16 years of experience in the internet and gaming industry at Zinkia Entertainment and international sales director at Vodka Capital and Anima Kitchent. In charge of international sales, co-pros, brand building strategies, distribution partnerships with licensing companies, broadcasters and digital companies.

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Graduated from Sciences Po and la Sorbonne in Paris, Philippe Alessandri, 47, has been working in production for over 20 years.

He started as a Production Manager at Saban and Marathon (1994-1998).

At the end of 1998, he joined the group Tele Images as Head of children programs. In 2002, he created...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Jo is a producer  with  BBC Children’s Independent Animation and Acquisitions, with a focus on CBBC ( 6 – 12 years).

Previously Jo worked as an animation producer and consultant in the independent sector, making commercials, series,  including ‘Morph’ and ‘Angry Kid’,  and short films, including the Academy Award nominated ‘Wat’s...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Cocktails with… BBC Children's; 30 Minutes with… Jackie Edwards & Jo Allen, BBC Kids

Billy Aronson’s work in the theater includes the original concept/additional lyrics for the Broadway musical Rent.His plays have been published in 6 volumes of Best American Short Plays, and collected in Funny Shorts, for which he posed nearly naked. TV writing credits include The Wonder Pets, Beavis and Butt-head, and Courage...show more

Featured in: Hacking the System: How to reverse-engineer Hollywood

Evan Baily is a creative producer, packager, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of TV, video games, digital platforms, and iconic brands. He is currently building a socially responsible content company, developing and packaging a TV series based on an iconic mobile game property, and serving as executive producer of...show more

Featured in: Surviving, Scaling and Making Money in the Kids Digital Space

Justine is an independent children’s media consultant with 25 years’ experience accrued most notably at 20th Century Fox, Disney Channels France, TV Loonland and PGS Entertainment.  Her skillset spans animation production, development and post-production, distribution, acquisitions, co-productions, marketing, brand and community management and project evaluation. Justine set up JUST B...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Alexander Bar is an Emmy award-winning show creator, producer and children’s author with more than 20 years’ experience of working in the children’s media business. 

Alexander has created, developed and produced multiple global preschool series including: Lunar Jim (92x11”, produced by Alliance Atlantis between 2004-2007); Mike the Knight (133x11”, co-produced by HiT Entertainment and...show more

Featured in: From Preschool to Pre-Cool: Is 4 to 7 is the new 3 to 4?

Doug Barrett is the BellMedia Professor of Media Management in the Arts, Media and Entertainment Management MBA program at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto.

From 1986 until 2006, Mr. Barrett was a Partner in the law firm of McMillan LLP where he developed a leading media and entertainment law...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Mentor Class: Negotiating 101

As Executive Vice President, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us, Richard Barry is responsible for delivering a coordinated strategic approach to all merchandising decisions for the company’s toy and baby businesses in the U.S. With more than three decades of experience in retail merchandising, he leads the organization’s development...show more

Featured in: Consumer products insights from Toys"R"Us Inc.

During her five years at Mattel, Jennifer Bennett has held various roles and currently serves as Senior Director, Licensing Acquisitions and Entertainment Partnerships as a member of the Strategic Development team. Jennifer is charged with evaluating properties and securing new licenses for the Mattel and Fisher-Price portfolios. In addition, Jennifer...show more

Featured in: Is Your IP Ready for Licensing?

Kelli Bixler is the founder and executive producer of the award-winning Bix Pix Entertainment, a stop-motion animation studio in Los Angeles. After a career producing and directing live-action content in Chicago, she founded Bix Pix in 1998 with the goal of shepherding a diverse group of talented artists to create...show more

Featured in: Inside Amazon Studios' Approach to Preschool

Jo Boag is the Creative Director at SLR Productions based in Sydney, Australia. She is an Emmy Award winning Creative Director and the 2014 B&T Women in Media ‘Creative of the Year’ winner.  At SLR Productions she is responsible for developing and overseeing the creative direction of 160 hours of...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Julien Borde is Head of VOD at France Télévisions. He is overseeing AVOD, TVOD and SVOD activities for French public broadcaster

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...show more

Featured in: Hyper Innovation: The future of animation

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

Jenna Boyd is the Chief Content Officer of children’s multimedia company, GoldieBlox. As CCO, Boyd focuses on storytelling and creating content for the GoldieBlox brand through written, animated and live action content for kids across multiple distribution channels.

As a 20-year veteran of the kids’ entertainment business, Boyd began her career...show more

Featured in: STEAM Research: Entertaining kids where creativity and technology intersect

Two-time Interactive Emmy Award winning Erica Branch-Ridley is VP of Development and Production for HITN Learning, a division of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network.

Prior to HITN, Erica worked at Sesame Workshop, where she led digital strategy for The Electric Company before becoming VP of Production for the Sesame Learning...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... HITN

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 & Caroline Cochaux, Gulli/Canal J; Cocktails with… Gulli/Canal J

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, André controls 2DLab- a full production 2D studio and the Delta Group- A 77 year old book publishing company in Brazil. 

He has produced several award winning pre-school including: My Big-Big Friend (104x11), Mondo’s World and Jobi’s Room, all of which were created and animated...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

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: Consumer products insights from Toys"R"Us Inc.; Is Your IP Ready for Licensing?

Anne has worked at a number of the major UK children's TV companies. Starting at Thames TV, she moved to BBC Education, where she produced the multi-award winning programmes Nice Girls Don't Swear andShakespeare Shorts. As Executive Producer, she looked after an exceptionally diverse and mind-stretching range of programmes which included Teletubbies and Arthur...show more

Featured in: Occupy Kindness: How to create content kids love and parents want

Dr. Laura Brown, an early childhood expert and licensed psychologist, has been shaping the content of educational media properties for over twenty years. She develops curricula and provides formative research and consulting services for clients like Nick Jr., Disney Junior, Sprout, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, PBS Kids, Silvergate Media, Brown Bag...show more

Featured in: Serious Fun: The ins and outs of making educational content

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 2; Speed Pitching 1

Alice Cahn is a social responsibility, media and education executive experienced in creating projects and brands that lead to successful cross-sector partnerships; stimulate employee engagement; and contribute to positive social change. 

