Garry Neil [Chair]
Garry Neil has worked for 45 years in arts and cultural policy, in Canada and internationally. He provides consulting services to governments, cultural industry firms and non-governmental organizations. He has vast experience in policies for television, film, music, publishing, visual arts, performing arts, and digital media and the Internet. Mr. Neil is an acknowledged global expert on issues related to status of the artist, and how global trade and investment agreements affect cultural sovereignty. He has spoken around the world on these topics.
Mr. Neil was a member of UNESCO’s Panel of (Cultural) Experts, and led three global projects on the state of implementation of UNESCO’s Recommendation concerning the status of the artist, the most recent in 2019. In the 1980s, Mr. Neil was a member of the Canadian government’s Advisory Committee on the Status of the Artist. Since then, he has researched these issues extensively and consulted for the federal government, four provinces, several governmental agencies, and numerous non-governmental organizations looking to improve the economic and social well-being of professional artists.
As Executive Director of the International Network for Cultural Diversity, Mr. Neil was at the forefront of the global campaign that led to the adoption of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. The important role of artists, the unique way that artists work, and the ongoing need for governments to support them are a central theme of the Convention.
David Hope [Treasurer]
David Hope became the first full-time Executive Director of The AFC in 1995. David is proud to be part of the The AFC leadership team that received a Gemini Special Award for exceptional service to the Canadian television industry in 2011. Additionally, during his time at The AFC, the organization was recognized by the Toronto theatre community with a special Honorary Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding contributions to the performing arts industry in Canada, a Betty Mitchell Award presented on behalf of the Calgary theatre community, honorary membership in the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology and a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association Award of Distinction. Prior to joining The AFC David was Development Co-ordinator for the Arts Foundation of Greater Toronto (now the Toronto Arts Foundation). His background includes work in campus and community radio and as a volunteer with Canadian Crossroads International in Côte d’Ivoire. He has also been a mediator and trainer with St. Stephen’s Community House Conflict Resolution Service in Toronto. David is a founding board member of the Canadian Artists Network, a board member of Young Voices Toronto Childrens’ Choir, an active volunteer with Scouts Canada, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. David lives with his wife and two children in Toronto.
Megan Bansil
Megan is a creative and impassioned leader in arts, education and non-profit sectors with over a decade of experience supporting innovation, community engagement and inclusive growth. Currently serving as Director of Programming, Services & Outreach at Applaud – People in Public Service, Megan designs and leads strategic initiatives that align programming, member services and DEIA-driven outcomes, always with a human-centred approach and focus that champion equity, innovation, and sustainable community impact. In earlier roles with Artscape and Redux Contemporary Art Center, Megan developed and scaled community-centred arts and education programs, managed budgets and teams, and advanced creative engagement across age groups. With this experience demonstrating long held commitment to fostering creative engagement and advancing accessible arts programming, and today an accomplished educator and practicing multidisciplinary artist holding advanced degrees in Illustration and Education, Megan brings both artistic insight and organizational strategy to the Board, and looks forward to contributing to the network’s mission of strengthening Canada’s arts ecosystem and supporting Canada’s senior artists.
Michael Buchholz
Michael is an accomplished business leader with verifiable success growing both start-ups and Fortune 500 technology companies in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.
His working career has allowed him to develop a broad range of experience in Management, Communications, Marketing and Business Development with some of the world’s most recognised technology brands. While this background has given Michael the opportunity to build his Go-To-Market skills in terms of managing Strategy and P&L, it has also allowed Michael to lead projects in Branding, Public Relations, Lead Generation, Channel Management, Product Marketing, Advertising, Web Development, Digital Engagement, Events Management and Content Development.
Throughout his career, Michael has generated a proven record of strategic thinking and achievement through leading either the Marketing function and/or Business Development areas of his organisation. His experience covers the full spectrum of stakeholders, having dealt with agencies, analysts, media, prospects, customers, channel partners, shareholders, senior executives and Boards.
Having also formed his own businesses and co-founded a couple more, Michael is entrepreneurial and highly motivated. He combines empathy, creativity and lateral thinking with strong technical knowledge & the personal ability to make things happen.
Tanya Dodaro
Tanya Dodaro is a television host, serial entrepreneur, and expert in branding and business consulting. With over 20 years of experience, she has founded and exited several businesses, including her latest venture, The ShePreneur, an online platform dedicated to supporting female founders with resources, education, and financing.
Tanya’s expertise spans multiple industries, from finance to lifestyle, where she’s collaborated with major brands like Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, and Air Canada. As a journalist, she has hosted and reported for CTV and Global Television, interviewing notable figures such as Jean Chrétien and Donald Trump.
