Veteran children’s programming executive Finn Arnesen joined Hasbro Studios as senior VP, international distribution and development, in April 2010. In his role, Arnesen manages Hasbro Studios’ global content sales, distribution, channel and program development activities extending across television, online and other emerging media.  Previously, Arnesen served as senior vice president...show more

Featured in: Trends in online kidvid viewership, marketing and monetization

Sarah Aspinall is Creative Director and Head of Content at Azoomee, a safe online platform for primary school aged children. Sarah oversees Azoomee’s entire content acquisition strategy and is currently working to bring together the very best videos, from animated cartoons to live action series, games, tutorials and creative tools...show more

Featured in: Don’t Feed the Trolls

Evan Baily is a content creator, producer, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of TV, video games, iconic brands, and digital platforms. Current and recent projects include serving as EP/co-showrunner of Sonic Boom, which he developed and financed with partners; developing a talent-driven indie animated feature; and working on a wide...show more

Featured in: Function Before Form: The long and short of storytelling; Unlocking the Beginner's Mind

Brianne Baker is the Creative Director for Night & Day Studios in Portland, Oregon. With a background in visual design, UI/UX and front-end development, she leads the design team in creating educational applications for toddlers and children. While tracking the ever-changing trends and technological advancements in the industry is vital...show more

Featured in: App Licensing: The Seven-Year Itch

Catherine Balsam-Schwaber serves as Chief Content Officer for Mattel, a position she has held since September 2015. In this role, Catherine leads global teams to develop, implement and maximize Mattel’s integrated strategy for content creation and distribution, digital development and media to connect consumers with the company's...show more

Featured in: Meet Mattel's New Chief Content Officer

Justine is an independent children’s media consultant with 20 years experience in the industry, accrued most notably at 20th Century Fox, Lagardère, Disney Channels France, TV Loonland, Dupuis & Dargaud (now Mediation) and PGS Entertainment.  Her very broad skillset spans distribution, acquisitions, co-productions, production, post-production, marketing, brand...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Alexander began his career in 1994, creating, writing and designing three successful cartoon strips which ran concurrently in specialist magazines and national newspapers for a number of years in the UK. In 1998, he joined Pepper’s Ghost Productions, a London-based CGI animation indie, where he headed up the company’s development...show more

Featured in: How To Train Your Creator; Mentor Class: Creator 101—Pitch Perfect!

As Executive Vice President, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc., Richard Barry is responsible for delivering a coordinated strategic approach to all merchandising decisions for the company’s business worldwide. He provides leadership as the Chair of the company’s Global Commercial Committee, which takes a unified view in working with business...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc.

Rick is VP of Business Development.  Reporting to the Global Head of Business Development, Rick leads business development efforts in Eastern North America and Europe focused on sourcing, negotiating and executing new business partnerships.

Prior to ZEFR, Rick was VP of Business Development & Marketing at Howcast Media where his responsibilities...show more

Featured in: Trends in online kidvid viewership, marketing and monetization; Master Class: Taking Best Practices from YouTube to Other Digital Platforms

Passionate about creating and developing outstanding content on all platforms with heart, soul and nourishment baked in, Daniel Bays was the creator and show-runner of the multiplatform, physically interactive, international hit preschool animated series, Tree Fu Tom (for CBeebies and Fremantle Media Kids and Family). 

Starting his career in creative development...show more

Featured in: Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!; New Tech That Will Blow Your Mind!

Judith Beauregard has an enviable 20-year track record of developing digital media, games, websites and mobile applications for kids. She has collaborated with many world-class junior brands such as PBS Kids, Sesame Street, NickJr, The Jim Henson Company and KidsCBC. As a founder of the interactive studio Tobo, she...show more

Featured in: Igniting social awareness with kids content

Andrew Beecham was most recently SVP of Programming for 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout.  He oversaw program strategy, original and alternative programming, scheduling and acquisitions for Sprout’s digital cable channel, video-on-demand (VOD) as well as the Saturday NBC Kids block.

Prior to joining the network, Andrew...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Jennifer Bennett currently serves as Senior Director, Strategic Development, Global Licensing and Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel where she is charged with evaluating new properties, securing new licenses and managing relationships with existing licensors at major studios and independent production companies. Prior to joining Mattel, Jennifer held senior licensing and branding...show more

Featured in: Creative Playbook 2016; Lunching with... Jennifer Bennett, Mattel

Sara May Berliner is Chief Strategy Officer of Night & Day Studios, one of the premier independent mobile app developers in the world, creating and marketing interactive children's apps. Sara works across three areas: proprietary IP, building brands and licensing programs for properties like worldwide bestseller Peekaboo Barn; partner licensing, acquiring app rights for...show more

Featured in: App Licensing: The Seven-Year Itch

Stephanie Betts is responsible for managing, fostering and expanding the kids development slate at DHX Media. Her expertise lies in building strong, creatively driven teams, to produce series that will appeal to domestic and international broadcasters – and most importantly to kids! Stephanie has been with DHX since 2010, during...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

Dr. Meghana Bhatt came to FEM Inc. after spending 10 years in academia studying human decision-making. The main focus of her research has been developing predictive mathematical models of behavior that are based in biology and psychology. She received her A.B. in mathematics from Harvard, and a Ph.D. from Caltech...show more

Featured in: The Future of Storymaking?

Ankit Bishnoi leads the Content Acquisition team at Sling TV, LLC., where he is responsible for overall programming, packaging and pricing strategy for the OTT service.

Ankit joined DISH in 2013, as a manager on the Digital Programming team. In this role, he negotiated distribution deals for TV Everywhere programming, including...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Ankit Bishnoi & Meg Marshall , Dish Network

Chris Bishop is the Senior Creative Director of PBS KIDS Digital, where he has designed websites, apps & games for kids ages 2-8 since 2000. Most recently, Chris created the concept for the new PBS KIDS rebrand and the PBS KIDS virtual world, Kart Kingdom. He is...show more

Featured in: Drawing Digital Success: From pencil sketch to millions of players

Brenda Bisner is a Children’s Entertainment Digital Brand Strategist and business development executive in the children’s media space. She has the rare talent to spot trends and properties that have evergreen potential and fully leverage their value in the digital marketplace.

She has helped close licensing deals for major brands, such...show more

Featured in: Don’t Feed the Trolls

Laurence Blaevoet was appointed Director of Programming for the Canal+ Group's youth unit in 2010, after spending 10 years operating in the same role for Canal+ Channels.

Laurence is a graduate of the Paris School of Journalism, and started her career as a journalist at RTL-Télévision. In 1985, she joined TMC...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... Canal+; 30 Minutes with... Laurence Blaevoet, Canal+ Youth

Carole Bonneau has been Vice‐President, French‐Language Programming, for the Télétoon channel since 2001, and recently also for La chaîne Disney. From September 2014, she has also held the position of Vice‐President, Content Acquisition, for Corus Media’s four specialty channels: Historia, Séries+, Télétoon and La chaîne Disney.

Since joining Télétoon in 1996...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Carole Bonneau & Athena Georgaklis, Teletoon

Julien Borde is Head of SVOD for France Télévisions.

