Board of Directors
Reelworld Screen Institute
Cheryl Hudson, Chair
Founder, Cheryl Hudson & Co
Cheryl is a philanthropic advisor who impacts lives with a unique and strategic approach. She guides her clients in shifting from short-term, less structured giving to sustained, focused, high-impact philanthropy. After a career driving profit and growth at TD Bank Financial Group, Cheryl served as Director, Corporate Engagement, at World Vision Canada. Through her philanthropic advisory practice she works with clients to design innovative programs and direct large-scale philanthropic investments to many organizations in arts and culture, education, vulnerable communities, the environment, health, and relief & development.
Hayley Phillips, Treasurer
SVP, Finance & Operations
Shaftesbury
Hayley is a strategic financial and operations executive with over 25 years’ experience in the media and entertainment industry. Hayley is currently the SVP of Finance and Operations at Shaftesbury Inc, an award-winning creator and producer of original content for Television, Film and Digital. Shaftesbury’s current primetime slate includes 18 seasons of the international hit series Murdoch Mysteries and 7 seasons of Hudson & Rex. In her role at Shaftesbury, Hayley is responsible for managing all aspects of corporate, production, development, and distribution financial reporting. In addition to her finance role, Hayley is responsible for setting the overall operational direction of the company to ensure alignment with long-term strategic goals and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet current and future needs of the organization. Hayley was honoured as a 2013 Trailblazer at the Reelworld Film Festival.
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Terry E. Markus, Secretary
Entertainment Lawyer,
Professor, Producer
Terry E. Markus is an independent lawyer/consultant providing business & legal affairs services to the entertainment, broadcasting and screen-based media industries for over 30 years. She is also part-time faculty at Humber College, Faculty of Media + Creative Arts, Toronto Canada, teaching Entertainment Law & Ethics. Terry is currently executive producing the feature-length dramatic films “Cidic” and “Concession Nine”, and executive produced the feature-length dramatic film “Happy F’K’IN Sunshine” (2020) (premiering at the 2022 Dances With Films Festival) Terry is a member of the Board of Directors of Women in Film & Television – Toronto (Secretary) and the Reelworld Screen Institute (Secretary).
Niki Singh, Vice Secretary Director of Business and Legal Affairs at WildBrain
Niki Singh is an entertainment lawyer based in Toronto. As the Director of Business and Legal Affairs at WildBrain, Niki spearheads pivotal development, production, and distribution deals for the company. Her expertise touches upon a rich portfolio of iconic programs and brands, including "Teletubbies," "Degrassi," and "Peanuts." Prior to her role at WildBrain, Niki was a Business & Rights Manager at CBC, a lawyer at a national law firm, and was the Student-at-Law at the Toronto International Film Festival. Niki holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Beyond her professional pursuits, Niki is an avid traveller, food enthusiast, and karaoke aficionado. She is often found immersing herself in the Toronto food and wine scene or unleashing her inner diva with an off-key rendition of “Say My Name” by Destiny's Child.
Tanya Brunel
Producer,
White Bear Films
Tanya Brunel, Red River Métis from south west Manitoba, has been developing and producing motion picture, television and digital media content with a focus on Indigenous stories as an integral part of the White Bear Films production team since 2001. She was Producer on Mr. Soul, 4 seasons of youth series, Cool Jobs, multiple award winning Juliana & The Medicine Fish, The Corruption of Divine Providence which premiered at the Reelworld Film Festival and Whistler Film Festival in 2020, and The First Encounter, an Indigenous sci-fi feature. Most recently, she produced Little Bird, a six part limited drama series on Crave.
Gina Bowen
Fractional CMO and Strategist
Gina is an award-winning marketer with over 25 years experience across verticals ranging from technology to telecom and financial services, and has worked for and on leading brands including Del Computers, ING DIRECT, Rogers and ADP. She’s currently Sr. Director of Online Community Strategy at Verint, a leader in CX automation, where she owns the strategy and delivery of Verint Connect, the information and support destination for Verint Customers and partners. Since 2022, Gina has been the Marketing Expert in Residence at the TMU DMZ working with startups locally and globally, supporting various DMZ incubator programs, and has a special focus on Black Innovation Program founders. Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary.