Recipient of the WISE Award and author of Where Is Your Boat Headed?, Tanya inspires entrepreneurs with real-life stories and practical advice. She also mentors emerging business owners through Futurpreneur Canada and advises organizations like The Forge at McMaster University, Loyal Venture Capital, and Rise Helps at the Rotman School of Management. Through her work, she’s committed to guiding entrepreneurs on their journey to success.
Tanya specializes in strategic communications and public relations, helping businesses build thought leadership and craft compelling brand narratives.
Website: tanyadodaro.com
Instagram: @tanya.dodaro
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-dodaro-1126683/
Keith Martin Gordey
Following his acting training at the University of British Columbia and the National Theatre School of Canada, Keith has forged a four-decade career in film, television and stage as a performer, coach, teacher, writer and director, appearing in 30 some professional theatrical productions and over 70 film and television productions. Keith Martin Gordey currently serves as Vice President of ACTRA, Past President of UBCP/ACTRA, Past President of Western Gold Theatre (the only professional seniors theatre company in Canada). He serves on the board of the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, is a Past President of PAL Vancouver and a former Director of PAL Canada.
Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson is an actor, singer, and activist. His acting career includes countless marquee TV roles on hit shows such as Sullivan’s Crossing, North of 60, Shining Time Station, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Law & Order, Outlander, and Cardinal. Movie roles include Cold Pursuit, Deadfall, Mee-Shee: The Water Giant, and Grizzly Falls. The Essential Tom Jackson is a dazzling two-disc, 21-track retrospective spotlighting his inimitable talent as a folk-pop singer/songwriter of the highest order and an artist intrinsically linked to the world around him, both the real and the ethereal. Tom is also renowned for his extensive charitable work, including helming the long-running Huron Carole Christmas concert tours for Canadian food banks, plus multiple other initiatives benefiting disaster relief. With over $200 million in combined cash/in-kind value for food banks and disaster relief raised to date, it’s no wonder Tom, currently an Ambassador for the Red Cross, was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000 and promoted to Companion of the Order in 2020, and received the 2007 Juno and Gemini Humanitarian Awards, and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2014. http://tomjackson.ca/
Ann Kaplan
Dr. Ann Kaplan Mulholland is one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Toronto. Being corporate herself, she embodies the “unhousewife-housewife” – displaying her humorous antics and lack of tolerance for the intolerable weekly on SliceTv. In her “real” life, Dr. Kaplan works in Finance with a focus on consumer credit scoring (predictive scores for consumer loan risk). She founded iFinance, a North American consumer FinTech company – taking the Company from Start-up (1996) to one of the largest consumer finance Companies in Canada with loan applications exceeding $2B. Dr. Kaplan is regularly on the public speaking circuit, has written six books, is oft in the fashion scene promoting “positive social impact through fashion” … she unashamedly lives by the word “unscripted”. Recognized as The Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000, she also received the Award of Excellence for Canada as the recipient of the top honour, again, as The Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year fifteen years later. An award-winning businesswoman (she has received over forty international and national awards), author (4 books), popular speaker, and media personality, Dr. Kaplan has hosted television shows including Global’s NYtv, The Ultimate Makeover, and CosmedicTv. Because of her passion for business, Dr. Kaplan is frequently seen on the lecture circuit – discussing viewpoints on bank regulation, credit lending, entrepreneurship, and is a keen motivational speaker. She holds a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), Masters In Business (MBA), Master in Science (MSc) and a Corporate Governance Designation (CD.D).
Louis-Alexandre Lanthier
Louis-Alexandre Lanthier recently joined PAA Advisory as Principal Advisor. Alex brings a mix expertise of corporate services, consultancy and political strategy. In the last 7 years, Alex worked with Government Affairs for a large transportation corporation and advised a large group of clients representing the different interests such as information technology, transport, infrastructure, trades, communication and health sectors. He is part of a small group of people who have more than 20 years’ experience on the political scene on Parliament Hill. He has worked with the public service, politicians, political parties, interest groups and stakeholders on a wide variety of political and policy issues. From 2007 to 2014, Alex served in the office of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. During his seven years with Mr. Trudeau, he was responsible for the overall management of the Ottawa and Montreal offices, including managing the office budget and staff as well as acted as a media liaison and spokesperson (always in both official languages). Alex and his husband are the proud adoptive parents of a wonderful son.
