the Standing Rock occupation protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline, as part of the eight-part Indigenous resistance series RISE (Viceland), for which she was also the showrunner and director. RISE was awarded the Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary Program in 2018. Her short film Nuuca (Field of Vision) premiered at TIFF 2017 and screened at the 2018 Sundance and Berlin film festivals.

In 2020, Latimer was named the inaugural artist-in-residence at the Sundance Institute Screenwriting Labs and was awarded the Chicken & Egg Breakthrough Award, a prize given to five international filmmakers for their work in social-justice filmmaking. She was also a 2018 Field of Vision Fellow, under the mentorship of acclaimed filmmaker Laura Poitras. Latimer’s mixed heritage informs her filmmaking perspective, and much of her work is dedicated to the pursuit of Indigenous rights and sovereignty. Latimer is of Algonquin, Metis and French heritage from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (Maniwaki) QC. She grew in Thunder Bay, Ontario and currently splits her time between there and Toronto, Canada

A passionate advocate for healthy sexual information, Cynthia Loyst is best known for giving advice and opinions on the joys and complications of love. She’s also known for being an enthusiastic user of the word “labia.”

A multi-faceted writer, public speaker, and host, Loyst has shared her expertise on The Marilyn Denis Show, ETALK, CTV NEWS CHANNEL, 99.9 Virgin Radio Toronto, 103.9 Proud FM Toronto, CHUM 104.5, The Loop, and TVO. She’s also a certified relationship coach, which is a lot like a sports coach but with less yelling.

Loyst is the creator of FindYourPleasure.com, a popular website dedicated to pleasure, sensuality and pure, unadulterated joy. In January 2020, Loyst released her debut book published by Simon & Schuster called, Find Your Pleasure: The Art of Living A More Joyful Life, which became a national bestseller. The lifestyle book encourages readers to embrace their desires and become the happiest, healthiest, and most successful version of themselves.

Previously, Loyst was the host and producer of Sex Matters and the documentary series SEXTV for which she interviewed a wide range of experts including academics, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, celebrities, and fetish enthusiasts.

Prior to The Social, Loyst co-hosted the daily, national entertainment program Innerspace where she was able to combine her passion for love with her passion for geekdom. She also got relationship advice from Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), parenting advice from Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek), and talked about defining sexiness with Idris Elba (Luther).

Loyst is a graduate of York University’s Film and Video Department where she also studied with York’s Women/Gender Studies Department. She has received awards from SSSS (Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality) and a Sexual Health in the Media Award from Planned Parenthood Toronto, she is SAR (Sexual Attitude Reassessment) certified, and a member of SIECCAN (Sex Information and Education Council of Canada). In 2017, Loyst obtained a Sexual Health Certificate from The University of Michigan and continues to take ongoing courses in human sexuality. Most recently, Loyst is part of the team who won a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for The Social, Best Talk Program or Series.

Follow Cynthia Loyst on Twitter (@cynthialoyst) and Instagram (@cynthialoyst).

Over the past decade at Insight, Mark Lysakowski has worked on a number of award-winning productions including The Amazing Race Canada – the most-watched Canadian TV show on record – on which he serves as Executive Producer and showrunner. In addition to writing, producing, and developing new formats, Lysakowski is a member of Insight’s executive team responsible for long term strategic planning and international business development which includes Insights work in the world of gaming related programming.

Before the race Lysakowski was at the helm of all six seasons of the ratings juggernaut Canadian Idol and was instrumental in the adaptation of the worldwide Idol franchise for the Canadian marketplace. He also worked with Food Network Canada to bring NBC Universal’s Top Chef franchise to Canada and continues to oversee the series as Executive Producer.

