Jonathan Finkelstein has created 7 television series for young people, and produced more than 800 half-hours of television that have been audience favorites and received multiple international awards.

Featured in: Focus on Formats

With over 300 hundred episodes of animated television to his credit, Nerd Corps' C.E.O. Asaph “Ace” Fipke has established himself as one of North America’s top producers of animation. With a rare blend of expertise in the creation, development, production and business of animated television and feature-length animation productions, Fipke...show more

Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High

A Froebel trained B.Ed grad of Trinity College, Dublin in her first life. Three years and 45 kids in the classroom later, ran away to see the world. Did, then moved to Paris taking first steps in the animation business at L&M entity, VIP, in 1993. Enthralled by...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing

Amy Friedman serves as Senior Advisor to MTV Scratch, Viacom’s creative S.W.A.T team.  With a focus on Millennial culture, their partners include Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, General Motors, The Guggenheim Museum and others.  

Amy is also the President and Founder of Redhead Consulting, a brand...show more

Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web

Donna Friedman Meir is the founder of LEMONADE Creative Consulting, a strategic consulting firm that sparks business growth for clients focused on building inspiring experiences for kids and families.  An accomplished brand builder, producer, programmer and marketer of children’s media content, her career has been dedicated to creating...show more

Featured in: LEADER'S BREAKFAST—Putting the Power of Play to Work

As head of television development for DreamWorks Animation, Peter oversees the creative development of all original television projects for the studio and currently manages the production process for Turbo FAST– the first original kids series for Netflix.  Prior to DreamWorks Animation, he spent three years as Vice President, Production at...show more

Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?

A veteran distribution professional with 17 years of experience under his belt, Edward Galton is the Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer at CAKE. In this dual role, he oversees all sales operations, the day-to-day running of the company, as well as directly selling CAKE’s growing...show more

Featured in: The SVOD Effect

Athena Georgaklis is the Manager, Original Production for TELETOON Canada Inc. Georgaklis is responsible for supervising the development and production of original programming for TELETOON and TELETOON at Night in English and French. In this role, Athena is charged with securing new talent and partnerships on behalf of...show more

As Director of BBC Children's Joe Godwin is responsible for the strategic direction of the BBC's services for children – the two digital TV channels, CBBC and CBeebies and their websites and mobile apps. 

After reading History at Manchester University, Joe joined the BBC in 1986, working at BBC Southampton in...show more

Featured in: Focus on Formats

Richard Goldsmith joined The Jim Henson Company in 2011 in the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Global Distribution. He oversees worldwide distribution of both Henson-produced and HIP (Henson Independent Properties) brands in the domestic and international markets across all media, including television, home entertainment and digital platforms. In addition,...show more

Featured in: The SVOD Effect

After many years as a Senior Executive at the BBC and then consulting across the independent production sector in the UK, Marc has now joined forces with two highly specialised companies that are leading the way in their own particular fields.

He is...show more

Featured in: The Future is Now

In her role as VP of Consumer Insights, Jane Gould is responsible for coordinating consumer insight research for all Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group assets, including Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons Network, Nick at Nite and digital brands like Addicting- Games, Shockwave and Nick.com. She helps...show more

Featured in: Buzz Report: Kid Trends From the Nick Files

Alan Gregg is Director of Content, TELETOON, Corus Entertainment where he oversees all content development and production for TELETOON's English and French networks and their respective multiplatform services. In this role, he leads the TELETOON Original Production team and works closely with all of TELETOON's production partners. Gregg’s career spans 20 years of experience in film and television. Before joining...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Carole Bonneau & Alan Gregg, TELETOON Canada

As Production Executive for Family Channel, Disney XD Canada and Disney Junior Canada, Sarah Haasz oversees the creative aspects of development and production for all networks, including series and movies such as The Next Step, Bunks, Wingin' It, Really Me, Vacation With Derek, Stella and Sam and Justin Time. With over...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Sarah Haasz, Family Channel; Lunching With...

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Doug began his entertainment career as a radio announcer. For over a decade Doug moved from morning show to morning show, from Regina to Yellowknife, then decided to move on to theater, then back to radio again, then parking lot attendant,...show more

Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV

As Senior Vice President, International Production & Development, Nina Hahn oversees international content development and co-production partnerships for Nickelodeon outside of the US. 