Marsha Greene
Writer, Showrunner
Marsha Greene was most recently the co-creator and showrunner of the Emmy-nominated series The Porter for CBC and BET+, which won a record 12 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Drama Series and Best Writing, Drama Series. An accomplished Executive Producer and writer, Marsha previously served as a showrunner on the final season of Mary Kills People, a Co-EP on Coroner; a producer on ABC’s 10 Days in the Valley, and has staffed on shows such as Private Eyes and Departure. Marsha is also the Chair of the Writers Guild of Canada’s Inclusion, Equity, Diversity and Accessibility Committee.
Ty Hyland
Production Planning Executive
and Comedy & Digital,
CBC Scripted Content
With over 25 years of film & television industry experience, Ty Hyland has held the positions of Producer, Production Executive, Line Producer and Production Manager on hundreds of hours of primetime TV series and feature length projects. Currently she utilizes her production knowledge working in-house at CBC as a strategist in Production Planning on scripted and digital programming. Ty has extensive experience working on behalf of Production with both broadcasters and funding agencies across Canada ensuring that policy and contractual obligations are properly executed and adhered to.
Floyd Kane
Creator, Writer, Producer,
Search it Up Productions Inc.
Floyd Kane became a Writer/Producer after many years as a lawyer and senior executive within the entertainment industry. In 2005, he wrote and produced the series North/South (CBC), going on to write and executive produce SOUL (Gemini Nomination for Best Writing in a Dramatic Series). He has written on shows like Continuum (Syfy) and Backstage (Disney) and Across the Line (Best Atlantic Feature at the Atlantic Film Festival and Best First Feature at the Canada Film Festival), Jean of the Joneses, which debuted at SXSW, and Brown Girl Begins. Floyd is an alumnus of the Summer Institute, NSI Totally Television Program, the TIFF Talent Lab, the Shaw Media Showrunner Programme and TIFF Studio.
Patricia Bebia Mawa,
Executive Vice President,
Silvertrust Media & Afroglobal TV
Patricia Bebia Mawa is the Executive Vice President of Silvertrust Media and Afroglobal Television. She has directed and produced over 15 television programs including The Visionaries and Standing Ovation. She is the Associate Publisher of Excellence, Envision and Destiny Magazines. Listed in the Who’s Who in Black Canada, she is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee Medal. Patricia and her husband Moses have been featured on CNN International in a half hour special. In March 2016, the duo launched Afroglobal Television, a 24-hour television channel. In 2018, they co-authored the 150 Extraordinary Canadians Legacy book.
Lisa Meeches
President,
Eagle Vision Inc
Anishinaabe filmmaker, Lisa Meeches, is a Member of the Order of Canada and Order of Manitoba. Lisa has produced critically acclaimed projects including The Sharing Circle, Ice Road Truckers, Tipi Tales, Elijah, and Jack. She was Executive Producer on the CSA-winning We Were Children and most recently on Finality of Dusk, Night Raiders, Burden of Truth and Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On. Lisa was honoured as a 2020 Trailblazer at the Reelworld Film Festival.
April Mullings
Director, Finance and Business Affairs,
HLP + Partners
A graduate of the University of Toronto, April has worked in the accounting field for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Specialist in Management and Economics. In 2003, she merged her background in financial management with her passion for film & television. For many years, she served as the Director of Finance & Business Affairs for a boutique Toronto-based production company. April is a natural lover of the arts. From time to time, you may also find this Jamaican-born island girl gracing the stage and captivating audiences with her other passion, dance.
Erica Shaw
Media Production Manager, Shaw
Communications Professor, Sheridan
Erica is an accomplished producer and production manager with over 20 years of experience in the film, television, media and education industries. Her commercials, for international brands such as Coca-Cola Ltd, RBC and Microsoft, have aired nationally on HGTV, Food Network Canada and other Shaw Media Inc properties. Erica currently works at Sheridan College as a professor and manager of the Creative Studio.