Experience includes Turner Broadcasting’s Cartoon Network where she created content and projects that drove ratings and increased audiences’ skill levels...show more

Featured in: Occupy Kindness: How to create content kids love and parents want

Kristen Campolattaro is the Vice President of Brand Marketing for Sprout, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s 24-hour preschool network where kids are Free To Grow™. Campolattaro oversees Sprout brand and consumer marketing, developing innovative strategies to inform all brand and marketing creative and overseeing campaigns. As the lead authority on Sprout’s brand,...show more

Featured in: Rebranding and Audience Engagement: A Sprout case study

Established in June 2002, Moody Street Kids specialises in creating, developing and producing original children's animated television series for a variety of major television networks.

Moody Street Kidsis owned and directed by Gillian Carr, ex - UK TV Broadcasting Commissioner and member of the International Emmys Academy. Gillian moderated the finalist’s...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Having logged more than 20 years in his kids’ TV career, Michael Carrington has a wealth of knowledge and experience in broadcasting and production, plus an understanding of the toy industry.  He has worked across both content development and commissioning on domestic and international slates for the BBC, LEGO Media,...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Michael Carrington, Australian Broadcasting Corporation; Cocktails with... ABC Australia; Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers; Speed Pitching 3

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: Inside Amazon Studios' Approach to Preschool

Paul Chenier is the Global Head of Brand Partnerships & Advertising for Rovio Ltd and Toons.TV, based in New York City.  Paul leads the revenue and partnership strategy for Toons.TV with a specific focus on increasing distribution for Toons.TV by working with top kids & family content creators and audience...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Vellu Maurola & Paul Chenier, Toons TV, Rovio Entertainment

Sarah is known by her colleagues as an improver of things. As the head of the Kids department at Insight Strategy Group, she guides a team that talks to kids and parents every day, on subjects ranging from action figures and SpongeBob to potty training and playgrounds. As such, she...show more

Featured in: Hot Research: How to woo the elusive kid fan

Kevin Clark is currently a Professor of Learning Technologies and Founding Director of the Center for Digital Media Innovation and Diversity at George Mason University. Kevin Clark’s research focuses on the role of interactive and digital media in education, broadening participation in STEM, and issues of diversity in children’s media....show more

Featured in: Digging into Diversity

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 invests multiple small amounts into piloting new scripted IP and then seeks premium platform and brand partners to grow selected properties.

Since launching...show more

Featured in: VR Storytelling Evolution: The challenge of an ever-changing point-of-view

Caroline Cochaux served as Executive Director of Jamel Debouze's production company Kissman Productions, 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… Maud Branly & Caroline Cochaux, Gulli/Canal J; Cocktails with… Gulli/Canal J

A graduate of the UK’s prestigious National Film and Television School, Tony Collingwood formed Collingwood O’Hare Entertainment with Christopher O’Hare in 1988 to produce his half-hour animated special called Rarg. Since then, Tony has created, adapted and directed numerous animated television series and specials for children through his company. The...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Richard K. Collins, co-founder & CEO of Big Tent Entertainment, has operated successfully across many industries in a career spanning over thirty years, much of it in senior management positions. 

In 2002 Mr. Collins co-founded Big Tent Entertainment as a boutique agency focused on execution of marketing and licensing strategies for corporate...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Branding & Licensing

Polly Conway is TV Editor at Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that helps families make smart media choices by reviewing TV shows, movies, apps, and more, using organizational standards to provide pertinent information to families at the point of decision. Polly is an expert in the realm of shows that are created...show more

Featured in: The Power of Character: How parents choose content for their kids

As a Senior Content Partner Manager, Kids 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...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Andrew Thomas & Alicia Coudurier, Hulu; Speed Pitching 2

Megan Cunningham began her career in television (PBS, HBO, Nickelodeon, MTV) and independent film. In 2000, she started Magnet Media with the same mission the company has today: to use our expertise in technology and talent for storytelling to ignite the passion of audiences.

For the past decade, Magnet Media has been...show more

Featured in: Digging into Diversity

Aaron Davidson is a Development Executive in kids programming at Amazon Studios where he’s worked on animated and live action series including the award-winning Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and Annedroids as well as the forthcoming series Danger And Eggs, Niko and the Sword of Light, Little Big Awesome, and...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; Speed Pitching 1

Mike De Camp has been creating and inventing toys for seventeen years. An avid action figure collector and historian, his passion for toy culture is present in both his professional and personal life. A core team member of Jazwares from its beginning, Mike has been part in launching multiple multi-million...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Branding & Licensing

Biff Niff is an interactive media production company based in New York, co-founded by Jens. He is also Experience Director at Lingokids, a language learning platform made by the Spanish start up Monkimun. Prior, he was part of the founding team at Toca Boca, the Swedish kids app brand, where he was...show more

Featured in: Acing the kids Bechdel Test

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: 30 Minutes with… Tiphaine De Raguenel, France Télévisions; Cocktails with… France Télévisions

James DeJulio is the co-founder and chief creative officer at Tongal, an award-winning creative company with a global network of 120,000 writers, directors and animators. James oversees creative development, partnering with brands such as Mattel, LEGO, Johnson & Johnson, NASA and Disney, while building and mentoring Tongal’s creative community. At...show more

Featured in: The New Creators

Sara DeWitt leads innovative strategies to build connected educational experiences for kids of all income levels across media platforms. In her 18 years in public media, DeWitt has led the extension of PBS KIDS content into new frontiers, from websites and mobile apps to streaming video, augmented reality games, 3D-rendered...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Cocktails with… PBS KIDS

Genevieve has worked in children’s television entertainment for over 25 years and has 10 hard won Executive Producer credits to her name including Horrible Science,  Messy Goes to  Okido and Angelo Rules. She is both CEO of Eye Present, a large  IP development and animation studio in London and CEO of...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Kidscreen Features Editor Jeremy Dickson currently covers the global children's entertainment industry focusing primarily on broadcasting, production, distribution, digital/interactive content and video games. Career highlights so far include hugging Cookie Monster and behind-the-scenes visits to The Jim Henson Company and Cirque du Soleil. Before joining Kidscreen, Jeremy served as managing...show more

Featured in: Rebranding and Audience Engagement: A Sprout case study

Frank Dietz joined Super RTL in 2000 and currently manages the channel’s programming supply for daytime and primetime, as well as content for off-air platforms such as merchandising, mobile and online services.

Super RTL is Europe’s leader in children’s television and is jointly owned by RTL Group and Walt Disney International...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with… Super RTL

Jennifer Dodge is Senior Vice President, Development for Nickelodeon Preschool. In this role, Dodge spearheads development of all original content for Nickelodeon Preschool’s programming block and the Nick Jr. channel and also oversees the development of in-house talent, in tandem with discovering and nurturing new artists and writers. She is...show more

Featured in: From Preschool to Pre-Cool: Is 4 to 7 is the new 3 to 4?