Based in London, Hahn coordinates and drives the development process, spearheading new production models, managing productions from pilot through to series, and working in direct partnership with Nickelodeon’s...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Nina Hahn, Nickelodeon International; The BIG Pitch!; Cultivating Creative Communities

As Vice President, Programming and Original Production, Corus Kids, Jocelyn Hamilton is responsible for Corus Entertainment’s Kids & Family programming, acquisitions and original production.

Previously, Jocelyn was Vice President, Original Programming, Kids, Comedy and Drama responsible for overseeing scripted original programming for Corus’ specialty and pay networks. For  YTV, Jocelyn and ...show more

Featured in: Focus on Formats; Lunching With...; Co-Production Face-Off!; 30 Minutes with Jocelyn Hamilton, Corus Kids

Laura Harbin is the Senior Director of Scripted Programming for Temple Street Productions. A Gemini award and International Emmy Award winner, Harbin is responsible for overseeing the development and production of Temple Street’s scripted series and films including the highly rated, award-winning series Being Erica (CBC),...show more

Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action

John Hardman serves as Director of Development and Production at Saban Brands. In this role, he is responsible for the creative development and production of all brands, including Power Rangers,Julius Jr.,Digimon and Popples. John has held numerous executive positions over the past 15 years. He began his career at Klasky Csupo,...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2

Anttu Harlin is the co-founder & CEO of Gigglebug Entertainment. The company's mission is to raise smiles around the world through games and entertainment. The company's first app has topped the charts in Finland and China, spreading giggles and winning critical acclaim on the way. The simultaneously released Gigglebug TV...show more

Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action

Russell Hicks is President, Content Development and Production for Nickelodeon Group.  Based at Nickelodeon’s Burbank and Santa Monica, Calif. offices, he oversees the company’s live-action, animation development and production teams for all of Nickelodeon’s content platforms and across all of the network’s channels—Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick and...show more

Featured in: Meet the Chief Creative: Nickelodeon's Russell Hicks

A long time champion of children’s programming, Higgins is Executive Vice President of FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment. Higgins oversees the creative direction for FME’s kid’s business, as well as manages content, including acquisitions, development and sales of TV and digital programming. Current programming includes Max Steel, Monsuno,...show more

Featured in: The BIG Pitch!; UK Tax Credits 101

If the show has capes or explosions, there’s a very good chance Rob Hoegee has worked on it. Starting with the smash hit Teen Titans for Cartoon Network, Rob has been the head writer and story editor for an impressive list of award-winning animated series, including Legion of Super Heroes, Storm...show more

Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success

Matt Hornburg is Co-CEO and Executive Producer, marblemedia. Matt leads creative development and production for the company’s original TV and Interactive divisions in Toronto and LA for all genres including the company’s expansion into Prime-Time Scripted as well as Kids and Family programming.

Having founded the company with Mark Bishop over a decade...show more

Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Setting up Shop: Charting the Route to a Successful Production

Henrietta Hurford-Jones is Director of Children’s at BBC Worldwide Channels.

Henrietta is responsible for commissioning and developing a new stream of original programme content for the international CBeebies channels. She also manages the global investment process for all children’s programming and brand properties across BBC Worldwide,...show more

Featured in: Lunching With...; Speed Pitching 1; 30 Minutes with Henrietta Hurford-Jones, BBC Worldwide

Laurie Hutzler has worked as a story and character consultant for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, talkbackTHAMES, Mersey Television/Lime Pictures and Aardman Animation Studio (UK), for Pixar University, Disney, and Dreamworks (US), for  Endemol Netherlands (NL), for RTL, Weidemann Berg, and Grundy UFA (Germany), for GloboMedia (Spain) and for TNT...show more

Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Creating with Character: Preparing Characters for the Creative Process

Oli Hyatt has been Creative Director at Blue-Zoo for 14 years, helping it thrive through difficult times for the animation industry. His most resent show Olive the Ostrich is a huge hit on Nick Jr, and has been sold right around the...show more

Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101

Traci Paige Johnson is co-founder of yummico (www.yummico.com), the new interactive children’s media company that is a trusted destination for delicious media. yummico produces entertaining media for preschoolers across multiple platforms, with a focus on digital games, interactive shows, apps and eBooks, as well as traditional narrative animation, print...show more

Featured in: Harnessing the Power of the App

Christopher Keenan, Executive Producer /President, Creating4Kids, Inc.,is a highly accomplished creative executive, executive producer and writerwho has enjoyed over twenty five years of success in the animation, kids and family entertainment industries.  With thousands of hours of production to his credit, he is equally adept at development, sales and production. 

