Dr. Emilia King is an award-winning creator, educator and researcher with a focus on challenging the status quo in Canada’s media system. She has a unique profile that combines professional creative practice, including key roles in content production, media innovation and executive leadership, with cutting-edge research on media entrepreneurship, independent production, online series, and media policy. Emilia is Assistant Professor in Communication and Digital Media Studies at Ontario Tech University and the Director of Ontario Tech’s Creators4Change Studio. She is also the cofounder of end-to-end production company, Pink Moon Studio, which produces bold and distinctive storytelling through both its commercial and original content divisions. Prior to joining Ontario Tech, Emilia led Toronto Metropolitan University’s media innovation incubator, the Transmedia Zone where she mentored storytellers across mediums, including influencers, streamers, gamers, and filmmakers. She is also the former President of Web Series Canada.

Maude Isabelle Delagrave is a lawyer specializing in entertainment and literary law. In 2015, she opened her own practice on the strength of her background as a professor, artist’s agent, and vice-president of legal and commercial affairs in a television and movie production company. She assists a rich plethora of creatives in the implementation of their projects, day in and day out.  In 2023, Maude was appointed to be the representative for OLMCs (Official Language Minority Communities) on the IPF board, responsible for ensuring that the issues and reality of OLMCs are taken into consideration. And also since 2023, she co-founded the boutique law firm named Delaroza.

Joseph Cuyero is an entertainment lawyer based in Toronto, currently working as in-house counsel with Spin Master Entertainment. Prior to entering the wild world of animation and toys, he oversaw a wide variety of television and podcast projects as a lawyer at eOne and enjoyed stints in legal departments at TIFF and Cineplex. Outside his day job, Joseph previously served as a board member with both WebSeries Canada and the Ontario Bar Association’s entertainment law section. He remains a performer at heart, however, the decade he spent studying voice being what motivated him to join the industry and facilitate the ambitions of people who are far more creative than he is. Yet Joseph continues to perform occasionally, his most recent credits being with The Lawyer Show – an annual fundraiser supporting Toronto’s Nightwood Theatre.

Trainer, educator, consultant and Principal, The Optimal Pitch. Kevin has 30 years experience in screen-based media, having commissioned over 60 television series and having heard thousands of pitches! Kevin was previously Senior Vice-President, Programming for Astral Television Networks responsible for the acquisition and scheduling of content for HBO Canada, The Movie Network, TMN Encore, The Family Channel, Disney Junior Canada and Disney XD Canada. He joined Astral in 1995 as Vice-President, Programming for Family Channel and simultaneously served as Vice-President Programming for Teletoon where he participated in the licensing and launch of the network. Prior to that, he held positions at YTV Canada, Paragon International and Telefilm Canada.

Sophie Couture has accumulated over 15 years of experience in the fields of management, communications, and digital technologies, primarily within the cultural and creative industries. Passionate about digital culture and its many forms, she led Xn Québec, an association representing over 185 studios and professionals in digital creativity, from 2021 to 2023. Prior to this role, she served as the Associate Director, Digital at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), a museum and international research institution, and as the Director, Digital Content at PHI, a multidisciplinary cultural and artistic hub at the intersection of art, cinema, music, design, and technology. In 2024, Sophie shifts her focus to the tourism sector while continuing to strengthen her governance expertise. She serves on several boards of directors, including the Independent Production Fund (IPF), and is currently completing a university governance certification program to further enhance her strategic impact.