Malik Ducard is the Global Head of Family and Learning at YouTube, overseeing partnerships and business development efforts for the platform’s family entertainment and educational content. Previously, Ducard led film and original content partnerships for the company. Prior to joining YouTube, he served as senior vice president of digital distribution for...show more

Featured in: Catching up with YouTube Kids

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. 

Jackie started professional life as a pharmacologist, eventually making the natural career progression into animation in 1995.   She worked in the independent sector as animation Producer, working on...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4; 30 Minutes with… Jackie Edwards & Jo Allen, BBC Kids; Cocktails with… BBC Children's

Patrick is co-founder and co-director of Cheeky Little Media, which launched in July 2014 and is based in Sydney, Australia.  

Cheeky Little focuses 100% on developing and producing unique animated content for kids worldwide, and growing global brands around that content. 

Cheeky Little has just completed production of two shows.

Bottersnikes &...show more

Featured in: Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

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 on growing the slate of original kids and family content. These properties include Inspector Gadget, Kate & Mim-Mim, Cloudy with a Chance of...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Josh Fisher is an Emmy award winning creative executive with over 15 years of experience creating and producing TV, games and successful content for young audiences. He has developed and produced hundreds of episodes of animation & live action, and games.  Josh has produced series for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney,...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3

Karen Fowler is a multi-award winning Producer, Writer, Creator and Single Mother with decades of experience and an unending supply of passion. She started her career at Nickelodeon’s Creative Lab and Sesame Workshop where she came under the mentorship of Joan Cooney.  She was the creative leader and EP of...show more

Featured in: Digging into Diversity

With over twenty years experience in the international distribution and coproduction business including stints as Head of International Distribution at Mediatoon and Alphanim Paris (now Gaumont Animation), Julie created indie distributor awol animation in 2004.  Significant representations since then include/have included Emmy award winning Little Airplane Productions NYC, The Jim...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Samantha Freeman is Managing Partner of Out of the Blue, a leading educational media company, whose top-rated preschool properties include Super Why and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS Kids), Blue’s Room (Nickelodeon), as well as Creative Galaxy and Wishenpoof (Amazon Studios.)  Her company creates and produces original and third party media content and...show more

Featured in: Is Your IP Ready for Licensing?

As Head of Television Development for DreamWorks Animation Television, Gal oversees the creative development of a rapidly growing slate of original television projects, including the content for DWA TV’s groundbreaking multi-year deal with Netflix.  As part of the studio’s global initiatives, Gal and his creative team are tasked with developing...show more

Featured in: Serialized Storytelling for Kids: Can I please just watch one more?

Athena Georgaklis is the newly appointed Head of Content for Nelvana.  Georgaklis, a highly respected animation executive, leads the acquisition of rights and the development of all original content for Nelvana, working with the studio’s producers, creators, and talent around the world.

Georgaklis has worked in Canadian broadcast and production for more than...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 2

Damien leads the digital development of the international publishing group Bayard, where he has worked for the last 10 years, developing both e-commerce and digital products. Bayard just launched Bayam, an innovative platform for kids from 3 to 11.

Based in Montreal since 2012, Damien is in charge of Tobo Studio,...show more

Featured in: Hyper Innovation: The future of animation

Jennifer Giddens is the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Digital for Sprout. In this role, she is responsible for driving the development and execution of all brand strategy and consumer marketing for Sprout; on and off-air brand creative; multiplatform digital and social expansion; and partnerships to establish and ensure...show more

Featured in: Occupy Kindness: How to create content kids love and parents want; Rebranding and Audience Engagement: A Sprout case study

With over 17 years experience in the kids industry working in Canada, France and Spain, Christophe Goldberger is Managing Director at Barcelona based GoldBee. The company specializes in the production, management and international distribution of kids and family properties and brands.

Prior to GoldBee, Christophe was Producer and Head of Sales...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Richard Goldsmith is a prolific executive in family entertainment who has led media distribution, consumer products, production financing and business development for major entertainment brands at The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., The Jim Henson Company and Univision Communications. 

In his role as Executive Vice President of the Global Distribution department...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Master Class: The state of digital distribution

Cheryl Gotthelf is an accomplished educational content developer and brand builder for children’s media and consumer products that are entertaining, educational, and relevant to children’s lives.  Her practice sits squarely in the space where entertainment, education, and play intersect. She is devoted to the creation of the highest quality media...show more

Featured in: Serious Fun: The ins and outs of making educational content

Bill Graham serves as PhatMojo's Chief Business Development Officer.  In this capacity, Graham leads the LA-based toy company's brand evaluation, licensing, and marketing, globally.

Prior to joining PhatMojo, Graham was VP of Business Development for Jazwares, LLC.  During his 3 years there, he led the global launch and development of their...show more

Featured in: Franchise-building in the SVOD Age; Lunching with... Branding & Licensing

Winner of two Daytime Emmy Awards, an Annie Award and Writers Guild Award, as well as seven additional Daytime Emmy nominations, Carin Greenberg (fka Carin Greenberg Baker) is a creator, writer, story editor and producer of children’s entertainment. Currently, she is developing new animated series for Amazon and several other...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Mentor Class: Structural Engineering for Storytellers; Let's Create a Cartoon!

Alan Gregg is VP, Development at Industrial Brothers studio in Toronto where he oversees the company’s diverse development slate. With over 20 years’ experience in the film & television industry, Gregg has worked across a broad range of disciplines including creative development, writing and story-editing, production, distribution and broadcasting. Gregg...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Laurent lights fires in media development and distribution strategies. He is one of the visionaries behind TFO’s digital success.

Since his arrival in 2013, his passion for content has directly contributed to increasing TFO television’s reach by 30% over a 24 month period. Laurent's insightful strategic direction and team leadership were...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos & Laurent Guérin, TFO

As Director of Original Production 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, Lost & Found Music Studios, Backstage, Gaming Show, Playdate and Justin Time. Sarah was also Creative Producer for The...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with… DHX Television; Speed Pitching 1; Encouraging Co-Viewing in the Digital Age; Speed Pitching 2

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

Jennifer Hamburg is a two-time Emmy-winning children’s television writer who has written for hit shows such as Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Doc McStuffins, Cyberchase, and Super Why! Her picture books include A Moose That Says Moo (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux), Monkey and Duck Quack Up! (Scholastic),and the upcoming Billy Bloo is Stuck in Goo (Scholastic). Her middle grade book series, Hazy Bloom and...show more

Featured in: Hacking the System: How to reverse-engineer Hollywood

Brian Hamilton is an Executive Producer on Mech-X4, currently in production for its second season for Disney XD. Brian is a partner in Vancouver-based Omnifilm Entertainment, and has executive produced more than 50 television projects in both scripted and non-scripted genres, representing over 300 hours of broadcast programming since he...show more

Featured in: Serialized Storytelling for Kids: Can I please just watch one more?