Up to September 2015, he was SVP of New Projects at France Télévisions Programming and Digital Department in charge of the public broadcaster multichannel development on the web, more than 135 non linear channels on Youtube and Dailymotion. A large portfolio...show more

Featured in: 20 Years: 20 Lessons Learned

Jules Borkent is Senior Vice President, Global Acquisitions and International Programming, Nickelodeon, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN).  In his role, which he assumed in 2008, Borkent is responsible for leading global acquisitions for Nickelodeon around the world, as well as programming strategies for Nickelodeon International.  Borkent works in close partnership...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Jules Borkent, Nickelodeon

Maud Branly holds a B.A. in Modern Literature from Sorbonne Nouvelle University and a H.N.D of Audiovisual Production from Efficom. She began her career at Patrick Spica Production where she was in charge of production scheduling. In December 2006, she became EMEA Sales Coordinatoor for Dic Entertainment/Cookie Jar. Then she...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Maud Branly, Lagardère Active

Marty Brochstein is responsible for LIMA’s information resources, as well as many of its educational efforts, such as the year-round webinar program and the extensive Licensing University seminar program that takes place each year in conjunction with the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. He also oversees LIMA’s publishing operations, including...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc.

Massimo Bruno is Head of TV Channels at De Agostini Editore, where he runs DeAKids, DeAJunior and Explora (on the Sky satellite TV platform), as well as Super!, a DTT free-to-air channel in Italy. DeAKids is dedicated to kids and families with a lineup of new TV productions and acquisitions;...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 2

Dr. J. Alison Bryant is a leading researcher and expert on the impact of play in our lives, on children’s learning in the 21st century, and on how technology impacts families. As co-CEO and Chief Play Officer at PlayScience, she overseas insights efforts and leads innovation around branding, content creation and...show more

Featured in: PlayGroups: Profiling Today's Play Across Platforms

Lori has worked in a variety of areas in the publishing industry including: sales, marketing, brand management, production and editorial divisions.  She feels creative content coming from publishers offers others a multitude of licensing and media opportunities, and finds transforming beloved characters and series beyond the book to be extremely...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Lori Burke, Penguin Young Readers Group

Kidscreen Editor & Content Director Lana Castleman currently oversees all editorial planning for the magazine and the brand’s online and event content. Career highlights so far include having Oscar the Grouch wish her “a rotten day” and getting early peeks at a number of kids series and products before they...show more

Featured in: Meet Mattel's New Chief Content Officer

Wildseed Studios is a next-generation media company which enables emerging talent to create fantastic new entertainment IPs’s by investing directly into the development and production of their ideas. Wildseed is investing 50 x £10k into new ideas over the next three years, with two successive rounds of increasing funding available...show more

Featured in: Creative Playbook 2016; Then, Now & Next: Fred Seibert, digital media innovator

Caroline Cochaux served as Executive Director of Jamel Debbouze's production companies Kissman Productions and KissFilms, then as Executive Director of Cultural Affairs at FNAC from 2006 through 2009. In February 2011, she joined Lagardère Active group and served as Deputy Program Director of Europe 1 Radio. In February 2013, she became Programs and...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Caroline Cochaux, Lagardère Active; Cocktails with... Lagardère Active

Mary Coleman is Head of Creative Development at Pixar Animation Studios. She joined Pixar in 1999 to help form their development department, where she is currently working on films slated through 2021. Coleman works closely with directors from initial concept through final draft, helping them articulate their vision and prepare pitches. Coleman...show more

Featured in: Function Before Form: The long and short of storytelling; Then, Now & Next: Pixar Storytelling

Dylan Collins (@MrDylanCollins) is one of the most experienced digital media executives in Europe. He is CEO of SuperAwesome, the largest kids advertising platform in the world, reaching over 250M kids every month across US, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. SuperAwesome works with the biggest...show more

Featured in: Getting to know Generation Disruption

As a Content Partner Manager, Alicia Coudurier helps create programming and promotional opportunities for a range of different media companies that are Hulu’s content partners. In her role, she digs deep into the metrics to determine what is working, what is not working, and devises strategies to constantly improve performance...show more

Neil Court is a seasoned international media entrepreneur with 34 years in the business. Currently Executive Chairman of 9 Story Media Group, Mr. Court was instrumental in the recent 9 Story deal to acquire the Irish CGI studio, Brown Bag Films, where he served on the...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Steven DeNure & Neil Court, studio builders

As Director of Products for PBS KIDS Digital, Scott manages innovative digital products such as the Kidscreen and Webby award winning pbskids.org. Scott joined PBS in 2007 and works with a variety of external and internal teams to develop educational products for kids, including the recently launched Kart Kingdom online world....show more

Featured in: Drawing Digital Success: From pencil sketch to millions of players

Claire Curley is Senior Vice President, Digital Content, Nickelodeon Group. In this role, she is a cross-functional leader responsible for expanding development and production capabilities in the areas of multiplatform content planning and gaming.

A 15-year veteran of the children’s media industry, Curley began her career on Nick Jr.’s Blue’s Clues....show more

Featured in: Real Linear and Digital Convergence—the Holy Grail of Content Creation

Joe D'Ambrosia is the Vice President of Original Programming for Disney Junior.  He oversees production and creative development of entertainment and learning-based television properties including the Emmy Award-winning Sofia the First and its upcoming spin-off series Elena of Avalor, which will introduce Elena, a Disney Princess inspired by diverse Latin...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Joe D'Ambrosia, Disney Junior

Academy Award winner Geena Davis is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, appearing in several roles that became cultural landmarks. Earning the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, Davis broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of...show more

Featured in: If She Can See It, She Can Be It

For almost 30 years, Sheila has been very happily immersed in working with ideas for broadcast on various platforms. As a producer of both TV and radio content, as well as a TV location and multi-camera director, she has spent many  years making live and pre-recorded programming across all genres,...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Sheila de Courcy & Pauline Macnamara, RTÉ Ireland; Cocktails with... RTÉ Ireland

Tiphaine de Raguenel graduated from the Paris Institute of Political Studies and started her career at Carat/Aegis Media Group as a consultant and then Deputy Director of consultancy assignments for producers and broadcasters. In 2006, she joined the children’s and youth division of Lagardère Active as Research Director for TiJi,...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... France Télévisions; 30 Minutes with... Tiphaine De Raguenel, France Télévisions

Paul DeBenedittis is Senior Vice President, Programming Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide.  He joined the company in 2008 after 10 years at MTV Networks in New York.

DeBenedittis leads the planning, scheduling, acquisitions and co-production teams in the U.S. and is responsible for over 300 hours of televised programming across the multiple...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Paul DeBenedittis, Disney Channels Worldwide

Sebastian Debertin helped create and launch German children’s channel KiKA in November 1996. As Head of Fiction, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, a position he has held for more than 18 years, Sebastian oversees all international acquisitions, productions and co-productions. Sebastian has won several national and international awards, including an Emmy. When...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Sebastian Debertin, KiKA; Cocktails with... KiKA

James DeJulio is the co-founder, president and chief product officer at Tongal. His mission is creative populism — empowering people from all over the world to pursue their passions through a collaborative community. Tongal’s studio on-demand platform connects businesses with writers, directors and production companies who deliver outstanding creative work. At Tongal, James oversees all creative and platform...show more

Featured in: Made for YouTube: How Mattel is tapping Tongal to produce digital content

Steven Graham DeNure, President and Chief Operating Officer of DHX, is responsible for overseeing overall operations of DHX and its subsidiaries. Mr. DeNure also serves as Executive Producer on many of the Company’s television and interactive media projects. Mr. DeNure co-founded Decode Entertainment in 1997 and in 2006 merged the...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Steven DeNure & Neil Court, studio builders

As Vice President, Digital Media for Disney Channels Worldwide, Lauren DeVillier is responsible for the strategy and oversight of the television based digital products associated with Disney ABC Cable Networks Group kids networks and platforms., as well as efforts related to the development of mobile, social and interactive applications for...show more

Featured in: A New Kind of Incubation: A Disney XD by Maker case study

Frank Dietz, Deputy Programme Director/Head of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, joined Super RTL in 2000. The Channel has a leading role in European children’s entertainment and is jointly owned by RTL Group and Walt Disney International Television.

