Virginia is an executive producer, producer and TV show creator best known for her work on the smash hit series Corner Gas as well as other award-winning series including InSecurity, renegadepress.com and Incredible Story Studio.

She is president of Vérité Films, a boutique production company committed to championing exceptional creative talent.

Vérité has won or been nominated for 114 national and international awards including an international Emmy, several Geminis and The Prix Jeunesse.

President Pelman Corp. + Creator Rights Co.

Brad is a senior content distribution specialist with over 25 experience.

Following years in traditional content distribution Brad has pivoted into consulting for creators and producers. Working with various companies and individual producers, Brad provides leadership and guidance in an effort to navigate the challenging environment getting story to screen, financially and creatively.

In addition to his dedicated service to the board and participants of the National Screen Institute, Brad also provides board advisory service to The Bell Fund and is a member of their programming committee.

Cheryl De Melo is a Chartered Professional Accountant with 18 years of expertise in overseeing a broad portfolio in finance, risk management and audit.

Cheryl has a solid understanding of financial and risk management challenges facing organizations and is known for delivery of solutions to improve operational effectiveness. Her strengths include attaining objectives on time and within budget and supporting management by making practical and effective recommendations to mitigate risks in order to achieve organizational objectives.

As a senior audit & risk management professional with a large Manitoba Crown corporation, Cheryl has identified risks for key business processes which impact the ability of the organization to meet objectives, and has developed and proposed recommendations to senior management to effectively mitigate the risks.

Cheryl is an innovative problem-solver, results oriented and recognized for finding practical solutions to a variety of challenges.

Cheryl has a strong interest in adding value to community service organizations through leadership, financial and risk management and continuous improvement.

Melanie is a First Nations woman from the Ojibway Nation.

Growing up in an underrepresented community, she has the unique life experience to give her the drive, ambition and perseverance to explore the power of change through storytelling.

Melanie is part of a team at WarnerMedia focused on building relationships with and opportunities for creators of all genders, abilities and identities from Canada’s underrepresented communities, including members of Indigenous, Black, and other racialized groups, creators with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ2+ and Francophone communities.

Prior to her role at WarnerMedia, she was executive in charge of production for CBC Drama overseeing projects in development and production including Heartland, Pure, The Secret Path and When Calls the Heart. Before that she was the manager of programming for Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) where she managed development and first- and second-window licencing for television and digital media projects commissioned from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories.

Melanie got her start in the industry through the NSI Aboriginal Youth Pilot Project (now CBC New Indigenous Voices).

Vera continues to strengthen APTN’s relationship with its viewers and audiences through direct communication with communities at a grassroots level.

Vera started out as a wordsmith of sorts. She graduated from Red River College with a journalism diploma and has nearly 25 years of experience in broadcasting.

She’s worn many hats at CTV and APTN as well as at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Previously Vera was the executive producer of APTN National News and director of news and current affairs.

Vera’s a proud member of Manitoba’s Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation and speaks Ojibway fluently.

Michael A. Levine is chairman of Westwood Creative Artists Ltd., a retired partner of Goodmans LLP, executive producer of various fiction and non-fiction films and television properties, and chairman of Bravo!FACT and Bravo!FACTUAL.

Carissa leads a diverse team of talented filmmakers, designers, photographers and digital developers who expertly represent the TELUS brand and tell stories about Canadian communities.

Prior to joining TELUS in 2006, Carissa worked in marketing for the Knowledge Network and the Open Learning Agency for 10 years, inspiring in her a lifelong love of community-based programming and continuous learning.

Carissa started out as a writer, but now channels her creative passion into supporting local artists, and finding and elevating new voices in storytelling.