A graduate of Paris-Sorbonne University, Panthéon-Assas ans Paris ESLSCA Business School. Lila Hannou has joined Group M6 in 2001 as Marketing Research officer at M6 Publicité. She was the in charge of monitoring youth programming (from 2006 to 2011) before being appointed Manager for the Coordination of youth programming in...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with… M6; 30 Minutes with… Lila Hannou, M6

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: Let's Create a Cartoon!

Throughout his 25-year entertainment industry career, Michael Hefferon has catapulted the growth of established business operations around the globe using his unique combination of creative and strategic experience. On the strategic side, Michael has successfully guided multiple creative companies to profitability resulting in sale or recapitalization. On the creative side,...show more

Featured in: Encouraging Co-Viewing in the Digital Age

In her current role within the Children and Youth Unit, Claire Heinrich selects, negotiates and oversees all acquisitions for France Televisions’ channels and digital platforms. She joined the public broadcast company in 1994, managing legal and business affairs for France 2’s co-production drama and documentary units. She held various positions...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1

Patricia Hidalgo is SVP & Chief Content & Creative Officer Kids EMEA and International Kids Strategy for Turner. In this role, she acts as Turner’s editorial head for its strong portfolio of kids’ content and channel brands across EMEA including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Boing and Cartoonito – as well as...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with… Turner Broadcasting EMEA

A long-time champion of children’s programming, Bob oversees the creative direction for FremantleMedia’s Kids and Family business, as well as managing content, including development, production, acquisitions and sales of TV and digital programming.  Current programming includes Danger Mouse, Kate & Mim-Mim, Bitz and Bob and Tasty Tales of the Food...show more

Featured in: STEAM Research: Entertaining kids where creativity and technology intersect

Rebecca Hodgson is the Executive Producer for Netflix’s Untitled Horse Mystery Project,The Evermoor Chronicles for the Disney Channel and Rocket’s Island for CBBC.

Previous producer credits include the critically acclaimedGood Cop, written by Stephen Butchard, which aired on BBC1 and won the Royal Television Society award for Best Drama Serial 2012; We’ll...show more

Featured in: Serialized Storytelling for Kids: Can I please just watch one more?

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

Featured in: Let's Create a Cartoon!

Hollie Holmes has over 19 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, Strategic Development: Global Entertainment Partnerships and IP Acquisitions, overseeing the evaluation and acquisition of new properties for Mattel Brands.  Prior to joining...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Branding & Licensing

As the Head of Creative Force at FunnyFlux Entertainment, Jung-Jin is responsible for developing new IP and managing international collaborations. His work experience ranges from high-end 2D and 3D animation development and production, to children’s book publishing and script writing.

FunnyFlux Entertainment is a South Korean animation production company that made...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Grant is the CEO and co-founder of codeSpark, a venture backed edtech company turning programming into play for young kids around the world.  codeSpark’s award-winning game codeSpark Academy with The Foos has been played by millions of kids in 201 countries.  Grant lives near Pasadena with his author wife, 3 kids...show more

Featured in: STEAM Research: Entertaining kids where creativity and technology intersect

Holly Huckins is currently working for Amazon Studios, where she is executive producing and developing new series for children. More recently, Huckins was EP and show runner of the Disney Junior animated series Sheriff Callie's Wild West. The series, which she also developed, stars Mandy Moore and has received both...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Mentor Class: Structural Engineering for Storytellers; Let's Create a Cartoon!

Jeff Imberman, Chief Revenue Officer at SuperAwesome, the world’s leading kids’ digital media platform, is a recognized leader in the advertising sales arena with over 20 years of brand building, sales management, and infrastructure experience at startup, emerging, and mature media companies. Jeff was previously SVP Sales & Marketing at...show more

Featured in: Surviving, Scaling and Making Money in the Kids Digital Space

Justin Johnson is a filmmaker and entrepreneur known as the “internet’s first video blogger,” whose experience creating popular online content spans over 15 years. He specializes in telling “people-stories” - authentic and heartfelt pieces about interesting people.

Justin started his professional career in 2007 as the Head of Promos and Creative...show more

Featured in: The New Creators

As the head of the Animation and Family Entertainment division at The Gotham Group, Julie represents successful series creators, Emmy award winning writers and directors, New York Times Bestselling authors, and fresh new voices. Her clients include series creators Butch Hartman, The Fairly Odd Parents; Chris Nee, Doc McStuffins; Daron Nefcy,...show more

Featured in: Hacking the System: How to reverse-engineer Hollywood

Christopher Keenanis 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 content to his credit.

As the SVP Content Development & Production at Mattel Creations, Keenan is responsible for Mattel’s...show more

Featured in: The New Creators

As Director of Children’s Programming at PBS, Keith oversees the rollout of video content for PBS KIDS, 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 and developing new children’s...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4; Cocktails with… PBS KIDS

Starting from the ground up and with more than 18 years of experience in the animation biz, Heath is a creative executive with an extensive knowledge of animation production and the dark arts of developing a project from mind vomit into your next potential hit. After escaping the island of...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Arik serves as Executive vice president, programming and Digital at BabyFirst, where he is responsible for overseeing all areas of programming strategy, production and original programming development for it linear channel, VOD screens and mobile apps. Under his supervision the channel produced more than eighty different original series in all...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Arik Kerman, BabyFirst

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: 30 Minutes with... CJ Kettler, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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: Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers; Emotional Scheduling: How kids are organizing their own media lives

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

Christian Kurz is Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Insights for Viacom. Mr. Kurz is responsible for oversight of corporate and consumer research and insights for Viacom globally, with a focus on exploring new technologies and consumer behaviors. In addition he leads all insights projects for Viacom International Media Networks...show more

Featured in: Little Big Kids: Preschoolers ready for life

Jessica Lahey writes about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Atlantic, Vermont Public Radio, and the New York Times and is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The...show more

Featured in: Inside Amazon Studios' Approach to Preschool

Cort Lane is Marvel’s Senior Vice President, Animation & Family Entertainment. As a life-long Marvel fan, Lane is thrilled to develop and produce shows within the rich Marvel Universe. Drawing on a wealth of experience in entertainment, interactive media and marketing for children, Lane is well positioned to lead Marvel’s...show more

Featured in: Guardians of the Galaxy’s Cross-Platform Quest: A Marvel Animation case study

Ariella is an expert in bringing innovative technologies to new audiences. She has designed games and apps for Intel, HP, Lenovo, and Google, all of which exploit new interfaces and ways of interacting.  Dr. Lehrer has a PhD. in Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and is a 30+ year...show more

Featured in: The Evolution of Play in a Virtual World

As co-founder and partner in Breakthrough Entertainment, an internationally recognized and award winning studio, Ira Levy has established himself as one of the most prolific Executive Producers in the entertainment industry.

