Libbie Doherty
Co-Founder
Runaway Unicorn

Libbie Doherty is co-CEO of Run Wild Media, a production company she set up in 2024 with partner Jodi Matterson to focus on family, YA and kids content. Libbie is a strategic media executive with 30 years of experience building successful content and entertainment brands in commercial and public service organizations, and a highly regarded creative leader with a track record for genre-defining concepts that resonate at the right time and the right place. A skilled thought leader who threads future trends and insights to inform the big picture and road ahead. Libbie has executive produced and financed hundreds of hours of entertainment for young audiences, including Bluey, Vegesaurs (seasons 1 to 3), Beep & Mort (seasons one and two), Kangaroo Beach (seasons one to three), Mustangs FC (seasons one to three), First Day (seasons one and two), Nowhere Boys (seasons three and four), Crazy Fun Park (season one) and The Unlisted (season one). Based in Australia, Run Wild Media partners with top-tier talent to deliver excellence in ideas and execution—of everything from feature films and TV shows, to games and lunch boxes—bringing together the best creatives with an innovative and exceptional take. Focused on audience planning and exploitation of multi-cast revenue streams for every piece of content it touches, Run Wild Media is building global IPs through trusted partnerships and co-productions across entertainment disciplines, while unlocking local networks, equity and government incentives.

Gregory Dray
Co-Founder
Animaj

I am leading the award-winning YouTube Kids standalone streaming video service internationally, as well as Google/YouTube’s Kids, Family and Education content efforts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). I have orchestrated the launch and led the growth of YouTube Kids (AVOD and SVOD) in 100+ markets so far, overseeing the platform’s business-related functions (content partnerships and programming, marketing, distribution, go-to-market strategy), while working closely with its product and engineering teams to create unique, locally and culturally relevant experiences for our users. I originally joined Google in January 2012 as Head of Original Programming for YouTube in EMEA, leading the company's first push into Original Programming (Original Channels Program), before launching the platform's News, Kids/Family, and Education businesses in the region. Prior to joining Google, I held the role of VP of International Digital Business Development at Lagardere Active, the media division of Lagardere Group. Previously, I served as VP of Global Marketing at Dailymotion, a primary video sharing platform, and worked for several years at Time Warner (now WarnerMedia), principally for the company’s Turner Broadcasting and Time Inc. units in senior sales and business development roles in New York, Paris and London. I obtained an MA in Media and Journalism from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po Paris) and an MS in Business Administration from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP). I am also an alum of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Stanford Executive Program, Class of 2019).

Craig Hunter
Senior Creative Executive
Amazon Kids+

Craig Hunter is currently a Senior Executive for Amazon Kids+. He's a multi Award Winning and highly seasoned international content specialist and former Global Head of Kids & Family for YouTube Originals at Google. Prior to YouTube Craig spent over eight years at Sony Pictures Television in London, leading it's kids’ networks where he was responsible for Sony’s portfolio of kids’ linear and VOD brands, content acquisitions, commissioning, programming and strategy across the U.K, South Asia and Western Europe. Craig also held positions at BBC Studios and Nickelodeon as a creative exec. He started his career in production for Disney EMEA and has recently worked as an Independent Exec Producer & Consultant / Advisor. Craig is currently based in Los Angeles, USA.

Anna Taganov
Head of Content & Programming Strategy
BBC Children's

Jennifer
Twiner-McCarron
President of Kids, Family & Young Adult
Blue Ant Media

Jennifer Twiner-McCarron joined Atomic Cartoons as the Head of Production in 2011 and supervised all in-house production.  Under Jenn’s leadership, the team grew from 30 people to over 200 + today. Jennifer lead production on multiple productions including BeatBugs - Netflix upcoming original series for kids featuring the music of the Beatles, the award winning Rocket Monkeys for Teletoon, and the hit series Little Charmers for Spinmaster and Nelvana

As President of Atomic Cartoons, Jennifer will be responsible for Atomic’s continued growth, creative excellence and valued collaborations with its partners.

