Toronto, ON—May 3, 2024—Women in Film & Television Toronto (WIFT+ Toronto) and the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto are pleased to announce the election of their new 2024-2025 Board of Directors. The announcement took place on May 2, at WIFT+ Toronto’s Annual General Meeting, which was held in-person at the Corus Entertainment building in Downtown Toronto.
WIFT+ Toronto welcomed first-time board members Judy Adam, Chief Financial Officer, Boat Rocker Media; Julie Bristow, Founder and CEO, Catalyst; Nicole Chrysostom-Murray, Founder, Screenwriter, Filmmaker, BrooklynBrown/Do.Dope.Shit Productions; Skye R. Regan, Writer, Producer, Play All Day Productions; and Victoria Valius, VP, Marketing and Co-Country Manager, Sony Pictures Television and Home Entertainment.
This year saw the following re-elections:
- Tracy Alves, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, William F. White International Inc.
- Sara Chan, Associate General Counsel, Head of Technology, Legal Operations and Rights Management, Corus Entertainment
- Jennifer Chen, Head of Studios, VP Content, Channel Zero Inc.
- Barbara Escoto, Vice President, Content Platforms, Bell Media
- Umber Hamid, Chief Executive Officer, Partner, Boombox Sound
- Laura Heath Potter, Head of Communications, Canada, Paramount Streaming
- Julie Kumaria, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Content Distribution, Hollywood Suite
- Karthiga Ratnasabapathy, Head of Video, Apple
- Anne Schneerer, Associate Vice President, National Bank of Canada
- Sundra Sefa, Senior Financial Analyst, Telus
Also during the Annual General Meeting, Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto welcomed Laura Mingail, Founder, Archetypes & Effects and Tamara Shannon, Senior Vice President, Media, NBC Universal to their board.
Additional re-elections to the Foundation board include:
- Emily Andras, Showrunner, Vilcabamba Pictures Inc.
- Kimberley Ball, Chief Communications Officer, Super Channel
- Rhonda Britton, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition, Cineplex
- Fennella Bruce, Media Consultant, Producer, Writer, FKB Media Solutions
- Sue Haas, President, Chief Operations Officer, Nlogic
- Nellie Lindner, VP, National Practice Leader – Film and Entertainment, BFL Canada
- Michelle Plaskon, Senior Director, Finance and Administration, Brunico Communications
- Jennifer Shin, Director of Development, Comedy, CBC
The Annual General Meeting also sees a leadership change on both boards. Barbara Escoto and Fennella Bruce take over as Chairs of their boards. Jennifer Chen and Sara Chan take over as WIFT+ Toronto’s Vice Chair and Secretary respectively; with Kimberly Ball and Nellie Lindner as their counterparts on the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto.
WIFT+ Toronto and the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto extend a sincere thank you to the following outgoing directors for their significant contributions to the organization: Argie Eliopoulos, Sr. Director, Partnership, Accounts & Client Success, TIFF; Tanya Green, Head of Preschool, Mainframe Studios; Sharon Hinds, Manager, Rogers Sports and Media, All IN; Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival Publisher, Playback; Terry E. Markus, Lawyer, Independent Business and Legal Affairs Consultant; Lindsey Scully, Head of Communications, Netflix Canada; and Karen Walton, Screenwriter/Executive Producer, Inkling Entertainment Inc.
“It’s my pleasure to give a hearty welcome to our new board members, Judy, Julie, Laura, Nicole, Skye, Tamara, and Victoria,” said Karen Bruce, Executive Director, WIFT+ Toronto. “These impressive leaders join the sister boards for WIFT+ Toronto’s 40th year and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic to explore the ways their wealth of experience will come together as we continue to be a leader in building an equitable, inclusive, and accessible screen-based media industry.”
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ABOUT WIFT+ TORONTO
Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT+ Toronto) is a member-based, not-for-profit organization made up of passionate individuals who are dedicated to the education, engagement, and empowerment of all individuals at every stage of their careers in the screen-based media industry. It is WIFT+ Toronto’s mission to build and advance the careers of their members by providing professional development, peer support, and mentorship in collaboration with industry partners.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR WIFT+ TORONTO
The Foundation for Women in Film & Television Toronto is a registered charity that plays a critical role in raising funds to provide financial bursaries, scholarships, complimentary memberships, and other support to help WIFT+ Toronto to carry out its mission. Please consider making a donation here.
For more information, please contact:
Simi Khosa (they/them)
Communications & Social Media Coordinator
WIFT+ Toronto
647-895-3351
communications@wift.com
