Advisory Board

As Head of Business Development, Ian Caminsky is responsible for partnering with some of Canada’s largest publishers, broadcasters and retailers who work with Google to help grow their business. He leads a team that helps direct sales and business development that spans ad serving technologies, mon...
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As Head of Business Development, Ian Caminsky is responsible for partnering with some of Canada’s largest publishers, broadcasters and retailers who work with Google to help grow their business. He leads a team that helps direct sales and business development that spans ad serving technologies, monetization of inventory and content distribution through Google's platforms and properties such as YouTube, Google Maps, etc.

Before joining Google, Caminsky was the Senior Director of Business Marketing in the Commercial Division at Primus Communications Inc., where he was responsible for all areas of marketing and fostering the growth of sales and revenue. Prior to Primus Communications Inc, Caminsky held several positions in the marketing field. As a Director of Product Management at Roger Wireless, he led a team whose revenue grew significantly year over year over the course of 3 years, and successfully launched innovative wireless products into the marketplace. Earlier in his career, Caminsky worked as a National Marketing Manager at Compusearch Micromarketing Data & Systems, where he focused on market analysis and segmentation.

Ian holds an MBA from York University and received his B.A. with honors in Political Science from McGill University.

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As Co-CEO of GlassBOX Raja helps drive the company’s mandate to launch new channels and capture market share in the digitally-savvy 18-34 year-old demographic. While directly managing the forthcoming launch of GlassBOX’s next channel Raja is also responsible for legal, finance (including third party...
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As Co-CEO of GlassBOX Raja helps drive the company’s mandate to launch new channels and capture market share in the digitally-savvy 18-34 year-old demographic. While directly managing the forthcoming launch of GlassBOX’s next channel Raja is also responsible for legal, finance (including third party financing), digital media and business development at the corporation.

Raja is also the Co-Founder of QuickPlay Media Inc., a global leader in mobile video delivery platforms. Raja helped guide QuickPlay through three rounds of venture funding (raising over $30 million), four product releases, growth to 80+ employees, and expansion into the US and EU, to its current position as a market leader in mobile video technologies. At QuickPlay Raja played a key role in introducing the first mobile video services to the North American market.

Previously, Raja founded Snap Media Corp., a leading interactive digital media company producing global award-winning social networking technologies, websites and interactive content. Raja sits on the Board of Directors for Sears Canada Inc, QuickPlay Media and the National Screen Institute as well as various advisory boards in the media, education and technology industries in Canada and the US and is a sought after and regular speaker at events dealing with digital media across the globe.

Raja holds a degree in law from Osgoode Hall Law School and Genetics and Philosophy Bachelors from the University of Toronto. Raja lives in Toronto with his wife and two kids and Lovely Louis, his favourite guitar.

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Stitch Media partner Evan Jones, is a two-time Emmy Award® winner whose innovative work on interactive content for primetime television, radio, web, mobile and games have established him as a pioneer in new genres of Alternate Reality Games, Locative Media and Interactive Documentary.
His wor...
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Stitch Media partner Evan Jones, is a two-time Emmy Award® winner whose innovative work on interactive content for primetime television, radio, web, mobile and games have established him as a pioneer in new genres of Alternate Reality Games, Locative Media and Interactive Documentary.
His work was recognized as one of the ‘Top 10 New Media Groundbreakers’ according to the Bell Broadcast & New Media Fund. Evan’s international clients include Microsoft, Disney, FOX, CBC, Bell, Discovery and The Movie Network.
He has taught ‘Rich Media Production’, ‘Transmedia Storytelling’ and ‘Extending TV Drama Experiences’ around the world at the Canadian Film Centre, the Australian Film, Television & Radio School and the University of Southern California with Dr. Henry Jenkins.

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Jesse Albert has been involved in interactive marketing and strategy for over a decade working in both corporate and entertainment digital media.

He has created innovative digital strategy, multi-platform solutions and branded entertainment programming on behalf of world leading arti...
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Jesse Albert has been involved in interactive marketing and strategy for over a decade working in both corporate and entertainment digital media.

He has created innovative digital strategy, multi-platform solutions and branded entertainment programming on behalf of world leading artists, brands and intellectual properties including American Idol, Sony, Ford, Beyonce and many others.

He often collaborates with (and in his most recent position as an agent at ICM, represented) thought leaders, Emmy winners and best of breed to create activations that distill cutting edge theory into mass consumer adoption.

His efforts have touched a broad spectrum business practices, including online, video games, music, publishing, branded entertainment, television and venture capital.

He is equally comfortable with entertainment creatives and silicon valley technologists and adept at bridging the gap between the two.


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Publishing voraciously since 1998, Kris' diverse talent and unique balance of aesthetics and technology is well-known throughout the Intewebs. After launching and managing successful online magazines in San Francisco, Kris returned to Vancouver - where he'd attended college studying philosophy and c...
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Publishing voraciously since 1998, Kris' diverse talent and unique balance of aesthetics and technology is well-known throughout the Intewebs. After launching and managing successful online magazines in San Francisco, Kris returned to Vancouver - where he'd attended college studying philosophy and communications - to apply his knowledge as President of Drupal hosting start-up, Bryght.

As well known for his unique, ultra-personal photographic style as for his business acumen, KK is in demand as a speaker about social media, the future of entertainment and public relations, and growing businesses across borders. Alas, he is often busy shooting models and rockstars so he can't make it to *all* the events, but if you are quick enough, you might catch him before he jets off to another country, another gig, or to strike another deal as new President of web agency Raincity Studios.

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Brian Seth Hurst is CEO of The Opportunity Management Company, a strategic consultancy and cross media production company that is driving the next generation of entertainment. Referred to as “the father of cross platform”, Hurst coined the term in 1998 as MD of Convergent Media at Pittard Sullivan, ...
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Brian Seth Hurst is CEO of The Opportunity Management Company, a strategic consultancy and cross media production company that is driving the next generation of entertainment. Referred to as “the father of cross platform”, Hurst coined the term in 1998 as MD of Convergent Media at Pittard Sullivan, where he launched TV Guide as the first ever cross platform brand. Hurst's credo, “go to where your audience lives” is transforming the relationship of audiences to programming. TOMC has assisted broadcast clients in extending their programming to audiences and building communities on new platforms. Clients have included: Showtime, Lifetime, SVT (Swedish Pubic Television, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, NBCUniversal, Les Mills Fitness and AOL as well as successful start-ups including Nixle and Paltalk. Hurst was on the team that developed the original user experience for TiVo and currently sits on the advisory boards of MobiTV, Zannel and Nixle. He is currently at work on Tim Kring’s (creator of Heroes) next project code named “Teva”. Most recently Hurst was Second vice Chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Primetime Emmy® Awards) Board of Governors and previously served 3 terms on the National Board of the Producers Guild of America. Recipient of an Interactive TV Today [itvt] Award for Leadership in Interactive Television, he has been profiled in Emmy® Magazine one of the 10 media executives in the business leading the industry’s digital drive. Hurst was named two years running to the Hollywood Reporter/PGA Digital 50. Previously, he served two terms as Chairman of the Producers Guild of America New Media Council (’03-’05) while simultaneously serving on the Television Academy’s Board of Governors representing Interactive Media. Hurst was appointed Global Digital Ambassador for the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2009. A well regarded authority on the subject of emerging entertainment, Hurst has authored articles for Multichannel News and Produced By magazine amongst others, and was contributing author to the book “They Say They Want A Revolution: What Marketers Need to Know As Consumers Take Control”. He is a regular panelist and keynote speaker at conferences including AFI’s Digital Content Lab, NATPE, NAB, CES, Digital Hollywood, MIPTV and many international events. He also has addressed private broadcaster gatherings in South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom briefing them as to trends in new technologies, alternative distribution and audience behavior. Hurst manages award winning TommyBoy Recording artist Matt Alber (www.mattalber.com) He is also co-author with Olivia Newton-John of Simon and Schuster’s bestselling children’s book “A Pig Tale”.

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Ava Karvonen is a 20 year industry veteran and the founder of Reel Girls Media. Her work has been internationally recognized with more than 40 international awards including nine awards for a multiplatform project where users create their own comics and stories using digital assets from the animate...
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Ava Karvonen is a 20 year industry veteran and the founder of Reel Girls Media. Her work has been internationally recognized with more than 40 international awards including nine awards for a multiplatform project where users create their own comics and stories using digital assets from the animated series Anash and the Legacy of the Sun-Rock. Ava’s additional credits include creating and producing three television series (The Lie Detective, Wild Files and Booked), the serious game Murder or Suicide, more than 50 websisodes and podcasts, and more than 10 documentary projects. In addition to producing, Ava also writes and directs. She wrote and directed episodes of both The Lie Detective and Booked, directed and produced Homefront (a story that followed five soldiers and their families during a deployment to Afghanistan) and directed Seeds of Change for Panacea Entertainment (a one hour documentary that tells the story of a friendship between two scientists and how they worked together to help restore the health of China’s Yangtze River). Ava also teaches part time in the Digital Media and IT program at NAIT and Design Studies program at MacEwan University.

