Board of Directors
About NSI > Board of Directors
Brad Pelman (Co-Chair) | Alliance Films Inc. | Executive Vice President
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, one of Canada's leading filmed entertainment distributors, in 2005. His focus has always been on sales, marketing and the execution of distribution strategy.
"NSI training is vital to the development of storytellers because without their voice the diversity of the Canadian cultural experience would fail to find an audience."
Raja Khanna (Co-Chair) | GlassBOX Television Inc. | CEO
Seasoned digital media entrepreneur, founder Snap Media, co-founder QuickPlay Media and current CEO of GlassBOX Television Inc. Raja helps guide GlassBOX toward its goal of building an integrated cross-platform entertainment and lifestyle media company that speaks to and engages the modern consumer.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because of the breadth and diversity of Canadian voices and the incredible untapped talent that lies within our borders. NSI will help Canada uncover, develop and propel our next generation of great storytellers."
Christine Shipton (Vice Chair) | Shaw Media | Vice President, Original Content
Christine oversees all development and commissioning of Canadian original programming for the Shaw Media 19 specialty channels and for Global Television. A seasoned executive, Christine joined Shaw Media (then Canwest) in May 2005 after a variety of senior positions including with Blueprint Entertainment, W Network, Alliance Atlantis Television and CBC Television.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because they understand the creative process and the needs of the market place. It is important to identify one’s audience and NSI assists creators in focusing the talents accordingly."
Marlene Kendall (Finance Chair) | Manitoba Lotteries Corporation | Associate Director, Audit & Risk Management
Marlene provides assurance and consulting services to improve the effectiveness of risk management, internal controls and corporate governance. Extensive experience in operational audits, resulting in millions of dollars saved and enhanced customer service. She also trains and mentors executives and Boards on financial risk management and eliminating deficits.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because a compelling story can motivate people to re-assess their journey in life and alter their course of action to enhance their life experience."
Louise Clark (Programming Chair) | Lark Productions Inc.| President
An executive producer with over 25 years of experience in the film and TV industry including CTV's production executive on
Flashpoint,
Robson Arms and five seasons of
Corner Gas as well as on highly-rated documentaries and award-winning movie's of the week. Currently working with Force Four Productions and Paperny Films and on independent projects, her experience includes work with Rhombus Media, Atlantis Productions, TVOntario and the OFDC (OMDC) among others.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because storytelling is at the heart of every culture and our ability to creatively communicate with each other - even in the digital age. Because the mediums need the message."
Carole Vivier | MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC | CEO & Film Commissioner
During Carole’s 20 years with the agency she has stewarded the concept of a local film industry into the achievement of more than $120m in annual production representing indigenous, co-ventures and off shore productions. Carole has a reputation for having a keen eye for recognizing and supporting ground breaking projects.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because good stories can change the way we see one another. Through storytelling we're connected on a human level and able to see the beauty in each other’s experiences, regardless of our backgrounds or where we live."
Bruce Leslie | Winnipeg Free Press | Vice President, Marketing
Bruce has spent more than 25 years in media, government and corporate communications, with 10 years as a senior executive in the corporate office of Canwest Global Communications where he served as vice president, public and community relations. Bruce has been with the CBC, Government of Alberta and in private consulting practice in communications, public relations and marketing. He is currently the vice president of marketing at Canada’s largest independent newspaper, the
Winnipeg Free Press.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because it’s important that Canada’s entertainment industry have a national educational institution that reflects the diversity and expanse of the industry and the country. NSI’s unique approach to training Canada’s storytellers where they live and where they choose to tell their stories makes it indispensable to the growth of the industry."
Jean LaRose | Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) | CEO
APTN’s CEO since November 2002. Formerly communications director for Assembly of First Nations, he was a member of the advisory board that created APTN as the first Aboriginal TV network in the world. Jean has helped the network attain balanced budgets while increasing programming and successfully renewing and improving the broadcast licence in 2005.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because within the Aboriginal community, many stories remain to be told and they need to be told by our own Peoples. NSI has been an amazing partner in helping develop those storytellers for APTN and for the entire world to share in our stories."