Under...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development

As Director of Children’s Programming at PBS, Keith oversees the rollout of video content for broadcast, web and mobile platforms, creating and implementing strategies to develop and manage children's programs as they progress from proposal stage to production and exhibition. Keith is also responsible for working directly with producers, evaluating...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2

With over 20 years experience in multiplatform production; John has worked as a content strategist and producer across radio, TV, web, tablet and mobile. Before joining Kids Industries, John worked as an executive producer at the BBC responsible for developing CBeebies interactive and has worked across...show more

Featured in: The Ongoing Evolution of Play

As Co-Head of Nelvana Enterprises, Andrew oversees all aspects of the Corus Kids distribution and merchandising business and Nelvana’s brand rights in the Americas and Australasia. Andrew joined Corus in January 2012 as the Head of Consumer Products, The Americas and Australasia....show more

Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China

Ben Kim is responsible for content acquisition efforts for the Hulu Kids platform in the U.S., in addition to developing domestic content partnerships with key media companies, sports content partners and Asian content providers. Previously, he worked in entertainment and media, overseeing investments in entertainment assets...show more

Featured in: The SVOD Effect

Tatiana started Bejuba! Entertainment 10 years ago to specialize in the executive production, financing, co-production and distribution of children’s and family entertainment. The goal was to work with producers to get their babies off the ground. The company now has over 650 half hours...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing

Joan Lambur is the Executive Producer for animation and kids’ live action and family programming at Breakthrough Entertainment. Joan handles acquisitions of projects in these areas as well as oversees creative development and financing. She also oversees all licensing and merchandising activities for the company that...show more

Featured in: Cultivating Creative Communities

Cort Lane is Vice President, Animation Development & Production for Marvel Television. As a life-long Marvel fan, Mr. Lane is thrilled to develop and produce shows within the rich Marvel Universe. In addition to supervising the animation development team, he serves as current series executive on all ongoing series. Drawing...show more

Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?

Matt Lauderbach is the Design Director for Fisher Price, which is based out of the New York City office. He oversees the design team developing toys for the Thomas the Tank Engine Brands which include: Wooden Railway,Take N Play, Trackmaster, My First Preschool, Collectible Railway, and...show more

Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success

Curtis Lelash is vice president of comedy animation for Cartoon Network. In this capacity, Lelash oversees the development and ongoing production of Cartoon Network’s animated comedy series, which has helped drive the network to consistently rank as the #1 network among boys. Creatively responsible for projects from pilot development through...show more

Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV

In this role, David is responsible for all strategic and operational aspects of programming across Disney Channels EMEA, including the development of the linear and multi-platform programming strategy. He also determines the direction of original production and oversees the development and production slates of originally produced content, acquisitions and co-productions...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with David Levine, Disney Channels EMEA; Harnessing the Power of the App

Ira levy is a co-founder, partner and owner of Breakthrough Films & Television, Breakthrough Entertainment and Breakthrough New Media.

Since creating Breakthrough over 27 years ago, Ira and his partner Peter Williamson have built a creative partnership and established themselves as one of Canada’s most prolific providers...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing; Co-Production Face-Off!

The invasive impact of media on children became the impetus, in 1991, for Levy to create KIDS FIRST! / Coalition for Quality Children's Media, dedicated to promoting and nurturing quality children's media as a vehicle for social change. A former educator, Levy designed an award-winning television series, Kidnetics, for PBS...show more

Featured in: Meet the Critics

Layla Lewis is Vice President of Content Acquisitions for Nickelodeon, a role she assumed in May 2013.  Lewis is responsible for negotiating, sourcing and managing content acquisitions for Nickelodeon channels globally.  She also supervises all content acquisition proposals and is integral in the greenlighting process of new Nickelodeon programming and...show more

Featured in: Lunching With...

