Catie Asip
Assistant Director, Children's Programming
PBS Kids

Hugh Baldwin
Former Senior Director, Programming
Nickelodeon Australia

Megan Casey
Director, Original Animation Series
Netflix

Lisa Cinelli
Executive in Charge of Production, Children's & Youth
CBC Kids

Kevin Clark
Children’s Media Producer & Consultant
The Kevin Clark Group, LLC

Kevin Clark, PhD is a children’s media producer and consultant who focuses on inclusive educational content for children and families. As director of preschool animation at Netflix, Kevin focused on issues of education and diversity. Kevin began his work with Netflix as the creative producer on Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. As a creative executive at Netflix, Kevin assisted in developing and sustaining creative collaborations, reviewed creative materials, collaborated with cross functional teams and external partners to support content development and production, and actively identified and sourced underrepresented talent to increase diversity among preschool creators. Prior to Netflix, Kevin was a professor and founding director of the Center for Digital Media Innovation and Diversity at George Mason University. The center’s work focused on topics ranging from exploring the impact of video game design on children, broadening participation in STEM disciplines and careers, and studying the Digital Lives of African American Tweens, Teens, and Parents. In addition to his scholarly activities, Dr. Clark also provided consultation on issues related to character designs, storylines, animations, interactive games, content selection, podcasts, and toys to children’s media organizations like Disney, Cartoon Network, PBS Kids, Mattel, Hasbro, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), YouTube Kids, Nickelodeon, Pinna, and Amazon Studios. For example, Kevin served as a consultant on Amazon’s movie adaptation of Ezra Jack Keats’ iconic children’s book, The Snowy Day (http://www.imdb.me/kevinaclark); consulted on issues of character and story development for Cartoon Network shows; served as the strategic advisor for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Diversity in Children’s Content Production initiative; and advised Pinna on the development of children’s podcast content. Prior to becoming a professor, Kevin was a programmer, software tester, and managed the design and development of educational video games for the Sony PlayStation as part of an Ed tech startup.

Rick Clodfelter
Content Acquisitions & Partnerships Lead
Disney Branded Television

Rick Clodfelter is founder of Garden Place Media, a consulting firm specializing in identifying, acquiring and executing strategy for kids and family content which drive revenues across media platforms. Clodfelter is formerly senior director of content strategy and acquisitions for Universal Kids where he sourced and acquired programming and identified content partnerships necessary to build the channel brands. He also assisted with the long-term strategic planning by negotiating and securing rights when appropriate content was identified. He represented the U.S. network at all major programming markets including MIPTV, MIPCOM, and Kidscreen Summit. Previously, Clodfelter was director, content acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network and Boomerang. In this capacity, Clodfelter was responsible for acquiring pre-produced series, specials, short-form product and series co-productions that fit the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands for exposure on all platforms.

Libbie Doherty
Head of Children’s Content
ABC Australia

As Head of Children’s Content I am responsible for the Content Strategy and have oversight of 380 hours of internally produced and commissioned content across the ABC’s two dedicated children’s channels, ABCME (6-12yrs) and ABC KIDS (2-6yrs). As a member of the ABC's TV & Radio leadership team, I contribute to the ABC’s audiences, production and business strategy by building quality and distinctive programming, with local and international financing partners that delivers to existing and new ABC audiences.

With 60+ internal creative staff in Sydney and Melbourne, as the Creative Leader I set the bar for creative excellence, innovation and nurture teams to deliver ambitious, unique and compelling stories for new and existing ABC Audiences.

Financing shows and discovering new pathways is an integral part of my role and having worked in the film and television business for over 25 years, I pride myself on strong and reliable relationships with international and local partners. Together we continue to invent, evolve and define different business models to commission projects.

The ABC has a long and rich heritage of providing quality Children's content to generations of Australian children – made for them and from their perspective. The ABC provides a broad offering of content that is designed to inspire, entertain and excite children, and which embodies a true Australian reflection of our contemporary culture. We are committed to equal representation for girls and boys and provide opportunities where possible for children to tell their own stories through our digital platforms.

Luiz Filipe Figueira
Head of Programming & Content Strategy
Globo TV/Gloob & Gloobinho

Marianne
Furevold-Boland
Executive Producer
NRK

Or Handelsman
Director, Acquisitions & Content Partnerships
Nickelodeon Benelux

Morten Hansen
Head of Kids
DR TV/Danish Broadcasting Corporation

Craig Hunter
Global Head of Kids & Family Original Content
YouTube

Craig Hunter is the Global Head of Kids & Family for 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 family space. Prior to YouTube Craig spent nearly nine years at Sony Pictures Television, most recently as director of kids’ networks where he was responsible for SPT’s portfolio of kids’ linear and VOD brands, content acquisitions, commissioning, programming and strategy across the U.K and Western Europe. Craig also worked briefly at BBC Studios and spent over six years as a creative exec at Nickelodeon. He started his career working in production for Disney EMEA. Craig is currently based in Los Angeles, USA.

