2014 Jury

Mark Childs
Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung
Samsung Canada

An inspiring marketer whose strategic led breakthrough innovation and business growth internationally, Mark understands how to build vital brands that resonate with Canadian consumers.
As Samsung Electronic Canada Inc.’s first Chief Marketing Officer, Mark leads the organization’s strategic brand and marketing initiatives, overseeing the Brand Marketing, Retail Experience, Public Relations, Marketing Communications and Online/Social Media teams.
Prior to joining Samsung, Mark was Vice-President of Marketing at Campbell Company of Canada. His strategic leadership and insight led to Campbell category vitality, a CSR refreshed unique brand identity, and a highly engaged team. Known for his marketing foresight and passion, Mark contributed to the company’s Canadian Senior Leadership and Global Marketing Excellence team.
Recognized as an inspirational team leader, Mark actively cultivates marketing talent and ‘best practice’ within the industry. He champions the Canada Young Marketers initiative, mentoring the community and Cannes Lions teams to two consecutive bronze wins. He has consistently contributed professionally to the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), the Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) Children’s Advertising Commitment committee, Enactus Canada and was Creative Chair at Concerned Children's Advertisers.
A role model in the LGBTA community, Mark pioneered the launch of PFLAG Canada’s 2012 awareness campaign while volunteering for the organization, winning a Cannes Lion award. He is currently Board Advisor to Out on Bay Street, an organization which provides resources and opportunities for students and young professionals.
Originally from the U.K., Mark attended Groupe ESC Business School in Reims, France, following his studies at Queen Mary’s College in England. He is passionate about yoga, kayaking, movies and food.

Catherine MacLeod
Senior VP, Specialty Channels & Bell Media Production
Bell Media Inc.

As Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Catherine MacLeod is responsible for the brand and programming strategies across all of Bell Media’s non-sports specialty assets. In this capacity, MacLeod maximizes acquisition opportunities, secures strategic deals with studios, and negotiates network content rights across all platforms. MacLeod also serves on Bell Media’s Programming Council, which focuses on the development and selection of hit programming.

MacLeod works with senior management in the analysis and negotiation of new business opportunities and other strategic initiatives, while driving new revenue opportunities, leading brand strategies, and expanding efficiencies across Bell Media’s specialty assets. MacLeod also oversees Sympatico.ca as well as the majority of non-sports specialty channel websites, and the production of original, digital video content. MacLeod’s extensive experience with online websites, brand strategy, and original programming allow her to consolidate Bell Media’s digital content approach and focus on delivering the best content online.  

MacLeod has been with Bell Media since 2000. Most recently, she was Vice-President, Business and Legal Affairs. In this capacity, MacLeod provided business and legal support for the acquisition and creation of programming for all Bell Media platforms, with specific responsibility for specialty television, music-related content and in-house productions. MacLeod began her broadcasting career in 1997 in affiliate relations at Canwest Global, eventually holding the position of Legal Counsel, providing business and legal advice to Canwest’s conventional and specialty television properties.

Steve Mykolyn
Chief Brand Officer
TAXI

Steve joined TAXI in 2001 as Creative Director of Interactive and Design. Always looking forward, he focused on developing the integration model at TAXI in anticipation of massive changes to the communications industry. Today, TAXI is recognized globally for its ability to seamlessly combine advertising, interactive, and design under one roof. His relentless ongoing pursuit of big ideas has resulted in effective, award-winning campaigns for brands large and small, while being recognized at Cannes, The One Show, the D&AD Awards, and Communication Arts. TAXI was named Canada's Agency of the Decade in 2010 by Strategy magazine.

In his current role as Chief Brand Officer, Steve is responsible for overseeing the TAXI brand, with an emphasis on thought leadership as it pertains to the industry.

Steve's passion for words and images has also come to life in books and film. He wrote and directed El Dia La Noche Y Los Muertos, an award-winning documentary about Mexico's Day of the Dead Festival. Steve’s books include Amusing World for photographer Russell Monk, which he wrote and designed, as well as Metal Leather Flesh, an exploration of motorcycle culture. In 2008, he was co-curator of the Canadian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale for Architecture.