Paul Gratton | First Weekend Club | Chair
Paul is the former vice-president of entertainment specialty channels for CHUM. He sits on the Board of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (was chair for four years), Board of the First Weekend Club and served as chair of the Board of the Canadian Television Fund.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because telling stories is what defines a country. It's a way of communicating values, of interpreting the world, of defining a people. Storytelling is even more important and potentially much richer in a multiple-mosaic country like Canada, a cultural quilt made up of many patches."
Norm Bolen | Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) | President & CEO
The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) - formerly CFTPA - represents Canada’s independent film, television and interactive producers. Norm is the former EVP, Content, for Alliance Atlantis Communications. Prior to joining Alliance Atlantis, Norm spent 21 years at CBC as a journalist and executive, and finally as head of Network Television Current Affairs. Norm is a current board member and past chair of the Banff World Television Festival and the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because human narratives are still at the core of media content despite the rapid changes that are transforming how people consume media."
Ron Suter | EVP | NBC Universal Television Distribution Canada | & EVP | Universal Studios Canada Inc.
Ron oversees all Canadian TV operations for NBC Universal Television Distribution and represents Universal Studios as a national leader.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because great films and great TV are solely dependent on a good story."
Michael A. Levine | Executive Vice Chairman | The Historica-Dominion Institute, and Chairman, Westwood Creative Artists
Michael is Chairman of Westwood Creative Artists; a former partner of Goodmans, LLP; Executive Producer of various fiction and non-fiction films and television properties, Executive Vice-Chairman of The Historica-Dominion Institute; Director of Roy Thomson Hall-Massey Hall; Director of the Institute of Canadian Citizenship; Chairman of Bravo!FACT.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because stories - in any medium - are the soul of a nation, from creation myths to contemporary situations, they reflect our values, our identities, our hopes and our terrors."
Bill Roberts | President/CEO | ZoomerMedia Limited, Television Division
Bill brings a wealth of experience in broadcasting and public, government and international affairs to ZoomerMedia. He was Secretary General of NABA; CAB's SVP, TV; TVOntario's Managing Director; and CRTC Senior Policy Analyst. He is a director of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and board member of Loyola Productions, L.A.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because the best story is a compelling witness to who we are, with often a wry twist on who we might become. As a country, no stories = no Canada."
Cindy Witten | Director General, English Program | National Film Board of Canada
Cindy is responsible for English-language programming in documentary, animation, alternative drama and new media. She oversees productions and co-productions with independent filmmakers, digital content creators and producers across Canada, through seven regional production centres as well as the Oscar®-winning Animation Studio.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because ... what can I say? It is everything."
Mary Powers | President | MPowers Communications
MPowers Communications specializes in strategic communications and brand management. Mary had a long and prominent career in broadcasting with CHUM Limited, where she directed all communications in both the domestic and international marketplace as well as investor relations for the publicly traded company. She then became SVP corporate communications for CTVglobemedia prior to prior to launching her own firm.
"NSI is committed to training storytellers because the world over, no matter the budget or the medium, it all starts with a good story."
Fred Fuchs | Riverside Entertainment | President
Fred has been an independent producer for many successful feature and television productions, beginning his career in the US where he was president of American Zoetrope, Francis Coppola's production company.
Moving to Canada in 2001, he worked at the CBC for four years as executive director of arts and entertainment. Now he is a freelance executive producer based in Toronto. His most recent projects are Camelot for CBC/Starz Entertainment/GK Films and The Transporter for HBO/Cinemax/Astral/Corus/LaGuardere.
"NSI is committed to training storytellers because storytelling is a vital part of any culture. Training the next generation of storytellers to work in all the various platforms available is a huge responsibility and NSI understands the importance of this role."
Marcia Martin | Television Consultant
Marcia is the senior vice president of creative content, commissioned and in-house programming for Glassbox Television and oversees all aspects of original content for bitetv, AUX TV and Travel & Escape channels. Marcia has held executive positions with ChumTelevision and CTV where she led the development and execution of in-house production as well as the management and launch of numerous successful specialty channels.
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NSI is committed to training storytellers because tell us a good story and we’re a captive audience and through NSI’s commitment to training tomorrow’s scriptwriters our industry will continue to grow and entertain."