Prior to stepping away from full-time work, Joan Lofts served as Director of Television at Contender Entertainment Group and was responsible for developing and overseeing the television production division. Recent animated hits that were shepherded by Joan include Tractor Tom, Peppa Pig, Humf, Little Kingdom and Channel 4 special Lost and...show more

Featured in: In Conversation with Julia Donaldson

Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success

Carl Lumbard joined FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment in 2012 to head up the division’s global licensing team.  Carl works alongside FremantleMedia’s own international offices and third party agents around the world to sign best-in-class consumer products partners for the division’s key brands (including Tree Fu Tom, Strange Hill High...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Licensing

Stacey is a founder of Insight Strategy Group and Insight Kids. Her leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to providing clients with "truth, possibility, and inspiration" gained from robust research techniques and thought-provoking strategic insights.

Stacey is a child development expert who has dedicated her career to helping clients create...show more

Featured in: Boys vs. Girls: Really Understanding the Gender Divide

Ira is publisher of the news services The Licensing Letter, Content Licensing, and Research Alert Pro, as well as research studies including “The Global Market For Licensed Preschool Properties,” “Tween Sensibility, Spending & Influence,” “Teen Spending & Influence,” “How Tweens & Teens Use Social Media,” “Marketing To Tweens & Teens,”...show more

Featured in: Preschool Reality Check

Grant McCracken looks at the places where culture and commerce, anthropology and economics meet. Through his highly-customized presentations, he provides audiences with a comprehensive¯but incisive¯review of contemporary culture, including its foundations, current state, and future trends¯and strategies for managing it.

McCracken is the author of several books including Culture and Consumption;...show more

Featured in: KEYNOTE—Shifting Platforms, Changing Audiences

Jamila Metran joined CiTV in September 2004 as an Administrator, working closely with Estelle Hughes. Over the past seven years, Jamila’s role has expanded to Programming Manager, and as such, she oversees all acquisitions and commissions for the channel. In 2006, Jamila worked on the launch of the CiTV channel,...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Lunching With...

Luca Milano is Executive Deputy Director and Head of Marketing and Animation Production for RAI Fiction, the department of Italy’s public broadcaster responsible for producing and co-producing fictional live-action and animation programming

show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Lunching With...

Carrie Miller is the Network Manager for all of Frederator Networks' Internet properties, including Cartoon Hangover, Bravest Warriors and the Channel Frederator Network. In addition, she oversees promotion of Frederator properties, including Bravest Warriors, Bee & Puppycat, and the Channel Frederator Network.

A...show more

Featured in: Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch

Erin is the cultural eyes and ears of the CI Research group at Nickelodeon, immersing herself fully in the worlds of kids, teens and young adults.  She spends her days keeping a constant watch on all kid/teen/young adult media.  As a result, Erin is the point person for reporting on...show more

Featured in: Buzz Report: Kid Trends From the Nick Files

Promoted to her current role this year, Karen is responsible for directing the development of overall scheduling strategies to ensure regional and local programming plans are consistent with global priorities. She also oversees the global acquisitions process, sourcing live-action and animated series and movies on a worldwide basis for Disney...show more

Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics

Rick Mischel currently serves as a Producer at Sony Pictures Animation, the Sony division behind such animated features as Hotel Transylvania and The Smurfs.  Prior to his role as a Producer, Mischel served as Senior Vice President for Sony Pictures Imageworks. Mischel launched and managed the animation/vfx facility for Sony...show more

Featured in: Cultivating Creative Communities

As Head of Children`s content, Karen Mitrega is responsible for the development, co-production and acquisition of new series and magazines for the target audience 3-13 years. She is now also responsible for the website www.toggo.de which targets kids 6-13 years. Before joining Super RTL in 2004, Karen has been working...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Karen Mitrega, Super RTL

My name is Brigitta and I am from Germany. I’m the Head of Children’s and Family TV - department of WDR. (That’s a public broadcasting station connected to the ARD.) I started this job in January 2010.

I myself am also not new to the field of children’s...show more

Featured in: Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Brigitta Muhlenbeck, WDR

Sarah Muller is passionate about both drama and animation. Successful projects she’s developed include Hettie Feather, Dr. Who—Dreamland, Emily’s Army, My Almost Famous Family, Dumping Ground, Strangehill High, Sadie J, Wolf Blood and Just William.