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Tapp is a proven leader in the media and entertainment sector with over 25 years of experience building and operating subscriber and advertiser based entertainment businesses. This includes many pioneering initiatives in television, radio and online media management including production, acquisition...
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Tapp is a proven leader in the media and entertainment sector with over 25 years of experience building and operating subscriber and advertiser based entertainment businesses. This includes many pioneering initiatives in television, radio and online media management including production, acquisition, sales distribution and brand building. Tapp his been involved in 4 startups that required new licensing and new technology launches on multiple “first in Canada” platforms. He has experience operating both public and private companies. Under Hercules Media Group, a company he founded in 2007, he has been retained by leading production and distribution companies such as Cineflix and digital media companies such as GlassBoxTV, to provide CEO and advisory roles. His past credits include startup and launch roles as President and COO XM Satellite Radio Canada, Executive VP Chum Television/Citytv, VP/GM ChumCity International, Executive VP/GM Viewer’s Choice Canada PPV and Program Manager TSN. He sits on several advisory boards in the media and advertising sectors.

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As Vice President, Finance at Lavalife Corp., Lally Rementilla is responsible for the company’s finance, business intelligence and customer service functions, as well as ensuring the company’s strategic and operating efficiency. A seasoned communications and technology professional who has driv...
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As Vice President, Finance at Lavalife Corp., Lally Rementilla is responsible for the company’s finance, business intelligence and customer service functions, as well as ensuring the company’s strategic and operating efficiency. A seasoned communications and technology professional who has driven the growth and profitability of organizations, Lally has capitalized her expertise in corporate finance, operations, corporate development, strategic planning, marketing and talent management. Her experience ranges from business-to-business and direct-to-consumer corporations, both private and publicly-traded. Lally joined Lavalife in 2003 and played an integral role in the sale of the company to Vertrue Inc. for $152 million. Prior to that, she was Area Vice President Finance and Contract Management at Lucent Technologies Canada where she provided acted as the strategic partner to the sales and service organization that led double-digit revenue growth and increases in profitability. An active member of both for-profit and non-profit organizations, Lally has served on the boards of Canadian Women in Communications, Innoversity, Theatre Passe Muraille and mediaINTELLIGENCE.ca. She is also a past member of Women in Capital Markets, Canadian Investor Relations Institute and Toronto Board of Trade Young Professionals. A sought-after speaker in the areas of online businesses and women in technology, Lally has spoken at events and conferences organized by The Conference Board of Canada, Information Technology Association of Canada, Ryerson University, Career Women Interaction, Canadian Women in Communications, CATA-WIT Forum, Banff New Media Institute and Women’s Leadership Congress. Lally holds a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Communications) from the Ateneo de Manila University. Lally is a Certified Management Accountant.

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Mark Greenspan is Vice President of Digital Media for Achilles Media, a new media producer and educator with a decade‘s worth of experience in the field. During this time he has taught and designed new media curriculum in Singapore, Philippines and India. He worked for Razorfish Inc in both London, ...
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Mark Greenspan is Vice President of Digital Media for Achilles Media, a new media producer and educator with a decade‘s worth of experience in the field. During this time he has taught and designed new media curriculum in Singapore, Philippines and India. He worked for Razorfish Inc in both London, England and Milan, Italy. He produced MTV Asia‘s first web cast, set up a boutique design and branding firm called methodgroup and produced a 12-series alternative travel show entitled Above the Clouds. Mark was also Training Programs Manager at the Canadian Film Centre‘s Habitat New Media Lab where he oversaw the quality of the curriculum design and delivery of the TELUS Interactive Art and Entertainment Program (IAEP).

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Sabrina is an international marketer, sales leader, and integrated communications specialist. She began her career in marketing in 1995 in brand management at Procter & Gamble Italy, working on laundry and cosmetic brands. In 2001, Sabrina entered the Interactive world as Marketing Manager at the se...
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Sabrina is an international marketer, sales leader, and integrated communications specialist. She began her career in marketing in 1995 in brand management at Procter & Gamble Italy, working on laundry and cosmetic brands. In 2001, Sabrina entered the Interactive world as Marketing Manager at the search engine ask.co.uk. She then combined her Internet & CPG Marketing skills as Global Internet and Integrated Communications Director at Reckitt Benckiser, a leading global consumer goods and healthcare company based in London.
Sabrina joined Google EMEA in 2006 to set up the UK Consumer Products and Healthcare sales team. She returned to Canada in 2007 to work with a wider range of customers spanning from CPG to Finance to Media and Entertainment. In 2009 Sabrina built the Canadian Agency Relations strategy and team. This team works with large media and creative agencies to help them make the most out of their relationship with Google.
Sabrina is Italian-Canadian-British and went to school at Wilfred Laurier University, Canada and the University of Pavia, Italy. Outside of work, Sabrina is actively involved in the non profit arena and dabbles in writing. She has published on various topics from profile pieces to Canada and Globalization.

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Matt brings over 15 years of experience in the interactive, advertising and public relations industry.

He began his career in Public Relations & event marketing before making the switch to interactive in 1998. In transitioning to the digital channel, Matt was director of emarketing at...
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Matt brings over 15 years of experience in the interactive, advertising and public relations industry.

He began his career in Public Relations & event marketing before making the switch to interactive in 1998. In transitioning to the digital channel, Matt was director of emarketing at Devlin Applied Design, where he launched the first ever MAC Cosmetics e-commerce web site in 1998, and managed online acquisition campaigns for MSN "free" Hotmail and CIBC’s online banking. Following Devlin, Matt led the VISA business at Leo Burnett, as well as driving integrated campaigns for AOL, Wrigley and Maytag.

In 2002, Matt went to Tribal DDB to help re-build their Toronto office. Over 5 years, Matt led key national accounts and award-winning integrated work for clients such as BMO InvestorLine, Canadian Tourism Commission, and Gatorade. During his tenure, the Toronto office grew 200%, and won Digital Agency of the year in 2005

In 2007, Matt joined Proximity as VP, Client Service Director, Interactive with a proven track record in integration and innovation. Since it’s Digital AOY Win in 2007, Proximity has doubled in size and has secured digital and CRM AOR relationships with global blue chip clients like Gillette, HP and Monster.com plus Canadian-specific clients like Mars, Campbell’s, Pepsi-QTG, Frito-Lay, New Balance, Mitsubishi amongst others. 2008/9 were also years of creative recognition with a shortlist at Cannes and wins at the Digital Marketing Awards, CMAs, DMA Echos, Bessies, Applied Arts, Communications Arts, AdWeek's Buzz Awards, OMMA and W3 awards.

Currently, as SVP, Managing Director, Matt leads a team of 140 digital specialists in the Toronto HQ with sister offices in New York, Cincinnati, Montreal, Minneapolis and Chicago. Matt also sits on the Advisory Board for nextMedia, the Google Agency Council, Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and is actively involved in the North American interactive community.

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Mike’s extensive involvement with the global interactive media space include board positions with the IAB, nextMEDIA, and the Microsoft Research Design Expo, where he volunteers as Co-Chair and Creative Director. Prior to Trapeze, Mike ran the Script Development program of the Harold Greenberg Fund,...
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Mike’s extensive involvement with the global interactive media space include board positions with the IAB, nextMEDIA, and the Microsoft Research Design Expo, where he volunteers as Co-Chair and Creative Director. Prior to Trapeze, Mike ran the Script Development program of the Harold Greenberg Fund, Canada's largest private script development organization. He was also the New Technologies lead for the Ontario Direct Marketing Centre and freelanced as a story editor and script consultant, working with Alliance Films, Odeon Films, The Canadian Film Centre and The Movie Network. Mike has worked as a film editor, has feature film scripts under option, and is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario (B.A.), the Ryerson Film Studies Program (with honors) and the h@bitat new media program at the Canadian Film Centre.

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Joe Casale, described by many as an entrepreneurial technophile, has been involved in the research and development of ground-breaking communication technology solutions for over 30 years. He has spearheaded an impressive list of industry firsts since entering the field of emerging computing technolo...
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Joe Casale, described by many as an entrepreneurial technophile, has been involved in the research and development of ground-breaking communication technology solutions for over 30 years. He has spearheaded an impressive list of industry firsts since entering the field of emerging computing technologies in the mid-late 70’s.

