Natalie Altmann

CEO, M6 - Métropole Télévision

Natalie Altmann joined M6 in 1997 where she heads the children’s programs department (M6 Kid). Amongst other responsibilities, she overseas co-productions and acquisitions of animated series, as well as the production of the in-house programs broadcast within the children’s slots. Since May 2003, she is also the executive in charge of M6 Studio, a M6 subsidiary production company, specialized in animated feature films. As such she produced the animated feature film Asterix and the Vikings, released in France in 2006.

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Speaking at Speed Pitching 2

Tuna Amobi

Senior Associate Director and Media & Entertainment Analyst, Standard & Poor's

Tuna N. Amobi is Director at Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services, New York, where he heads a group of analysts covering over 200 global stocks across the media, automobile and housing sectors, among others. He helped create and develop the proprietary S&P Core Earnings® framework, and as a member of S&P's Analytical Policy Board, participates in key policy and investment decisions for S&P Investment Services. Tuna is a frequent financial markets commentator on CNBC, Bloomberg, and BBC, and regularly quoted in Business Week, Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, to name a few.

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Speaking at Capital Market Moves

Steven Andrew

Head of Cbbc In House Production, BBC Children's

Speaking at Don't Forget the 8 to 12s, (1:45-2:15) 30 Minutes With... Steven Andrew (CBBC), Pitch It! - Totally Tweens

Finn Arnesen

Former SVP, MD of Original Series, Turner Broadcasting System International Inc

Finn Arnesen is Senior Vice President and General Manager for Original Series in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA) and Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) International Development.

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Speaking at (9:00-9:30) 30 Minutes With...Finn Arnesen (Cartoon Network International), (1:45-2:15) 30 Minutes With...Finn Arnesen (Cartoon Network International), Pitch It! - Totally Tweens

Jens Bachem

Managing Director, Digital Outlook

Jens is Managing Director of Digital Outlook, a digital agency with core competencies in strategy, creative and marketing and increasingly recognized as audience specialists in family, kids and teens.

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Speaking at Reaching Kids—An Advertiser’s Perspective on Kids Media

Miki Baumgarten Ph.D.

President, Miki Baumgarten, Ph.D. - Media & Art Education Services

Miki Baumgarten is an educational psychologist with recognized expertise in children’s media and arts programming. As President of Miki Baumgarten, Ph.D. - Media and Art Education Services, Inc., Dr. Baumgarten has over 25 years of experience carrying out consulting and research activities for a wide variety of clients in the U.S. and abroad. She has participated in development and served as an educational and creative consultant on a wide variety of children’s films, videos, television programs, internet-based programs, and related toys and consumer products. She has made contributions to shows seen on PBS, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, WB Kids, Noggin, Sprout, NBC, CBS, and more. Research activities have included conducting formative and summative studies on the impact of media, technology and arts programs, as well as moderating focus groups and implementing program testing. Dr. Baumgarten also teaches – serving as an adjunct professor at U.C.L.A. and Lee College of Psychology at American Jewish University, and conducting seminars on children’s programming for Disney, Warner Bros.. Getty Center for Education in the Arts and others. Dr. Baumgarten is an active member of the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, Society for Research in Child Development, and Women in Film. She serves on the Editorial Board for the journal, “Computers in Entertainment.”

Speaking at (12:00-12:30) Ask An Expert...in Curriculum Planning

Adam Beder

VP Global Licensing, Spin Master

Adam began his career over 13 years ago when Spin Master was just starting out as a novelty toy company. He is one of Spin Master’s longest standing employees and over his tenor has successfully built and managed several key areas of the company.

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Speaking at Consumer Products Counseling

Andrew Beecham

SVP Programming, PBS Kids Sprout

Andrew Beecham is Senior Vice President, Programming for PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers. Beecham is responsible for program strategy, original programming, scheduling and acquisitions for Sprout’s digital cable channel and video on demand (VOD) offerings.

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Speaking at (1:45-2:15) 30 Minutes With...Andrew Beecham (PBS Kids Sprout)

Michael Bellavia

President, Animax Entertainment

Speaking at Keeping it Real in the Virtual World Space

Kay Benbow

Controller CBeebies, BBC Children's

Kay Benbow is Head of CBeebies Production, Animation and Acquisitions for BBC Children’s department. Her role covers all aspects of animation and acquisitions for CBeebies as well as leading the in-house CBeebies Production team, including CBeebies radio.

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Speaking at (11:00-11:30) 30 Minutes With...Kay Benbow (CBeebies), (11:00-11:30) 30 Minutes With...Kay Benbow (CBeebies)

Jim Benton

Owner/Artist, J.K. Benton Design Studio

Jim Benton is the creator of the phenomenal It’s Happy Bunny property which has generated more than a half-billion dollars at retail.

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Speaking at (10:30-11:00)Choose Your Own Adventure…with Jim Benton, (3:30-4:00) Choose Your Own Adventure…with Jim Benton

Suzanne Berman

Director of Original Series & Development, CN Europe, Cartoon Network

Suzanne Berman is Director, Original Series and Development at the Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe, based in London.

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Speaking at Development Challenge, (11:00-12:00) Speed Pitching 1

Carlos Biern

Executive VP Coproductions & Worldwide Distribution, B.R.B. Internacional, S.A.