Kyle Jenkins
Programming & Acquisitions Manager, Milkshake!
Channel 5

Yann Labasque
Director, Youth Programming
TF1

Leslie Lee
Former VP, Kids Content
Warner Bros. Discovery

Marney Malabar
Former Director, Kids TV
TVO

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 ever-evolving digital space, helping kids to be successful both inside and outside the classroom. In her role as Director, Kids TV, Marney is responsible for overseeing TVOKids’ internationally recognized original content, co-productions and acquisitions.

Sarah Muller
Head of Commissioning & Acquisitions, 7+
BBC Children's

Sarah Muller is Vice President of Children’s and Youth Programming (Western Europe International Networks) at Sony Pictures Television with responsibility for the Pop and Sony Music Channels. Prior to that, she was Head of Children’s at Channel 5 where she was responsible for the Milkshake! brand refresh, content portfolio overhaul and studio reorganisation. Sarah was Creative Director, Scripted, Animation and Co-Productions for CBBC In-House before that, a role that grew from her work as Head of CBBC Acquisitions, Animation and Drama Development. Passionate about all Kids’ content, but especially Drama and Animation, commissioned projects include ‘Danger Mouse’, ‘Strange Hill High’, ‘Creeped Out’, ‘Harriet’s Army’, ‘Wolfblood’, ‘The Dumping Ground’, ‘The Worst Witch’, ‘Katie’ and ‘Just William’.
Prior to joining BBC Children’s, she was Managing Director of Elephant Productions. As a producer, credits include 6 series of the multi-award winning, ratings success ‘Grizzly Tales For Gruesome Kids’ (CITV), ‘Animal School’ (CBBC), ‘Pop Skool’ (BBC1), ‘3 Brothers Diamond’ (C4), and ‘New Willo The Wisp’ (Disney) as well as developing the BAFTA-winning drama series ‘The War Diaries of Alastair Fury’ (BBC1).

Darren Nartey
Acquisitions Manager, Films & Kids
ITV

Darren is responsible for leading negotiations on a range of Acquired 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 Sooty, Mighty Mike, Mr Bean and Mr Magoo.

Darren's previous role was at Channel 5, as an Acquisitions Executive for Channel 5, Five USA and Five Star.

Naleka N'Guessan
Acquisitions Executive
France Televisions

Bronwyn
North-Reist
Executive Director, Original Series
Disney Channel

Nikki Reed
VP, Kids & Family Scripted Originals
Warner Bros. Discovery

Linda Simensky
Head of Animation & Scripted Content
Duolingo

Jamie Smy
Kids & Family Acquisitions, Disney+/Disney Channels
Disney EMEA

Tara Sorensen
Head of Children's Programming
Apple TV+

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

Prior to joining Apple, Sorensen was with Amazon Studios where she launched Kids Originals. During her tenure at Amazon, Sorensen.......Prior to Amazon, Sorensen was VP, Development and Current for National Geographic Kids Entertainment.  During her tenure with National Geographic she was essential to the development and production of Emmy Award winning Toot & Puddle for Nick Jr., Emmy nominated Mama Mirabelle's Home Movie's for PBS, and Are We There Yet? World Adventure, for Treehouse Canada and CBC. Prior to National Geographic, Sorensen was vice president, creative affairs for Sony's Family Entertainment division. At Sony, she was involved in the development of leading entertainment properties, including the Emmy-nominated Dragon Tales for PBS; Emmy-nominated Jackie Chan Adventures and Men in Black animated series for Kids' WB!; Stuart Little and the Emmy Award-winning Harold and the Purple Crayon series for HBO Family; and Big Guy & Rusty the Boy Robot for Fox Kids. Previously, Tara also worked for Nelvana and Children's Television Workshop.                               

Sorensen received her B.A. in English from the University of Southern California. A New York native, she resides in Los Angeles with her husband Scott, and their two children Lucas and Laurel.

Carlene Tan
Director, Original Productions & Development, Kids
Warner Bros. Discovery

Heather Tilert
Director, Preschool Content
Netflix

Hillary Turner
Former Kids & Family Content and Comedy Series
Netflix

Kitty Walsh
Director, Development
Disney Junior

Lauren Appelbaum
VP, Communications, Entertainment & News Media
RespectAbility

Lauren Appelbaum is the Vice President, Communications, at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and so people with disabilities can participate fully in all aspects of community. She brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic and crisis communications, writing, video and web production, news gathering and social media to the disability agenda. Previously she was a digital researcher with the NBC News political unit, where she worked with Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell.

Appelbaum also supervises several Fellows through RespectAbility’s Fellowship Program. Her Fellows ultimately want to go into careers in journalism, public relations, political communications or the entertainment industry.

Outside of work, Appelbaum is active in community theater. She has served in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles for more than a dozen musicals and plays. Having organized volunteer ASL interpreters and coordinated ADA seating at performances, as well as directing a nonverbal actor with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair, she understands first-hand the importance of inclusion of both performers and others with disabilities.

Appelbaum has been quoted in many articles by national publications including Associated Press, IndieWire, The Los Angeles Jewish Journal, RealScreen, Tablet, USA Today and Variety. She has spoken on panels at the RealScreen Summit, New England Newspaper and Press Association Conference, Association of Health Care Journalists Conference, and ComNet, among others.

Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Appelbaum has a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University; she also has undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. She serves on several national and local nonprofit boards. Appelbaum currently lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter and dog.

Mounia Aram
Founder
African Creative Talents/Mounia Aram Company

Mounia Aram is a professional of the animation industry with more than 20 years’ experience. She was born in Casablanca, Morocco and she grew-up in France. As a kid, Mounia had a passion for animation, video games... and African cultures and languages. After oriental languages studies in Paris INALCO, she had the opportunity to join ShoPro Entertainment in 2003, a company specialized in Japanese animation based in San Francisco. She launched her Mounia Aram Company in 2019, a company specialized in African animation, to defend her belief: Africa is a continent that should matter. With her network and wide experience she wants to build a bridge between Africa and the international market, by pitching animated projects to producers for coproduction and to broadcasters for distribution. Winner of Meet Africa, she is supported in the opening of her subsidiary in Morocco (in 2022) which will take the form of an Animation Studio which will produce African animation series and will also provide services to foreign studios. Mounia was elected in September 2020 a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) organizer of the Emmy Awards In 2021 she joined the Geena Davis Institute as a 'Africa Council Chair. Finally, in November 2021, She won the “Black in Animation” Award in the Cultural Innovator category.

Musa Brooker
Creative Director
Six Point Harness

Yatibaey Evans
Creative Producer
WGBH

Jay Francis
VP, Current Series & Diversity
Walt Disney Television Animation

Sameer Gardezi
CEO
Break the Room Media

Sarah Haasz
Founder
Pillango Productions

Grainne McGuinness
Creative Director
Paper Owl Films

Gráinne is the creator of Pablo for CBeebies and RT&EJr., distributed internationally by CAKE. This series is now celebrated all over the world for its timely portrayal of a smart little autistic characterthrough funny colourful characters and refreshingly unusual stories.Pablo has become an international movement for celebrating #thinkingdifferently and encouraging young audiences to see the world in different ways. 2021 will see the Pablo brand expand into an older show, with growing international licencing and merchandising opportunities, with a YouTube Channel, book deal and theatre show. Pablo proves that meaningful content for kids needs to be commercially successful audiences everywhere must want to watch it. As Creative Director, Gránne leads the development of ambitious content for large scale audiences. This also includes a passion for the survival of minority languages borne out in the production of Irish language content like preschool cookery series Bia Linn, a wildlife series Na Dulradoiri, for 8 - 12 year olds on TG4. Gránne is mixing it up with a slate of new projects for younger viewers: both in the preschool, 8 - 12s and early teen space.

David Michel
Co-Founder & President
Cottonwood Media

David Michel is the president and founder of Cottonwood Media, a subsidiary of Federation Entertainment. Cottonwood creates, produces and invests in premium, international family content both animation and live action. With over two decades of television experience producing children’s programming, Michel previously served as General Manager at Marathon Media, which he co-founded and subsequently sold to Zodiak Media.  At Marathon, he played a key role in growing the production entity into a leading global company producing family content for both the U.S. & international markets.  While there, he served as co-creator and producer of 15 international series, including the global hit Totally Spies! and more recently Get Blake (Nickelodeon)

Zulema Uriarte
Director of Inclusion, Animation
Netflix

Wanda Witherspoon
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Sesame Workshop

Damon Berger
Chief Marketing Officer
Wildbrain

Andrew Chan
Head of Digital Gaming
Mattel

Miki Chojnacka
Chief Creative Officer
Sandbox Kids

Miki's talent is for making things sparkle--brands, teams, channels and products. With over 20 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry (Viacom, MTV Networksand Pearson), Miki has been Hopster’s Chief Content and Creative Officer since 2017 and Co-CEO since 2020.

Sunil Gunderia
Chief Innovation Officer
Age of Learning

Justin Hsu
Founder
MarcoPolo Learning

Michael Levine
SVP, Learning & Impact
Nickelodeon

Rob Lowe
Managing Director, Digital Play
LEGO Ventures

Bonnie Rosen
GM, Disney Accelerator
Disney

Dana Ware
Creative Director
The VOID

Dana Ware, is a Chicana award-winning international Director with experience working in virtual reality, augmented reality, film, and photography. She completed a master's degree in Entertainment Arts and Engineering - Game Development and an MFA in Film and New Media. As well as, holds a degree from UCLA that specializes in visual media. In 2019, Dana became a Creative Director at The VOID where she helped to explore the future of VR storytelling and directing. After a short closure due to COVID-19, Dana was able to work on several Hyper-Reality TV series, assorted at-home VR experiences, as well as, LBE VR and AR projects. She is now back with The VOID to develop strategic and innovative magical experiences leveraging the best of both our virtual and physical realities. She is an Ambassador for Women in Games - WIGJ. And also serves as a VRDC Summit Advisor for GDC- The Game Developers Conference helping to push the VR/AR industry forward.

Gerald Youngblood
Co-Founder
Tankee