In addition to the regular series work Lysakowski is known for his original and award-winning branded content. His ability to harmonize a client’s marketing strategy with the priorities of a show’s narrative results in dynamic, memorable opportunities for some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Select Credits: – The Amazing Race Canada (CTV) Top Chef Canada (Food Network) Canada’s Got Talent (Citytv); Canada Sings!(Global TV); Canadian Idol (CTV); World Idol (CTV); Instant Star: Backstage Pass (Noggin),Battle of the Blades (CBC); Deal or No Deal Canada (Global TV)

Selected Awards: – 11 x CSA Award Winner for his writing and producing work on The Amazing Race Canada, 7 x Golden Screen Award winner for The Amazing Race Canada, 3 x Golden Sheaf Award Winner for The Amazing Race Canada

Reynolds Mastin works on behalf of our members to ensure the continued success of Canada’s independent production sector and a vibrant future for Canadian content. Mastin leads the execution of the CMPA’s strategic priorities and oversees the organization’s operations in its Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver offices. Central to his role is the development of relationships with key stakeholders who are vital to the Canadian production industry. These include all levels of government, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), broadcasters, over-the-top services, distributors, exhibitors, industry unions and guilds, the Hollywood studios, and other production associations from both Canada and around the world.

Prior to becoming President and CEO, Mastin served as the CMPA’s Chief Negotiator and Chief Legal Officer. As Chief Negotiator, Reynolds represented CMPA members and the Hollywood studios in the bargaining of collective and independent production agreements with the unions and guilds representing talent and technicians in the film, television and digital production industries outside of British Columbia. He also led Terms of Trade negotiations with the large private broadcast groups, independent broadcasters and the CBC. As Chief Legal Officer, Mastin provided strategic advice on a range of matters, including business affairs, industrial relations, copyright, Terms of Trade, Canada Media fund policies and guidelines, CRTC regulatory proceedings and corporate governance.

In his professional capacity, Mastin is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Retransmission Collective and of the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. Mastin also volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, one of Canada’s largest grantmakers, which awards approximately 1,500 grants each year to community-based not-for-profits and charitable organizations in the arts, recreation, environment and human and social services sectors.

Erin O’Connor is the Business Development Manager and Programming Director at the Calgary Film Centre. Primary responsibilities include ecosystem development and creative industries sector growth in alignment with business development at the Calgary Film Centre. As well, O’Connor oversees all programming initiatives such as ongoing professional training and support for emerging filmmakers.

Prior to this position, O’Connor was an Arts Management Consultant providing advisory services, project management and administrative support to projects across Alberta. She has consulted in all areas of the creative industries including program development within film and television, visual arts, theatre, music and dance as well as strategic and business planning.

O’Connor was the Executive Director of One Yellow Rabbit and Managing Producer of the High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, and one of the largest annual events of its kind in Western Canada. In this leadership role, she significantly increased organizational capacity and funding initiatives by utilizing her training and experience in financial and organizational management. O’Connor has deep experience in the performing arts and is known for her passion, professionalism, and dedication combined with strategic leadership and management skills.

Troy Reeb is Executive Vice President Broadcast Networks at Corus Entertainment Inc., overseeing Corus’ 34 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, and 15 conventional stations and online platforms, a portfolio which includes Global Television, networks such as HGTV, W Network and History, Global News, and Corus Radio.

Reeb was previously SVP, News, Radio and Station Operations. During his tenure, he has managed the addition of local newscasts in every Global TV market, pioneered Global News’ award-winning Multi-Market Content (MMC) broadcast model, and led a digital-first strategy that has built Globalnews.ca into the largest, private-sector online news provider in Canada.

Reeb graduated in 1988 from the Broadcast Journalism program at Lethbridge College, where he was named Distinguished Alumni in 2003 and maintains an internship program to this day. He successfully completed the Broadcast Executive Leadership program at the Banff Centre in 2007 and the Cable Executive Management program at Harvard Business School in 2015.

Reeb serves on numerous boards of directors, including with Canadian Broadcast Sales, Radioplayer Canada, and the CAB Radio CEO Council.