Ira has forged fruitful production relationships with National and International Networks and co-production and financing partners on a variety of...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers; Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

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 partnership...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with… VIMN; Speed Pitching 3

Based in Los Angeles, Angela Y. Lin is YouTube's Head of Family 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: 30 Minutes with… Angela Lin, YouTube

Billy Macqueen is the co-founder and joint-MD of Darrall Macqueen.  For the past 17 years Darrall Macqueen has been a leading multi-genre UK kids’ independent producer delivering  international hits such as the award winning mixed-media pre school series Baby Jake (52 x 11mins), CBeebies’ first ever live action drama for pre-schoolers Topsy and...show more

Featured in: Serialized Storytelling for Kids: Can I please just watch one more?

Shazia Makhdumi oversees global business development for educational apps and games on Google Play. Her team is responsible for finding the best apps for kids and families and bringing them to Play. They work with developers worldwide to help them grow their businesses on Android, and with internal teams to...show more

Featured in: Inspire learning and creativity with VR and AR

Marney Malabar is an award-winning kid’s media producer who has contributed to making TVOKids the “most trusted” and “most educational” media brand for children among Ontarians (Source: Vision Critical, 2014). A part of the TVO team for more than two decades, Marney has created excellent children’s educational content in an...show more

Featured in: Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

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: Hot Research: How to woo the elusive kid fan

Vellu Maurola is the Director of Content Creation and Partnerships in Rovio Entertainment´s ToonsTV, which is best known for its Angry Birds Toons and Piggy Tales animation series. In this role, Maurola oversees new short form content creation for kids & family target audience.

ToonsTV’s mission is to entertain its fans with funny, curated and familysafe content. Additionally, edutainment content creation is one of theplatform’s most crucial elements. The best examples of this includeRocket Science Show w/ NASA -- a 16 episode live action + animation series with NASA experts...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Vellu Maurola & Paul Chenier, Toons TV, Rovio Entertainment

Helen McAleer runs a media consultancy specialising in IP, publishing and TV production. Drawing on almost 30 years’ experience of the children’s sector across all key media she works with clients including publishing houses Walker Books Group and Macmillan Children’s Books, literary agents LAW, publisher and kids’ content start-up Lost My...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Marie McCann is the Interim Senior Director of Children's Content for Kids' CBC.  Kids' CBC creates and acquires entertaining and inspiring media for children 2 - 12. As Canada’s national public broadcaster we continue our tradition of excellence and innovation in children’s content and reach our audience through CBC Television,...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Marie McCann, Kids CBC

Tom McGillis is an Emmy® Award-winning executive producer, writer and series creator of youth and family entertainment. As President and Co-Founder of Fresh TV, Tom, alongside partner Jennifer Pertsch, is the creative force behind a string of hits including the Total Drama Island franchise, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, Really Me!,...show more

Featured in: Encouraging Co-Viewing in the Digital Age

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

Before joining Discovery in March 2013, Medeiros worked as vice president of sales for ITV Global Entertainment in Latin America and the...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Flavio Medeiros, Discovery Latin America

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 Marketing...show more

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

Susan is an investor, entrepreneur and producer of television, film, books, products and digital content for children and families. As the founding partner of three companies, Mixed Media Group, Bolder Media and Cupcake Digital, she has produced and built world-class media properties, lifestyle and corporate brands.    

Susan is the...show more

Featured in: Franchise-building in the SVOD Age

J Milligan is the Head of Toca TV 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. Toca TV is in over 150 countries. Since its first product...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… J Milligan, Toca TV, Toca Boca

Dominic is the creative director and co-founder of Plug-In Media, a digital production company based in the UK. Be it creating digital strategies and interactive experiences for third party brands or originating and developing Plug-In’s original IP, Dominic has been responsible for Plug-In's creative output since the company began. Over...show more

Featured in: VR Storytelling Evolution: The challenge of an ever-changing point-of-view

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... Branding & Licensing

Architect, designer, creative, animation and special effects director. In February 1989, he founded with Celia Catunda, the children's content studio TV PinGuim. He has created, produced and directed over 400 hours of animation for TV and cinema such as Fishtronaut (104 eps. Discovery Kids Latin America and in more than 90 other...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Sarah Muller is Head of Children’s at Channel 5 in the UK. Responsible for the commissioning and acquisition of children’s programming for Channel 5’s digital and linear platforms, Sarah oversees the channel’s popular programming strand, Milkshake!

Previously, she was Creative Director - Scripted, Animation and Co-Productions for CBBC Productions, and was, prior to that, Head of...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with... Sarah Muller, Channel 5; From Preschool to Pre-Cool: Is 4 to 7 is the new 3 to 4?; Cocktails with… VIMN

Lucy Murphy was appointed Sky’s first Head of Kids Content in 2015. She is responsible for all of Sky’s on demand kids content, a library which recently saw the number of episodes available grow from 700 to 4,500 episodes, as well as overseeing the launch of Sky’s new kids app...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Lucy Murphy, Sky

Peabody, Humanitas and Emmy Award-winner Chris Nee is the creator and executive producer of Disney Junior's "Doc McStuffins," an imaginative animated series about a six-year-old girl who runs a clinic for stuffed animals and broken toys. She is also executive producer of Disney Junior's upcoming animated series "Vampirina," about a...show more

Featured in: Digging into Diversity

Featured in: Franchise-building in the SVOD Age

Jeff Norton is an author, writer-producer, and founder of Awesome Media & Entertainment, a creative incubator.He is the author of the award-winning thriller series ‘MetaWars’ (Hachette), the laugh-out-loud  ‘Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie’ (Faber), the upcoming picture book ‘Stomp School’ (Little Tiger Press), which is in development as pre-school television,...show more

Featured in: From Preschool to Pre-Cool: Is 4 to 7 is the new 3 to 4?