Before joining the CBBC team, Sarah was Managing Director of Elephant Productions, a well-known UK company specializing...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; New Dimensions of Live Action

In the winter of 2011, two brothers came up with the idea to marry action VFX with musical theatre. A year later, AVbyte was born. Named for its two founders, Antonius and Vijay Nazareth, AVbyte represents all things audio, video and byte-y.

Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web

In the winter of 2011, two brothers came up with the idea to marry action VFX with musical theatre. A year later, AVbyte was born. Named for its two founders, Antonius and Vijay Nazareth, AVbyte represents all things audio, video and byte-y.

Featured in: Curation Nation: Best of the Web

Moses is a Director in the Film & TV department of Saffery Champness, providing specialist advice on accessing and maximising the UK Film, High-end TV and Animation tax credits.

On the film side, Moses acts for a number of US studios as well as UK and European production companies and over...show more

Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101

Lisa O’Brien has considerable experience as a writer/producer and children’s television executive. She has overseen all day parts for YTV Canada, been a Creative Director at Fox Family Channel and Disney Channel, and currently serves as VP of Original Programming for Sprout.

While at Sprout she's helped oversee the original series...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2

Bill O’Dowd, President of Dolphin Entertainment and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Dolphin Digital Media, has deep experience in the digital media and entertainment industries. Mr. O’Dowd founded Dolphin Entertainment in 1996, and it has since become one of the world’s leading production companies specializing in children’s and young...show more

Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics

Dr. Lynn Oldershaw is a developmental psychologist, and has worked at the CBC for 13 years as an executive in charge of production for preschool programming.  She provides child development and research expertise, specifically as it informs CBC’s mandate and objectives for children’s programming, the development and production of children’s...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4

Jennifer Oxley was born in Hollywood, California and caught the filmmaking bug early – she made her first film at the age of seven. Since then she has directed fifteen short films for Sesame Street, as well as the award-winning adaptation of Spike Lee and Tanya Lewis Lee’s children’s book,...show more

Featured in: Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV

 Audu Paden currently serves as a Senior Director and Executive Producer at Mattel Playground Productions, his creative home since 2007.  Responsible for managing strategic storytelling within Mattel on both newly developed IP and classic brands, he is currently show running on the worldwide phenomena...show more

Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High

Cecilia Padula is currently Content Director at Turner Broadcasting System Italy and Boing Spa (the company born from the Joint Venture between Turner and Mediaset). Fully dedicated to the kids business for the last 10 years, she is running Programming, Acquisitions, Original Productions and Dubbing for four channels in Italy:...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; 30 Minutes with Cecilia Padula, Boing

Cecilia Persson is Vice President of Acquisitions for allTurner Broadcasting’s kids’ channels across EMEA and International, including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito, Cartoon Network Too and Boing. 

Cecilia joinedTurner Broadcastingin 2005 as Director of Acquisitions and was promoted to Vice President of Programming, Acquisition and Presentation in 2006.  Her role expanded in...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes Cecilia Persson, Turner Broadcasting EMEA; Lunching With...

As Director of Original Programming, Jamie Piekarz has played an integral role in the creation, development and production of a variety of programs including: Mike the Knight, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, My Friend Rabbit,and 4 Square. Some of her production executive credits include: Mr. Young, Some Assembly Required, My...show more

Julia Pistor started producing films in 1995 when she joined Nickelodeon Movies as Associate Producer of Harriet The Spy.  During her 11-year tenure, she helped build a number of lucrative television and film franchises and successfully extended the Nickelodeon brand into a leading provider of kid and family movies.  At...show more

Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics

Adina Pitt is vice president, content acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network and Boomerang,  In this capacity, Pitt is responsible for identifying, negotiating and acquiring pre-produced series, specials, movies and short-form product that fit the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands for exposure on all platforms.  She continues to oversee those...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Adina Pitt, Cartoon Network

Michael Polis is a senior level strategist and producer specializing in brands and intellectual property. With his proven expertise in marketing, licensing and product development and an ability to work in all media, he has successfully developed, managed and produced content for some of the world’s most celebrated...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Licensing

Maura Regan serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Consumer Products for the nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop.  She oversees the Workshop’s global retail business across all major categories of licensed goods including toys, apparel, home furnishings, stationery and gifts.  Her division, in large part, funds the nonprofit...show more

Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China

John Rice is a Bafta winning Producer and Director who began his career as an animator in feature film working at 20th Century Fox in the US. This was followed by a position in MTV -...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing

After 15 years in broadcasting and production, Chris joined ABC Television in May 2012 as the channel’s Commissioning Editor for Animation. Chris is responsible for sourcing, developing and executive producing commissioned animation for the ABC’s two dedicated children’s channels, ABC 3 and ABC 4 Kids. Prior to joining ABC Television,...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; Co-Production Face-Off!