Frank manages the channel’s programme supply for daytime and primetime programming including content for various platforms...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... Super RTL; 30 Minutes with... Frank Dietz & Janine Weigold, Super RTL

Boris brings over 7 years of experience to his role as Vice President of Media Content at Outfit7. In addition to overseeing all media content output for the global entertainment giant, Boris co-developed and executive produces the company’s biggest content project to date, the Talking...show more

Featured in: How to Program a YouTube Channel

Based in London, Gregory Dray is YouTube's Head of Kids and Learning in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), running business development efforts in these content areas for the platform in the region. Greg joined Google/YouTube in January 2012 as Head of Original Programming in EMEA, before launching the...show more

Featured in: Around the World with YouTube

Malik Ducard is YouTube's Global Head of Kids and Learning, overseeing business development efforts in these content areas for the platform.

Previously, Ducard served as Head of West Coast Partnerships, managing film, TV and original content partners.

Prior to joining YouTube, he served as senior vice president of digital distribution for the...show more

Featured in: Around the World with YouTube

Jackie is Head of BBC Children’s Acquisitions and Independent Animation – covering both CBeebies and CBBC, the UK’s two foremost Children’s television channels.

Prior to joining CBeebies in October 2008, Jackie worked as an animation producer and consultant working on many prestigious and award-winning animated series and specials in the Independent...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1

As Assistant Director of Development, Natalie works closely with series creators on shaping their projects for PBS KIDS programming. At PBS since 2009, Natalie first served on the KIDS Marketing team before joining the Children's Programming division in 2014. In addition to developing new content, Natalie is also acts as...show more

As Senior Vice President and General Manager, DHX Studios, Ken Faier is focused on the overall management of DHX Media’s animation, live action and interactive studios and building the global business for their slate of original kids and family content. These properties include Inspector Gadget, Kate & Mim-Mim, Cloudy with...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Steven DeNure & Neil Court, studio builders; 20 Years: 20 Lessons Learned

Frank has been bringing film and television projects to life as an animator, director and executive producer for over 20 years. His trusted vision, broad expertise and strategic partnerships have provided the foundation for growth behind his creative-driven entertainment company, Guru Studio‎.

Established in 2000, Guru Studio has grown into one...show more

Featured in: Storytelling Showdown: Board Artists vs Writers

Currently CEO of atall squared a global brand solutions company based in UK. 4 Integrated divisions; design, development, distribution & disruptors that identify and enable insight driven solutions for clients that cover all key needs...show more

Featured in: YouTube-driven Licensing Programs: Fact or Fiction?

Asaph  Fipke, Chief Content Officer, DHX Studios, brings a rare blend of expertise in the creation, development, production and business of kids and family entertainment. As Chief Content Officer, Mr. Fipke heads up the development and production of all animation, live action and interactive content across the studios division at...show more

Featured in: Creative Playbook 2016

Karen Fowler is a multi-Emmy winning Executive Producer and Showrunner. A dynamic architect of kids programming, Karen has held staff positions at Nickelodeon, CBC and Sesame Workshop and worked independently for Sprout, Henson and Sago Sago. She counts Joan Ganz Cooney as a personal mentor. She was the brain...show more

Featured in: Real Linear and Digital Convergence—the Holy Grail of Content Creation

Caroline Fraser is the Vice President of Program Development and Acquistion within the Consumer Group at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  She oversees the creative development of the company’s internal and original IP, from conception through execution.  She also defines the content strategy for their subscription service Curious World and oversees licensing,...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Caroline Fraser, HMH

Jeff Fromm is the Millennial Marketing Guy™. Jeff is President of FutureCast, a marketing consultancy that specializes in millennial trends.  He is also a contributing writer at Forbes.

Jeff is a frequent speaker on marketing, trends & innovation.  Jeff has published numerous research reports on the millennial consumer and is the...show more

Featured in: Millennial Parents: Powerful Consumers with POV

As head of television development for DreamWorks Animation, Peter oversees the creative development of a rapidly growing slate of original television projects, including the content for DreamWorks Animation’s ground-breaking multi-year deal with Netflix. As part the studio’s television initiatives, Gal and his creative team are tasked with...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Peter Gal, DreamWorks Animation

A veteran distribution professional with over 20 years experience, Ed 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 content portfolio in major territories including North America, Scandinavia,...show more

Featured in: 20 Years: 20 Lessons Learned

Athena Georgaklis is Director of Content for Teletoon and oversees content development, acquisitions and production for Teletoon's English and French brands including Teletoon, Télétoon, Teletoon at Night, Télétoon la Nuit, and Cartoon Network Canada, along with their respective non-linear services. Having worked in all areas of TV production, Athena played a key role in the growth...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Carole Bonneau & Athena Georgaklis, Teletoon; Speed Pitching 3

Phyl Georgiou is the Founder and CEO of Tiggly – a leader in the connected play and learning toy space since its launch in 2013. Tiggly brings physical play to tablets by designing fun learning tech toys that interact with a series of learning apps for children 2 to 8 years old! At Tiggly, he oversees...show more

Featured in: State of the Nation for Kids Apps

Alan Gershenfeld is President, Co-Founder of E-Line Media, a leading developer and publisher of games that engage and empower across consumer and informal learning channels.  Alan has worked on impact game projects with the Gates Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, National Science Foundation, USAID, DARPA, White House OSTP, California Endowment, Cook Inlet Tribal...show more

Featured in: The Growing Market for Games That Engage, Educate and Empower

Rick Glankler is FremantleMedia’s EVP/General Manager of Kids & Family Entertainment. Based in New York he is responsible for all areas of FremantleMedia’s KFE business: production, consumer products, TV sales and brand management. He oversees all creative and commercial aspects of the business with the overall responsibility of continuing to...show more

Featured in: Creative Playbook 2016

Michael is Vice President, Original Production for DHX Television, managing Family Channel, Family CHRGD, Family Jr. and Télémagino. In this role, he oversees the slate of original series, specials and movies for the entire suite of Family networks while continuing to develop television productions to air across all platforms.

DHX Television’s...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... DHX Television; 30 Minutes with... Michael Goldsmith & Sarah Haasz, DHX Television

Adam Goldstein is VP, Business Development for ZEFR, the leading technology & data partner to major media companies and brands on YouTube and other social media platforms, where he focuses on partnering with platforms, film studios, music labels, TV networks, sports leagues, and other content owners in both the US...show more

Featured in: Trends in online kidvid viewership, marketing and monetization; Master Class: Taking Best Practices from YouTube to Other Digital Platforms

Bill Graham is Vice President of Business Development for Jazwares, LLC. In this capacity, Graham leads brand evaluation and activation for the company.