Lisa O’Brien is the Vice President of Original Programming & Development for Sprout, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s 24-hour preschool network. In this role, O’Brien oversees the originals team and is responsible for the development of live-action and animated series. O’Brien co-created Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up” and led the development for Sprout...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4; Speed Pitching 3; 30 Minutes with… Kristofer Updike & Lisa O'Brien, Sprout

A native of St. Malachie, Quebec, Glenn O'Farrell studied economics and law. He attended St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, and Universite Laval in Quebec City. He is a member of the Quebec Bar and Canadian Bar Association. He also holds a certificate from the Johnson School of Management...show more

Featured in: Hyper Innovation: The future of animation

Michael Ouweleen is executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Turner’s Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang. One of the brand’s key creative drivers for the last 18 years, Ouweleen provides the overall creative direction and strategic leadership to all areas of marketing, on-air, trade and sponsorship partnerships that...show more

Featured in: STEAM Research: Entertaining kids where creativity and technology intersect; Occupy Kindness: How to create content kids love and parents want

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: Hacking the System: How to reverse-engineer Hollywood

Sandrine is a 20-plus year vet with an illustrative career in entertainment, production, co-production and distribution with impressive global relationships and deep experience in deals & negotiations.

Most recently, Sandrine spent 9-years with Bejuba Entertainment as EVP of Sales & Acquisitions putting together an impressive list of acquisitions and WW show...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos & Laurent Guérin, TFO

Cecilia Persson is Vice President of Programming and Content Strategy Kids EMEA, Acquisitions and Co-production International.

In this role, Persson manages and leads programming strategy across EMEA for all Turner’s kids linear and digital platforms including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Cartoonito and Boing. She also oversees and negotiates shared acquisitions for Turner...show more

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

Jamie Piekarz is a children’s media professional with both creative production and broadcast experience that spans all age groups and genres. Most recently she was the Director of Content for Treehouse, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada where she creatively steered all original Canadian and international co-productions (animation, live action scripted and...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

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; Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

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, We’re...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Branding & Licensing

Jean-Philippe Randisi is CEO of Zodiak Kids, a Banijay Group company. Zodiak Kids is a global independent leader in kids entertainment.  It has a dedicated kids production company Zodiak Kids Studios, with offices in France and the UK, a consumer products team and a sales division. Previous roles include; EVP...show more

Featured in: Is Your IP Ready for Licensing?

Hatty is a seasoned corporate and entertainment lawyer, and the founder of the Toronto boutique law firm of Reisman Law Offices.  She focuses primarily on the film and television production and financing industries.  Her particular passion is for international financings and co-productions.  Prior to establishing her firm, Hatty served as...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Mentor Class: Negotiating 101

Liliana Reyes is Senior Vice President of Content for Portfolio Entertainment. Liliana 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. She previously held the position of Vice President of Development at 9 Story Media...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 1; Speed Pitching 2

John Reynolds is Chief Commercial Officer of JAM Media. He oversees all commercial activities of the company, from the financing of the current development slate through to the management and exploitation of existing and future IP across all platforms.

Reynolds, who joined the company in 2014, brings over 20 years of...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

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 production on the preschool series 16...show more

Featured in: Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

John Rice is CEO & Co-Founder of JAM Media.  In his role, Rice sets down the vision, strategy and subsequent implementation program for the company, whilst also executive producing all of JAM’s productions.

John is currently Executive Producer on ‘Becca’s Bunch’ for Nickelodeon, due to be released in late 2017, and...show more

Featured in: Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

Justin Richardson is a highly accomplished media and marketing executive with over 20 years’ strategic experience in integrated content distribution and marketing strategies working with some of the world’s largest entertainment, broadcast and technology companies, including Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, Google, Sky TV and Japanese Telecom giant NTT Docomo.

As the...show more

Featured in: Franchise-building in the SVOD Age

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... Branding & Licensing

Luke Ritchie is the Head of Interactive Arts, a specialist interactive storytelling division of Nexus Studios, that researches and adopts emerging technologies to craft engaging story experiences.

Previously Luke was Executive Producer for UNIT9 in London and Founder of UNIT9’s office in Brazil. Luke has been making interactive work for brands...show more

Featured in: VR Storytelling Evolution: The challenge of an ever-changing point-of-view

John Robson, Managing Director, WildBrain, oversees DHX Media’s WildBrain Multi-Platform Kids’ Network, an industry leader in the management and creation of children’s entertainment content on platforms such as YouTube, Dailymotion and others. Since Mr Robson’s arrival in 2015, he has led the rapid growth of WildBrain, which now generates annual...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Master Class: The state of digital distribution

Eric Rogers is a prolific television, film, and comic book writer whose produced credits include the Emmy-winning Futurama and NYPD Blue, as well as Strectch Armstrong, Wander Over Yonder, Teen Titans Go!, and Littlest Pet Shop.

Eric is currently the executive producer and show runner for Skylanders Academy, based on ActiVision-Blizzard’s...show more

Featured in: From Toys-to-Life to Life on Netflix: A Skylanders Academy case study

Eric S. Rollman is the President and CEO of Los Angeles based Rollman Entertainment, Inc., where this Saban, Fox Family and Marvel veteran executive, Emmy winner, and multiple nominee leads an elite team of talented content creators.  Rollman Entertainment houses a full-­‐service production studio which when coupled with its strategic...show more

Featured in: From Toys-to-Life to Life on Netflix: A Skylanders Academy case study

John Rooney has a vast history within Kids television in Canada starting in the late 90’s working with YTV. Rising through the ranks, John became Director Of Programming in 2005, overseeing the Corus Kids & Family brands. In this role, he was instrumental in shaping the programming and content strategy...show more

Featured in: Encouraging Co-Viewing in the Digital Age

Darrin Rose is a comedic force to be reckoned with. A four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee—including Best Male Stand-Up in 2011—and an acclaimed cast member ofMr. Don CBC, Darrin never ceases to delight audiences with his polished performances and hilarious material.