Lauren Richards
Principal
Lauren Richards

Lauren is now fulfilling her entrepreneurial aspirations with the launch of her media consultancy Pollin8. At Pollin8 she specializes in connecting clients & agencies and buyers & sellers and any and all to innovative media thinking.
Her credentials in inspiring teams and creating fresh media approaches are considerable:
Led the Global Product Group for The Starcom MediaVest Group (the team responsible for determining and directing best global product for sharing, promoting and entering in international awards).
Is the only Canadian media professional to judge The Cannes Lions twice and is a multiple Lion winner herself.
Has started the two renown media innovation awards in Canada, with their respective publications - The Media Innovation Awards (2000) and The Atomic Awards (2011).
Has been named as an Internationalist Innovator of the Year (2009) and Media Director of the Year by Strategy Magazine.
Has judged and chaired The Internationalist’s global awards.
A proponent of a great challenge, Lauren enjoyed leading the Starcom MediaVest Group through a turnaround from 2006-2010. During this period revenue tripled, profitability quadrupled and SMG became Agency of the Year twice and narrowly missed a third time.
Prior to this period, Lauren spent eighteen years of her career at Cossette Media where she thrived in the entrepreneurial environment and helped lead the company through tremendous growth and great media awards success becoming the only top ranked media independent in the GUNN Report of Creativity.

Mark Bishop
Co CEO & Executive Producer
marblemedia

Mark Bishop is Co-CEO and Executive Producer of marblemedia. Mark has a strategic responsibility to oversee the company’s growth and management of all divisional and corporate undertakings including, distribution and sales (Distribution360), finance, digital media and new business ventures.

Having founded the company with business partner Matt Hornburg over a decade ago, Mark is an accomplished entrepreneur and brand builder who has produced strong marblemedia properties for companies such as Corus Entertainment, Astral Media, CBC, TVO, Nickelodeon, The Walt Disney Company and The Jim Henson Company.

A champion of the independent development and production screen-based industries, Mark is the Vice-Chair of the CMPA Board (Canadian Media Production Association), past-Chair and Executive Board Committee member of Interactive Ontario, Co-Chair of the IDM Digital Working Group for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and is a member of the Kids Help Phone Advisory Committee. Mark also lends his time to various universities as a guest lecturer and acts as a curriculum advisor at Centennial College, OCAD University and Ryerson University.

Mark and marblemedia have been recognized as a Next Generation Producer by The Hollywood Reporter, won the Lions Gate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award and was celebrated as Producer of the Year by the Canadian New Media Awards. The company remains focused on innovative content creation and distribution for television and digital media with a commitment to telling stories that entertain and engage audiences across all platforms.

Lucile Bousquet
Sr Director Marketing & Communications
Ubisoft

Lucile Bousquet is Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, overseeing the Canadian marketing and communication strategies for all brands for Ubisoft Entertainment. Ms. Bousquet excels in directing targeted 360 marketing initiatives that have proven to be both strong performing and expertly integrated in market.  She has developed her expertise in marketing and communication through campaigns targeting  young adults, particularly around gamification tactics, social media and digital and mobile strategies.

A 15-year veteran in the video game industry, Ms. Bousquet held marketing positions at Atari and Vivendi-Universal prior to joining Ubisoft. Ms. Bousquet holds a bachelor’s degree from École de Commerce, Paris with a major in Marketing.

Sean Buckley
Executive Producer & Founder
Buck Productions

Sean Buckley is a force. To have all of Sean’s success, he needs to be a force. He and his company, Buck Productions, are a rare example of a production house with success in branded content, feature films, television, commercials, and documentaries. Most recently, Sean has taken on Creative Director roles with numerous companies where he oversees all brand creative.

 Sean’s has a strong interest and impressive background in branded content projects. These include first-to-market formats, such as CBC’s The 2008 Mitsubishi City Chase, the first branded content television series for a major Canadian network, and last year’s web series Canada’s Best Beauty Talent for Rogers Media and L’Oreal Paris, hosted by Supermodel Coco Rocha.

Recently Sean and Buck worked on The Privileged, a feature film starring Sam Trammell (True Blood) and three television shows – City’s The Project: Guatemala, Travel + Escape’s Real Family Vacations, and a MTV Canada’s McMorris & McMorris.