A keen interest in microcomputer technology led him to explore network and electronic communication technologies, eventually expanding his focus in 1983 to embrace the early Internet. In a certain context, he was a measurable force in the start of the microcomputer revolution in Canada. The result of that interest led to developments in the online content delivery and management space via the first database driven e-commerce site on the web in 1993. This eventually culminated in the launch of the world’s first real-time online ad delivery network, MediaNet®, in November of 2003.

Since its launch, Casale Media has grown to become one of the largest online reach vehicle in North America, owing much of its success to the decades of prior art and fundamental industry knowledge that lead to the technology backbone that powers the network today.

Mr. Casale attended the University of Toronto form 1970 to 1973 and is a 1974 graduate of the Devry Institute of Technology with an Engineering Technologist Degree. His hobbies include ham radio, electronics and alternative health.

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Joe Strolz is Vice President of Digital Media Sales & Operations for Canwest, responsible for the monetization of all Canwest’s digital assets – these include: Canada.com; the online properties of the National Post and10 leading major market daily newspapers; and, an enviable portfolio of Canada’s l...
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Joe Strolz is Vice President of Digital Media Sales & Operations for Canwest, responsible for the monetization of all Canwest’s digital assets – these include: Canada.com; the online properties of the National Post and10 leading major market daily newspapers; and, an enviable portfolio of Canada’s leading conventional and specialty broadcast networks (i.e. Global TV, Food TV, HGTV, Showcase, etc.). With more than 10 years in marketing, sales, and media, Joe has worked with a collection of blue-chip brands including Microsoft/MSN, HP, Motorola, and Bell Canada both domestically and abroad. Joe holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, and currently resides in Toronto.

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Presently, working at comScore Media Metrix as the Vice President of Canada, Bryan has a pulse on electronic media, the future of the Internet and its full spectrum. His love of statistics and Sociology at McGill University allow Bryan a broad knowledge base. His work in theatre as well as teaching ...
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Presently, working at comScore Media Metrix as the Vice President of Canada, Bryan has a pulse on electronic media, the future of the Internet and its full spectrum. His love of statistics and Sociology at McGill University allow Bryan a broad knowledge base. His work in theatre as well as teaching in South Korea added to his rich global views and helped him to develop a creative mindset. Bryan's creativity, energy, and a pervasive work ethic have helped him to become enriched and knowledgeable in his industry. Bryan works with prestigious clients such as MSN, Bell Canada, Yahoo! Canada, Yellow Pages Group, AOL Media Network, Rogers Communications, Telus Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Alliance Atlantis, Quebecor, The Weather Network, and Trader Media, Canada Post as well as several major Canadian agencies. In addition, Bryan is a dedicated member of the Internet Advertising Bureau Board of Directors. He works actively to enhance the Digital Media universe in Canada. As well, he actively sits on the IAB Research council to try to drive dedicated research to move the industry forward.

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Jordan's practical approach to digital strategy helps clients build transformational customer experiences that deliver on present business objectives and lay sustainable foundations for future opportunities. More than 10 years of professional services experience with focus in brand, product and d...
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Jordan's practical approach to digital strategy helps clients build transformational customer experiences that deliver on present business objectives and lay sustainable foundations for future opportunities. More than 10 years of professional services experience with focus in brand, product and digital media strategy; innovation process, product development, change management; and integrated marketing implementation. Jordan currently works as a Strategy Director for Blast Radius out of its EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam where he leads global planning engagements for leading technology and FMCG brands. He is a professional member of the World Future Society, is trained in Voice of the Customer methodology, has studied design methods at the Illinois Institute of Technology and is certified in DeBono lateral thinking and facilitation techniques. He has a cultural studies degree in Western European Civilization from the University of Western Ontario and a Professional Certificate in Integrated Branding from the Canadian Marketing Association.

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I am passionate about providing clients with integrated and effective approach to using Digital media. I began my media career in India in 1989 and in three years rose to the position of Media Manager by consistently providing keen insight and creative media solutions to a variety of clients within...
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I am passionate about providing clients with integrated and effective approach to using Digital media. I began my media career in India in 1989 and in three years rose to the position of Media Manager by consistently providing keen insight and creative media solutions to a variety of clients within the Financial, Consumer Electronics and Packaged Goods categories. Wanting to challenge my talents to the fullest, I joined M2 Universal in 1994 as a planner and research analyst focused on the traditional media business. My love of media and need to constantly challenge myself lead me to the uncharted waters of the internet in 1995. By 1999, I was focused completely on interactive media and in 2000 launched M2 Universal Digital - a division dedicated to digital advertising. As Vice President, Director of M2 Universal Digital, I have successfully grown the business with a dedicated team working on blue chip accounts that include General Motors of Canada, RBC Financial Group, Microsoft Canada, SONY Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada and Johnson & Johnson. My interests include Music and Travel. Industry Involvement: • Director IAB Canada (Interactive Advertising Bureau) • VP Emerging Platforms Council IAB Canada • Director NADBANK (Newspaper Audience Databank)

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As eBay Canada’s country manager, Andrea Stairs supports the continued growth of the world’s largest online marketplace in this country. In this role, Andrea is responsible for cultivating eBay’s community of Canadian users and overseeing marketing, advertising sales, and public and government relat...
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As eBay Canada’s country manager, Andrea Stairs supports the continued growth of the world’s largest online marketplace in this country. In this role, Andrea is responsible for cultivating eBay’s community of Canadian users and overseeing marketing, advertising sales, and public and government relations. She also plays an integral role in the overall operations of eBay Canada. Andrea was most recently head of marketing for eBay Canada, managing the brand’s marketing strategy and execution. She was also instrumental in launching eBay’s French-Canadian website and in leading the eBay Motors team in Canada. For close to a decade Andrea has developed marketing and financial strategies for major telecom and retail companies, including Gap Inc. and Indigo Books & Music Inc. After receiving a BA from McGill University, Andrea obtained LLB and MBA degrees from the University of Toronto. Andrea sits on the boards of directors of the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and the Hope for Children Foundation. She is also on the advisory board for Canada’s leading digital media events, nextMEDIA. A native of Montreal, Andrea now lives in Toronto with her husband.

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Rob Bolton is a 15-year music and technology veteran who began his career as Music Director for CFRC-FM and as a Marketing rep for BMG Music Canada. Rob was later instrumental in the growth of two Canadian music industry pioneers: Iceberg Media, Canada's first and biggest Internet Radio company, and...
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Rob Bolton is a 15-year music and technology veteran who began his career as Music Director for CFRC-FM and as a Marketing rep for BMG Music Canada. Rob was later instrumental in the growth of two Canadian music industry pioneers: Iceberg Media, Canada's first and biggest Internet Radio company, and Virtue Broadcasting, the leading live concert webcast and streaming media service provider (now a division of Bell Canada). Rob moved to London (UK) in 2002 where he was a streaming media consultant to BT (British Telecom). He then returned to Canada in 2005 to take on the role of National Content Director at Standard Interactive, where he was responsible for the content and development of Standard Radio's 51 radio station websites. In addition, he re-launched and managed the IcebergRadio.com service as well as built strategic content and licensing agreements with the Music Industry. After the Astral Media takeover of Standard Broadcasting, Rob joined Warner Music Canada to head up the newly created Digital Marketing department, where he currently manages key aspects of Warner's digital initiatives, including online marketing campaigns, artist websites, D2C commerce, and new digital business development. As writer for a variety of publications, Rob covered music, broadcast and technology issues for over 10 years. Rob holds an honours degree in Economics from Queen's University, and a M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business.

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David Beaton is the Senior Partner and CEO of Custometrics, an innovator in high-performance marketing analytics. Custometrics’ clients include some of North America’s leading brands, who rely on Custometrics’ ROI management technology, predictive modeling, and optimization algorithms to help make ...
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David Beaton is the Senior Partner and CEO of Custometrics, an innovator in high-performance marketing analytics. Custometrics’ clients include some of North America’s leading brands, who rely on Custometrics’ ROI management technology, predictive modeling, and optimization algorithms to help make better marketing decisions. David holds an MBA in a combination of Marketing and Information Technology from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. David’s work includes the introduction of the concept and practice of predictive modeling and advanced marketing decision sciences to leading marketers; the advancement of profit-based marketing planning, and the development of Variation Marketing…an integration of data-driven marketing practices centred on recognizing and marketing to the unique differences that exist between customers.

