Kwame Alexander is the New York Times bestselling author of 35 books, a regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, and the Founding Editor of VERSIFY, a publishing imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt whose mission is to "Change the World One Word at a Time.”
Twice long-listed for the National Book Award,...show more
Speaking on: KEYNOTE: The Life-Changing Power of Saying Yes (10:00am - 10:45am)
As assistant director of content for PBS KIDS, Catie Asip oversees the development of new content. She works with creators from pitch to pilot, helping shape their projects for the PBS KIDS audience. She also serves as production executive for several current PBS KIDS series, including Clifford the Big Red...show more
Speaking on: Coffee with...; Cocktails with... PBS KIDS; Cocktails with... Disney, PBS KIDS, Apple TV+
Felipe is part of the LEGO Content Distribution team which handles all the LEGO series distribution around the Globe. In this capacity, he serves as the main contact and manages all the Americas region which includes the United States, Latin America, and Canada. He works with many different partners to...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... LEGO
Matthew Berkowitz is the Chief Creative Officer of Atomic Cartoons and Thunderbird Entertainment and oversees the development, production and acquisition of intellectual properties across both companies. A seasoned executive with over a decade in the industry, Matthew is an Executive Producer of Atomic and Netflix's The Last Kids on Earth,...show more
Speaking on: Kidscreen Debate: Balancing the scales of IP ownership (3:00pm - 3:45pm); Cocktails with... Atomic Cartoons; Chatroom—The Future of Work
Aaron oversees development and production on current series for Amazon Kids+, the premiere destination for movies, series, mobile games and books aimed at kids ages 3-12. Previously, he developed and oversaw Emmy-winning and nominated series at Snapchat and AOL, and created IMDb’s first ever slate of original series and podcasts....show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 2; Speed Pitching 4
Mark Bishop is Co-CEO and Partner at marblemedia. An accomplished entrepreneur, brand-builder and trusted media industry advocate, Mark, alongside co-founder Matt Hornburg, has grown marblemedia into one of Canada’s leading independent production, distribution and digital media companies.
In addition to serving as executive producer across marblemedia’s successful portfolio of television and...show more
Speaking on: Kidscreen Debate: Balancing the scales of IP ownership (3:00pm - 3:45pm)
Deirdre Brennan, Chief Operating Officer, plays a key role in driving WildBrain’s holistic content strategy, overseeing integrated operations across the Company’s global Distribution and AVOD business, as well as its suite of Family-branded broadcast channels in Canada. Ms. Brennan previously worked for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment as General Manager, Universal Kids,...show more
Speaking on: 360-Degree Brand Strategy: The merits of making a big splash (12:00pm - 12:45 pm); 30 Minutes with... Deirdre Brennan, WildBrain
George Carey is president and CEO of The Family Room, a market intelligence company that turns consumer emotion into concrete data for the leading media, entertainment and consumer brands in the world.
At the heart of Carey’s work is the company’s Passion Points platform, a leading tracker of consumer sentiment. Grounded...show more
Speaking on: Pandemic Education Fallout: How COVID-19 has changed everything
An alumni of the Academy of Art, San Francisco, USA, Mr. Rajiv Chilaka’s entrepreneurial journey started with a vision of creating an animation studio at par with the best in the world. This took shape with the establishment of Green Gold Animation in 2004. In an industry still in its...show more
Speaking on: Diversity is Good Business
Kevin Clark, PhD is children’s media producer and creative executive who focuses on inclusion and education. Most recently, Kevin was a Director of Original Animation, Preschool at Netflix. Prior to joining Netflix, Dr. Clark was a professor and founding director of the Center for Digital Media Innovation and Diversity at...show more
Speaking on: Diversity is Good Business
Rick Clodfelter, lead, Disney Branded Television (DBT) Content Acquisitions and Partnerships, is responsible for sourcing, identifying and negotiating third party content opportunities for Disney Branded Television and the Disney kids and family platforms. His responsibilities include establishing and managing strategic partnerships with third-party content providers based on Disney Media and...show more
Speaking on: Virtual Speed Pitching 8; 30 Minutes with... Rick Clodfelter, Disney Branded TV; Speed Pitching 2; Virtual Speed Pitching 2
Dr. Natascha Crandall is a psychologist and educator with a special interest in enhancing children’s growth and development through research and the power of media. She is the founder of Crandall Consulting, LLC (www.crandallconsulting.org).