Sharon Stevens,
Vice President, Programming at Hollywood Suite
A leader, mentor, and advocate for creators, Sharon Stevens has more than 20 years of experience in the film and TV industry. As Vice President, Programming at Hollywood Suite, her specialized knowledge of acquisitions and programming has contributed to the growth and success of the company. Sharon is committed to supporting the Canadian film industry and its people, especially those who have been historically under-represented. She is proud to have helped many filmmakers get their projects off the ground. Outside of work, she is a proud dog mom, an avid cinephile and a dedicated admirer of Keanu Reeves.
Board of Directors
Reelworld Foundation
Patricia Bebia Mawa, Chair
Executive Vice President,
Silvertrust Media & Afroglobal TV
Patricia Bebia Mawa is the Executive Vice President of Silvertrust Media and Afroglobal Television. She has directed and produced over 15 television programs including The Visionaries and Standing Ovation. She is the Associate Publisher of Excellence, Envision and Destiny Magazines. Listed in the Who’s Who in Black Canada, she is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee Medal. Patricia and her husband Moses have been featured on CNN International in a half hour special. In March 2016, the duo launched Afroglobal Television, a 24-hour television channel. In 2018, they co-authored the 150 Extraordinary Canadians Legacy book.
Cheryl Hudson, Vice-Chair
Chair - Founder, Cheryl Hudson & Co
Through her philanthropic advisory practice Cheryl guides business owners, professionals, foundations, charitable and non-profit organizations in shifting strategies from short-term, less structured giving to sustained, focused, high-impact philanthropy directing large-scale philanthropic investments to organizations. After, a career driving profit and growth at TD Bank. Cheryl served as Director, Corporate Engagement, at World Vision Canada. She’s a director on the Boards of the Canadian Film Centre and The Art of Time Ensemble. A member of The Professional Advisory Council at SickKids Hospital Foundation and a volunteer on the fundraising committee for the Ontario Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
April Mullings, Treasurer
Director, Finance and Business Affairs,
HLP + Partners
A graduate of the University of Toronto, April has worked in the accounting field for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Specialist in Management and Economics. In 2003, she merged her background in financial management with her passion for film & television. For many years, she served as the Director of Finance & Business Affairs for a boutique Toronto-based production company. April is a natural lover of the arts. From time to time, you may also find this Jamaican-born island girl gracing the stage and captivating audiences with her other passion, dance.
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Taschina Ashmeade, Secretary Senior Associate, Dentons, Toronto
Taschina Ashmeade is a senior associate in Dentons' Corporate and Regulatory Insurance groups. Her practice encompasses corporate and commercial law, focusing on private mergers and acquisitions and regulatory insurance matters. Taschina assists with financing transactions and corporate reorganizations, both domestically and cross-border. Prior to law, Taschina gained extensive retail banking experience at a large Canadian financial institution. Leveraging her sixteen years of experience in the financial industry, Taschina specializes in complex regulatory insurance matters, such as warranty program regulation and internal policy reviews. Taschina also has philanthropic experience, having served on the committee for Sinai Health Foundation's Great Jewellery Heist.
Anya McKenzie,
Manager Unscripted Programming,
Business & Rights, CBC
Anya Mckenzie is an accomplished producer/programmer with a global perspective thatstems from her roots in the Caribbean and humanitarian aid. She is passionate about access in the media having served as Managing Director of Reelworld Film Festival, and later launching multicultural content for TELUS. Anya is an Advisory Board Member for Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF), a landmark event she was instrumental in launching, and she currently works with the CBC Business & Rights team licensing digital originals/docs such as FAST HORSE, FARM CRIME, and THE 410 and HOW TO BUY A BABY to name a few.
Erica Shaw,
Media Production Manager, Shaw Communications Professor, Sheridan College
Erica is an accomplished producer and production manager with over 20 years of experience in the film, television, media and education industries. As founder of EpEc – Everyday People, Everyday Creativity, Erica designs and facilitates unique workshops for a roster of corporate and personal clients using Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and FourSight® frameworks. Erica currently works at Sheridan College as a professor and manager of the Creative Studio.