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Ariel Vinizki is a Toronto-based marketing specialist who has worked for several of the world's leading brands. Currently an Account Director at Maclaren McCann, he has spent the past 8 years advising Microsoft on their communications in Canada, developing numerous award winning campaigns in the pr...
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Ariel Vinizki is a Toronto-based marketing specialist who has worked for several of the world's leading brands. Currently an Account Director at Maclaren McCann, he has spent the past 8 years advising Microsoft on their communications in Canada, developing numerous award winning campaigns in the process. Most recently he helped launch Microsoft's Zune portable music player in Canada, created and produced the IT Manager Podcast, and is currently the team leader on Microsoft's Canadian Xbox business. After graduating from the University of Western Ontario's Ivey Business School in 1996, he spent a year living and teaching in Seoul, S. Korea. Prior to joining Maclaren McCann, Ariel worked for London-based digital consultancy Panlogic where he consulted clients such as Honda on how to extend their brands into the on-line environment, and for Leo Burnett where he handled the Coca-Cola, Pillsbury and Green Giant accounts. Ariel has been a member of the Advisory Board for nextMEDIA since 2007.

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Amy Davies began her career as head of public relations and marketing communications at Wireless World Forum, an online social network for the telecommunications industry. She holds a degree in English Literature, Creative Writing and Theatre from Brunel University in London, and later graduated fro...
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Amy Davies began her career as head of public relations and marketing communications at Wireless World Forum, an online social network for the telecommunications industry. She holds a degree in English Literature, Creative Writing and Theatre from Brunel University in London, and later graduated from The London School of Public Relations. She continued her love for exploring the connections between culture, art, business and technology and moved to Broadcast Magazine, providing strategic direction on a number of land mark events that focused on Production Funding, Mobile Content, Film Finance, Branded Content & Emerging Digital Channels. In 2007, Amy headed to Canada to join the nextMEDIA Digital Team as Producer–Digital Media, exploring digital trends and new business models that are disrupting the media industry.

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As Chief Futurist and SVP, Strategic Content Services, David Neale is responsible for identifying key opportunities and developing strategies that leverage TV, broadband and mobile content to enhance customer experience and drive TELUS’ success and leadership. David brings an incomparable wealth of ...
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As Chief Futurist and SVP, Strategic Content Services, David Neale is responsible for identifying key opportunities and developing strategies that leverage TV, broadband and mobile content to enhance customer experience and drive TELUS’ success and leadership. David brings an incomparable wealth of experience and deep expertise—as well as a collaborative leadership style and boundless passion—to this role.

Previous to this appointment, David Neale was Senior Vice President, Products & Services, responsible for directing the development of the full range of Consumer products and services for Wireline and Wireless Broadband, IPTV, Internet, and Mobile Wireless. He also recently led the TELUS team through the launch of the new TELUS 3G+ network.

Before joining TELUS in 2007, David was most recently Vice President, Service Development for Rogers Communications Inc. Prior to that appointment, he was VP Product Development at Rogers Wireless, where he was responsible for long-term network and technology strategy and architecture, and for overseeing the development and implementation of all new wireless voice and data products.

Active with several industry organizations, David is on the Board of the Canadian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. He has also served on the Board of the GSMA Executive Management Committee (2006).

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Sara Diamond is the President of the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD), Canada’s foremost university of art and design. She holds degrees from Canada and the United Kingdom in social history, communications, new media theory and practice. She is currently a member of the Ontario Ministry of Cul...
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Sara Diamond is the President of the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD), Canada’s foremost university of art and design. She holds degrees from Canada and the United Kingdom in social history, communications, new media theory and practice. She is currently a member of the Ontario Ministry of Culture’s Minister’s Advisory Council on Arts & Culture, the Board of Directors of the Toronto Arts Council Foundation and of ORANO, Ontario’s high speed network. She is a founding member of CONCERT and the Chair of the OMDC funded Mobile Experience Innovation Centre. She provides media consulting to Heritage Canada, SSHRC, CFI, Industry Canada, CHRC and DFAIT, as well as international governments, institutions and agencies as diverse as China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Finland, Australia, Brazil and the USA.

Prior to her presidency at OCAD Diamond was the Director of Research for the prestigious Banff Centre. She created the renowned Banff New Media Institute (BNMI) in 1995 and led it until coming to Toronto in 2005. Diamond developed international summits and business development workshops and accelerators that explored the near future of new media. She built alliances between artists, designers, architects, scientists, social scientists, and international and Canadian businesses. Diamond created and was Editor-in-Chief of www.horizonzero.ca, an on-line showcase for new media art and design, in collaboration with Heritage Canada. She is a visualization software researcher and developer www.codezebra.net.

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Amielle Lake is the CEO of Tagga Media, a published author, dedicated foodie, and an aspiring chin up champion. She is a co-founder of Tagga Media Inc (www.tagga.com), a company focused on delivering relevant and effective mobile marketing tools to professional marketers across North America. Tagga’...
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Amielle Lake is the CEO of Tagga Media, a published author, dedicated foodie, and an aspiring chin up champion. She is a co-founder of Tagga Media Inc (www.tagga.com), a company focused on delivering relevant and effective mobile marketing tools to professional marketers across North America. Tagga’s Agency Platform enables advertising and marketing agencies of all sizes to create and deploy a range of mobile marketing campaigns without having to manage carriers, hire specialized staff, or invest in hefty upfront fees for carriers and staff.

Prior to founding Tagga, Amielle held a range of executive marketing and corporate development roles across the software, financial services and mining market sectors. Amielle also holds an MBA and B.A and is a published author. Her book, The Elephant Hunters, is about how social interactions determine outcomes in the financial world.

Aspiring cyclist, competitive swimmer, dedicated foodie, chin-up champion.

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Mark Ruddock joins Viigo as President and CEO after having worked with the team for a number of months in his capacity as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Ventures West.

Mark Ruddock came to Ventures West in 2006 after the acquisition of INEA Corporation, a Ventures West portfolio company...
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Mark Ruddock joins Viigo as President and CEO after having worked with the team for a number of months in his capacity as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Ventures West.

Mark Ruddock came to Ventures West in 2006 after the acquisition of INEA Corporation, a Ventures West portfolio company he founded. At Ventures West he was involved in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities in the Web 2.0 and Mobile sectors.

As the founding CEO of INEA Corporation, a software company focused on the Financial Services Industry, he led a fast growing organization that became a key strategic partner to many of the world's leading financial institutions. By 2006 INEA had deployments in over 44 countries worldwide. After the acquisition in June 2005, by the Cartesis Group, he joined the Paris-based management team as Chief Product Officer, where he led the successful integration of the two companies.

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Gary has a proven track record in taking top media companies wireless. Working with clients in entertainment, sports and finance , Gary has built wireless programs and opened distribution channels for companies including; Warner Brothers/TMZ, Bell/Sympatico, Virgin Mobile Canada, Nokia, Admob, Quatt...
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Gary has a proven track record in taking top media companies wireless. Working with clients in entertainment, sports and finance , Gary has built wireless programs and opened distribution channels for companies including; Warner Brothers/TMZ, Bell/Sympatico, Virgin Mobile Canada, Nokia, Admob, Quattro and most recently SVP of Business Development at Moderati. With over fifteen years of experience in media, entertainment and technology, Gary ensures that each brand's wireless experience is unique, fun and exciting while respecting the its' core values. Currently Gary is working on the monetization of media and entertainment brands via mobile applications and virtual goods for Apple, Android, RIM and OVI storefronts. Gary can be reached at gary@ciphermedia.com

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Mark Thompson, Director, Mobile, Pelmorex Media Inc. is no stranger to Mobile product and service launches and leads the Mobile team at Pelmorex with a wealth of experience in strategy creation, execution, market forecasting and partner collaboration. Thompson’s leadership at The Weather Network ...
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Mark Thompson, Director, Mobile, Pelmorex Media Inc. is no stranger to Mobile product and service launches and leads the Mobile team at Pelmorex with a wealth of experience in strategy creation, execution, market forecasting and partner collaboration. Thompson’s leadership at The Weather Network and MétéoMédia has helped grow both Mobile Applications and the Mobile websites to the most popular in Canada, creating one of the most sought after mobile advertising properties in the country. An advisory board member at nextMEDIA and the IAB’s emerging platforms council; Thompson is a frequent speaker and moderator at National industry conferences and events. Prior to joining Pelmorex, Thompson served as Director, Wireless Operations for Amp’d Mobile in Los Angeles, and more recently as Director, Marketing for Amp’d Mobile’s launch into the Canadian Marketplace. Thompson also spent 6 years with Bell Canada; working at Bell Mobility in acquisitions, youth marketing and wireless data. His proven track record for launching industry firsts made him the perfect candidate to move to the Sympatico division of Bell and help launch the Sympatico MSN co-branded software and portal. Thompson holds Bachelor’s degree in Business Communications from Brock University, and spends his spare time with his wife Janet, daughter Ashlyn and Parson Russell Terrier, Derby.