Paul Burns
VP Digital Media
Shaw Media

Paul Burns oversees the development of fully integrated, multi-platform strategies for current and future digital media initiatives across all of Shaw’s business units. Previously, he managed all aspects of digital products and strategy related to Shaw Media’s conventional and specialty channels.

Prior to joining Shaw Media, Paul was the Director of Mobile, IPTV, Broadband for Sympatico/MSN. He also led the global digital marketing team for Nokia Inc. and has worked for a variety of new media start ups and dotcom's.

Paul is a member of the Banff World Media Festival board, IAB Emerging Platforms Committee, a Canadian New Media Awards Multi-Platform Jury Committee, Interactive Ontario’s Multi-Platform Steering Committee, and an active participant in the Digital Economy Working Group with the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission.

Sophie Chesters
Country Marketing Manager
Google

As Google's Country Marketing Manager Sophie Chesters leads marketing for the consumer and B2B programs in Canada. She believes that technology is a force for good -- and that we can enhance our work and home lives through the connections and possibilities we have right at our fingertips today. She’s spent 5 years with Google, previously leading marketing for Google Analytics from California where she launched the first enterprise edition and activated the largest, most active social community in this sphere.

Her earlier career gave her a passion for content and high quality online experiences as she launched and managed portfolios of media brands at Ziff-Davis and VNU Business Media. Today, as the Marketing Manager for Canada she’s on a mission to bring the best of Google to Canada and help every business get the help they need to thrive online. 

Joanne Forrester
Vice President Marketing
Boston Pizza

Joanne started her career in Vancouver in retail marketing, working with Unipharm Wholesale Drugs, managing the flyer program for 200+ drug store chains including Peoples Drug Mart and Medicine Centres. She joined Boston Pizza International Inc. in 1998 as National Marketing Manager, progressing through the role of Director of Marketing into her current mandate of Vice-President, Marketing which she has held since 2007.

Joanne is responsible for the strategic direction of marketing initiatives and ensuring the Boston Pizza brand maintains its position as Canada’s number one casual dining concept in Canada. She has a proven track record in delivering integrated brand campaigns that not only inspire those she works with but that drive industry leading business results.

Joanne is a board member with Daily Bread Food Bank Toronto, and is passionate about running and snowshoe racing and cooking.

Evan Jones
Creative Director & Producer
Stitch Media

Evan Jones is the founder of Stitch Media, an interactive media production services company which tells stories using new technology and timeless techniques. A two-time Emmy Award winner, Evan’s work combines television, radio, web, mobile, games & the real world and were recognized in the 'Top 10 New Media Groundbreakers' by the Bell Fund. Stitch Media projects range from interactive documentary (‘Best in Electronic Culture’ by the UNESCO World Summit) to branded entertainment (‘Best in Digital Marketing’ by the Digi Awards). Evan has guest lectured on the art & business of interactive story internationally at the Canadian Film Centre, the Australian Film, Television & Radio School and the University of Southern California. International clients include Microsoft, Disney, FOX, Discovery, CBC, Bell & The Movie Network.

Stephen Jurisic
Executive Creative Director & Partner
john st.

Before starting john st. in 2001, Stephen Jurisic carved out an illustrious career working at Saatchi, Bozell, Ammirati Puris and McCann Erickson. He is multi awarded locally and internationally at the Webby Awards, London Internationals, TED: Ads worth spreading, Communication Arts, ADCC, D&AD, Cannes Lions and The One Show. Stephen has championed john st.'s emergence as a digital leader in social, interactive and mobile. He has chaired the Marketing Awards, The Bessies, Strategy Magazine's Shift Disturbers conference, and has also served on the jury for Cannes Lions.
Stephen loves, in no particular order, his son, his dog, batman comic books, and his wife Eva.

