Joy is a media industry professional who passionately supports the development, production and exhibition of Canadian art and artists.

She previously worked as a broadcast and festival programmer at WTN (now W Network), CBC and Gimli Film Festival, and is an active volunteer with leadership roles on several community and non-profit boards and councils including The Winnipeg Foundation, The Forks Foundation and Manitoba’s Queen’s Counsel Advisory. She also currently serves as a civilian aide to The Honourable Janice C. Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.

Joy has a bachelor’s degree in radio and television arts from Ryerson University.

Listen to a podcast interview Joy did with Nolan Bicknell, host of the BeCause & Effect – The Winnipeg Foundation’s podcast featuring longform interviews that take a deeper dive into why community champions are passionate about their causes. Joy talks about the importance of giving a hand up to others, bringing out their potential and how everyone has a story to tell.

+1-204-957-2993

joy.loewen@nsi-canada.ca

Oyinkansola first came to the National Screen Institute as an RBC Career Launch Program associate on secondment in September 2020.

She is now the programs and operations administrator where she provides operational support to all National Screen Institute staff and administrative support to program managers for the successful delivery of NSI programs.

Oyinkansola holds a BA in psychology and philosophy from the University of Manitoba. She is a strong advocate for members of minority communities and looks to create opportunities for people in spaces where they feel like they don’t belong.

She loves exploring new ways to express herself creatively. A few skills she has picked up along the way are crocheting, sewing, photography and digital art. Who knows what’s next?

oyin.bolaji-idowu@nsi-canada.ca

An alumna of CBC New Indigenous Voices 2012, Cheyenne values the thread of connective storytelling within the Indigenous screen industry through the sharing of traditional teachings, while encouraging a collective healing.

cheyenne.bruneau@nsi-canada.ca

Jessica has built a successful career as a film and television producer and production manager since transitioning from her role in front of the camera as an actor to behind the scenes over 10 years ago.

She has extensive experience managing televised live events, including the Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards and Indigenous Day Live. She was an associate producer on the award-winning We Were Children for the National Film Board and produced the short films Platypus (dir. Trevor Kristjanson) which received funding from BravoFact and Tides (dir. Rowan Grey) which received funding from Harold Greenberg Fund.

In her spare time, she and her dog Pepper are a volunteer St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog team.

jessica.gibson@nsi-canada.ca

Julie got her start in film and television on The Adventures of Shirley Holmes in 1998. In 2005 she partnered in iSplice Films where she has worked as editor, producer, post-production supervisor and descriptive video service provider for the last 25 years.

Julie has been a film educator through the National Film Board of Canada, Winnipeg Film Group and CBC New Indigenous Voices since 2004.

In 2017 Julie was nominated by the National Screen Institute for the Winnipeg Arts Council Making a Mark award before producing an eight-part animated series titled The Seven Sacred Laws for the 2021 Manitoba 150 celebrations.

Julie is a DGC Manitoba member and sits on several film advisory committees including Telefilm and Yorkton Short Film Festival. She was previously chair of Winnipeg Film Group and currently sits on the board of Jazz Winnipeg.

+1-204-981-4356

julie.hackett@nsi-canada.ca

Brit gal Liz has worked at the National Screen Institute since arriving in Canada in 2003.

As director of operations, Liz works to ensure efficient and effective workflow within the organization.

Using her communication and creative skill set, Liz is responsible for the development and evaluation of training initiatives, internal communication systems, budgets and overseeing staff and new hires to create growth and equity.

She’s been named one of the world’s top 125 fearless female bloggers, has been a speaker on social media, moderated panel discussions, juried the Canadian Weblog Awards and, in 2013, was nominated for a Women of Distinction award for her online work.

In a previous life, Liz was a publicist, marketing and communications manager, magazine editor and freelance writer covering topics from Madonna’s latest album to bio-technology.

+1-204-957-8480

liz.hover@nsi-canada.ca

Wendy came to the National Screen Institute as a Features First participant in 2001 to develop her film On the Corner

The film went on to win many international awards including: Special Prize of the Jury at Mannheim, Heidelberg International Film Festival; Golden Moon of Valencia, Cinema Jove; Best Western Canadian Film, Vancouver International Film Festival; Canada’s Top 10; and in 2003, Best Canadian Film at Whistler Film Festival.