Graham joined Jazwares, LLC in 2012, and helped lead the brand teams behind the development of Minecraft, NBA Heroes, Flick-to-Stick Bungees, Terraria and Adventure Time toy lines.

Before joining...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Bill Graham, Jazwares

Jeffrey Grant is senior vice president of research for Turner Emerging Consumer, which represents the Turner portfolio’s young adult and kid targeted networks – Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim and truTV.  In this capacity, Grant is responsible for all aspects of research for the four networks as well as their...show more

Featured in: Millennial Parents: Powerful Consumers with POV

Mark is one of Australia’s most talented animation designers and directors. While carving out an impressive reel of commercials, promos, shorts and music clips, he’s also one of the few directors to design and direct two hi-end 3D feature films with Casper’s Scare School and Here Comes Peter Cottontail the...show more

Featured in: Storytelling Showdown: Board Artists vs Writers

Freelance writer, story editor and creative producer. Current projects include Wenda for Breakthrough Entertainment / CBC and Mansour for Cartoon Network Studios (Abu Dhabi).

Alan Gregg has over 20 years experience in the film & television industry with a wide range of experience including creative development, production, distribution and broadcasting. Since...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Belinda Gruebner has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry.   Belinda currently holds the role of Marketing Director for Moose Toys, an Australian privately owned Toy Company and the creator of the current...show more

Featured in: YouTube-driven Licensing Programs: Fact or Fiction?

As Director, Original Programming for Family Channel, CHRGD and Family Jr., Sarah Haasz oversees the creative aspects of development and production for all networks, including series and movies such as The Next Step, The Wonderful Wayneys, Backstage, Gaming Show, Playdate and Justin Time. Sarah was also Creative Producer for The Next Step Live...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Michael Goldsmith & Sarah Haasz, DHX Television

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

Allana Harkin is a Toronto based Actor/Writer/Comedian and huge fan of children’s television.  She can be seen regularly as ‘Dino Dan’s Mom’ on the Emmy Award Winning Series Dino Dan and Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures (TVO/Nick Jr) as well as many other hit shows such as Degrassi:TNG (Teen Nick/MTV/CTV), Annedroids...show more

Featured in: Kidscreen Awards Ceremony and After-Party

Vivienne Harr is the 12-year-old Chief Inspiration officer at STAND, a social network & mobile platform where people can connect with others around the causes they care about. Vivienne believes that anyone, no matter their age, can create a positive change in the world. The app makes it easy...show more

Featured in: Getting to know Generation Disruption

Six time Emmy award winner Peter Hastings has been working professionally in film, television, theatre and music for over thirty years. Originally from Philadelphia, Peter attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston and moved to Los Angeles as a working musician where he played and taught for several years....show more

Featured in: Showrunning 101

In her current role, Claire Heinrich selects, negotiates and oversees all acquisitions for France Televisions’ Youth Programs Department. She joined the public broadcast company in 1994, managing legal and business affairs for France 2’s co-production units. She held various positions within the group since then, notably managing negotiations for newly...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4

Hollie Holmes has over 15 years of experience in the toy, entertainment, video game, retail and manufacturing industries, across start-ups and Fortune 500 companies.  Hollie currently serves as Senior Director, Global Licensing Acquisitions and Entertainment Partnerships for Mattel Brands, overseeing the evaluation and acquisition of new properties for Mattel Brands.  Prior to...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Hollie Holmes, Mattel

Helen is the joint Managing Director and co-founder of Hoho Entertainment, a children’s production and rights management company dedicated to developing intellectual properties that are designed to be seen and experienced on all media platforms. 

She is a multi-skilled entertainment professional with a wealth of creative and commercial experience across a...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Helen Howells, HoHo Entertainment

Holly Huckins is executive producer of Disney Junior's animated television series Sheriff Callie's Wild West, the first Western for preschoolers. Huckins also developed the series for television.

She co-created and served as co-executive producer on Disney's hit animated series Higglytown Heroes, which premiered on Playhouse Disney in 2004 and currently airs...show more

Featured in: Showrunning 101

Azadeh (Azi) Jamalian, PhD, is a co-founder and Chief Learning Officer at Tiggly- an NYC-based learning company that is on a mission to improve how preschoolers learn on their tablets. Tiggly brings physical play to tablets by designing fun learning toys that interact with the silliest learning apps you can...show more

Featured in: State of the Nation for Kids Apps

As the Director of Streaming Media for PBS KIDS Digital, Karin Jue manages multi-platform video experiences for kids ages 2-8, delivering award-winning content from series such as Curious George, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Odd Squad, Nature Cat, Dinosaur Train, Peg + Cat, and SUPER WHY!

Karin joined PBS in 2007...show more

Featured in: How to Program a YouTube Channel

Prior to Jaunt, David was Senior Director of Product at Zynga (IPO 2011) where he helped lead over a dozen online and mobile games resulting in over 250m downloads and $500m in lifetime bookings.  One of the first product managers at Zynga, David built the product manager discipline, created the...show more

Featured in: Immersive VR Storytelling: A new approach to content production

Andrew Kavanagh is a filmmaker and content creator with 20 years industry experience behind him. He is Founder and CEO of Kavaleer Productions and has been involved in developing and producing shows since 2001. The studio have previously co-produced Boj, Abadas and Lifeboat Luke and have successfully financed  and produced...show more

Featured in: Don’t Feed the Trolls; Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!

Christopher Keenan is a highly accomplished creative executive, executive producer and writer who 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.  Animation Magazine has...show more

Featured in: Function Before Form: The long and short of storytelling

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 4

CJ Kettler is a media industry leader with broad management and digital experience.  She joined Channel One News, owned by private equity firm Zelnick Media as CEO and Chair in November 2012 and led the sale of the company to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (NASDAQ: HMHC) in May 2014.  CJ is...show more

Featured in: Millennial Parents: Powerful Consumers with POV

David Kleeman is SVP of Global Trends for kids interactive entertainment developer and consultancy Dubit. Strategist, analyst, author and speaker - for more than a quarter-century, he has led the children's media industry in developing sustainable, kid-friendly practices surrounding play and learning. He's a connector and thought leader, challenging the...show more

Featured in: Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!; Looking Back, Looking Forward: Platforms and Practices

Tatiana started Bejuba! Entertainment 11 years ago to specialize in the executive production, financing, co-production and distribution of children’s and family entertainment across all platforms. The company works with producers to get their productions off the ground and distributes children’s entertainment across all platforms around the world. The company has...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Sanna is heading Rovio’s fast-growing global multiplatform ToonsTV business. With almost 6 billion views, ToonsTV is a popular mobile video app service featuring premium short form animations for kids and families. ToonsTV is ad-supported and its partners are among the most recognized entertainment brands in the world.

Sanna has almost twenty...show more

Featured in: Trends in online kidvid viewership, marketing and monetization

Christian Kurz is Senior Vice President of Research, Insights and Reporting for Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN).  Based in New York, Mr. Kurz is responsible for providing VIMN with strategic consumer-based insights and maintaining a strongly aligned research organization. His guidance is used to inform international business...show more

Featured in: Kids TV Redefined: New consumer research and insights from Nickelodeon

Brandon Lane is Production Executive, Original Programming for TELETOON and Cartoon Network Canada. Brandon oversees the production of an assigned slate of original programming for TELETOON and TELETOON at Night, collaborating with producers from premise to sound mix.