Gaye McDonald
Director of Client Marketing
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

As Director of Client Marketing for CBC’s Revenue Group for the past three years, Gaye McDonald leads the creative business team responsible for creating opportunities to link advertiser brands with CBC’s programming brands – from Entertainment to Sports to News. The awards winning team acts as liaison between Programming and Sales and Clients, and utilizes CBC’s unique Canadian content to drive revenue and business results for CBC and its customers through brand integration into content/features, custom content production and branded entertainment.
Known as an early advocate of Branded Entertainment, McDonald spent another ten years at CBC earlier on as Manager of Corporate Partnership, during which time she introduced CBC’s first-ever branded content through the integration of two newly launched products - Swiffer and Febreze - into the CBC daily prime-time soap, Riverdale.
Between her tours of duty at CBC, McDonald spent two years at the helm of her own company Branded Entertainment Management and four years as Vice President of then-CanWest’s Marketing Ventures multi-asset integrated business unit.

Sheri Metcalfe
Senior VP, Co-Managing Director
Jungle Media

Sheri has over 20 years of experience as a media practitioner, running high-profile CPG and Retail clients such as Mondelez Confectionery (formerly Cadbury) and IKEA. Sheri’s driving passion in the business is to develop outstanding results for clients rooted in strong consumer insights. Sheri was instrumental in launching Jungle Media just 3 years ago (a sister company of Cossette).

Breakthrough media ideas and impactful results drive the purpose of Jungle Media. The proof is winning industry recognition at awards shows such as Cannes Festival of Advertising, Canada’s MIA Awards, and the EFFIES among others.

Along with leading Jungle into winning the 2012 Strategy Magazine Media Agency of the Year, Sheri was also recognized as Strategy Magazine’s 2010 Media Director of the year. She is a very active participant within the industry – serving on the CMDC and PMB and Board of Directors among others.

James Milward
Executive Producer & Founder
Secret Location

James Milward is the founder of the Emmy® Award-winning interactive agency, Secret Location, and a regular speaker on the merging worlds of digital advertising, interactive entertainment, and branded content. In just five short years, James has grown Secret Location into a bustling agency and team of thirty with a stellar reputation as one of the top digital entertainment agencies in the world. Secret Location develops; not only brand and entertainment work, but also creates it own original venture-funded technology IP. James worked extensively in TV commercial production and documentary film, prior to defecting to the dark arts of interactive.

Kirstine Stewart
Head of Canada
Twitter Canada

Kirstine is responsible for Canadian operations at Twitter, including its advertising business and partnerships. Prior to joining Twitter in May 2013, Kirstine was the executive vice-president of CBC’s English services, CBC/Radio-Canada, where she oversaw CBC’s English radio and audio, television and digital operations. Earlier, she was senior vice-president of programming for Alliance Atlantis where she headed up brands HGTV, Food Network, National Geographic, BBCCanada and others.

Kirstine earned a bachelors degree from the University of Toronto, and is a graduate of the Global Leadership in the 21st Century program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Most recently, Playback Magazine named Kirstine their Person of the Year 2012, and Strategy Magazine recognized her leadership in taking CBC to Brand of the Year 2012. She is @kirstinestewart on Twitter.

Chris Unwin
Executive Director
Free Agency

Chris is the founder of Free Agency, a social content studio that produces digital entertainment designed for our social feed-powered culture. The studio's progressive approach to content co-creation helps premium brands evolve into publishers, in collaboration with a network of opinion leaders in music, fashion, and culture.

Free Agency has developed award-winning programming with leading brands such as MTV, Ford, SONY, Mountain Dew and Blackberry. Past programs include - Ford Fiesta's#IN24 for MTV, BlackBerry'sLive/Workfor The Loop, and Sony Xperia'sMade of ImaginationandInstamissions for MTV.

Chris is a street-level, digitally savvy entrepreneur and content strategist with a track record for connecting brands with audiences amidst a rapidly evolving media landscape. With nearly a decade of experience in branded digital content, Chris has helped leading advertisers and media brands like MuchMusic and MTV create industry-leading co-branded interactive concerts, UGC campaigns, and web series.

Katie Wright
Director of Marketing
Moosehead Breweries

Katie joined Moosehead, Canada’s oldest independent brewery in 2009 is responsible for their flagship portfolio of brands that includes, Moosehead Lager, James Ready, Cracked Canoe & Boundary Ale. Her current role focuses on strategic leadership, marketing initiatives and product innovation in North America for the brewery, and allows her to be part of many exciting projects. Previous to that she was focused on new business development in social media marketing for Matchstick, working with clients such as Carlsberg, Diageo, Procter & Gamble and L’Oreal.