Wendy has worked with the National Screen Institute throughout her career mentoring over 19 teams through various programs such as TELUS STORYHIVE and NSI IndigiDocs.

Wendy passionately supports the development of Canadian filmmakers and considers herself to be a lifelong learner.

Wendy is an active member in the Directors Guild of Canada and past treasurer of Women in Film and Television Vancouver.

In her spare time Wendy mentors underprivileged youth and volunteers for Recovery Day Calgary, which she co-founded in 2013 to build awareness, challenge societal stigma and celebrate the role recovery plays in improving the lives of individuals, families and communities.

whyman@nsi-canada.ca

Ursula has been with the National Screen Institute since 2004 and is the senior programs manager.

She is currently working on the EAVE On Demand Access Program and NSI New Northern Voices. She also oversees the mentorship, development and delivery of projects for TELUS STORYHIVE.

In 2013 Ursula was honoured to receive the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Circle of Inspiration Award along with colleagues Lisa Meeches and Melissa Kajpust for their contribution to CBC New Indigenous Voices. In 2019, Ursula was nominated for the Winnipeg Arts Council Making a Difference award which celebrates contributions to the growth and development of the arts in Winnipeg.

Instrumental in helping the National Screen Institute develop and deliver culturally sensitive film and television training to emerging Indigenous content creators, Ursula previously managed CBC New Indigenous Voices, NSI IndigiDocs and NSI Aboriginal Journalism. She coordinated NSI Global Marketing, NSI Totally Television, NSI Aboriginal Cultural Trade Initiative and NSI Pitch to Win! Ursula is also secretary to the NSI Board of Directors.

+1-204-957-8482

ursula.lawson@nsi-canada.ca

As program manager, Sarah works across many of the National Screen Institute’s programs, helps run the day-to-day activities of CBC New Indigenous Voices and provides production and mentorship support for NSI New Northern Voices.

As program manager, Sarah works across many of the National Screen Institute’s programs, helps run the day-to-day activities of CBC New Indigenous Voices and provides production and mentorship support for NSI New Northern Voices.

Sarah is a multi-talented Indigenous woman, born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and registered to Long Plain First Nation. She is a filmmaker with extensive experience who is dedicated to her craft and has made multiple short films that have screened at North American festivals. She strives to create stories and to help others share their stories through the medium of filmmaking.

Sarah went from thinking filmmaking could only be a hobby to making it a full-time career for herself: as a production manager for various productions and working at the National Screen Institute.

She is also co-chair of the board of directors for WNDX Festival of Moving Images and chair of Winnipeg Film Group.

+1-204-250-6732

sarahs.yellowquill@nsi-canada.ca

As director, partner support Chris builds and maintains relationships with government and industry supporters and oversees the fulfillment of deliverables for all partners and the National Screen Institute.

Chris has been in communications for 24 years. She started at the National Screen Institute in 2003 and has had many roles within the organization including publicity, communications and business relations.

Previously Chris worked at the Women’s Television Network/W Network and City of Winnipeg.

She has a certificate in public relations from the University of Winnipeg, diploma from Creative Communications (journalism) at Red River College and a bachelor of education from the University of Manitoba.

Through Frontier College, a national literacy organization, she volunteers at English Café helping new Canadian adults practice their English. She was a member of Film Training Manitoba’s board of directors from 2012 to 2018.

Chris is known in the office as the ‘NSI App’ for her encyclopedic memory of all things National Screen Institute. She can also prove that all roads lead to the Olympics or figure skating. Seriously, ask her …

+1-204-957-2998

chris.vajcner@nsi-canada.ca

Rachel joined the National Screen Institute in October 2020 through the Canada Summer Jobs initiative as alumni outreach coordinator. In 2022, Rachel’s role was expanded and she became the outreach and engagement lead.

As part of the communications team, Rachel is responsible for sharing the success of the National Screen Institute and alumni with the world. She creates digital media content, runs the National Screen Institute social media channels and interviews alumni for the Focal Point blog series.

Rachel is a graduate of the creative communications program at Red River College in Winnipeg. Upon graduating in 2020, she received the Dawna Friesen Global News Award For Journalism for her skills in broadcast journalism and media production.

Rachel was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia.

rachel.young@nsi-canada.ca