Carlos Biern has been involved in animation since he was born, in Madrid (Spain) in 1973. His father Claudio Biern Boyd was among those leading the European production and distribution of commercial animation, creating BRB Internacional back in 1972.

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Speaking at Tough Territories: Russia

Carole Bonneau

VP, Programming, TELETOON

Carole Bonneau is the Vice-President, Programming for TELETOON Canada Inc., the country’s first and only 24-hour bilingual animation station. In this capacity, she is responsible for program schedules and acquisitions for 4 distinct networks: TELETOON English, TELETOON French, TELETOON Retro (Eng), and TELETOON Retro (Fr), as well as the continued growth and advancement of one of TELETOON’s acclaimed talents: the development and production of original animated programming.

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Speaking at (2:45-3:15) 30 Minutes With...Carole Bonneau (Teletoon Canada)

Jules Borkent

SVP, Global Acquisitions & International Programming, Nickelodeon International

Borkent oversees program acqiusitions worldwide for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., NOGGIN and Nicktoons as well as programm strategies for Nickelodeon's international networks. Working in close partnership with Nickelodeon creative teams around the world, Borkent identifies programming and cross promotional opportunites to best leverage Nickelodeon's programming and brand portfolio. Based in New York, Borkent reports to Steve Grieder, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon International and Pete Danielsen, Executive Vice President, Programming, MTV Networks Kids & Family.

Speaking at (3:00-3:30) 30 Minutes With...Jules Borkent (Nickelodeon International), (10:00-10:30) 30 Minutes With...Jules Borkent (Nickelodeon International), Pitch It! - Totally Tweens

Duane Bray

Partner, IDEO

Duane Bray is a partner at IDEO, where he heads the firm’s global Software Experiences practice. Duane joined IDEO in 1995 to lead and develop the discipline of interaction design, now one of the firm’s most sought-after capabilities.

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Speaking at Creative Keynote: Serious Play

Deirdre Brennan

Director of Programming, Nickelodeon Australia

Deirdre Brennan joined Nickelodeon Australia as Director of Programming in February 2007 and is responsible for content development, programming, acquisitions and the delivery of compelling entertainment for Australian kids. Nickelodeon, now in its 12th year in Australia, broadcasts Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels 24 hours a day every day, and is seen in over 1.8 million households via Austar, Foxtel, and Optus. From 2001-2007, Deirdre Brennan was ABC Kids Programmer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She became one of Australia's first female television announcers when she joined ABC TV in 1986 whilst studying Economics/Law at Sydney University. She extended her on-air experience with radio broadcasting, as well as becoming a director, stage manager and choreographer. With a television career that spans 22 years, Deirdre has a proven track record including three years as ABC TV Marketing Planner.

Speaking at (9:00-10:00) Get Savvy About The Summit, Don't Forget the 8 to 12s, Development Challenge

Warren Buckleitner

Editor, Children's Technology Review

Warren Buckleitner's expertise centers around the relationship between children up to age 15 and interactive media, a topic he's studied since 1984. He is Editor of Children's Technology Review, which sponsors the annual Dust or Magic Institute on the Design of Children’s Interactive Media. Warren is a former teacher of preschool, second, fourth and sixth grades, and he still teaches part time at Rutgers, MSU and NYU. His work with software began in 1984 at the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. Currently, Warren is an advisor to Consumer Reports WebWatch and provides reviews for various media outlets including the New York Times. He holds a BS in Elementary Education (cum laude) from Central Michigan University, an MS in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and a doctorate in Educational Psychology (Learning, Technology & Culture) from Michigan State University. He is the proud father of two daughters.

Speaking at Kids Talk Tech

Jennifer Burkitt

Executive in Charge of Interactive Content, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Jennifer Burkitt is the Executive in Charge of Interactive Programming for Children’s and Youth at CBC. She oversees interactive production for the preschool, school age and youth sites, and works with the broadcast team to blend interactive and on-air initiatives. Jennifer began her interactive career 13 years ago at the Canadian Film Centre as Manager New Media Programs. She guided new media projects, helped build workshops and programmed the Interactive Arena. Other online initiatives included the Heritage Minute activities for kids and the Canadian Television Fund site. As Lead Producer for Medium One Productions, Jennifer developed online projects for PBS and Cinar, including the award-winning websites Caillou and Zaboomafoo, as well as CD-ROMS for PBS and The Learning Company. Jennifer spent the next five years at TVOntario as Manager of TVOKids.com, where her work was recognized with a Japan Prize, and Gemini, Canadian New Media Award and FlashintheCan nominations. Jennifer has a Media Arts degree from Ryerson Polytechnic University and a Psychology degree from the University of Guelph. Currently, she is working toward her Master of Education with an emphasis in children’s interactive and converged media.

Speaking at (12:00-12:30) 30 Minutes With...Marie McCann & Jennifer Burkitt (CBC)

Mike Burns

CEO, Fuel Industries

As CEO and co-founder of Fuel Industries, Mike Burns leads one of the most advanced interactive agencies and entertainment studios in North America, one unique in its ability to blend the capabilities of an advertising agency, a game developer, an animation house and a video and special effects studio. After nine years of leadership at Fuel, Burns has developed the reputation as one of the top creative minds in branded entertainment.

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Speaking at Keeping it Real in the Virtual World Space