Natascha earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Developmental Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and...show more
Speaking on: Lessons in Social-Emotional Learning (11:00am - 11:45am)
Chris Dicker is a multi-award children’s television creator, whose shows include Jessy and Nessy for Amazon Studios and Becca’s Bunch for Nickelodeon. As co-founder of TT Animation, now owned by Warner Brothers, he created the award winning What’s Your News? A multi-award winning show, including the NHK Japan Prize for...show more
Mark Dillon is a Toronto-based journalist and author. He is a former editor of Playback, and his articles have appeared in American Cinematographer, the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Maclean's and the National Post. He cohosts Surf's Up: A Beach Boys Podcast Safari.
Sr. Manager, Content Acquisitions - The Walt Disney Company Latin America
Agustina María Dompé serves as Content Acquisitions Sr. Manager for the kids and family branded services at The Walt Disney Company Latin America, and is in charge of selecting and negotiating the acquisition of content for Disney Channel, Disney Junior...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 2; Coffee with...
In 2014, Patrick Egerton co-founded Cheeky Little with David Webster to specialize in the development and production of animated content for kids and family.
He has since co-developed and produced globally successful animated shows for ABC, BBC, Netflix and Disney including Kazoops, Bottersnikes & Gumbles and the recent hit series Kangaroo...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 3
Chad Eikhoff is a director, writer, producer and entrepreneur who crafts imaginative stories and worlds using real time 3D animation as well as immersive media. Committed to telling stories for the entire family, he is widely known for writing, directing and producing the hit-turned-holiday tradition, The Elf on the Shelf:...show more
Speaking on: Real-Time Game-Changers
Ken Faier is El Presidente and CEO of Epic Story Media and its subsidiary Epic Story Interactive. The mission for both companies is to put creators at the center of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. Who doesn't remember that feeling we all had as a child when we fell...show more
Speaking on: 360-Degree Brand Strategy: The merits of making a big splash (12:00pm - 12:45 pm)
Qing is the Producer overseeing the international business including content investment, co-productions and distribution at Tencent Video Kids team.
Tencent Video is a leading online video platform, providing a wide range of premium content, covering films, TV series, variety shows, sports events and news.As the largest and fastest-growing online video platform...show more
A creative and business mind with over 20 years of experience in the video game, animation, and toy industry sectors. Fred, formerly Founder, President, and Chief Creative Officer of mobile game company Hibernum, was leading and influencing all of the creative, artistic, and R&D aspects of the studio. He built...show more
Speaking on: Real-Time Game-Changers
Josh Fisher is an Emmy award winning executive and content creator with years of experience developing and producing successful and engaging content for young audiences. He has been part of big global franchises and also worked closely with talented artists and creators to help guide them as they build their...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 2
Fri Forjindam leads global business development, branding and communications for Mycotoo, Inc.
As a Cameroonian-born, New Orleans-schooled, MFA graduate of Columbia University in NYC, Fri has worked in film, theatre, publishing, live events and experience design. With experience both in front of and behind the camera, she brings her rich background...show more
Speaking on: Return to Live
Anthony Frasier is CEO and founder of ABF Creative, a Webby Award-winning podcast network and production company that bridges the gap between culture and media. A serial entrepreneur with a social mission, the former NPR producer leveraged 10-plus years in the tech industry to create a data-driven storytelling platform that...show more
Speaking on: Smart Podcast Strategies that Build Big Brands
Amy Friedman is Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros. She is responsible for the creative and strategic guidance on kids and family programming for Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, as well as the development and production of kids and family content for HBO Max.
As part of her role, Friedman...show more
Speaking on: Lessons in Social-Emotional Learning (11:00am - 11:45am)
I discovered my passion for kids and family entertainment while still almost a kid myself. Inspired by working at Disney and Kids America (a national radio show) during college, my entire career has been dedicated to building brands and businesses across all media that truly excite, entertain and inspire kids...show more
Speaking on: Return to Live
Ed is the CEO of CAKE. With over 25 years of experience, Ed has worked all over the world for leading producers and distributors including in Paris as VP of International Sales at Gaumont and subsequently as VP of Business Development for French animation house Xilam; in London and Hamburg...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 2; Coffee with...
