News & Events

News: The AFC welcomes new leadership

Toronto — Sept. 26, 2017 — The AFC, the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry, is pleased to announce the election of Board Member Gerard Roxburgh as Chair of The AFC, Board Member David Ferry as President, and the appointment of new members Prem Gill, Jan Miller, Zaib Shaikh and Teri Worthington Coombs to the Board of Directors.

Prem Gill is Chief Executive Officer of Creative BC. The agency is designated by the Province of British Columbia to focus on uniting, sustaining and growing British Columbia’s dynamic and diverse creative sector including motion picture, music and sound recording, interactive and digital media, and magazine and book publishing. Prem has been named one of Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” and listed as one of The Globe and Mail’s 10 Women Who Matter in Film and TV.

Jan Miller is an international consultant and trainer specializing in film and television co-production and co-venturing. She also continues to present one of the world’s top Pitching & Content Development Workshops. Her unique brand of training has been presented across Canada from Yellowknife to Newfoundland for provincial agencies, film schools, major festivals and film coops, and globally, from Berlin’s Talent Campus to Cuba’s Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV, to Poland’s ScriptEast, Colombia, Brazil, China, Tehran & Cannes. Jan also collaborated nine years ago with Berlin’s Erich Pommer Institut to design the hugely successful Trans Atlantic Partners (TAP), a 2 module international training program for mid career film and TV producers, with Jan as Director of TAP.

As Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Industries for the City of Toronto, Zaib Shaikh oversees the Screen, Music, Live Events support and Tourism portfolios and teams at City Hall. He has also worked as an actor, writer, director and producer internationally. As an actor his work includes Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta’s film, Midnight’s Children, adapted from the novel by Salman Rushdie and as star of international Canadian hit comedy, Little Mosque, seen in over 90 countries globally.

Born and raised in Manitoba, Teri Worthington Coombs has called Toronto home since 1999. A passion for the arts and social change drew her to fundraising and not-for-profit administration and she has been honoured to develop and grow her skills in this area at The National Ballet of Canada, Opera Atelier, Soulpepper Theatre Company and currently at UNICEF Canada. Instilled with a life-long commitment to volunteerism, Teri has been proud to share her time with ArtsScene, the Toronto Summer Music Festival, the Central Toronto Skating Club and other organizations.

David Ferry and Gerard Roxburgh are thrilled to welcome Prem Gill, Jan Miller, Zaib Shaikh and Teri Worthington Coombs to The AFC’s Board of Directors.

“Our new members are all longtime champions of Canada’s arts and entertainment industry. Their deep commitment to promoting Canadian talent and their combined experience in different aspects of this industry will be invaluable assets to the important work that The AFC does,” Ferry said.

Ferry and Roxburgh would like to thank outgoing board members Ira Levy, Susan Murdoch, Wendy Moss and Maria Topalovich for their service.

“We are grateful to our outgoing members for their wonderful contributions to The AFC. Ira and Sue have been tireless advocates for The AFC in the production community, helping The AFC form key relationships with industry partners,” said Roxburgh. “Wendy has been instrumental in the success of The AFC’s signature fundraising event, Big Swing, and Maria brought incredible wisdom and insight to The AFC from her years of experience leading several high-profile arts and culture organizations.”

Ferry and Roxburgh would also like to thank outgoing president Fiona Reid, C.M., D.C.L.

“Fiona has been a passionate and inspiring leader during a time of change and growth at The AFC. We are looking forward to her continued contributions in her new role as Past President,” Roxburgh said.

The AFC is the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry. Through compassionate and confidential support, The AFC helps Canadian entertainment professionals maintain their health, dignity and ability to work. The AFC typically provides $500,000 in emergency financial aid to help entertainment professionals working in all aspects of film & TV, music, theatre and dance.

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Contact:
David Hope
Executive Director
david@AFChelps.ca
416.975.0304
AFChelps.ca