On-stage, Darrin has appeared numerous times at the Just For...show more

Featured in: Kidscreen Awards and After-Party

Richard Rowe, Director of International Acquisitions and Co-productions, sources original content for co-productions and television programming for DHX Media’s distribution unit. Richard spent the first 12 years of his career at Turner Broadcasting. During this time his remit included most international markets, working in a variety of roles that covered...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4

David has managed media enterprises in education, consumer and business-to-business environments, at companies such as Scholastic, Pearson, HMH, School Specialty, Rand McNally and Golden Books. He’s an acute observer of shifts in the educational marketplace, leading businesses and, as consultant, helping clients develop and execute strategies that make the most...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... HITN

Angela Santomero has been changing the way children watch television for more than fifteen years. She is the Creator, Executive Producer and Writer for award winning kids and family content/brands including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS), Blue’s Clues (Nick Jr.), Super Why! (PBS), Creative Galaxy (Amazon Studios), Wishenpoof! (Amazon Studios), etc. All of...show more

Featured in: Inside Amazon Studios' Approach to Preschool

Frank Saperstein oversees all aspects of development, production, programming, distribution, 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.  He is currently Executive Producing the...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Josh Scherba, Senior Vice President, Distribution, heads up the global sales division at DHX Media. Mr Scherba has been with the company since its founding in 2006, coming over with Decode Entertainment when it merged with Halifax Film to form DHX Media. Since that time, Mr Scherba has overseen the...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Master Class: The state of digital distribution

Sander Schwartz is president of Grom Social, the leading safe, COPPA compliant social network for kids 6 to 16 years-old with over 4.3 million registered users worldwide. As an independent producer, Sander develops content for domestic and international exhibitors and distribution platforms.  

Sander has received multiple Emmy Award nominations from...show more

Featured in: From Toys-to-Life to Life on Netflix: A Skylanders Academy case study

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

Guillermo Sierra has designed, developed, and launched free and pay TV channels in the United States, Europe and Latin America. He has professional relationships  with content suppliers, producers and television networks worldwide. He has also produced over 1000 hours of content in multiple genres including current affairs,  news, entertainment, lifestyle,...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... HITN

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

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 2; Cocktails with… France Télévisions

With more than 25 years of experience in the development, production and distribution of cultural and entertainment products, Pierre Sissmann has been involved in TV channel launches, music production and distribution and even in the creation of a press group.  After being a top executive at Sony Music for 10...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

I’m the Channels Manager, Children’s & Education TV, for the ABC - the national public broadcaster in Australia.

I am responsible for the programming and editorial strategy for preschool channel ABC KIDS and the school-aged channel ABC ME as well as the ABC TV Education resource. These are broadcast, VOD and...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with... ABC Australia

I create kids’ content with an eye toward characters and licensing. Over the past 15 years I’ve worked internationally as a brand developer, writer, story editor and creative director on broadcast and digital projects for toy companies like Saban, Lionel Trains and Spin Master; production companies including Cartoon Saloon, 9 Story, marblemedia,...show more

Featured in: SOLD OUT! Master Class: Fine-tuning character

Award-winning executive producer and President Carlos Soldevila cofounded Trio Orange in 2008. Trio Orange has become a reference for the television industry thanks to a wide variety of outstanding programs that have been aired all over the world. He is renowned for his productions’ creative excellence as well as for...show more

Featured in: Encouraging Co-Viewing in the Digital Age

Tara Sorensen is Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios overseeing development and production of original kids series. During her time, she has shepherded such Amazon Original Kids Series as the Annecy, Annie and multi-Emmy Award-winning preschool series Tumble Leaf, animated preschool series Creative Galaxy and Wishenpoof,and live-action series including...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios; Inside Amazon Studios' Approach to Preschool; Kids TV Face-Off: Broadcasters vs. Producers

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

Born in 1971, Aton Soumache attended the Institute d’Etudes Politiques (Political Studies Institute) in Paris, where he earned two postgraduate degrees, writing his thesis on political science.  His need for interaction pushed him to seek an active career, which he soon began at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees....show more

Featured in: Hyper Innovation: The future of animation

As Vice President, Kids & Family, Ryan St. Peters leads all creative and commercial activities for Shaftesbury’s kids and family business, including creative development, production and distribution.                              

The company’s award-winning programming slate for kids and families includes hit...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Jennie Stacey is Director of Development at award-winning animation studio Brown Bag Films, where she develops their slate of original television series and co-production projects for international broadcasters. Jennie began her career in 1997 in independent film production in London, before joining Universal Pictures International as Programming Manager of their...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 2; Speed Pitching 1

Executive Vice President, Children's Entertainment Halle Stanford leads the Company’s development and production of all preschool and children’s programming for television, home entertainment and digital media in animated and live-action formats. A nine-time Emmy-nominated children’s television producer, she currently serves as an executive producer on the award-winning series Sid the...show more

Featured in: STEAM Research: Entertaining kids where creativity and technology intersect; The New Creators

Former Media Development Director at Scholastic Children’s Books, Brown Bag Films and Penguin Random House. Focussed on building publishing programmes into the early development of projects with partner studios and producers. 

Featured in: Lunching with... Branding & Licensing

Beth Stevenson, Founder of Brain Power Studio, is an Executive Producer specializing in live action and animation production. Brain Power Studio produces and distributes movies, series and digital content. Beth has served as Producer and Executive Producer on 40 series and 11 movies.  Many of which were international co-productions. Brain...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Pitching & Development

Alison has worked in Children’s media production for most of her career, first at the BBC and later as a freelance Producer, Director, Scriptwriter and Lyricist. She later returned to the BBC as Executive Producer in CBeebies Production, and moved to her current position six years ago.

CBeebies is the BBC’s...show more

Featured in: Occupy Kindness: How to create content kids love and parents want; Cocktails with… BBC Children's

Amy Takahara is the Director of Content Acquisitions for Nickelodeon at Viacom International Media Networks, a role she assumed in January 2016. Takahara is responsible for negotiating, sourcing and managing content acquisitions for Nickelodeon channels on a global, international and pan-regional basis. Working closely with the company’s programming heads in international...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 4

Joe Tedesco, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DHX Television, is responsible for the overall development and growth of DHX Media’s broadcast assets. Joe joined Family Channel in 2001 as Vice President and General Manager of the network and during his tenure he has overseen the launch of three...show more

Featured in: Cocktails with… DHX Television; 30 Minutes with… Joe Tedsco, DHX Television

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: Speed Pitching 3; 30 Minutes with… Andrew Thomas & Alicia Coudurier, Hulu

Gary Timpson's experience spans over twenty years and three continents, starting out in 1995 in Dublin's Shepherd and Terraglyph feature Studios working as an assistant animator on on a number of feature projects. Upon leaving Dublin in 2000 Gary's career brought him to London where he worked for production houses...show more

Featured in: Lunching with... Co-Producers

Dr. Rosemarie Truglio is responsible for the development of the interdisciplinary curriculum on which Sesame Street is based, and oversees content development across all platforms including television, publishing, toys, home video, and theme park activities.