Architect, graduated from UFRGS in 2006 and founder partner of Hype (www.hype.cg) and Hype Studio (www.hypestudio.com.br), architecture firm responsible for recognized projects, including the modernization of the Beira-Rio stadium for the World Cup. Fascinated by technology, he has always incorporated computer graphics into his work.
While still a student, he...show more
Speaking on: Real-Time Game-Changers
He is a founding partner and COO at Anima the largest animation studio in Latin America. He oversees production, development, strategy, marketing, sales and new businesses. Also serves as Executive Producer of “El Chavo” animated show which has broken several ratings record throughout Latin America with 7 seasons for a...show more
Speaking on: Breaking Free: Taking a brand from YouTube to linear and beyond (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
Dominic is the chief executive officer (CEO) of kids and family content distribution company JETPACK DISTRIBUTION LTD. He founded the company in 2014 with studio production partner Samka Productions and it has gone on to become a leading distributor of global kids shows including Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed, Moley, Clangers,...show more
Speaking on: Coffee with...; Speed Pitching 1; Meet the Distributors
Athena Georgaklis is the Head of Development for Nelvana. A highly respected animation executive, Athena leads the acquisition of rights and the development of all original content for Nelvana. Athena is committed to develop creator-driven content, working with the studio’s producers, creators, and talent around the world that will resonate...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 4; Coffee with...; MASTER CLASS—Setting Expectations: An introduction to rights and negotiating; Chatroom—Diversity & Inclusion
Akimi Gibson
VP & Educational Publisher, Formal Learning and Racial Justice Content Synergy
Sesame Workshop
Akimi Gibson has a dual role at Sesame Workshop. As VP & Educational Publisher of the Media & Education division, she leads the Formal Learning initiatives, partnerships, and business for the Workshop. The focus of this group is to leverage the power of research-proven media to enhance and advance teaching...show more
Speaking on: Lessons in Social-Emotional Learning (11:00am - 11:45am)
As Senior Director of Current Series for PBS KIDS, Tommy leads content strategy and editorial for the U.S. public broadcaster’s slate of children’s programs airing nationally on PBS stations and streaming free on the PBS KIDS apps for mobile and over-the-top platforms. Tommy oversees production for PBS KIDS – collaborating...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 1; Cocktails with... PBS KIDS
Richard is the President of Global Distribution and Consumer Products for Thunderbird Entertainment. He oversees distribution to worldwide media platforms and related consumer products and experiences for the company's productions, including award-winning and inspiring scripted and factual content from Great Pacific Media and animated series from Atomic Cartoons. Previously, he...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... Atomic Cartoons; Mastering M&A: Looking at the current buying spree with a kids industry lens
Grey DeLisle, former recording artist for Sugarhill/Vanguard is about to release her debut album for Regional Records. The covers album, aptly titled "Borrowed" features a James Bond theme song "You Only Live Twice" featuring The Satellites Four (originally recorded by Nancy Sinatra). The single will be released Oct, 20, 2021...show more
Speaking on: Kidscreen Awards and After-Party
Tinkercast’s Chief Executive Tinkerer, the company behind the #1 podcast for kids & families Wow in the World. Meredith is an Emmy-nominated children’s media executive and has been a thought-leader in the children’s media industry for over 20 years, building beloved brands, shows and characters most notably at PBS Kids...show more
Speaking on: Smart Podcast Strategies that Build Big Brands; Chatroom—The Future of Streaming
Albie Hecht, Chief Content Officer of pocket.watch, is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producer who has created hit TV shows that have become household names. As president of Nickelodeon Entertainment, he oversaw the development and production of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Blue’s Clues,” “All That” and co-created and...show more
Speaking on: Breaking Free: Taking a brand from YouTube to linear and beyond (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
In her current role within the Children and Youth Unit, Claire Heinrich is in charge of selecting, negotiating and overseeing all acquisitions and pre-buys for France Televisions’ linear channels and digital platforms - including generalist channels France 3 and France 5's morning blocs, dedicated channel for Children France 4, recently...show more
Emmy Award-winning Andy Heyward has made more episodes of kid’s television than any other producer. After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1975, he joined Hanna-Barbera as a writer and story editor. During his five years with Hanna-Barbera, he was involved in the development...show more
Kim Howitt is Senior Creative Executive for WarnerMedia Kids & Family. She is responsible for overseeing the creative development of third-party animation, co-production, and live-action across preschool, kids and family. As part of her role, Howitt works closely with the development teams across Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation.