Boasting more than 20 years of broadcast expertise and a lifetime of hockey knowledge, Christine Simpson has been the face of Sportsnet features and event coverage since the network’s inception in 1998. Simpson currently works as a reporter for the NHL on Sportsnet, appearing on Hockey Night in Canada and Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey.

Growing up in London, ON arenas alongside brothers Craig and Dave, Simpson developed a love for hockey early on. While her brothers found success in the NHL, Simpson began her own career in hockey soon after graduating from Western University when she divided her time between her position as Marketing Manager with the Hockey Hall of Fame and her role as the in-arena host for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After her work in Public Relations for Roots and involvement with the 1996 Toronto Olympic bid, Simpson turned her full attention to sports broadcasting when she assumed the role of rink-side reporter for the ESPN2 broadcast of the 1998 AHL All-Star Game.

Joining Sportsnet in 1998, Simpson acted as a reporter and hosted Showtime with Chris Simpson where she interviewed celebrities such as Brad Pitt and George Clooney, bringing the best of the sports and entertainment worlds together. In addition to her work with Sportsnet, Simpson also appeared as a rink-side reporter for NHL broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and Versus. In 2008, Simpson took time away from Sportsnet to host Captains on the NHL Network in 2008 and to anchor the New Jersey Devils broadcasts on MSG Network in 2010.

During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Simpson hosted Centre Ice with Chris Simpson at the Molson Canadian Hockey House interviewing hockey personalities. In 2011, Simpson returned to the Sportsnet team where she has provided invaluable knowledge and experience to NHL broadcasts and Sportsnet features.

When she’s not in front of the camera, Simpson is an active member on the Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner committee in support of Easter Seals.

Carlyn Staudt heads up Love Nature’s strategic direction and operations globally, including commissioning and development, programming, digital content, marketing and communications, as well as international affiliate sales. Staudt is formerly EVP, Programming and Development for Love Nature, where she oversaw the global programming strategy of Love Nature’s linear platforms internationally and she commissioned original content to grow the brand’s extensive library of 4K natural history programming. Prior to joining Blue Ant Media, Staudt held numerous leadership roles at National Geographic. As SVP, Global Programming and Managing Director for National Geographic Channels International’s operations in Washington DC, Staudt was responsible for spearheading co-production partnerships and global acquisitions across NGCI’s suite of channels. Staudt also served as Channel Manager for Nat Geo Wild internationally, charged with increasing the network’s footprint and managing all content, both commissioned and acquired.

Mercedes Stephenson is Global News’ Ottawa Bureau Chief and the host of the network’s flagship national political affairs program The West Block. Leading Global News’ coverage from the nation’s capital, Stephenson interviews the biggest names in Canadian and international politics.

Hailing from Calgary with a background in Military and Strategic Studies, Stephenson has distinguished herself as one of Canada’s foremost voices in political, defence and foreign policy journalism.

Stephenson has covered major political and leadership conventions and scandals, provided her expertise from around the world while reporting from locales such as Latvia, France, Washington – travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his inaugural visit to the Trump White House, Afghanistan and Niger – where she was the first television reporter ever embedded with the Canadian Special Operations Forces. Stephenson also spent time as a national columnist – featuring in numerous prominent Canadian publications, and previously hosted multiple political television programs.

Possessing a strong reputation for breaking stories and a passion for holding the powerful to account, Stephenson was the first to reveal the identity and death of Canadian suicide bomber, Aaron Driver, for which she earned a nomination for the prestigious Canadian Association of Journalists Scoop Award. Stephenson’s investigative reporting drew the public’s attention to the mistreatment and neglect of Canadian veterans, and her reporting on how the military handles sexual misconduct led to major policy changes in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Stephenson holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Calgary where her thesis focused on information operations in Afghanistan. She also studied political journalism at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., interned at the Pentagon and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for International Studies. Crediting her passion for politics to a fascination with world events and the people behind them, Stephenson applies the same to her personal life, travelling whenever she can to meet new people and experience new places.