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While young in spirit and snappy in dress, Andy Nulman has been creating and leading major media projects for over three decades. Andy is the President and CMO of Airborne Technology Ventures, a company celebrated as a pioneer in the industry of mobile media and marketing. In 1999, Andy co-foun...
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While young in spirit and snappy in dress, Andy Nulman has been creating and leading major media projects for over three decades. Andy is the President and CMO of Airborne Technology Ventures, a company celebrated as a pioneer in the industry of mobile media and marketing. In 1999, Andy co-founded Airborne (then Airborne Entertainment) with Garner Bornstein, and has since provided the company with the insight and creativity necessary to successfully strengthen brands like FHM, Family Guy and the NFL through the creation of innovative mobile content and applications. In 2006, Airborne was honored as North America’s 4th-Fastest Growing Tech Company in Deloitte’s Fast 500 ranking. Most recently, it launched the world’s first 24/7 interactive cable television network, TXT-TV, where viewers use their cellphones to chat with, vote for and play games against each other. Prior to Airborne, Andy was best known for his 15-year tenure as CEO of Montreal’s renowned Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival, the world's first and largest comedy event. From 1985 until 1999, he transformed it from a two-day show to a month-long cultural happening, attracting over 2 million visitors per year to see talent the likes of Jay Leno, Drew Carey, Jim Carrey, John Cleese, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ray Romano and Adam Sandler, and created/ Executive Produced over 150 Festival TV shows, in a variety of languages, all over the world. An acclaimed and thought-provoking public speaker/showman, motivating and challenging Fortune 500 companies the likes of GM, Eveready/Energizer, 3M and Wal-Mart, Andy has also written three books, “How To Do The Impossible,” “I Almost Killed George Burns” and his most recent “Pow! Right Between The Eyes! Profiting From The Element of Surprise.” Other accomplishments include being named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” business leaders by the Financial Post in 1997, being voted one of the Top 100 Montrealers of the 20th Century by the Montreal Gazette in 2000, and being honored as a distinguished recipient of the McGill Management Achievement Award in 2004. In his spare time, Andy is also an oft-published author, inventive stage director, half-decent snowboarder, newbie hockey defenceman, rock singer and prolific blogger (check him out at www.andynulman.com). Married with two grown children and two rambunctious dogs, his major disappointment is that he has only one life to live…but he’s working on a solution.

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Jory Groberman has an entrepreneurial background in Digital Media, Music, Television and Events. He holds degrees in English and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario, and is also a graduate of Ryerson University‘s Radio & Television Arts program. Jory is the founder of Vancouver‘s 29 ...
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Jory Groberman has an entrepreneurial background in Digital Media, Music, Television and Events. He holds degrees in English and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario, and is also a graduate of Ryerson University‘s Radio & Television Arts program. Jory is the founder of Vancouver‘s 29 Productions Inc., a recording studio, mobile content and events company. The company has had a wide range of successful international projects including audio for advertising, television, and video games, and a weekly production of the Billboard Charts for mobile ringtones across the US, Europe and Asia. From 2005-2008, he served as President and Owner of the influential New Music West Festival & Conference, which has been running since 1990. He has worked as a program producer for one of Canada‘s top talk radio programs on the Corus Network, and in the newsroom at CTV. He also manages a rock n roll band.

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Brad Pelman is Co-Founder and Co-President of Maple Pictures Corp, one of Canada's leading filmed entertainment distributors. Brad's focus has always been on sales, marketing and the execution of distribution strategy. Brad has over 18 years experience in Canada having worked for Astral, Sony Pict...
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Brad Pelman is Co-Founder and Co-President of Maple Pictures Corp, one of Canada's leading filmed entertainment distributors. Brad's focus has always been on sales, marketing and the execution of distribution strategy. Brad has over 18 years experience in Canada having worked for Astral, Sony Pictures, Malofilm Distribution and Lionsgate prior to the creation of Maple Pictures in 2005. Brad holds a B.A. Honours degree in Political Science from Toronto's York University and he currently sits on the Board of the National Screen Institute. Brad is an active member of the Telefilm Canada Working Group, assisting the Federal department on the future of film investment policy. He is also the Treasurer of CAFDE, Canada's Distributor's Association, and he is a regular guest speaker at the Canadian Film Centre.

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Claude Galipeau is Senior Vice President, Digital Media, at Rogers Media Inc., responsible for interactive strategy for the Rogers portfolio of publishing, radio and TV properties.

Previously, Claude was Vice President, Interactive Media, Astral Media Inc.; Senior Vice President, Dig...
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Claude Galipeau is Senior Vice President, Digital Media, at Rogers Media Inc., responsible for interactive strategy for the Rogers portfolio of publishing, radio and TV properties.

Previously, Claude was Vice President, Interactive Media, Astral Media Inc.; Senior Vice President, Digital Media, Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.; and Executive Director, Digital Programming and Business Development, at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Claude’s background includes working for Alliance Atlantis Communications, as Vice-President, Broadcasting, and heading business development and new media at Salter Street Films.

Claude has also worked as a senior adviser to the Government of Ontario’s Cabinet Office, Premier’s Office and Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs; a senior advisor and lobbyist at the World Association of Newspapers based in Paris; an independent media consultant; and, from 1990-1991, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Administration at the University of Ottawa.

Claude has a PhD from the University of Toronto, an MA from Queen’s University and a BA from Bishop’s University. He is the author of Isaiah Berlin’s Liberalism (Oxford, 1994), as well as numerous articles on political theory and Canadian politics and public policy.

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Previous to being nominated as Senior Vice-President, Programming, Mrs. Brosseau was Director of Strategic Planning for the Communications Department of Société Radio-Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a Master’s Degree in Communications. Moreover, she has more than 25 years ...
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Previous to being nominated as Senior Vice-President, Programming, Mrs. Brosseau was Director of Strategic Planning for the Communications Department of Société Radio-Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a Master’s Degree in Communications. Moreover, she has more than 25 years of experience in television, gathering information and contents, as well as being involved in the creation, production and the marketable aspect of television programming.

Before joining Astral Media, Judith’s career spread out at Télé-Québec and Radio-Canada, without omitting her numerous contributions amongst our major independent producers.

She is President on the Board of the Conseil des diplômés en communication de l’UQAM, interim Chair of the Banff Television Foundation, Vice-president on the Board of the Canadian Television Fund and she is also a Board member of The Harold Greenberg Fund and Hot Docs.

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Kevin Beggs is President of Television Programming & Production for Lionsgate with responsibility for development and production of series, movies for television, miniseries, limited series and reality programs for both domestic and international distribution. Elevated to his current position in Fe...
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Kevin Beggs is President of Television Programming & Production for Lionsgate with responsibility for development and production of series, movies for television, miniseries, limited series and reality programs for both domestic and international distribution. Elevated to his current position in February 2002, he has spearheaded the strategic expansion of the company’s television production activities in both broadcast and cable.

Beggs is also President of HRTS (Hollywood Radio and Television Society), co-chair of The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and President of the Board of Directors of the charity My Friend’s Place.

Under Beggs’ leadership, the television division has become a leading supplier of programming, particularly to cable networks, with revenues that have grown from $8 million in fiscal 2000 to nearly $210 million in fiscal 2008. The company’s impressive TV production slate includes the multiple Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series MAD MEN, AMC’s first original drama series set to launch its third season this summer; CRASH, the original drama from the producers of Lionsgate’s Oscar-winning Best Picture, which begins production on its second season in May; Showtime’s critically acclaimed hit comedy WEEDS starring Golden Globe winner Mary-Louise Parker, which launches its fifth season in June and has already been renewed for season six; the new Showtime comedy series NURSE JACKIE starring three-time Emmy Award winner Edie Falco, also set to debut in June; the new college football comedy series BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE for Spike TV; and IFC’s first original event telefilm, LAURELL K. HAMILTON’S ANITA BLAKE: VAMPIRE HUNTER.

