Our Foundation

Jenn Kuzmyk, CHAIR

Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival
Publisher, Playback

As Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival and Publisher of Playback, Jenn oversees all aspects of the renowned international event and Canada’s premier national media industry publication. Jenn originated and leads two of Canada’s largest inclusion and diversity programs serving the media sector: The Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative and the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media.  

Previously, Jenn has held positions as Director of International Distribution at Proper Television, VP, Development at Cream Productions, Canadian Bureau Chief and Editor at C21Media. Jenn currently sits on the Foundation for Women in Film and Television Toronto Board of Directors as Vice Chair, on the Future of Film Showcase Advisory Board, and has served as adjunct professor at Toronto’s York University.

JANET CHANT, TREASURER

Chief Financial Officer, Casey House

As Finance Director, Toronto Blue Jays, Janet Chant leads the Finance operations for the Rogers Centre and Blue Jays. She has worked with Rogers in various capacities since 2008 including leading large transformation projects, implementing the Enterprise Risk Management program as well as supporting the Digital Media Publishing division. Prior to joining Rogers, she spent a few years in Fort McMurray, AB, working on a large municipal project and also taught business classes at Keyano College. Janet holds an MBA from Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Carolyn Allain

Account Manager, National Bank of Canada

Carolyn is a manager at National Bank's Creative Industries Group, a leader in offering made-to-measure domestic and international entertainment financing solutions for film, television and digital media productions. Before joining National, Carolyn’s experience spans more than two decades as an award-winning producer and business affairs specialist.Carolyn’s versatility as a producer and financing specialist allows her to offer expertise in many genres, supporting producers in navigating the dynamic marketplace. She is also a passionate supporter of growing Canadian talent, and is alumni of the National Screen Institute and the Canadian Film Center’s, GoWest Project Lab. Carolyn has a bilingual BSS from the University of Ottawa.

KIMBERLEY BALL

Chief Communications Officer, Super Channel

Kim’s experience in the television industry spans over two decades. She joined Super Channel in 2012 and currently serves as the company’s Chief Communications Officer. In this role Kim oversees a diverse portfolio, including media relations, programming publicity, corporate communications and industry outreach. Prior to joining Super Channel, Kim was Director of Marketing, Publicity & Promotion at 20th Century Fox / Incendo Television Distribution for over a decade. Kim began her television career with Alliance Broadcasting as a publicist for Showcase & History Television. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from McMaster University and a post-grad certificate in PR from Humber College. She is also a graduate of the WIFT Toronto Media Leadership Program.

FENNELLA BRUCE

Media Consultant, Producer, Writer, FKB Media Solutions

Fennella Bruce is a veteran television producer and writer, she is now at the helm of FKB Media Solutions – a media consulting business. Having worked in the field of journalism for over 20 years, Fennella has produced both of Canada’s national morning shows – Your Morning and Canada AM. She has been the senior writer or producer at numerous major market television stations including CTV News Channel, CTV National, CP24, CityTv, Toronto 1 and BET. Fennella received her Graduate Degree in Journalism from Ryerson University and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto. For six years, she taught Media Theory at Centennial College. Fennella is the Vice-President of the Board of Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, a member of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and a recipient of the 2020 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Award.

sUE HAAS

VP, Digital Media, Blue Ant Media

Sue Haas is a respected leader in the media industry, with over 20 years of experience working on TV and digital-first brands. In her current role as Vice President of Digital Media at Blue Ant Media, Sue works across niche multi-platform brands, including Cottage Life, Animalogic, ASide and Makeful and most recently Mobile Syrup. She oversees the success of digital content on web, social and AVOD, including strategy, content, operations, marketing and revenue generation. Sue continually adapts and evolves digital media to appeal to the latest industry trends. Prior to Blue Ant Media, Sue worked at Alliance Atlantis for History Television and HGTV’s digital platforms. She is actively involved with the IAB, Interactive Ontario, Bell Fund, Ontario Creates and the Canadian Media Fund.

Laura Heath Potter

Producer

Laura Heath Potter is an emerging Independent Producer currently cultivating and working with emerging writers and directors developing and writing both scripted and factual original content. With more than twenty years of film and television communications experience, she is currently utilizing her publicity experience and industry knowledge to bring her unique perspective to the development and pitching process. With a background in both film and television, Heath Potter was previously the Director of Communications for Bell Media’s CTV Networks. Overseeing publicity for CTV’s acquired, in house and original Canadian programs, Social PR and talent relations she joined the company in 2005. Previously, Heath Potter worked for Odeon Films, Corus Entertainment and The Toronto International Film Festival.

JULIE KUMARIA

SVP, Marketing & Content Distribution, Hollywood Suite

Julie Kumaria is the SVP, Marketing & Content Distribution at Hollywood Suite. She oversees the following areas: marketing, creative, social media, partnerships,advertising, affiliate relations and on-air promotions. Julie Kumaria was supervising producer on the documentary Ferris’s Room, and producer of Hollywood Suite’s original series, A Year in Film. Julie served as the President of CTAM Canada (2018-2020) and has been on the Advisory Board for The Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema since 2014. As an advocate for women’s advancement, Julie won the Women in Communications (WCT) award for Mentor of the Year in 2016. In 2017, Julie was awarded the CTAM U Fellowship Award to attend CTAM U at Harvard Business School. Julie led Hollywood Suite’s WIFT-T campaign to raise money and awareness for women in the screen-based industry for the past 3 years. Julie is married with two tween daughters and lives in Toronto.

NELLIE LINDNER

VP, National Practice Leader – Film and Entertainment, BFL Canada

Nellie Lindner has worked in the insurance industry for 37 years and specializing in Film Television and Entertainment for the last 22 years. She has worked as a Senior Underwriter in both Property and Casualty insurance for some of the largest Insurance Companies in Canada and then 13 years ago transitioned to an Entertainment Insurance Broker.

Nellie holds her Chartered Insurance Professional and Canadian Risk Management Designations. Her technical knowledge and her understanding of innovative products and Insurance needs has been a tremendous asset to her clients.

Having worked with experienced Risk Managers on major Entertainment risks, Nellie has been fortunate enough to have expanded her knowledge and expertise internationally.

Nellie is a member various industry associations and sat on the North American Contingency Association Board acting as Co-President.

LINDSEY SCULLY

Head of Communications, Netflix Canada

As Head of Communications for Netflix Canada, Lindsey works with media and stakeholders in the entertainment industry from across the country. She is particularly passionate about working with partners to tell the stories of the diverse creators who are participating in Netflix-supported development programs. Prior to her time at Netflix, Lindsey worked on public affairs and communications campaigns for Airbnb in Canada. She also spent numerous years working in federal politics and government relations in Ottawa, including acting as Director of Policy and Deputy Chief of Staff to a member of Cabinet. Lindsey has previously volunteered with organizations in the mental health and human rights industries.

JENNIFER SHIN

Director of Development, Comedy, CBC

Jennifer Shin joins CBCas Director of Development, Comedy as of February 8. A film and television producer with over 15 years of experience in the industry including such acclaimed films as Rebecca Addelman's Paper Year and Patricia Rozema's Mouthpiece, Jennifer joins us from the Peabody Award-winning production company Banger Films, where she served as Head of Content and launched a scripted division. Prior to that, she was VP of Feature Film at First Generation Films,where she oversaw the development and production slate of their projects.Jennifer has also had a rich career in entertainment journalism, working as aproducer on entertainment television shows including CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight/The Hour. Jennifer is the co-chair of the Reel Asian Film Festival.