An...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with... Kim Howitt, WarnerMedia; Cocktails with... WarnerMedia
Rob Hudnut is one of the most innovative and successful storytellers in children’s entertainment. His award-winning movies, television series and specials have inspired billions of hours of viewership and over $15 billion in entertainment, toy and consumer product sales. Before starting Wisteria Productions in 2017 to create toy-based and faith-based...show more
Speaking on: MASTER CLASS—Franchise-Building From the Ground Up; Pitch Doctoring 3
Craig Hunter is Global Head of Preschool for kids and family, YouTube Originals. His purview includes original programming properties sourced for families on YouTube including scripted series, scripted and unscripted features, unscripted series, docu-series, scripted reality, and live programming.
Craig is a highly seasoned international content specialist in the kids and...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... YouTube
Bin Jeong is the CEO of Pinkfong USA, a subsidiary of SmartStudy. Since 2016, Bin has led the company’s
international business development efforts in the U.S. and English-speaking markets and addition of new distribution
channels for Pinkfong’s apps, digital content, and consumer products. She setup and oversaw Pinkfong’s YouTube
operations,...show more
Speaking on: Breaking Free: Taking a brand from YouTube to linear and beyond (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
Strategist, analyst, author, speaker, connector — David Kleeman has led the children’s media industry in developing sustainable, child-friendly practices for more than 35 years. He began this work as president of the American Center for Children and Media and is now Senior Vice President of Global Trends for Dubit, a...show more
Speaking on: Coming Out of COVID; Chatroom—Next Big Things in Tech
Dianna Lau is a Creative Development Executive for Apple TV+ in Children’s Programming where she’s focused on developing and producing meaningful, quality animation and live action kids series and specials. Before being at Apple, Dianna was a Kids Development Executive at Amazon Studios working on series If You Give a...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... Apple TV+; Speed Pitching 2; Speed Pitching 1
Multi-Emmy Award®-winning producer Kane Lee heads content at Baobab Studios and has executive produced all the studio’s groundbreaking works including Baba Yaga (starring Kate Winslet, Daisy Ridley, Jennifer Hudson, Glenn Close), Paper Birds (starring Ed Norton), Bonfire, Crow: The Legend (starring John Legend, Oprah Winfrey), Jack, Asteroids! and Invasion!. He...show more
Speaking on: Lunching with... Digital Experts
David Levine is Chief Content Officer at Moonbug Entertainment, a global entertainment company that develops and distributes fun and enriching content for children. Levine has over 20 years of experience in media and entertainment. He is responsible for driving Moonbug IP expansion by launching top-tier programs like CoComelon and Blippi...show more
Speaking on: Breaking Free: Taking a brand from YouTube to linear and beyond (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
Layla Lewis is Senior Vice President of Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships for Nickelodeon, a part of the global Kids and Family group at Paramount (formerly ViacomCBS). Lewis leads and implements the global strategy for all acquisitions and content partnerships across the entire Nickelodeon portfolio of channels, across all linear...show more
Speaking on: Meet the Buyers; Working with Nickelodeon
As Vice President, Original Series & Co-Production, Chantal Ling specializes in proprietary content and co-productions. She works directly with Mercury’s international partners to develop, finance, and co-produce properties that are considered the benchmark in television animation. During her tenure with Mercury Filmworks, some of her producing credits include Hilda with...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 1
Rachel Reade Marcus is the VP of Creative Development at Guru Studio where she leads the company’s development of new original IP. Her passion is creating innovative, quality animated content for all ages through nurturing and mentoring new talent, and fostering long-term creative partnerships. Rachel has played a pivotal role...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 3; Speed Pitching 1
Suzanne Masri oversees marketing, branding, engagement, and publicity efforts for Fred Rogers Productions and its catalogue of children’s series. Since coming to FRP in 2015, she has spearheaded the company’s rebrand and implementation of its new creative direction, led the 50th anniversary celebration of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (2018), delivered impactful...show more
Speaking on: 360-Degree Brand Strategy: The merits of making a big splash (12:00pm - 12:45 pm)
As Head of Nelvana Enterprises, Mellany Masterson brings over 15 years of knowledge and a specialized focus within the kids entertainment and consumer products space. Mellany oversees the global brand strategy, content distribution, digital, licensing, and retail development for Nelvana’s extensive brand portfolio.