 Prior to joining Atomic, Jennifer was Vice President of Production for Rainmaker Entertainment in Vancouver.  Over the past 15 years, Jennifer has produced or executive produced dozens of animated television series,  video game cinematics, and direct to DVD features including the popular Barbie Princess franchise with Mattel Filmed Entertainment. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and a degree in film studies from the Vancouver Film School.  She is an award winning Producer having received several Leo awards, an ELAN, and a DTV award, and was voted one of the “Top 25 Women in Animation” by Animation Magazine in 2004. Jennifer’s greatest achievement, however, is her family and she cherishes spending time with her eleven year old daughter and seven year old twins.

“I am thrilled to be taking on this new role at Atomic Cartoons at such an exciting time of growth and opportunity for Thunderbird & Atomic. The talented people at Atomic Cartoons are innovative and passionate about animation, and I am honored to be a part of this world class team” said Jennifer Twiner - McCarron.

Kay Wilson Stallings
EVP, Chief Creative Development & Production Officer
Sesame Workshop

Justine Bannister
Founder & Creative Facilitator
JUST B

Justine is a trilingual children's media consultant with over 25 years’ experience accrued with companies such as 20th Century Fox, Disney Channels France, and Lagardère France. Her expertise spans animation production, distribution, acquisitions, co-production, marketing, and brand management. JUST B was founded by Justine in 2013 to offer tailored services for Producers, Distributors, Festivals, Media Conglomerates, and Governmental Export Agencies. Services include project evaluation, market-readiness, matchmaking, pitching, financing, co-producing, development oversight, talent-scouting, post-production, international sales, marketing, and press. JUST B clients include Studio 100 Media Group, Wild Child Animation Scotland, Berlin-based Wolkenlenker, Wonderz & Digedags, Go-N France, The CMPA and Doberman Pictures Canada, l’Atelier Animation and la SODEC in Quebec, MDEC Malaysia, ICEX Spain, NHK Japan, TFO Canada, Reed Midem, Shanghai Media Group China, and more. Justine is active on international festival juries, panels, and advisory boards, serving as an expert on project evaluation for funding organizations. For details; https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-bannister/

Carlos Biern
Content & Media Sales Director Kids & Family
DeAPlaneta Kids & Family

Brenda Bisner
Chief Content Officer
Kidoodle.TV

BRENDA BISNER is the Chief Content Officer for A Parent Media Co Inc. the creators of the SAFE STREAMING™ Platform: Kidoodle.TV®. She is an integral force behind the successful acquisitions of top children’s media content from around the world, as well as a future caster for all new business development on behalf of the company. Brenda has a proven expertise in the navigation of an ever-shifting children’s digital media landscape. She has the rare talent to spot trends and recognize brand potential along with an innate ability to optimize for their success. Brenda’s work with Kidoodle.TV continues to set a standard for a more safe and reliable online space to relieve parents and help protect and entertain kids from over 160 countries as they learn and grow into the best versions of themselves.

Becki Brisson
VP, Business Affairs & Operations
Rocket Fund Canada

Becki Brisson is the Shaw Rocket Fund’s Vice President, Business Affairs and Operations, and has been with the Fund since 2012. Becki fosters valuable relationships with producers nationwide, helping them navigate through the application process and the children’s media industry to produce successful programs. She has overseen hundreds of investment applications and contracts as an integral part of the Fund. Prior to joining the Shaw Rocket Fund, Becki worked on the production side as an Associate Producer and Business Affairs Manager for various television and film production companies. Becki’s extensive knowledge of kids’ media comes in handy when exploring content and platforms for her inquisitive and energetic children.

Rick Clodfelter
Executive Director, Content Acquisitions & Partnerships
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.

Dea Connick Perez
Consultant
Akili TV

Dea Connick Perez has more than 20 years of experience in television, radio and media, mostly in the kids business. She recently started her own company as a kids media consultant offering services ranging from sourcing content, content acquisition and programming consultancy to production and development guidance to identifying and securing intellectual properties to marketing services. Dea has helped launch over 15 channels and blocks over her career. Dea is currently sourcing and acquiring kids and family content for the Akili Kids Channel in Kenya. Dea has held programming, strategy and content acquisitions roles at TOPIC (SVOD/FAST), Universal Kids/Sprout, Qubo, Discovery Kids/Animal Planet, Cartoon Network/Boomerang/Adult Swim, and Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite/TV Land.