In addition, Lionsgate formed a television joint programming venture last year with Michael Hirschorn and Stella Stolper’s Ish Entertainment, which entered into the partnership with a commitment for three TV series, including the reality competition series “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF” and “50 Cent: The Money and the Power” under a first-look deal with MTV Networks. Lionsgate also has television development deals with Roy Lee and Doug Davison’s Vertigo Entertainment, Brian Robbins’ Varsity Pictures, and Steve Buscemi’s and Stanley Tucci’s Olive Productions.

Other recent productions include NBC’s suspense and horror anthology series FEAR ITSELF; VH1’s reality competition series SCREAM QUEENS; USA Network’s hit drama series THE DEAD ZONE; ABC Family’s popular drama WILDFIRE; THE KILL POINT, Spike TV’s original eight-hour drama event starring Emmy winner John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg; Kevin Williamson’s drama series HIDDEN PALMS on the CW; the Lifetime comedy series
LOVESPRING INTERNATIONAL; the detective/fantasy series THE DRESDEN FILES and the six-hour limited series event THE LOST ROOM, both of which aired on SCI FI; the WE reality series DIRTY DANCING; and I PITY THE FOOL starring Mr. T for TV Land.

Beggs is also President of Lionsgate’s feature-length documentary unit, which was established to identify and develop theatrical-length single-subject documentary projects suitable for television, theatrical and home entertainment distribution that reinforce the cutting edge Lionsgate brand.
The unit has released such acclaimed productions as Werner Herzog’s Sundance award-winning GRIZZLY MAN about the life and death of amateur grizzly bear expert Timothy Treadwell, which debuted on Discovery Channel following its successful domestic theatrical run; LEONARD COHEN I'M YOUR MAN about one of music’s most celebrated troubadours, which was released theatrically in Summer 2006 and made its television debut on Sundance Channel; and THE U.S. vs. JOHN LENNON, a Lionsgate/VH1 Films production recounting the story of Lennon’s transformation from musical artist to anti-war activist, which was released theatrically in September 2006. The unit’s most recent productions include GUYS ‘N’ DIVAS: BATTLE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS, a documentary produced with Spitfire Pictures and Showtime about real high school musicals, which will air on Showtime; STREET DOGS OF SOUTH CENTRAL, produced in partnership with Animal Planet, which follows a family of dogs living on the streets of South Central Los Angeles; and FACING ALI, produced with Spike TV, which chronicles the history of Muhammad Ali through the eyes of fighters he faced over the years.

Beggs first gained prominence in television as a producer on the hit series BAYWATCH and was tapped in 1998 to start Lionsgate’s series television business. Since then, his duties have grown to include all of the company’s television programming and production activities. He spearheaded the dramatic series MYSTERIOUS WAYS, HIGHER GROUND, TRACKER and HOPE ISLAND, as well as the reality projects NO BOUNDARIES for WB and IRON CHEF USA for UPN. His additional credits include the LIFETIME movie STUDENT SEDUCTION, ABC Family’s LUCKY SEVEN and magic special CRISS ANGEL’S MINDFREAK, and a sequel to the latter entitled CHRIS ANGEL: SUPERNATURAL for SCI FI Channel.

Born in the San Francisco Bay area, Beggs was raised in Marin County, Oakland, and later Washington state. In 1989, he graduated with College Honors from UC Santa Cruz where he double-majored in Politics and Theater Arts. Kevin and his wife, Dianna, live in Los Angeles with their two young children, Katherine and Breydon.

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A partner and co-founder of marblemedia, Mark plays a key role in developing both television and interactive projects that tell unique stories across multiple platforms. Mark was recently named by The Hollywood Reporter as an International Next-Generation Producer and in 2008 was named Producer of t...
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A partner and co-founder of marblemedia, Mark plays a key role in developing both television and interactive projects that tell unique stories across multiple platforms. Mark was recently named by The Hollywood Reporter as an International Next-Generation Producer and in 2008 was named Producer of the Year and marblemedia as Company of the Year at the Canadian New Media Awards. Mark is the Executive Producer and co-creator of The Dating Guy (Teletoon/HDNET) and Executive Producer of Skatoony (launching on Teletoon in 2010). Past projects include This is Emily Yeung and This is Daniel Cook, now both airing in over 85 countries. Mark is also a co-creator of marble projects including : The Adrenaline Project(seasons 1 & 2) and Taste Buds (seasons 1 & 2).

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Robin Mirsky is Executive Director of the Rogers Group of Funds:- The Rogers Telefund has approximately $35 million available for bridge financing for Canadian programs. The Rogers Documentary Fund, for Canadian documentaries has given grants to more than 300 documentary films.
The Rogers ...
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Robin Mirsky is Executive Director of the Rogers Group of Funds:- The Rogers Telefund has approximately $35 million available for bridge financing for Canadian programs. The Rogers Documentary Fund, for Canadian documentaries has given grants to more than 300 documentary films.
The Rogers Cable Network Fund an equity investment fund for Canadian cable channels will infuse an estimated $7 million annually into Canadian independent production.

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Tecca Crosby began her career at Saturday Night magazine as assistant to the editor, then head researcher and finally as an associate editor. In 1986 she went to the newly formed Ontario Film Development Corporation as the senior development officer and in 1992 she assumed the post of Executive Coor...
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Tecca Crosby began her career at Saturday Night magazine as assistant to the editor, then head researcher and finally as an associate editor. In 1986 she went to the newly formed Ontario Film Development Corporation as the senior development officer and in 1992 she assumed the post of Executive Coordinator, Production and Development.

From 1995 to 1998, Tecca worked as a freelance production consultant. She was story editor in residence at the Canadian Film Centre where she helped to establish the Professional Screenwriting Programme. Also during this time she co-created the award-winning series Slings & Arrows.

In 1998 Tecca went to work at CTV as director of dramatic programming, supervising the development slate for original Canadian drama. From 2006 to 2007 Tecca served as acting senior vice president of dramatic programming. During that time she oversaw the development and creation of four one hour dramatic pilots as part of a new programming initiative. In the fall of 2007, Tecca left CTV to pursue a career in independent drama production.

Tecca was made Vice-President of Drama at Temple Street Productions in July of 2008.

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Before joining Achilles, Peter worked at Playback Magazine, the leading business journal devoted to Canada's film and television industry, where he oversaw all Playback related business initiatives including publications, events and online ventures. In his nine years at Playback, Vamos helped solidi...
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Before joining Achilles, Peter worked at Playback Magazine, the leading business journal devoted to Canada's film and television industry, where he oversaw all Playback related business initiatives including publications, events and online ventures. In his nine years at Playback, Vamos helped solidify the magazine's position as the leading voice of the Canadian broadcast and production sectors. Vamos has participated in several international film and TV festivals and, through Playback's parent company Brunico Communications, has been involved in such respected international conferences as the Realscreen Summit and the KidScreen Summit. Vamos started his career as a journalist and spent over a decade covering the entertainment industry as a movie reviewer, entertainment reporter, business writer and editor. Prior to joining Playback, Vamos was part of the team that launched Canoe.ca in 1996 and Foxnews.com in 1997. He also helped produce several acclaimed documentaries including Emmy-winner Plague Monkeys.

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Ira Levy is Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Breakthrough Films & Television, Breakthrough Entertainment and Breakthrough New Media. His current projects include the animated series JIMMY TWO-SHOES for Teletoon and Jetix; PRODUCING PARKER, the animated prime-time series for TVtropolis starring K...
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Ira Levy is Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Breakthrough Films & Television, Breakthrough Entertainment and Breakthrough New Media. His current projects include the animated series JIMMY TWO-SHOES for Teletoon and Jetix; PRODUCING PARKER, the animated prime-time series for TVtropolis starring Kim Cattrall; and a new season of THINK BIG the magazine-style kids series for TVO.

Ira has also Produced and Executive Produced a number of award-winning, critically acclaimed comedy series including KENNY VS SPENNY for Showcase; and LESS THAN KIND starring Maury Chaykin for Citytv.

In addition, Ira is also heavily involved with the CFTPA, Alliance for Children and Television, CTF, Banff Television Festival and Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

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Named Producer of the Year at the 2007 Canadian New Media Awards, Matt is Executive Producer, partner and co-founder of marblemedia. Matt is responsible for leading creative teams to execute both television and digital media projects. Matt is currently leading The Dating Guy, a primetime animated se...
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Named Producer of the Year at the 2007 Canadian New Media Awards, Matt is Executive Producer, partner and co-founder of marblemedia. Matt is responsible for leading creative teams to execute both television and digital media projects. Matt is currently leading The Dating Guy, a primetime animated series for TELETOON’s adult Detour block, co-produced with E1 Television International. Matt co-created the series with marblemedia partner Mark Bishop.