Mellany previously served as Director of Global Business...show more
Speaking on: Lunching with... Licensing Experts
Marie McCann is the senior director of children's content for CBC Kids. McCann oversees development, production, acquisition and in-house production of award-winning content. As Canada's national public broadcaster, CBC is committed to excellence and innovation in children's and youth media and to reaching audiences across multiple platforms
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with... Marie McCann, CBC; Cocktails with... Mattel, CBC Kids, The Jim Henson Company
Emmy and Bafta Nominated, Michelle has 30 years’ experience in the kids and family production business with hundreds of episodes produced and over 50 awards and nominations. In 2015, Michelle became a partner at Radical Sheep Productions and was promoted to President when Boat Rocker Media acquired the company in...show more
Speaking on: Breaking Free: Taking a brand from YouTube to linear and beyond (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
Darren is responsible for leading negotiations on a range of acquired series, films and kids deals across the ITV portfolio (ITV1, ITV2, ITVBe, ITV3, ITV4, CITV and littleBe). For CITV & littleBe, Darren has acquired a range of live-action and animated comedies such as Detention Adventure, Mighty Mike, Mr. Bean...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 4; Coffee with...
Rosemary Palacios is Director of Talent Outreach, Inclusion and Creative Development for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. In this role, she further infuses the Workshop’s company-wide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy into all areas of show development and production, including ideation, scripting, creator and voice over...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... Sesame Workshop; MASTER CLASS—A Guide to Inclusive Writers Rooms
Veronica Pickett, Head of Original Video for Amazon Kids, lives to tell entertaining stories that have a positive effect on young audiences. Her career has been defined by unique gigs that combine science and creativity. Veronica currently oversees original video programming for Amazon Kids+, Amazon’s digital media subscription service for...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with... Veronica Pickett, Amazon Kids+
Adina Pitt
VP, Content Acquisitions, Partnerships and Co-Productions for the Americas, WarnerMedia Kids and Family
WarnerMedia
Adina Pitt is Vice President of Content Acquisitions, Partnerships and Co-Productions for the Americas, WarnerMedia Kids and Family. She is responsible for identifying, negotiating, and acquiring pre-produced series, specials, movies, and short-form product that fit WarnerMedia Kids and Family brands for exposure across all platforms. She continues to oversee those...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with... Adina Pitt, WarnerMedia
Gloria Ponce is senior creative executive on the WarnerMedia Kids & Family Originals team. Reporting into Amy Friedman, Ponce is responsible for overseeing the creative development of live-action original content across ages 6-11 and family audiences.
Before joining WarnerMedia, Ponce spent three years at Netflix managing international originals for youth audiences,...show more
Gary Pope is co-founder of Kids Industries. The company that makes family brands stronger. Gary began his career as a school teacher leading an English department before becoming a learning designer for a change management consultancy. Today Gary leads Kids Industries finding answers to the most knotty problems in the...show more
Speaking on: Kidscreen Debate: Balancing the scales of IP ownership (3:00pm - 3:45pm)
Christina Reynolds is a Creative Executive at Apple TV+, heading up content for the 6-11 demo, where she manages a small curated slate of originals in both the animation and live-action space, including the Emmy Award winning Ghostwriter.
Before Apple, Christina was at Amazon Studios, helping launch the kids’ slate with...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... Apple TV+
At Jazwares, Michael Rinzler serves as Executive Vice President and Partner, overseeing Blue J, a division of Jazwares that focuses on blue sky concepts that create a pipeline of new business opportunities, intellectual properties, and product innovation. In his role, Michael collaborates with world-class inventors to identify new product concepts,...show more
Speaking on: Lunching with... Licensing Experts; Pro Tips—CP & Retail
As Founder and President of Innova Partners, Gevork has been running IT and entertainment companies for over 10 years.
Prior to founding Innova Partners he was a CEO of Innova, an online entertainment company. Innova was first established as a pioneer of digital entertainment in Russia and CIS starting as a...show more
Speaking on: Return to Live
Michele Schofield is the Senior Vice-President of Content Distribution at One Animation tasked with overseeing content sales to traditional and digital broadcast platforms, the 20 kids’ targeted YouTube channels featuring One Animation’s content, and contributing to the development of new IP for the studio.
