Paul Hoffert (Chair) is a former President of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, former Chair of the Ontario Arts Council, and currently on the faculties of York University and Harvard University. He is the author of three best-selling books about the Information Age and a textbook for composing soundtracks to videogames and websites. Mr. Hoffert received the Pixel award in 2001 as Canada’s New Media Visionary. He was inducted into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 for his success with Lighthouse, winner of four successive Juno Awards as Canada’s top rock band. [See www.paulhoffert.ca]
Lori Rosenberg (Vice-Chair): Director, Network Programming, for the Bell Residential Services group, has spent the past twenty years in the launch, programming and distribution of specialty and broadcast television networks. She was a member of the start-up team for Showcase Television and History Television, led the creation of two Corus Entertainment digital specialty channels, and oversaw programming, production and publicity for over-the-air broadcast station CHCH as part of the WIC network. Lori has managed the analysis of English language projects for the Canadian Television Fund; and has worked for Canada’s largest distributor of television and theatrical programming, a co-venture of Astral Communications, Columbia Tri-Star and Twentieth Century Fox.
Currently, she is responsible for the linear channel content relationships for Bell’s satellite, terrestrial and television value-add on demand / live-streaming distribution platforms.
Martin Ceré oversees the operations and editorial content of the French portal of Sympatico.ca in Quebec. The portal reaches out to a diversified and very large scale public with more than 4 million Internet users in Quebec. In the past years, Martin looked after the overhaul of the portal. He oversaw the launch of several new verticals and ensured the alignment of several strategic initiatives. His group also manages the activities of media creativity turning to good account the long range of the site and the wealth of its contents, thereby developing diverse opportunities for the announcers of the portal. Martin plays a leading role in the acquisition of projects and distribution of contents multiplatform for Bell in Quebec. Holder of a MBA from HEC Montreal, Martin has been working in the field of the new media for more than 10 years. He joined Bell in the stride of several start ups of Web projects as the business portal Bellzinc.ca, the group Bell Interactif and the site Bell.ca.
Barry Chapman is currently Vice-President Regulatory Affairs, BCE Inc. He has held this position since 1998. In this position he has responsibility for the regulatory functions related to Bell Mobility, Bell TV and other related issues. Previously he was Executive Director of Convergence at Stentor Resource Centre Inc. In this capacity he had responsibility for the regulatory and strategic planning functions related to the Broadcasting sector for Stentor.
Previously, Mr. Chapman held senior positions in the Cable Television industry as Vice President and General Manager of Maclean Hunter Cable TV and Vice President of Finance for Ottawa Cablevision. He has also held senior level finance positions in the construction and high tech sectors.
He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for The Ontario Cable Television Association, Advanced Broadcasting Systems of Canada (ABSOC), Treasurer of Media Awareness network, President’s Alumni Council for Carleton University, Chair of the Carleton University Parent’s Alumni Campaign and current Board Member of Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) Inc.
Mr. Chapman is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University.
Suzanne Guèvremont has been the General Manager of the NAD Centre (National Animation and Design Centre) since 1999. Before becoming General Manager she was Manager of Business Development from 1995 to 1999.
Her duties included the creation of a corporate training program, and with well known companies such as Softimage/AVID and Autodesk Media and Entertainment she established an Authorized Training program, thus allowing the NAD Centre to reach worldwide recognition. Suzanne has been a member of the board of Directors of the Alliance numeriQc between 2001 and 2005 (acting as President for the last two years). She was also a member of the boards of Directors of the Consortium multimedia CESAM (1995-2001), the Forum des Inforoutes et du Multimedia (FIM) (1999-2001) where she had a say in important matters regarding business and cultural growth of the Canadian and Quebec new digital markets.
Jacques Labelle has spent the past twenty-five years helping major Canadian advertisers build strong brands by creating outstanding multiplatform campaigns. He works with companies who are tapping into his expertise in production, new media and advertising. Prior to Alfred Communications, Mr. Labelle was Managing Partner of Ricochet Branded Content. He also served as Vice-President Creative Director for Cossette Communication Marketing, producing successful campaigns for such clients as Bell Canada, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Bank of Montreal and McDonald’s. His creative talent has been recognized by numerous awards, both in Canada and abroad.
Louise Lantagne was appointed Executive Director of Television for Radio-Canada in June 2008. She is responsible for all television programming and scheduling. She began at Radio-Canada in 1999 as the Head of Canadian Feature Films and then as the Director of the Feature Film and Drama department where she managed the development of in-house and independent production, followed by the position of Executive Director, Radio. From 1991 to 1999, she was a Project Manager at Sodec and then Manager of the Content Team where she was responsible for evaluating feature film projects, documentaries and television series and following up on their creative and business deliverables. She also contributed to the policies and programs of the Sodec. Prior to this, she was a practising lawyer and became a legal and political consultant for the Minister responsible for Women, and then consultant to the President of the Office des services de garde à l’enfance. Louise Lantagne was admitted to the Québec Bar (83-84), and also has a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Montreal (80-83) and a BA in French literature from McGill University (74-77) for which she received a Gold Medal from the Governor General of Canada. In addition, she has a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Montreal.
Ken Murphy is a broadcast executive with 25 years of experience in leadership in Canadian specialty television.
Ken is CEO and co-founder of High Fidelity HDTV Inc, a new specialty broadcaster focused on delivering attractive, original High Definition programming to Canadian and international audiences. High Fidelity HDTV Inc. operates TreasureHD in Canada, a new broadcast service celebrating the world of Cool People and their infinite passion for Art and Artifacts; and OasisHD exploring where nature programming meets the World of Art.
High Fidelity HDTV Inc. is developing several more HD broadcast services which it plans to launch in Canada in 2006 to better serve HD audiences via satellite, IPTV, digital cable and emerging portable media.
Prior to founding High Fidelity HDTV Inc. Ken was President of Discovery Channel, and was behind the development and growth of many successful digital channels and interactive media projects over the years.
Catherine Warren, President of FanTrust Entertainment Strategies, has led advances in mass media and new media since 1985, working in Canada and internationally. As an advisor to Fortune 500 corporations, major broadcasters, world-class tourist attractions, game corporations and advertising agencies, Catherine helps clients build new audiences and revenues through new technology and business strategies. The former COO of convergence software company Blue Zone, and European Bureau Chief of the computer magazine publishing house PCI, Catherine has published more than 25 books and magazine series for children and adults on science and computing as well as executive-produced 20 websites and interactive broadcast initiatives, including the Gemini Award-winning CTVnews.com. Canadian Women in New Media recognized Catherine as one of the nation’s top five female pioneers, and Chatelaine magazine featured her in their millennium cover story: “Heroines: 15 to Watch”.