Catherine Tait was appointed President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada on April 3, 2018, for a five-year term. She began her mandate on July 3, 2018. Tait is also the Chair of the Global Task Force for Public Media, an initiative of the Public Media Alliance launched in September 2019.

As President and CEO, Tait is responsible for overseeing the management of CBC/Radio-Canada to ensure that Canada’s national public broadcaster can deliver on the various aspects of its mandate and continue to offer Canadians a broad spectrum of high-quality programming that informs, enlightens and entertains, and that is created by, for and about Canadians.

Prior to her appointment, Tait co-founded New York-based Duopoly Inc, an independent film, television and digital content company, which she led as President from 2002 to 2018. She also co-founded iThentic, a digital content company, in 2006 and Hollywood Suite in 2010, a broadcasting company in Canada. Tait was also previously the President and COO of Salter Street Films from 1997 to 2001. She has experience working for the Government of Canada as Director and Cultural Attaché with the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, and as Manager of Policy and Planning for Telefilm Canada where her passion for Canadian film and television content was ignited.

She’s been a member of a number of industry-specific boards including Comweb Group, DHX Media LTD, Hollywood Suite (which she co-founded), iThentic Inc, eOne Entertainment, CHUM Ltd, Aliant Inc, Rogers Mobile Film Fund and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association.

Tait holds a Diplôme d’Études Approfondies, Communications Theory from the University of Paris (1983), a Master of Science from Boston University’s School of Public Communication (1982) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Toronto (1979).

In 2019, Tait was named Playback’s Executive of the Year.

A hands-on Producer and Executive Producer, Ian has produced over 100 hours of scripted TV and is as comfortable on set as he is in the writer’s room or post house. Keen collaborator, team builder, and always story-focused, Ian has worked on award-winning episodic series, miniseries, TV movies and feature films of varying budgets – from large-scale green screen shoots to international co-productions. His producing work has been recognized internationally, including BAFTA, CSA, DGC, C21 and Rockie Awards nominations. In his spare time, Ian likes to fly seaplanes and helicopters with his family.

Clive Whittingham is the news editor at television trade publisher C21 Media. He has been with the company for 10 years, initially as a senior reporter. Prior to that he covered news, court cases and sport for a variety of local newspapers in the UK and has also covered football for The Daily Telegraph. He has a terminal obsession with Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

Barbara Williams became CBC’s Executive Vice-President English Services, on May 1, 2019.

In this role, Barbara oversees all of the public broadcaster’s English-language programming services, including CBC News and CBC News Network, CBC Television, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Sports, CBC Kids, CBC Gem, CBC Listen, the documentary Channel, as well as the other digital platforms and mobile services.

Prior to her appointment, Barbara was the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Corus Entertainment, where she oversaw all strategic and operational aspects of Corus’ content across all television, radio and digital properties.

Previously, Barbara held several positions with Shaw Media, most recently as the Executive Vice-President and the President responsible for the business strategy for the business media unit including Global Television Network and 19 specialty channels. She also served as Senior Vice-President, Content. Barbara’s additional broadcast media experience includes serving as Executive Vice-President, Content with Canwest Broadcasting, as Senior Vice-President, Programming and Production with CanWest MediaWorks, as VP and General Manager, with Quebecor Media’s TORONTO 1 channel, and as Senior Vice-President, Lifestyle Programming with Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting.

Barbara sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Film Centre, and is a past member of the Boards of Canada’s Walk of Fame, the Banff World Media Festival and Canadian Women in Communications.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Science in Telecommunications from Syracuse University in New York.

As executive director, scripted content at CBC, Williams oversees the public broadcaster’s drama, comedy and film teams across all broadcast and streaming original long-form programming.