A screenwriter and producer, prior to joining TELETOON Brandon worked as Development Executive...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4; Speed Pitching 2

Geraldine Laybourne is a serial entrepreneur in media and technology. Currently she is the Chairman and co-Founder of Kandu, a kid’s technology company. She founded Oxygen Media in 1999 and served as Chairman and CEO of Oxygen Media until she sold it to NBC Universal in 2007.

Ms. Laybourne was a...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Gerry Laybourne, media maven

Anthony Leo is the co-founder of Aircraft Pictures.  With offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, Aircraft is a production company devoted to developing, financing and producing scripted content for a variety of platforms.  Anthony is currently producing the animated theatrical feature film The Breadwinner – a co-production with Academy Award...show more

Featured in: Igniting social awareness with kids content

David Levine is Vice President, Programming, Production and Strategic Development, Disney Channels EMEA, and General Manager, Disney Channels UK & Ireland.  In this role, he 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.  In...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... David Levine, Disney Channels EMEA; Cocktails with... Disney EMEA; 20 Years: 20 Lessons Learned

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...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2

Based in Los Angeles, Angela Y. Lin is YouTube's Head of Kids and Learning for North America, overseeing the platform’s content strategy and partnerships in region. Since joining Google in 2010, she's worked closely with YouTube’s family entertainment and educational creator communities and helped launch the Crash Course, SciShow, and...show more

Featured in: Around the World with YouTube; 30 Minutes with... Angela Lin, YouTube

Tom Lynch has been working as a creative, innovative television writer/producer for over three decades. During that time he has created, written, directed and produced some of the most successful, dynamic, and groundbreaking television shows in the world for the youth-centered demographic. The New York Times called him “the creator...show more

Featured in: Showrunning 101

Pauline Macnamara is a Commissioning Executive in RTÉ’s Young People’s Programmes department, with responsibility for commissioning live-action programming from the independent sector and managing RTÉ’s animation slate. Before joining RTÉ, Pauline worked as a producer in the independent sector for over 15 years across entertainment, daytime and youth programming. She...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Sheila de Courcy & Pauline Macnamara, RTÉ Ireland

As the Senior Director of Kids' CBC, Martin oversees development and production of children's content for Canada's public broadcaster. Kids' CBC is dedicated to creating fun and inspiring programming that will uplift and enrich Canadian children. Martin is excited to lead Kids' CBC in providing the best children's content possible, on all...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Martin Markle, Kids CBC

Meg Marshall is the Programming Manager for Denver based DISH Network. She received her B.A. from the University of Maryland and her J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston. Meg negotiates pay per view and video on demand licensing deals for DISH Network’s multiple distribution platforms, which include...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Ankit Bishnoi & Meg Marshall , Dish Network

Rich has worked with leading marketing, branded consumer products, retail, and entertainment companies for over 20 years in various management positions with Unilever, Golden Books Family Entertainment and Big Tent Entertainment.  In 2002 Rich co-founded Big Tent as a boutique agency focused on the execution of marketing and licensing strategies for...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Rich Maryyanek, Big Tent Entertainment

Sid Mathur is Senior Vice President and Global Head of Strategic Development and Mergers & Acquisitions for Mattel, Inc. He leads the team responsible for executing all strategic transactions and partnerships for Mattel. With his extensive experience in business model development, brand development, strategy, finance and global markets, Sid oversees...show more

Featured in: Made for YouTube: How Mattel is tapping Tongal to produce digital content

A mom of two girls, and a child development expert by training, Stacey loves learning from kids of all ages and translating insights into inspiring implications for clients. She believes that content is most successful when it helps kids have fun while doing the work of growing up. Therefore, she...show more

Featured in: A Five-Year Plan for Staying on Trend

Helen McAleer joined Walker Books UK as MD in 2006 to focus on building Walker UK’s reputation as a forward looking company, geared towards acquisition and management of multiple rights, and to oversee development of the digital publishing strategy. Devising a multi-platform strategy to help deliver Walker IP to new...show more

Featured in: 20 Years: 20 Lessons Learned

British born, Canada-based with spells in Paris and Los Angeles, Jennifer McCann is an established independent producer with 14 years of experience in animation production, international co-production and development. As Director of Development, Jennifer is responsible for sourcing and developing animated and live-action properties for kids of all ages.

Prior to...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 2

Tom McGillis is an Emmy® Award-winning executive producer, writer and series creator, specializing in children's and family entertainment. 

He is President and Co-Founder of Fresh TV, a world leader in creating television that powerfully connects to kid, tween and teen audiences around the world.

Along with creative partner Jennifer Pertsch,...show more

Featured in: Storytelling Showdown: Board Artists vs Writers

Kristen McLean is the Director of New Business Development at Nielsen Book, a part of Nielsen Entertainment, where she is responsible for developing new lines of revenue from existing products, as well as the creation of new initiatives that expand Nielsen's value to its publishing clients. 

Prior...show more

Featured in: Millennial Parents: Powerful Consumers with POV

Flavio Medeiros is the director of  programming and acquisitions for Discovery Kids Latin America, since March 2013. His areas of expertise include children’s television, acquisitions and sales within the pay TV industry.

Before joining Discovery, Medeiros worked as vice president of sales for ITV Global Entertainment in Latin America and the...show more

Featured in: Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!

With over two decades of television experience producing across children’s programming, Michel most recently served as General Manager at Marathon Media, which he co-founded and subsequently sold to Zodiak Media.  At Marathon, he played a key role in growing the production entity into a leading global company producing family content...show more

Featured in: Producing Bite-Sized Content for the On-Demand Generation

Luca Milano is Executive Deputy Director of RAI Fiction, the department of RAI, Italy’s public broadcaster, responsible for producing and co-producing TV Drama and Animation.

Rai Fiction is a major player in European audiovisual industry, commissioning yearly some 400 hours of TV Drama and 100 hours of Animation.

Luca is the head of...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Luca Milano, RAI Fiction

Karen K. Miller is Vice President, Worldwide Programming Strategy, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Disney Channels Worldwide.

Miller 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...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Creative Playbook 2016

J Milligan is the Executive Producer at Toca Boca, a play studio that makes digital toys for kids. He is spearheading the company’s new video division dedicated to exploring the new TV and video landscape for kids. Since its first product launch in 2011, Toca Boca has released 29 apps...show more

Featured in: State of the Nation for Kids Apps; Real Linear and Digital Convergence—the Holy Grail of Content Creation

Jonathan Mirsky is Licensing Manager at Spin Master. He works closely with Spin Master’s Marketing, Entertainment and Sales teams to comprehensively evaluate all incoming licensing opportunities.  This involves scouring the world for exciting intellectual property to license on Spin Master’s toys, and managing key relationships with studios and creators of...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Jonathan Mirsky, Spin Master

2015 Emmy Award winner for “Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program”, Grant Moran has been a highly respected writer, producer, executive, and creative consultant for over 20 years.