Recent initiatives also include the extreme tween reality series, The Adrenaline Project season 1 and 2. His other credits include The Art of Seduction, an innovative mobile shorts series, This is Daniel Cook, This is Emily Yeung, Taste Buds, a pairing of SwanS DVD by Veronica Tennant, deafplanet.com and Burnt Toast.

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Frank Saperstein brings over 20 years of experience in media creation, development, production and distribution to Blueprint Entertainment. His credits include over 400 episodes of television, feature film, new media, shorts and commercials. Prior to Blueprint, Frank has served as Co-CEO/creative di...
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Frank Saperstein brings over 20 years of experience in media creation, development, production and distribution to Blueprint Entertainment. His credits include over 400 episodes of television, feature film, new media, shorts and commercials. Prior to Blueprint, Frank has served as Co-CEO/creative director of PASI (Philippine Animation Studio Inc.), producer/director and development consultant for VH1/MTV Networks, and producer/writer/director at Matinee Entertainment.
Previous credits include award-winning productions, "Kampung Boy" - winner for Best Television Series at Annecy Film Festival (Fox Kids/Teletoon), “Bob and Margaret”(Comedy Central/Global TV), "Kong: The Animated Series" (Fox Kids/Teletoon), "Captain Flamingo" (YTV/Jetix), "The Ren & Stimpy Show" (Nickelodeon/MTV) , and "Pee-wee's Playhouse"(CBS). Frank has been a featured speaker at film festivals, markets, conferences and universities around the globe.

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Carole Bonneau is the Vice-President, Programming for TELETOON Canada Inc., the country’s first and only 24-hour bilingual animation station. In this capacity, she is responsible for program schedules and acquisitions for 4 distinct networks: TELETOON English, TELETOON French, TELETOON Retro (Eng), ...
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Carole Bonneau is the Vice-President, Programming for TELETOON Canada Inc., the country’s first and only 24-hour bilingual animation station. In this capacity, she is responsible for program schedules and acquisitions for 4 distinct networks: TELETOON English, TELETOON French, TELETOON Retro (Eng), and TELETOON Retro (Fr), as well as the continued growth and advancement of one of TELETOON’s acclaimed talents: the development and production of original animated programming. Carole joined TELETOON in November, 1996 as Director of Programming responsible for program schedules and acquisitions. She became the Vice-President, Programming in December 2001. Since joining TELETOON, Carole has been instrumental in fostering Canadian talent. Under her leadership, each year, 47% of TELETOON’S annual revenue is allocated towards the acquisition or development of animated series by Canadian producers. Some of the most notable programs include: 6TEEN, Johnny Test, and Total Drama Island. Significant accomplishments include her leadership role in cementing long term relationships with, amongst others, Warner Bros., and Cartoon Network. Carole has been working in the television industry since 1981, and came to TELETOON from TFO, TVOntario’s French Educational TV Network where, as the Director of Network and Promotion, had already achieved significant success in a competitive industry, both at home and abroad. Prior to that, she was a journalist with Radio-Canada, the country’s national public broadcaster. Carole is fluent in English and French. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and journalism from l’Université Laval in Quebec. She also studied at Centre de Formation Journalistique in Paris, France. Carole is a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and a member of Women in Film and Television (WIFT). Carole is married with two children and resides in Toronto, Ontario.

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Ferne Cohen is the Executive Producer and creator of Smart TV. She is also the Director of Business Development for the Banff World Television Festival, both run by Achilles Media Ltd. Ferne has been with the company since 2008. During her time at Achilles, Ferne has developed and produced several n...
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Ferne Cohen is the Executive Producer and creator of Smart TV. She is also the Director of Business Development for the Banff World Television Festival, both run by Achilles Media Ltd. Ferne has been with the company since 2008. During her time at Achilles, Ferne has developed and produced several new initiatives including Kids and Animation Day at BANFF, 2009. Before joining Achilles, Ferne was the Director of Business Affairs for Alliance Atlantis Television Production Group, responsible for overseeing various television properties. With a background in intellectual property law, Ferne began her career in private practice as a litigator in the areas of trademark and copyright law.

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Julie Bristow is Executive Director of Factual Entertainment for CBC Television, launching this new division for Canada’s public broadcaster in May 2006. Julie began her work at CBC in broadcast journalism, starting as a program researcher and moving onto executive production for main network progr...
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Julie Bristow is Executive Director of Factual Entertainment for CBC Television, launching this new division for Canada’s public broadcaster in May 2006. Julie began her work at CBC in broadcast journalism, starting as a program researcher and moving onto executive production for main network programs within CBC News and Current Affairs. As the head of Factual Entertainment, Julie is responsible for overseeing the development, production and commissioning activities in such fields as talk shows, game shows, lifestyle and reality programming, as well as the acquisition and adaptation of these formats for CBC.

Julie’s work in television has garnered her numerous awards, including three Geminis. She serves as an active board member for Entertainment Master Class, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and for the Rose d’Or Festival.

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As CEO, Cineflix Programming, Simon is responsible for the company’s television output, overseeing development, production and all broadcaster relations. He has been instrumental in growing the company to become the largest producers of factual programming in the world. The production slate that...
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As CEO, Cineflix Programming, Simon is responsible for the company’s television output, overseeing development, production and all broadcaster relations. He has been instrumental in growing the company to become the largest producers of factual programming in the world. The production slate that Simon currently oversees numbers 250 hours annually and includes programmes such as Dinner Party Wars, Chef vs Chef, Delinquent Gourmet, Weird or What, Conviction Kitchen, American Pickers, Property Virgins, Campus PD, The Unsellables, Mayday, Eat Yourself Sexy, Manson, Cold Blood, For Rent, Animals At Work and Urban Legends. Simon also oversees all of Cineflix’s new formats including, Global Warnings and Blank Canvas. Prior to joining Cineflix, Simon was Managing Director of Outline Productions, Head of Wall to Wall Scotland and Head of Programmes at Prospect Pictures. In his two decade career Simon has created and overseen some of the world’s most successful and popular television shows and formats, winning many major awards in European and North American television including a BAFTA, an Emmy, an RTS and a Rockie.

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Roy Ackerman is Managing Director of Fresh One Productions, the campaigning, multi-genre company founded by Jamie Oliver. Recent output includes Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (ABC); God Bless You? Barak Obama (BBC); Jamie’s American Roadtrip (Channel 4); a major talent-led series An African Jo...
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Roy Ackerman is Managing Director of Fresh One Productions, the campaigning, multi-genre company founded by Jamie Oliver. Recent output includes Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (ABC); God Bless You? Barak Obama (BBC); Jamie’s American Roadtrip (Channel 4); a major talent-led series An African Journey (BBC), Jamie Does... (Channel 4), The Delicious Miss Dahl (with Sophie Dahl, BBC), Flying Saucer (Tabak Al Ta'er – an Arabic-language kids' show mixing science fiction and food for Al-Jazeera Children's Channel, JCC) and Black Beach: Simon Mann’s African Coup (BBC) a feature documentary on the extraordinary coup in Equatorial Guinea (BBC and PBS). Previously, Roy was Creative Director at Diverse Productions. His scripted films include the acclaimed Mrs Mandela a drama portrait of Winnie Mandela (BBC/France 2/SBS); the RTS Shortlisted docu-drama Killing Hitler (BBC2/History Channel); the Grierson shortlisted star-studded drama Our Hidden Lives (BBC). He has two major international series and two big single films - in development with the BBC. Factual output includes Fat Man in a White Hat with Bill Buford, the acclaimed New Yorker editor/author goes on an immersive journey – sometimes literally – into Haute Cuisine; award-winning documentaries such as Sundance entry Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson; Sundance Grand Jury Award and Peabody winner Why We Fight; BAFTA-winning epic Tsunami: 7 Hours on Boxing Day (BBC). Seven Sins of England (Channel 4, in association with Halcyons Heart Films, winner of the Royal Television Society: Educational Television Award); the RTS and Banff award-winning feature-length documentary After The War: Conquering Germany (BBC2); the RTS award-winning Not Cricket (BBC4/2); the multi-award winning US theatrical documentary hit The Trials of Henry Kissinger (BBC 4/ BBC 2/ Arte/ History Television/SBS television (Australian)/TV2 (Denmark); the Broadcast and RTS winning film for House of War (Channel 4 and CNN); BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast Award winning 100% White (Channel 4); BAFTA shortlisted Battlecentre (Channel 4); International Emmy-winning The Phil (Channel 4, a year in the life of the Philharmonia orchestra). Series successes includes BAFTA Kids winner Election, where children embarked on a series of challenges that tested their leadership skills; hit format and winner of RTS Broadcast Prix Italia and other awards Operatunity; its award-winning follow up Musicality; and equally acclaimed Ballet Changed My Life: Ballet Hoo!; Play It Again¸ a major series where leading celebrities learn a musical instrument; and Rocket Science, an inspirational science series. Other major shows included: Britain’s Rich List: Give It Away (ITV); Last Chance Kids (part of Channel 4’s “Lost for Words” strand, a `Jamie's Kitchen' for kids who can't read); Sacred Voyager: Jerusalem (Travel Channel Media); Calais: The Last Border (BBC, winner of Best Documentary at the Berlin Film Festival. Who Wrote the Bible (C4); Seconds to Impact, Playing for England, The Builders Are Coming; Mind Your F-king Language (Cutting Edge – Channel Four); Not Cricket 2: The Captain & The Bookmaker (BBC4 ) and JD Salinger Doesn’t Want to Talk (BBC2) . As a director his films include the award-winning or shortlisted Secret Life of Jeremy Thorpe; Volvo City; Enigma - Adventures of a Hardback Hero; Lifers – The Rise and Rise of the Literary Biographer. Roy is on the TV Committee of BAFTA, writes occasionally for the Guardian and other newspapers. He sings in a performing choir, plays saxophone in a rock band and plays bridge competitively and football, very uncompetitively.