Williams most recently served as VP, Temple Street, where she oversaw the creative execution of series for production as well as the sourcing and development of IP and new original series for primetime cable, pay, conventional and OTT platforms. She also served as co-executive producer of ongoing drama series Killjoys. 
Prior to joining Temple Street, Williams was director, drama, at Bell Media. There she lead a team of executives handling all development and production of original drama series and movies across CTV, Space, Bravo, TMN/HBO Canada, and MUCH, a highlight being creative oversight of several new series such as Orphan Black, Saving Hope, Motive, Sensitive Skin, and The LA Complex. She learned the ropes as a production executive on the international hit series Flashpoint and Degrassi. 

Williams has an MA from the Joint Programme in Communication and Culture from York and Ryerson universities.     

The two time Emmy nominated and two time NAACP Image winner, actress and producer Tonya Williams has had one single vision in her over 40 year career in the entertainment industry: to create more access for Canadian People of Colour and fight to eliminate the harmful stereotypes perpetuated by the film and TV industry. Williams believes that the media industry is the most powerful instrument for positive change on our planet. Key to that positive change is using our stories to build a more harmonious world by portraying Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern and other people of colour as the nuanced, evolved human beings they are and not the negative stereotypes we too often see on our screens.

Williams knows only too well how challenging it can be for Black talent in Canada. At the height of her successful acting career in Los Angeles Tonya leveraged her platform to create an initiative she hoped would have long lasting effects on the Canadian industry. In 2001, Reelworld Film Festival celebrated its inaugural launch and in 2002, Reelworld Screen Institute. As Executive Director of these two organizations, Williams has been able to bring much needed attention to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Canadian talent and their work, provide professional development, incubator programs, apprenticeship programs and act as an advocate for changes in government and broadcasting funding and policies. Today, Reelworld is the oldest national organization of its kind dedicated exclusively to racially diverse Canadians. It is where authentic voices of racially diverse people can be heard and their stories used to create socially impactful change. Reelworld’s new initiative Access Reelworld has quickly become the largest national database of Canadian Black, Indigenous, People of Colour in over 78 creative categories.

Williams is quoted as saying, “The change has been slow, painful but rewarding. We must never stop pushing for a brighter future”. She has been a constant and tenacious advocate for equality. In 2005 she was one of the first to sit on the newly created Toronto Film Board. Her advocacy work has earned her a WIFT-T Crystal Award, a Harry Jerome Award, ACTRA Award of Excellence. She currently sits on the 2020 BANFF Advisory Board, the Telefilm Diversity and Inclusion Group, the Ontario Creates Advisory Committee and the Canadian Media Fund – Black Leaders Group.

Though she lives in Los Angeles her heart and focus are always with Canadian Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in the creative industries.

Nathalie Younglai has gone from being a professional harpist to reality TV Director, to Screenwriter in Children’s TV and Primetime drama series.

Younglai enjoys tapping into her inner child when she writes in Kids’ TV on such shows as Magic School Bus Rides Again, 16 Hudson, and Addison. She delves into deeper social justice issues when developing her own prime time drama series. Always interested in shaking things up and creating change, Younglai founded BIPOC TV & Film, a grassroots organization advocating representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in front and behind the camera. Through this organization, she has helped BIPOC creatives get hired in the industry, created a sense of community amongst peers and built relationships with allies who also want to see the Canadian TV industry reflect the world we live in.

She received the ACTRA Diversity’s Sandi Ross Award, Ben Watkin’s Breakthrough Award, and Reelworld’s Trailblazer Award. Her nominations include an Ontario Colleges Premier Award, and a Daytime Emmy nomination for her writing on Dino Dana.

Younglai currently has comedy and drama series in development with Canadian networks. She is a Writer/Co-Producer on CBC’s hit drama, Coroner, and is deeply honored to be the recipient of The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s 2020 Humanitarian Award, The WGC Alex Barris Mentorship Award and was named NOW Magazine Trailblazer.