written by Andrew Tracy, PLAYBACK
Women in Film & Television Toronto (WIFT+ Toronto) and the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto have welcomed new members to their boards of directors for the 20206-27 term, as well as new leadership for the WIFT+ Toronto board.
Elections for the boards were held at the organizations’ joint annual general meeting, which took place at the offices of Corus Entertainment in Toronto on Tuesday (April 28).
Jennifer Chen, head of studios and VP of content at Channel Zero, was elected as the organization’s new board chair, after previously serving as vice-chair. She succeeds Barbara Escoto, former VP of content platforms for Bell Media, who stepped down as chair and retired from the WIFT+ Toronto board.
Also newly elected to the board's leadership is Victoria Valius, VP, marketing and co-country manager for Sony Pictures Entertainment Canada. Valius has been named co-vice-chair alongside the returning vice-chair, NBCUniversal VP of sales and distribution Karthiga Ratnasabapathy.
Other officers and board members re-elected for the 2026-27 term are secretary Sara Chan, Corus Entertainment VP and associate general counsel; treasurer Judy Adam, former CFO at Boat Rocker Media; independent consultant Tracy Alves; Catalyst founder and CEO Julie Bristow; and screenwriter and filmmaker Nicole Chrysostom-Murray.
Rounding out the returning board members are Laura Heath Potter, head of communications, Canada, Paramount Streaming: Julie Johnson, SVP, marketing and content distribution for Anthem Sports and Entertainment; Sara McLaren, director, communications and partnerships at Bell Media; writer and producer Skye R. Regan; and Stephanie Wilson Chapin, YouTube's strategic partner lead, TV and film, news and sports.
In addition to Escoto, National Bank of Canada AVP Anne Schneerer also retired from the WIFT + Toronto board.
The elections for the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto board of directors saw the appointment of one new member - producer and VFX producer-supervisor Lisa Sepp Wilson - and the departure of another, Archetypes & Effects founder Laura Mingail.
Wilson joins the Foundation's returning board members, which include chair Kimberley Ball, chief content and communications officer at Super Channel; vice-chair Tamara Shannon, SVP, media, NBCUniversal; secretary Asis Sethi, CEO and founder of Fly Away Films; and treasurer Michelle Plaskon, VP, finance and administration, Brunico Communications.
Also elected for another term are Rhonda Britton, senior manager of talent acquisition at Cineplex; Spin Master SVP Laura Clunie; and Sue Haas, chief growth officer for Numeris and NLogic.
“We're excited to welcome Karla Bobadilla and Vanessa Case to the WIFT+ board, and Lisa Sepp-Wilson to the Foundation board, and to continue working alongside our returning members," said WIFT+ Toronto executive director Karen Bruce in a Statement. Their expertise further strengthens underrepresented areas of the industry across our board, and will play a crucial role in advancing our mission.
Pictured (L-R): Karla Bobadilla, Vanessa Case, Lisa Sepp-Wilson