Michele is a content programming and production...show more
Julian Scott is a BAFTA nominated Executive Producer and member of the UK Production Guild. He has been developing, financing and co-producing in the international arena for over 25 years. He was introduced to the global market when he became Director of International Production for LA based Walt Disney International...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 2
Jay Shah leads Global Content Partnerships at LEGO, overseeing content partnerships, co-productions, and business development efforts for the iconic toy company’s entertainment division. Shah is responsible for sales, marketing, developing multiplatform content strategies, and seeking out new & innovative ways to convey content and stories to consumers globally through new...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... LEGO
Katherine Sils
VP International Digital Content Strategy & Social Engagement
Nickelodeon Animation Studios
As Vice President of Digital & Platform, Kate Sils oversees international digital content strategy and social engagement for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network and BET for Paramount, formerly ViacomCBS.
In this role, Sils leads a team that leverages the scale of Paramount’s global organization by disseminating and localizing...show more
Speaking on: Breaking Free: Taking a brand from YouTube to linear and beyond (2:00pm - 2:45pm); Cocktails with... Nickelodeon, Hello Sunshine, Globo/Gloob
Linda Simensky is Head of Animation and Scripted Content for Duolingo. Simensky is leading the company’s efforts to create scripted and character-driven stories featuring Duolingo’s original cast of characters, from original animation to the writing efforts for Duolingo’s hit Stories product and its childhood literacy app, Duolingo ABC.
Before Duolingo, Simensky...show more
Speaking on: Lessons in Social-Emotional Learning (11:00am - 11:45am)
Jamie has worked in Kids TV for the last 15 years. His professional highlights include launching & programming the Disney Junior and Disney XD EMEA channels, leading the Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for Disney PRIDE UK & Ireland, spending a morning with Selena Gomez’s mum gossiping over croissants, and working...show more
Speaking on: Speed Pitching 3; Coffee with...; Virtual Speed Pitching 1; Virtual Speed Pitching 3; Cocktails with... Disney, PBS KIDS, Apple TV+
Over her career, Fonda Snyder has written, developed and sold more than 50 projects, including animated features, to DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Sony and Netflix, and TV series to Disney Jr, PBS and Netflix.
As president of Alchemy Ink, Snyder worked with creators including Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed, NYT bestselling authors...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 1
Mark Solomon is a Senior Vice President at BYJU'S, charged with driving the company's mission to build a future of education and technology for all. Mark joined Osmo in 2017 leading product development and content platforms, engineering, computer vision and machine learning across consumer and school businesses. In 2019 when...show more
Speaking on: Mastering M&A: Looking at the current buying spree with a kids industry lens
Andrea Strauss, VP, Nickelodeon Brand & Consumer Insights, serves as the in-house expert on the lifestyles, attitudes and behaviors of kids, teens, young adults and parents. She is responsible for the development of domestic and international consumer insights research focusing on preschool content, consumer products, recreation, as well as youth...show more
Speaking on: Mind the Gap
Rita Street is an award-winning animation executive producer, creator and writer, and the president of Radar Cartoons. She is the co-creator of Disney EMEA comedy Space Chickens in Space and an executive producer on Flying Bark Productions’ feature film and TV series 100% Wolf. Rita's other executive producer credits include: Hero:...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 3
Rebecca is the Research Director at KidsKnowBest, leading research in the key behaviours that impact kids’ development and helping brands develop global strategies to engage family audiences. Since joining KidsKnowBest Rebecca has worked with brands such as Cartoon Network, eOne, Hasbro and Viacom.
Speaking on: Advanced Authenticity: Co-creating with kids to level up on relevance
Carlene Tan is responsible for identifying new IP and producing original series for WarnerMedia’s Kids & Family brands in Asia Pacific including Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Boomerang and POGO, as well as the streaming service HBO GO.
Based in Singapore, she oversees the region’s current slate of APAC originals that include the...show more
AJ is a 20+ year veteran of the entertainment industry as both on-screen talent and an off-screen creative. As a development executive he is driven by a lifetime desire to tell inspiring stories. In addition to overseeing the Kids/Family scripted TV slate for marblemedia, AJ regularly volunteers to mentor emerging...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 1
Rosemarie T. Truglio is the Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop. Dr. Truglio is responsible for the development of the interdisciplinary curriculum on which Sesame Street is based and oversees content development across platforms (e.g., television, publishing, toys, home video, and theme park activities). She also...show more
Speaking on: Pandemic Education Fallout: How COVID-19 has changed everything
Jennifer Twiner-McCarron is the CEO of Thunderbird Entertainment Group, and its Kids and Family Division, Atomic Cartoons. The Vancouver-based global multiplatform entertainment company creates award-winning scripted, unscripted and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and International broadcasters.