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Justin is a Format Doctor, television producer and author. As a Format Doctor, he is in considerable demand, working as a consultant with broadcasters and production companies around the world to diagnose and solve issues with their formats, from development to pilot to post-production. Recent...
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Justin is a Format Doctor, television producer and author. As a Format Doctor, he is in considerable demand, working as a consultant with broadcasters and production companies around the world to diagnose and solve issues with their formats, from development to pilot to post-production. Recent clients include: CBC, DHX Media, Frantic Films, Media HQ and Temple Street (Canada), Stimulii (South Africa), Storytellers (Norway), VRT (Belgium), Jamie Oliver’s company Fresh One and ZigZag (UK), 14NEW.TV (Holland), ProSeiben (Germany). Justin is a Mentor, Trainer and Format Doctor for international format academy the Entertainment Masterclass, Visiting Tutor at the National Film & TV School in the UK, and a regular speaker and panelist at television events around the world. He served on the 2009 Final Juries for the Rose D’Or and Banff World TV Festivals. He was a keynote speaker at the Rio Market in Brazil and the Israel Producers Conference in Tel Aviv. TV credits include devising and producing two series of history gameshow Codex, filmed at the British Museum in London. Codex Israel was produced by JCS Productions and filmed among the Dead Sea Scrolls in Jerusalem. He creates puzzles for ITV’s Krypton Factor and BBC4’s Only Connect. Justin co-devised and produced the fear-filled reality experiment Shock Treatment for Sky One, also sold to Fox Reality US, MTV Russia and Becker Entertainment Australia. He co-devised and produced the BAFTA award-winning reality show Starfinder, and designed the games for Disney’s Inside Clyde, nominated for Best Children’s Programme, Broadcast Awards 2005. Previous credits include adventure gameshows Treasure Hunt and Crystal Maze. He is currently working on a fact-based social network quiz for the BBC. Justin’s latest adult non-fiction book is Eye Spy (Hodder & Stoughton), and he is currently working on the next.

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Bill Nemtin began his career at the National Film Board of Canada over 40 years ago. He was one of the original team in the NFB’s Challenge For Change Program and worked on the groundbreaking Fogo Island project. He was Executive Producer for the Award Winning International co-productions, Canada: T...
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Bill Nemtin began his career at the National Film Board of Canada over 40 years ago. He was one of the original team in the NFB’s Challenge For Change Program and worked on the groundbreaking Fogo Island project. He was Executive Producer for the Award Winning International co-productions, Canada: True North, Hand of Stalin, and a Special for PBS and UK’s Channel4, Maya Angelou: Rainbow in the Clouds . Within the US Public Television, Bill specialized in the setting up of foreign co-productions and acquisitions, first from Canada, and subsequently from London, UK, where he headed the operations of Lark International, a consortium of PBS stations. Lark's copros included the History of Magic, Viking Saga, Space Station, and America at War in Color. The record breaking hit Riverdance, as well as Cirque de Soleil’s Allegro, and Dennis Potter’s last drama series, Karaoke and Cold Lazarus were made available to US Public Television through Lark International.

Mr. Nemtin also set up and co-organized the annual UK Immersion Seminars for Canadian Producers for the Canadian High Commission and Telefilm Canada. He began acting as Special Advisor to the Film Commissioner of the NFB on the setting up of International Broadcaster agreements and subsequently represented the NFB in co-production and presale activity in the UK. In 2005 he returned to producing feature documentaries with Diameter of the Bomb. He served as Executive Producer of Passage, which won best documentary awards from the CFTPA and the Atlantic Film Festival.

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Duncan Stewart is the Director of Deloitte Canada Research in the areas of Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), Life Sciences and GreenTech. He is a member of Deloitte’s national TMT executive team and is a co-author of Deloitte Research’s annual Predictions report on trends in TMT.
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Duncan Stewart is the Director of Deloitte Canada Research in the areas of Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), Life Sciences and GreenTech. He is a member of Deloitte’s national TMT executive team and is a co-author of Deloitte Research’s annual Predictions report on trends in TMT.

Duncan has almost two decades of experience in the TMT industry. As an analyst and portfolio manager, Duncan has provided research or made investments in the entire Canadian technology and telecommunications sector. He has written research on names such as Nortel and Celestica, and been a venture capital investor in Research in Motion among others. Duncan is also founder and CEO of DSAM Consulting, which performs research and analysis on companies in the TMT and GreenTech space. Prior to that, Duncan was a co-founder of Tera Capital, Canada’s first high tech and biotech money manager, where he was responsible for managing both mutual funds and VC funds, and was the Canadian Technology Fund Manager of the Year in 2003. In the mid 1990s, Duncan managed a $150 million small cap high tech/biotech fund at a large Canadian pension fund manager. In his years as an investor he has deployed a cumulative $2 billion of capital into the global TMT and Life Science markets.

Duncan has a high profile media presence and is frequently interviewed on technology and biotechnology issues. He has also been a bi-monthly columnist for The National Post and CBC Radio. Duncan is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

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Nader is Vice President at Enfortus, a management consulting firm, where he leads the Digital Channels Strategy practice. Prior to joining Enfortus, Nader was the Senior Director of Strategy and Development at Rogers Digital Media where he was responsible for developing the strategic direction for t...
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Nader is Vice President at Enfortus, a management consulting firm, where he leads the Digital Channels Strategy practice. Prior to joining Enfortus, Nader was the Senior Director of Strategy and Development at Rogers Digital Media where he was responsible for developing the strategic direction for the Digital Media division as well as financial operations, business development, corporate venturing and innovation. His prior experiences include Director of Corporate Strategy at BCE where he had a focus on the company’s various new growth businesses and ventures, Vice President of Business Development at Blue Spark Media where he led the conception and development of new service lines, and Senior Consultant at Adventis Consulting, a Boston-based strategy consulting firm. Nader has a deep understanding of consumer and technology trends that are influencing the digital markets and their impact on traditional, digital-pure-play and multiplatform players. 
He holds a B.Eng (Hons) from University College London, London University and an MBA from London Business School.

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Suzanne is a Foresight Analyst, Mentor, and Educator. She comes to OCAD from SMARTlab in the UK where she was Deputy Director and Principal Research Fellow in Technology Futures. She also works with the CFC Media Lab where she holds a Faculty post. She was formerly a member of Nokia’s Insight & F...
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Suzanne is a Foresight Analyst, Mentor, and Educator. She comes to OCAD from SMARTlab in the UK where she was Deputy Director and Principal Research Fellow in Technology Futures. She also works with the CFC Media Lab where she holds a Faculty post. She was formerly a member of Nokia’s Insight & Foresight group, which studied emerging trends and identified new business opportunities created by disruptive technological and market developments. Previously at Sapient Corporation, a business and technology consultancy, Suzanne was the Discipline Lead for the Experience Modeling (XMod) group in London, where she created and managed this group of diverse social scientists. She was also a Director in the User Experience Group, overseeing Creative development and articulation as well as the Research offerings. Prior to this, she was the Director of Insights and Director of Project Management at Xcorporation, a communications and design firm. Suzanne is a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and founder of the research company, Everyday Life. She was also the Canadian juror for the UN Task force, the World Summit Awards and has held Mentorship positions with the Interactive Project Lab and various advisory boards.

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