His early career guiding the development of new plays in professional theater led to his recruitment by Warner Bros. Animation where as a...show more

Featured in: Function Before Form: The long and short of storytelling

Lucy Murphy started out in the kids biz selling television programmes internationally. As a Producer, Script Editor and Development Executive Lucy has worked on over 500 episodes of children’s shows ranging from Spot, The Gruffalo and Aardman’s Tate Movie Project for a diverse slate of clients from small indies to major...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Lucy Murphy, Sky

With almost 20 years of experience in global expansion, Kimi Navai is an accomplished innovator of international products, with a successful track record in building and evolving global brands and products worldwide. Navai has a strong understanding of consumer behavior and extensive experience building and leading strong teams to drive...show more

Featured in: State of the Nation for Kids Apps

Jeff Norton is an author, writer-producer, and founder of Awesome, a creative incubator.

He is the author of the award-winning thriller series MetaWars (Hachette), the comedic  Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie (Faber), and the upcoming picture book Stomp School (Little Tiger Press), which is in development as pre-school television, and the...show more

Featured in: How To Train Your Creator

Paul Nunn (@Nunnone) is Chief Commercial Officer at SuperAwesome, the kids digital engagement platform which reaches a quarter of a billion kids each month. Paul has global responsibility for PopJam, the industry's leading safe-social content platform for kids as well as heading all initiatives around SuperAwesome's YouTube and online video...show more

Featured in: State of the Nation for Kids Apps

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 Noodle...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Lisa O'Brien, Sprout

Rachel Payne started FEM Inc. when she realized that there was an enormous opportunity in entertainment for innovation. In her prior role as Principal, Global Strategic Alliances at Google, she worked with top executives across the company to develop comprehensive strategies for their largest global media partners, including Sony, Disney, NewsCorp...show more

Featured in: The Future of Storymaking?

Cecilia Persson is Vice President of Acquisitions & Co-Productions for all Turner Broadcasting’s kids’ channels across EMEA and International, including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito and Boing. 

In this role, Persson oversees and negotiates shared acquisitions for Turner Broadcasting’s international kids business, working closely with the local heads of programming and acquisitions...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Cecilia Persson, Turner Broadcasting EMEA; Cocktails with... Turner Broadcasting EMEA

As the Director of Content, Jamie Piekarz oversees all original Canadian and international co-productions (animation, live action scripted and non-scripted) from development to broadcast for several of the kid’s networks, ensuring that each show is poised for global success across all platforms. In her position she also consults on digital...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Jamie Piekarz, Corus Kids (YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon Canada); Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4; Cocktails with... Corus Kids

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 US; Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!

As EVP and Commercial Director Julia is responsible for building new business and global opportunities for Walker Books’ Group Rights and Development Division across licensing, digital, publishing and TV production. Julia oversees all Walker UK licensing activity across brands including Guess How Much I Love You, Maisy, Tilly and Friends,...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Julia Posen, Walker Books

Juliano Prado is a multimedia artist, screenwriter and producer, with experience in content production for different screens. He was responsible for the very first Brazilian viral effect, in the beginning of the internet era, when his animated greeting cards site reached millions of subscribers.  With his art and business partner, Marcos Luporini, he has created the...show more

Featured in: YouTube-driven Licensing Programs: Fact or Fiction?

Lucy has been working at CBBC for five years. As Development Producer in the Acquisition’s Department, Lucy selects projects for CBBC’s 6-12 audience and oversees pre-bought Animation and Live Action series delivered by UK and international production companies.

Lucy is currently working on Shaun the Sheep (Aardman), Scream Street (Coolabi/Factory TM)...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2

Isaac Quiroga, Senior Manager, Global Content Strategy & Distribution, New Media, oversees the development and execution of content distribution strategies for nonlinear platforms, including YouTube, for Mattel brands worldwideincluding Barbie™, Hot Wheels™, Monster High™, Ever After High™, Thomas...show more

Featured in: How to Program a YouTube Channel; Trends in online kidvid viewership, marketing and monetization

A development executive/producer with over fifteen years of industry experience, Birk Rawlings has shepherded nearly 100 projects through the creative process for or with some of the most acclaimed studios in the industry including The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation.

As Head of Animation for DreamWorksTV, Rawlings’ primary responsibility...show more

Featured in: Producing Bite-Sized Content for the On-Demand Generation

Liliana Vogt is Senior Vice President of Content for Portfolio Entertainment. Vogt oversees all facets of the company’s development of television and digital media content and is responsible for growing its slate of original multi-platform properties. Vogt joined Portfolio Entertainment in October 2014 and brings with her a successful track-record...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 2

Shabnam is the co-founder of Big Bad Boo Animation Studios and Oznoz, an OTT platform for kids. Oznoz is an ad-free subscription based platform with shows like Sesame Street, Babar and Super Why offered in 10+ languages. Shabnam has produced many shows including Mixed Nutz, 1001 Nights, Lili & Lola and is currently in...show more

Featured in: Igniting social awareness with kids content

Michael Rinzler is the Founding Partner and Co-President of Wicked Cool Toys, a Bristol-PA-based multi-brand toymaker with offices in Pennsylvania, California and Hong Kong. Wicked Cool Toys manufacturers dolls, activities, figures, plush, play sets and wood toys based on proprietary brands and top licenses from partners, including Cabbage Patch Kids,...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Michael Rinzler, Wicked Cool Toys

Peter Robinson is head of research at kids entertainment consultancy, Dubit. With over a decade's experience in consulting for brands and IPs, Peter has witnessed the shift in how children consume and engage with their favourite characters and stories. Peter and his team are seeing an increasing...show more

Featured in: Looking Back, Looking Forward: Platforms and Practices

Eric is the CEO of Rollman Entertainment. Rollman has generated and driven top-rated franchise properties for many of the biggest entertainment brands and has produced over 10,000 hours of film and television content across all demographics and genres.

With three decades...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

With over fifteen years in broadcasting, development and production, Chris joined ABC Children’s Television in May 2012 as Commissioning Editor. Chris is responsible for sourcing, developing and executive producing commissioned content for the ABC’s two dedicated children’s channels, ABC3 and ABC KIDS. 

Since joining...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Orion Ross joined Disney's London team in 2008, and is responsible for the creative development and production of original animated series for Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, as well as original content for digital platforms and regional acquisitions. Recent projects include Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Boyster, Miraculous...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1

Grainne joined Disney in 2015 and worked in the original programming team as a Senior Manager across Animation and Digital before joining the Live-Action team as their head of Development. Grainne has over 14 years’ experience within the TV industry. Before Disney, she worked at...show more

Suzanne is the Founder and CEO of SLR Productions, a company she established in 2002.  Suzanne has Executive Produced over 145 hours of award winning children’s content, which has sold into 160 territories worldwide. As an Emmy Award winning producer, a twice recipient of the SPA Children’s Producer of the Year award...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Shai Samet is founder and president of the kidSAFE Seal Program, a popular safety seal-of-approval service designed exclusively for children-friendly websites, apps, and technologies.  Hundreds of well-known brands around the world are participating members in the program.  kidSAFE was developed by Samet Privacy, an experienced and award-winning privacy services company based...show more

Featured in: Don’t Feed the Trolls

Angela Santomero has been changing the way children watch television for more than fifteen years. She is a founding partner of Out of the Blue Enterprises LLC, and the Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer of the hit preschool series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, as well as the Emmy-nominated show, Super Why on PBS Kids. She is...show more

Featured in: Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!