Lauren Rose currently serves as Project Supervisor for Mattel Playground Productions and is responsible for project supervision on the worldwide phenomena Monster High® and the new Ever After High™.

Rose currently supervises projects in all stages of content creation on both newly developed Mattel IP and classic brands. From strategic planning and...show more

Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High

Michael is the General Manager, Family at Maker Studios—one of the largest multi-channel networks in the world.  Maker and its network partners garner over 4.5 billion views a month on Youtube, more than half of which originate outside the United States.  Michael oversees programming and P&L across all verticals in...show more

Featured in: Next-Gen Moves: Webnets to Watch

Based in London, Orion Ross leads the creative development and production of original animation and co-productions for Disney Channel and Disney XD in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Current series include Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja and the upcoming Boyster. Previously Orion served as VP Creative and...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

The Godfather. The Wire. The Great Gatsby. Let It Be. These are all things that were written. Not by me of course. Not even close. Nope. I’ve written on dozens (baker’s dozens even) of animated TV shows over the course of the last millennium. I started...show more

Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV

Richard Rowe joined Turner’s Cartoon Network UK programming team in 2002, where he was responsible for putting together the UK schedules for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami.

In 2004, Richard shifted into acquisitions and development, charged with assisting on...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development

Jon Rutherford oversees the operation of Tricon’s international distribution company, including all worldwide sales and acquisitions. In addition to growing its catalogue to over 2,000 hours of high quality content in genres such as scripted drama & comedy, factual & lifestyle, documentary, and kids & family, he...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

Ritsuko Sakai joined NHK in 1985. As a director and producer, she has worked mainly on documentaries about public welfare, medical care, and the challenges facing disabled people. She became a producer of educational content in 2006. Her documentary “I Feel the Words”, which portrays the students at a school...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Ritsuko Sakai, NHK

Katherine is a writer, executive story-editor and development consultant whose work has been broadcast around the world. Katherine is very proud to have executive story-edited The Adventures of Napkin Man for Breakthrough Entertainment and Little Airplane Productions which debuted last month on the CBC to rave reviews. She is just finishing story-editing...show more

Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Funny for Under-Fives: Mastering the Art of Preschool Humor

Alyssa Sapire is VP of Development and Programming for FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment.  Current programming includes Kate & Mim Mim, Danger Mouse, Strange Hill High, and Tree Fu Tom.

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 2

Josh Scherba, SVP, Distribution joined DHX Media in 2000. DHX Media is a leading international supplier of television programming, with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. In his role, Scherba oversees the distribution arm of DHX Media with a catalogue that includes programming from all of...show more

Featured in: The SVOD Effect

Larry Seidman is CEO of Dimensional Branding Group (DBG), a Bay Area-based brand extension agency that focuses on brand licensing, business development and promotion services, with a unique emphasis on the interactive & digital channels.  DBG specializes in developing toys & games, iconic brands & digital trademarks into entertainment placement...show more

Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Hit-Mapping: Building a Five-year Brand Plan that Works

As Vice President of Children’s Programming at PBS, Linda Simensky collaborates with producers, co-production partners, PBS station programmers, and distributors throughout the development, production, post-production, and broadcast phases for PBS KIDS programming. 

Linda’s efforts in transforming PBS KIDS’ lineup for preschool- and school-age children over the past several years have brought...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Linda Simensky, PBS Kids; Lunching With...; Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV

Nat Sims is the CEO and founder of Night & Day Studios, a kids’ app company based in Portland and Brooklyn. He has been a content developer and interface designer for over 20 years, creating educational software, interactive installations, and games for clients such as Nickelodeon, Mattel, and the Smithsonian...show more

Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101

As Senior Producer for Mattel Playground Productions, Ira Singerman is responsible for content strategy, story development and production across multiple platforms on a diverse slate of kid-targeted intellectual properties.