Dr. Truglio has written numerous articles in child and developmental psychology journals and presented her work at national...show more

Featured in: Occupy Kindness: How to create content kids love and parents want

Yalda T. Uhls spent over 15 years as a senior film executive at studios such as MGM and Sony, and then earned a PhD in psychology from UCLA where she researched the impact of media on children. Dr Uhls works with the national non-profit Common Sense Media and is an...show more

Featured in: STEAM Research: Entertaining kids where creativity and technology intersect

As Vice President, General Merchandising Manager, Toys“R”Us, U.S., Jamie Uitdenhowen oversees all merchandising decisions for the company’s Learning and Seasonal divisions. In this capacity, he is responsible for key product categories such as construction, preschool, infant, games, crafts and activities, bikes and ride-on vehicles, outdoor products and sports and party...show more

Featured in: Franchise-building in the SVOD Age; Consumer products insights from Toys"R"Us Inc.

Kristofer Updike is the Director of Original Programming and Development for Sprout, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s 24-hour preschool network. In this role, Updike leads the creation of all original long-form programs and develops live action and animated properties. He has produced and developed over 200 hours of television for Sprout, including...show more

Featured in: 30 Minutes with… Kristofer Updike & Lisa O'Brien, Sprout

Mr. van Dyk is Co-President of Activision Blizzard Studios, which creates film and television content based on Activision Blizzard’s library of iconic and globally-recognized intellectual properties, including Call of Duty, Skylanders, Destiny, Overwatch, Starcraft and hundreds more.  Before joining Activision Blizzard in 2015, Mr. van Dyk spent nine years at...show more

Featured in: From Toys-to-Life to Life on Netflix: A Skylanders Academy case study

With 18 years at Pixar, Mark is a Writer-Director of Partysaurus Rex and Animation Lead on Academy Award winners Finding Nemo and Ratatouille, an experienced commercial director, he's also contributed to The Incredibles, Monsters Inc, the Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, A Bug's Life, Up, Presto, & The Good Dinosaur.

http://www.walshingmachine.com

Featured in: VR Storytelling Evolution: The challenge of an ever-changing point-of-view

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: Cocktails with… Super RTL; 30 Minutes with… Janine Weigold, Super RTL

Richard Weissbourd is a Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he directs the Human Development and Psychology Program, and the Kennedy School of Government. His work focuses on moral development, vulnerability and resilience in childhood and effective schools and services for children.  He co-directs the Making...show more

Featured in: KEYNOTE - Making Caring Common

Simon is an Emmy nominated producer at Framestore, the Academy Award-winning visual effects company.  He has been at Framestore for 18 years, and in that time has been involved in a diverse range of projects including Feature Films, Commercials, TV shows, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality. 

Simon series produced the multi-award...show more

Featured in: VR Storytelling Evolution: The challenge of an ever-changing point-of-view

Dr. Alice serves as the educational advisor responsible for developing the Amazon Kids Original Programming learning approach and is helping implement Amazon's unique educational point of view into the development of new series. In this role, she is also an Emmy Award winning Co-Executive Producer and Head of Educational Development for Tumble...show more

Featured in: Inside Amazon Studios' Approach to Preschool

A BAFTA winning and EMMY® nominated producer, Colin is passionate about creating and producing quality television for children in every part of the world and his shows can be seen on networks across the globe.

A creative, graduating with a first class degree in Design, Colin spent his early career in...show more

Featured in: From Preschool to Pre-Cool: Is 4 to 7 is the new 3 to 4?

This Summer, Gary was seen as Bebop in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. He recently shot the features The Untitled Macon Blair Project and 5^th of July.  Other film work includes The Internship, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Undercover Brother, Soul Plane and The Factory.  On TV, you can check him out...show more

Featured in: Let's Create a Cartoon!

Katie Wilson is currently the Director of Programming at Corus Entertainment, responsible for the programming and content strategy across the flagship kids networks; YTV, Treehouse, Teletoon, Teletoon at Night, as well as partnership channels  Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim in Canada.  Before joining the Corus team in 2014, she...show more

Featured in: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 4; 30 Minutes with… Katie Wilson, Corus Entertainment

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: 30 Minutes with… Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Studios; Digging into Diversity

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 4; Speed Pitching 3

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 has both produced...show more

Featured in: Brainpick: Co-Productions & Financing

Dan Yaccarino is a show creator, producer, and writer of the Parents Choice Award and the Bologna Ragazzi-winning animated series Oswald, as well as the Emmy-winning Willa's Wild Life. He is also the character designer behind the Emmy-winning The Backyardigans. Dan is the author and illustrator of dozens of children’s books, which have won such prestigious awards as the New York Times Best Illustrated, an ALA...show more

Featured in: Hacking the System: How to reverse-engineer Hollywood

Andy Yeatman leads the children and teen programming team for Netflix globally, including both original and licensed content.  Prior to this role, he acquired film and television content for Netflix’s North America service.  Andy joined Netflix in 2011, helping to launch its service in Latin America.

Before joining Netflix, Andy worked in Digital Distribution for The Walt...show more

Featured in: From Toys-to-Life to Life on Netflix: A Skylanders Academy case study; Serialized Storytelling for Kids: Can I please just watch one more?

Peter Yoder is vice president, Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) North America. In this role, he oversees all of the home entertainment, licensing, and consumer products initiatives for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim brands in the U.S. and Canada. Based in New York City, Yoder reports into network president Christina Miller.

A...show more

Featured in: Is Your IP Ready for Licensing?

Emily Yolkut is the Senior Director of Insights & Research at Sprout, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s 24-hour preschool network where kids are Free To Grow™. In this role, Yolkut focuses on programming research, including traditional Nielsen research, as well as spearheading primary research studies. She and her team oversee research initiatives...show more

Featured in: Rebranding and Audience Engagement: A Sprout case study

Nadine Zylstra works with family and learning partners on YouTube. Prior to working at YouTube, Zylstra served as Vice President of Sesame Street Production and Programming and Supervising Producer for Sesame Street. She has been recognized with numerous awards including a Peabody Award, Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing and Producing in...show more

Featured in: Catching up with YouTube Kids