Frank Saperstein oversees all aspects of development, production, programming, digital and licensing opportunities in Tricon’s Kids, Family & Animation business, leveraging the company's extensive development, production and distribution expertise, while expanding the division’s strategic partnerships with creators, co-producers, broadcasters and ancillary revenue opportunities.

Frank’s experience as an Annecy Award Winning and...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; Speed Pitching 3

Dave Schlafman is a four-time Emmy-nominated animation and interactive producer and director with 10+ years experience building creative teams and producing content and products for children. Dave spent the early part of his career working in animation, illustration, and brand development for companies such as Penguin, Hasbro Toys and Scholastic,...show more

Featured in: Real Linear and Digital Convergence—the Holy Grail of Content Creation

Carina Schulze is a writer, producer, and partner at Chatrone US and Chatrone Latin America. Carina produced the animated feature, The Book of Life, distributed by FOX, nominated for the Golden Globes and winner of the Annie. In Brazil, Carina is showrunner of kids musical series, Gaby Estrella, currently in...show more

Featured in: Function Before Form: The long and short of storytelling

Larry Schwarz specializes in creating characters, telling stories and producing content across multiple platforms.  

Currently writing, with co-writer Iva-Marie Palmer, Romeo, Juliet and Jim, a three book YA series for Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Henry Holt Books.

He is the creator and executive producer of the live action series Alien Dawn (26 x...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Francesco Sedita joined Penguin in 2008 as the publisher of Grosset & Dunlap, Price Stern Sloan ,and Frederick Warne, where he focuses on creating a quality, affordable book program for children ages 0-12.  Francesco is fortunate to publish authors like Ann Hood, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Whetherhead, Giada De Laurentiis,...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Francesco Sedita, Penguin Young Readers Group

Fred Seibert is the founder and CEO of Frederator Networks, co-founder of Thirty Labs, and a serial media entrepreneur.

He was the first creative director of MTV and the last president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. Fred was the founder of Next New Networks (acquired by YouTube). He’s on the board of directors...show more

Featured in: Then, Now & Next: Fred Seibert, digital media innovator

Larry Seidman is CEO of Dimensional Branding Group (DBG), a San Francisco 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...show more

Featured in: Mentor Class: 21st Century Branding—How to apply it to kids entertainment, licensing, PR and more

Derek Sentner has spent over 15 years growing and building revenue across leading media publishing companies and brands. His experience with traditional publishers and new media start ups has lead to a deep level of expertise across all aspects of media. During his career, Derek has built and managed national...show more

Featured in: How to Program a YouTube Channel

Gerry has been working in the animation industry for over 25 years and is Managing Director at Cartoon Saloon, the double Oscar nominated studio of the highly acclaimed The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. Cartoon Saloon is currently producing the 2nd season of Puffin Rock (nominated in this year’s KidScreen Awards), an...show more

Featured in: Igniting social awareness with kids content

Migdalis Silva is Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions for Nickelodeon Latin America.  Based in Miami, Silva reports into Tatiana Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Programming and Creative Strategy for Nickelodeon Latin America. 

In this role, Silva is responsible for the programing strategy and positioning of all on-air content for the...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3

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. Since joining PBS in 2003, Linda has worked with renowned producers to develop hit shows such as Curious...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Linda Simensky, PBS KIDS; Cocktails with... PBS KIDS; Then, Now & Next: Gerry Laybourne, media maven

Nat Sims is the CEO and Founder of Night & Day Studios, the award-winning app company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Nat has a master’s degree in developmental psychology, and he has been a content developer, composer, and game designer for 25 years. Nat has produced over 100 iOS, Android, and...show more

Featured in: App Licensing: The Seven-Year Itch

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 and youth department as Programming Advisor, and then joined France 3 in 1998.

In October 2008,...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3

Christopher Skala is Founder & CEO of Ta-Da-TV, a pre-school specialist digital content company. He was formerly Head of TV Sales & Strategy for three long years at Guinness World Records, where he was responsible for OFFICIALLY AMAZING, the hit record-breaking show on CBBC, currently in its fourth series production.

Before...show more

Featured in: How To Train Your Creator

Dave writes and produces kids’ content with an eye towards characters and licensing.

In 2015, Dave began work on a new preschool series with Sprout after writing 52 episodes of animated comedy Two Two’s Big Dream for China’s Henan Mysa Anime as the series’ head writer, and co-authoring preschool e-book Is That A...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development; Kidscreen's 20th Anniversary Trivia Challenge!

Tara Sorensen is Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios overseeing development and production of original kids programming. Sorensen joined Amazon from National Geographic, where she was VP, Kids Programming for the Emmy Award winning Toot & Puddle for Nick Jr. and Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies for PBS. Prior to that, Sorensen was VP, Kids Programming...show more

Featured in: Creative Playbook 2016; 30 Minutes with... Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios

From May 1996 to September 1999, Géraldine Soto was Acquisitions and Programming Coordinator for Disney Channel France, joining the team a year before the network’s broadcast launch (March 1997).

In September 1999, she joined TPS as Programming Manager for “TéléTOON” (the kids’ channel for 6-10 y.o.) and launched the edutaining channel...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4

Julie Stall is Senior Vice President of Production for Portfolio Entertainment where she oversees the production of all its properties and the company’s recently launched specialty animation shop, Portfolio Animation. Stall also serves on the company’s Management team.

With over 25 years of experience in producing quality children’s television, Stall has...show more

Featured in: Showrunning 101

Stein is a Foresight Analyst, Mentor, and Educator. Currently, appointed Lab Director of DMRII’s Super Ordinary, which focusses on new technologies and research methods. She is a member of OCAD U’s Digital Futures Office and the Strategic Foresight & Innovation graduate program. Stein has been an adjunct Faculty at AHO...show more

Featured in: Master Class: Developing The Master Plan—How To Think About The Future of Your Business

Beth Stevenson, Founder and President of Brain Power Studio, is an Executive Producer specializing in Children’s and Family entertainment. Brain Power Studio produces and distributes both live action, animation and interactive content. Beth has served as Producer and Executive Producer on over 35 series and 4 movies. Many of which...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Jocelyn Stevenson has worked in children’s television for over 40 years as a writer, creator, producer, executive producer.  Her work is informed by the conviction that screen-based media can be a powerful influence that simultaneously educates, entertains, and inspires children.

Born in Chicago, she moved to California to study psychology at...show more

Featured in: Real Linear and Digital Convergence—the Holy Grail of Content Creation

Scott & Julie Stewart are award-winning content creators and entrepreneurs based in Vancouver, Canada.  They currently own and operate Team Stewart, a boutique entertainment company that incubates story concepts (both internal and external) and brings them to fruition across multiple media streams.

The pair believes that collaboration is the key to...show more

Featured in: How To Train Your Creator

Scott & Julie Stewart are award-winning content creators and entrepreneurs based in Vancouver, Canada.  They currently own and operate Team Stewart, a boutique entertainment company that incubates story concepts (both internal and external) and brings them to fruition across multiple media streams.