Jennifer Twiner-McCarron joined Atomic Cartoons, Thunderbird Entertainment’s kids and family division,...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... Atomic Cartoons
Phil Underwood is a Senior Director of Consumer Insights at Nickelodeon, where he leads all global non-ratings research to support preschool content production and takes a leadership role in research projects for brand, marketing, consumer products, and live events/award shows.
Phil has over a decade of experience conducting custom kids and...show more
Speaking on: Mind the Gap
As Vice President, Development for Peacock Kids and the NBC Content group, Kristofer Updike works to create and develop new animated, scripted and unscripted projects including pilots, animation tests and original concepts. Updike’s creativity and deep understanding of kids content are invaluable in continuously re-envisioning the way kids consume content...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with... Kristofer Updike, Peacock; Meet the Buyers; Cocktails with... Peacock, Disney Junior, The Co-Production Company
SUSAN VARGO (Producer) is the Tony Award nominated and Drama Desk Award winning executive producer of The SpongeBob Musical on stage and for television. She also oversees global creative development for Nickelodeon live entertainment.
She has overseen the strategic expansion of the Nickelodeon live theatrical business from one domestic US touring...show more
Speaking on: Return to Live
Erika is the Director of Programming and Acquisitions for HITN Television and Digital Services. In that capacity, Erika is responsible for designing the content strategy and securing programming rights for all of HITN services, including HITN Linear TV channel, that reaches 44 million homes across the nation, as well as...show more
Speaking on: Diversity is Good Business; Speed Pitching 3; Coffee with...
Maurice Wheeler is CEO at We Are Family in London; the world's biggest and most experienced full service agency group that specialises in children, young people and their families
Maurice has been at the front-line of developing audience led strategies for over 25 years, working with brands in the entertainment, sports,...show more
Speaking on: The Science of an Earworm
Katie Wilson, Vice President, Channels and Curation, WildBrain Television, is responsible for curating content and providing editorial direction across WildBrain’s portfolio of Canadian broadcast channels – Family Channel, Family CHRGD, Family Jr., Télémagino and their multiplatform/VOD extensions. Central to her role, Wilson spearheads WildBrain Television’s content acquisition and original production...show more
Speaking on: Coffee with...; Speed Pitching 1
She oversees Sesame Street and all Sesame Workshop shows, as well as the development of new programs and content across existing and emerging platforms. Wilson Stallings leads creative for domestic production and partners with global teams to enrich and expand Sesame Workshop’s presence around the world.
She was most recently the...show more
Speaking on: Cocktails with... Sesame Workshop
Adam has accrued over 30 years media and marketing experience, 10 years of which was spent in senior operational roles.
Initially spending time in audience research for London Weekend Television, he then moved into creating content for broadcasters firstly working in the US and subsequently in the UK. In 2001 he...show more
Speaking on: Coming Out of COVID; Pro Tips—Digital Media
Brenda Wooding is a senior children's media executive with expertise in global content development, production, financing, pre-sales, co-production and distribution.
Her executive producer credits include projects for National Geographic Partners, Animal Planet, Disney Plus, Sesame Studios, Universal Kids, Cartoon Network and Disney Channels.
As VP of Development, Kids Content...show more
Speaking on: Pitch Doctoring 2
Andy Yeatman is Managing Director, Americas at Moonbug Entertainment, a global entertainment company that develops and distributes fun and enriching content for children. Yeatman is one of the most respected and accomplished executives in kids' content, with more than 15 years of experience in the film and television industry. In...show more
Speaking on: The Science of an Earworm
As Senior Vice President and General Manager, WarnerMedia Kids & Family Latin America, Pablo Zuccarino leads all aspects of WarnerMedia Latin America’s Kids brands, including content production, programming, digital strategy, marketing, communications, business and operations.
Known for his passion and deep knowledge of the children’s media landscape, Zuccarino has established his...show more
Speaking on: 30 Minutes with... Pablo Zuccarino, WarnerMedia LatAm