Dan Lyon
Dan Lyon is an executive producer whose prior roles include actor, publicist for a ballet company, game inventor, theatrical producer, entertainment lawyer and film/tv distribution executive. From 2005 through 2020, he served as Telefilm Canada’s Regional Feature Film Executive for Ontario & Nunavut. Over 150 feature films have been financed, produced and released under his guidance. The first project he championed upon joining Telefilm was “Away From Her”, which received two Academy Award nominations. Previously an entertainment lawyer at Goodmans, Dan joined Astral Bellevue Pathe Inc. and ultimately became Executive Vice-President, Distribution for Astral and its successor companies Coscient, Motion and TVA. As a distributor, Dan was awarded the Golden Reel for the highest-grossing feature “The Art of War” and was the first independent buyer in the world (at the screenplay stage) for Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist” which went on to win the Palme D’Or. Credits as executive producer for his indie company Dandelion Entertainment include Jacob Tierney’s debut feature “Twist” and “Everything’s Gone Green” written by Douglas Coupland. Additional awards include a Peabody, for “The Interrogation of Michael Crowe”. Dan is a produced playwright – his most recent play “The Great Conway Sideshow” received a sold-out staged reading in late 2019 starring Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath. He is co-author of the book PUBLIC STRATEGY AND MOTION PICTURES published by the Ontario Economic Council. Dan’s charitable activities include several terms as vice-president of the Board of the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL Toronto), and current president of Performing Arts FutureCare.
Joan Pierre
Joan Pierre has had a multi-faceted career encompassing administrative management and consulting in the public and private sectors; event planning and management; marketing and communications; and artistic and creative direction. She has played a leadership role in the design, planning and implementation events such as Caribana, the African Heritage Music Festival (New Orleans), Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games – Cuttin’ Style Caribbean Fashion; Atlanta Music Festival – Atlanta; Urban Aids Concert – Toronto; and The African Canadian Achievement Awards. Pierre spent many years at Bell Canada in supervisory and management positions, and has also developed a certificate program in Event Planning and Event Management at York University. Presently she has joined the Executive team at Amnesty International Canada. Articles and Recognition: Essence Magazine, New York, October 1993. Who is Who in Black Canada 2006, 2015 African Canadian Achievement Awards, Outstanding Service and Leadership Award, BBPA 2015 Women of Honour and 100 Accomplished BLACK Canadian Women 2018, to name a few.
Milly Ristvedt
Milly Ristvedt has maintained an art practice for more than 55 years and holds a B.A. (Honours) and M.A. in Art History from Queen’s University. Her paintings have been widely exhibited and can be found in major public collections in Canada and abroad, including the National Gallery of Canada, Canada Council Art Bank, Art Gallery of Toronto, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Winnipeg Art Gallery. She has curated exhibitions, taught at several universities in Canada, and sat on many provincial and national arts juries. Ms. Ristvedt was a founding member and first President of Vehicule Art Inc. Montreal, one of Canada’s first artist-run centres, and Vice-President of Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre in Kingston. She founded Sheffield Lake, an annual one-week workshop attended by professional women artists from across Canada and the U.S. that ran successfully from 1991 to 1998. She remains active within the local and regional community in which she lives on social, environmental and cultural issues, and was a member of the 2013 founding board of the KFLA Food Policy Council. Most recently she served as a Vice-President of the Governing Council of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, and was RCA Advocacy Representative to the Visual Arts Alliance from 2008-2015.
Emma Schmiedecke
Praised for her “huge musicality, depth of interpretation, and technical expertise” (Manhattan
International Music Competition), cellist Emma Schmiedecke has appeared at Ottawa Chamberfest,
the Banff Centre, the Centre d’Arts Orford, the Big Lake Chamber Music Festival, the Toronto
Summer Music Festival, Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, 21C New Music Festival, the Mostly
Modern Festival, and the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival, among others, and has performed
with such ensembles as the American Symphony Orchestra, the Hollywood Film Music Orchestra,
the American Composers Orchestra, the Da Capo Chamber Players, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane
Dance Company, the Canadian Composers Orchestra, the Canadian Golha Orchestra, the Orchestre de l’Agora, and Against the Grain Theatre Company. A dedicated educator, Dr. Schmiedecke is a lecturer in contemporary chamber music and strings repertoire at the University of Toronto, is a guest chamber music coach at The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, and has taught for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Music Education Program and Sistema Toronto. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto and holds degrees from the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Bard College Conservatory of Music, and Bard College.
Gigi Wong
Gigi Wong is an accomplished finance executive with over 30 years of experience in financial management, governance and strategy across a diverse range of public and private organizations. In her most recent role, she served for nine years as Chief Financial Officer of Hazelview Investments Inc., a Canadian real estate investment management and development company with investments across North America. Prior to that, Gigi held CFO positions at Timbercreek Financial, a TSX-listed mortgage investment corporation, and GMP Investment Management, an alternative investment fund firm. She also brings extensive expertise in financial operations and risk management from senior roles at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Maple Leaf Foods, and the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Gigi has contributed to several not-for-profit boards, including the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, deepening her commitment to purpose-driven work and community impact.
Based in Toronto, Gigi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Financial and Economic studies from Western University and is both a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