The pair believes that collaboration is the key to...show more

Featured in: How To Train Your Creator

Rita Street is an Executive Producer and Development Consultant for the kids’ cartoon industry. Over the last decade she has landed more than 1,200 pitch meetings with network and indie development execs. Of those 1,200 pitches she’s sold a record 16 shows into development deals and four of those properties...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Dr. Robert Sumner is the Associate Director of Disney Research Zurich and an Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. At DRZ, Robert leads the lab’s research on animation and interactive graphics. His research group strives to bypass technical barriers in the animation production pipeline with new...show more

Featured in: New Tech That Will Blow Your Mind!

Akinori Takahagi is CEO and co-founder at Moff. Moff is the maker of award-winning wearable smart toy, Moff Band. Moff Band combines the bluetooth, accelerometer and gyroscope to recognize users’ 3D motion, based on Moff’s platform. Moff announced the partnership with PBS KIDS and Bandai Namco Entertainment, previewing the demo...show more

Featured in: New Tech That Will Blow Your Mind!

Devon is the co-creator of the popular Kids & Family YouTube channel Super Simple Songs. With over 3.4 billion views and 2.5 million subscribers, Super Simple Songs has become a favorite with teachers, parents, and children around the world. In 2015, Devon co-founded Toronto-based Skyship Entertainment Company to further develop...show more

Featured in: How to Program a YouTube Channel

As VP Digital at Dubit Bobby develops strategies and oversees development of digital entertainment apps and games for kids. Since launching in 1999 Dubit has experience of working with leading children’s entertainment companies as well as innovative start-ups from around the globe. Clients include DreamWorks, Mattel, PBS KIDS, Disney, Cartoon Network,...show more

Featured in: Drawing Digital Success: From pencil sketch to millions of players

Andrew Thomas is a Senior Manager, Content Acquisition at Hulu where he oversees content acquisition for Hulu Kids and directs the expansion of the Hulu Kids content portfolio. Andrew works with the entire Content Acquisition Team at Hulu to create a best-in-class experience on Hulu by offering a robust library...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... Hulu; Speed Pitching 2

Martha is Director of Marketing & Insights at ZEFR, a leading social video technology company for content owners and brands. She leads all quantitative and qualitative research efforts across Fortune 500 brands, advising them on how to best craft their programming, media spend, and influencer strategy based on data insights...show more

Featured in: Master Class: Taking Best Practices from YouTube to Other Digital Platforms

Antoine Torres joined YouTube’s Kids and Learning team in 2015 and oversees the platform’s strategic content partnerships across Latin America, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Prior to joining YouTube, he worked for 7 years at Exim Licensing Group, successively serving as Brand Manager, Licensing Manager and Vice President of Strategy...show more

Featured in: Around the World with YouTube

Esteban is the Founder and Director of a dedicated and loyal crew at Echo Bridge.  5 time Addy, Communicator and Davey Award winner for animation.  Coffee enthusiast.  Stanley Kubrick fanatic.  Find him on twitter @echobridge.

Featured in: Storytelling Showdown: Board Artists vs Writers

Nadine is an award-winning content creator, writer, producer, and composer with a extensive track record in family entertainment.

As Co-Creator, music producer and composer, and showrunner of the Emmy award winning sitcom and cross platform hit The Fresh Beat Band and its animated sequel, The...show more

Featured in: Showrunning 101

Christopher is a Partner with Strategy&, a member of the PwC network of firms (formerly Booz & Company), where he is the global advisory leader for Entertainment and Media.

Over his twenty year career with the firm, Christopher has specialized in top-level strategy development and capability building for leading media, entertainment,...show more

Featured in: The View From Over the Top

Alice Webb is Director, BBC Children’s, responsible for the UK's two most popular networks for our youngest audiences, CBeebies and CBBC.

Formerly, Chief Operating Officer (COO), BBC England, Alice was responsible for overseeing all aspects of technology, people, workspace, migration and future ways of working across the BBC sites in Salford,...show more

Featured in: Keeping Up with the Kids: BBC Children’s Charts its Digital Future; Cocktails with... BBC Children's

Janine Weigold joined SUPER RTL in November 2014 as Head of Children’s Content. In this function, she is responsible for the development, co-production and acquisition of new series and magazines for TV and free online sites, target group 3-13 years, boys and girls equally.  

Prior to SUPER RTL, Janine worked...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Frank Dietz & Janine Weigold, Super RTL

Chris M. Williams serves as Chief Audience Officer of Maker Studios, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. As the Chief Audience Officer, Mr. Williams is the steward of the world’s largest network of short form video creators around the globe. Since joining Maker in early 2012, he has overseen the growth of...show more

Featured in: A New Kind of Incubation: A Disney XD by Maker case study

Kay Wilson Stallings serves as Senior Vice President, Content Development, Sesame Workshop. In this role, Stallings oversees creative development and pilot production globally of all original content for multiple platforms. She also explores new production models and partnerships to develop new programs, processes and talent for the creative group.

Prior to...show more

Featured in: Function Before Form: The long and short of storytelling

Alan Winnikoff is co-principal of Sayles & Winnikoff Communications, the boutique social media, public relations and brand strategies firm he and his partner, Carina Sayles, co-founded in 2003. 

Alan is responsible for the strategic direction and overall management of the company and the account team.  With a recognized expertise in branding...show more

Featured in: Mentor Class: 21st Century Branding—How to apply it to kids entertainment, licensing, PR and more

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

At Amazon Studios, Melissa Wolfe manages a robust slate of animated projects from development through series. She got her start as an executive at Frederator Studios where she helped to develop 39 animated shorts for Nickelodeon's Random! Cartoons and produced over 100 episodes of the Channel Frederator podcast. She has...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 4

As a Production Executive in Original Programming, Leah Wolfson is responsible for overseeing the creative development and production of the original programming slate for Corus Entertainment’s YTV and Treehousenetworks. Working in partnership with producers, Leah has contributed to the success of several popular and award-winning YTV and Treehouse series, including...show more

Brenda Wooding has over 20 years of experience in program development, financing, co-production, and international distribution.  She specializes in developing and producing creator driven properties for the international marketplace.  With an extensive network of contacts- from domestic and international buyers to producing partners around the world- Brenda...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Suzanne Xie is the Founder and CEO of Hullabalu, a children's media company reinventing storytelling for the next generation. Her company, launched in 2013, raised over $4M from prominent investors, and their story apps have reached #1 in iTunes Books in over 38 countries. They released their fifth original title...show more

Featured in: State of the Nation for Kids Apps

SK broadband is IPTV platform in Korea and marketing vehicle for animation and a subsidiary of SK Telecom, Harry leads investment, distribution and business development. Around 4M subscribers enjoy more than 160 linear channels and VOD. SKB has been investment partner for Korean Animation last 7 years, more than 35...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Harry Yoon, SK Broadband

Laura Zebersky is the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Jazwares Inc., an industry leader in the manufacturing and distribution of the most popular toys for children of all ages.  As CCO, Mrs. Zebersky oversees Jazwares’ global licensing, marketing and sales...show more

Featured in: YouTube-driven Licensing Programs: Fact or Fiction?

As Head of Kids and Learning for YouTube Originals, Nadine partners with top YouTube Kids and Learning creators to develop hit original series for the platform. Prior to YouTube Nadine served as Vice President of Sesame Street Production and Programming and Supervising Producer for Sesame Street. Zylstra’s body of work...show more

Featured in: Around the World with YouTube