Singerman has been a producer on...show more

Featured in: The Monster Success of Monster High

Pierre Siracusa joined the French public broadcaster in 1993, starting in the fiction department of France 2 before being promoted to Deputy Programming Advisor in the same department. In 1996, he shifted to the children’s and youth department as Programming Advisor, and then joined France 3 in 1998.

In October 2008,...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

With more than 25 years of experience in the development, production and distribution of cultural and entertainment products, Pierre Sissmann has been involved, for more than twenty years, in TV channel launches, music production and distribution and even in the creation of a press group.

show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Co-Productions & Financing

Dave Skwarczek heads Los Angeles creative studio Eat Your Lunch. Leveraging the power of futuristic thinking, solid business strategy and farts, he has consulted on projects in all media, including Disney Jr.'s 7D and Imagination Movers, marblemedia's Splatalot!, a virtual world for American Greetings Properties, digital and broadcast projects for...show more

Featured in: The BIG Pitch!

Tara Sorensen is Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios. In her role, Sorensen oversees the development and production of original kid’s programming for Amazon.

Sorensen joined Amazon Studios from National Geographic Kids Entertainment, where she was Vice President, development & current programming. During her tenure with National Geographic she was essential to...show more

Featured in: The SVOD Effect; 30 Minutes with Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios

From 1996 to 1999, Géraldine Soto was Acquisitions and Programming Coordinator for Disney Channel France, joining the team a year before the net’s broadcast launch. In 1999, she joined TPS as Programming Manager for TéléTOON and launched Eureka! and Piwi in 2003. Since then, she has been serving as Head...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1

Julie Stall has been in the forefront of producing quality children’s television for over twenty-five years.  As VP Production for Portfolio Entertainment, Julie helms the Canadian production of the company’s prestigious animated series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! featuring Dr. Seuss’...show more

Featured in: UK Tax Credits 101

James Stephenson is Senior Vice President of Content Development, Digital Media for Nickelodeon Group.  In this role, Stephenson is responsible for the creative development of original content for Nickelodeon’s digital destinations including Nick’s websites, Apps, digital platforms and premium games publishing businesses.

Previously, Stephenson was Senior Vice President, Creative Director, Digital...show more

Featured in: Harnessing the Power of the App

Alison Stewart has worked in the field of children's media production for most of her career, first at the BBC and later as a freelance consultant, producer, director and scriptwriter. She returned to the BBC in 2007 and in her current role she leads a team that creates, develops and...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2

Melanie set up Kindle Entertainment with Anne Brogan in 2007. Since then she has exec-produced Jinx, a comedy for CBBC; Dustbin Baby, an International Emmy-winning drama for BBC One; Some Dogs Bite, a drama for BBC3 directed by Marc Munden and starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster; mini-series Treasure Island for Sky One starring Eddie Izzard, Donald Sutherland and Elijah...show more

Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action

Fernando Szew is founding partner and chief executive officer of MarVista Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent producers and distributors of features and family entertainment programming. Under Szew’s leadership, MVE has achieved remarkable growth through a strategy that complements its distribution slate with acquisitions across all media platforms as...show more

Featured in: Family-Friendly Film Forensics

Despite a sober Quaker upbringing, Cheryl has always loved Drama and Entertainment and embarked on a media career in 1987 as...show more

Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV; Lunching With...; 30 Minutes with Cheryl Taylor, CBBC

Gary Timpson’s experience spans almost twenty  years and three continents, starting out in 1995 in Dublin’s Shepherd Studios and then at Terraglyph Productions working as an assistant animator on three features; Carnival, Help...show more

Featured in: Co-Production Face-Off!

Colm Tobin is a writer and producer with Kite Entertainment, a small but perfectly formed Dublin based production company that produces a broad mix of entertainment and factual programming for a variety of Irish and international broadcasters. Colm is the co-creator of three seasons of Science Fiction, a puppet--based series of...show more

Featured in: Adventure! Comedy! Math? STEM Series in Kids TV

Dan Victor is Founder and President of Victor Advisors PLLC, a New York professional corporation that focuses on the media business, including representation of a variety of media clients: cable channels, video and digital media producers, internet companies, traditional and new media publishers, educational service companies, licensors, and merchandising representatives....show more

Featured in: Lay of the Land: Co-productions and Opportunities in China

Rachel Webber is VP, Video for Rovio Entertainment, where she oversees the company's video distribution businesses, including Rovio's owned-and-operated video distribution platform (ToonsTV) and the sales of Rovio's original animated series to broadcast TV networks and digital platforms around the world.  Previously Rachel served as Head...show more

Featured in: The Future is Now

Janine Weigold, born 1978, has been working for Nickelodeon, the kids and family brand of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN - formerly MTV Networks Germany), for 8 years. After several stations within programming she now leads the Acquisitions & Development department for Northern Europe as a Vice President (VP). In this...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

Teri Weiss is Executive Vice President of Preschool Development and Production, Nickelodeon Group. She is responsible for overseeing all production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool and Nick Jr., Nickelodeon's 24-hour digital preschool channel.

Weiss, who joined Nickelodeon in 1999, most recently served as Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Nickelodeon Preschool....show more

Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?

Based in Technicolor’s Los Angeles location, Steven Wendland is a vice president and the creative head of Technicolor Animation & Games and joined the company in 2008.  Wendland is charged with overseeing and developing properties for the company, while working with a development team located in Technicolor’s Bangalore studio, as...show more

Featured in: Mentor Meeting: Pitching & Development

As Supervising Producer for Mattel Playground Productionss, David Wiebe is responsible for development and production of creative content for the world's largest toy company.  He developed and show runs the hit web series  Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse Featured in: The Plot Thickens: Is Traditional Storytelling Alive and Well?

Kim Wilson has dedicated her life to children’s programming, beginning with a degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson University in Toronto and augmented by a prolonged career in public broadcasting that has included many roles at TVOntario and the CBC.

As Creative Head of Children’s Programming for Canada’s national...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Kim Wilson, Kids' CBC; Lunching With...

Kay Wilson Stallings is Vice President of Preschool Production and Development for Nickelodeon Group. In this role, she has overseen development of such shows as Yo Gabba Gabba!, Fresh Beat Band, and the upcoming new preschool CG series Peter Rabbit and Blaze...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with Kay Wilson Stallings, Nickelodeon Preschool

Alan Winnikoff is co-principal of Sayles & Winnikoff Communications, the boutique public relations firm he co-founded in 2003, along with his partner, Carina Sayles.  Alan shares in the strategic direction and overall management of the company. The agency’s focus is primarily, though not exclusively, on companies, product and content for...show more

Featured in: MASTER CLASS—Hit-Mapping: Building a Five-year Brand Plan that Works

Marion Winter joined Super RTL in April 2011 as Senior Manager of Acquisitions and Co-Productions. Previously, she held numerous positions within the Program Acquisitions and Sales department of parent network RTL Television, and worked as Manager of Content Sourcing for RTL Interactive’s online, mobile and VOD platforms.

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

With 20 years of experience in international distribution, Alix started her career at Channel 4 selling over 3000 hours of programming across factual, animation, drama and feature films.  Following her passion for animation, she decided to specialize in children’s programming and brands, joining newly formed Entertainment Rights (now...show more

Featured in: It Takes a Village: Crowdfunding 101

Karl has worked in children’s television as a presenter, writer, producer and director for over 15 years. He was managing director of Tell-Tale Productions from 1999 to 2004 in which time the company produced Tweenies, Boo, BB3B, Fun Song Factory and a number of live children’s arena tours including Tweenies...show more

Featured in: Comedy: The King of Kids TV

As Senior Vice President of Live-action Development for Nickelodeon, Brian Wright oversees all development and pilot production for live action shows on Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, TeenNick and the network’s international co-productions. 

Wright joined Nickelodeon in 2007 as Vice President of Live Action Development. He has shepherded a number of series...show more

Featured in: New Dimensions of Live Action

Nancy Zwiers is CEO and Chief Funosopher of Funosophy, Inc., a leading brand-building consulting and invention firm in the play industry. Founded in 2000, Funosophy conducts extensive research in the area of kids and play and has advised over 150 clients ranging from large entertainment companies to toy companies like...show more

Featured in: Translating TV to Toys: Developing Success