Sebastian Debertin
Head of International Content Acquisitions & Co-Productions
KiKA

Sebastian Debertin helped create and launch KiKA- Der Kinderkanal of ARD and ZDF in November 1996. As Head of Fiction, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, a position he has held for more than 23 years, Sebastian oversees all international acquisitions, productions and co-productions. Sebastian has won several national and international film and television awards, including the German "Grimme Preis" and an Emmy Award in the USA, among many others. He has been named "Kids' Content Trendsetter" in 2015 and "TV Kids Pioneer" in 2021. When it comes to acquisitions and co-productions, he looks for all genres of programming from international sources and since 2020 not only for fiction but also for non-fiction priograms for KiKA. Furthermore, he is responsible for development of co-productions, contract negotiations, relationship management. In his role as Head of International Content Acquisitions, a part of the management and programming department / Programmgeschaeftsfuehrung of KiKA, Sebastian is responsible for international business affairs and -development on behalf of the channel.

Delphine Dumont
Chief Commercial Officer
Banijay Kids & Family Distribution

Natalie Falk
Senior Manager, Global Acquisitions & Content Partnerships
Nickelodeon

Qing Fan
Producer, Content Investment, Co-Productions & Partnerships
Tencent Technology

Qing is the Producer overseeing the international business including content investment, co-productions and distribution at Tencent Video Kids team.

Ian France
Head of Kids Content
Sky TV

László Fülöp
Senior Acquisition and Contract Manager
AMC Global Media Central Europe

Athena Georgaklis
Executive Producer, Creative & Business Strategy
Independent

Susana Gomes
Programming Director
Dreamia

Linda Granath
Head of Acquisitions, Children's Content
SVT

Ming Hsien Chan
VP, Animation Production & Acquisition
Bilibili

Ming is a producer and the founder of Children’s Playground Entertainment. Since July 2016, he has also served as the Vice President of Animation Production and Acquisition at Bilibili. This leading Chinese video-sharing platform acquired Children’s Playground Entertainment in the same year. Ming is one of the few foreigners who has successfully co-produced and joined Japanese animation committees, contributing to 40-plus Japanese anime titles in the past eight years. Prior to joining Bilibili, Ming and his team were instrumental in distributing more than 300 Japanese anime titles to major Chinese platforms, including Tudou, Youku, iQiyi, and Tencent. Currently, Ming oversees the children’s content business at Bilibili, continuing to shape the landscape of animation with his innovative vision and extensive industry experience.

Kirsten Hurd
Commissioning Editor
TVOKids

As Commissioning Editor of Kids TV for TVO, Kirsten is responsible for all commissions and programming of the Kids block and a suite of TVOkids branded digital channels. TVOkids commissions and acquires a wide range of educational kids programming from all over the world and ensures it complements learning pathways for all children in Ontario. Kirsten has over 20 years of television experience including 5 years in acquisitions for TVOkids and 15 years in international sales most recently as Director of Acquisitions and Canada Sales at Distribution360 (marblemedia). She has also held sales and management positions at Cookie Jar Entertainment, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Decode/DHX Media.

Driana Jones
Executive Producer
Terrific Television

Suzanne Kelly
Head of Children's & Young People's Content
RTÉ

Suzanne Kelly Head of Children's & Young People's Content RTÉ, Ireland Suzanne Kelly has headed up the RTÉ Children’s division since 2018. She’s responsible for all content created and commissioned across video, audio and digital platforms for RTÉjr, 0 – 6 channel and RTÉ Kids, 7 – 12’s platform. As a PSM, the RTÉ kids’ team is dedicated to delivering top quality content for our audience and ensuring that they are represented and given a voice. Suzanne works hand in hand with both the Irish Live action and animation sectors to deliver stand out moments for TV audio and online, recent commissions include; The Imagination Machine, an e-sports blockbuster, Ireland’s Future is MINE, Alva’s World and a wonderful new podcast series, The Neighbourhood, narrated by Oscar nominee, Ciaran Hinds. Suzanne is also keen to grow RTÉ’s slate for teens and is actively searching out content for this audience. Prior to joining RTÉ, Suzanne worked as an independent producer/director, creating & developing programme formats, script writing and producing & directing in studio and on location for linear and digital platforms.

Alexandra Korol
Content Acquisitions & Partnerships
Tubi

Marianne Lambert
Director, Co-Productions & Acquisitions
TFO

With many years of experience in television production and content creation, Marianne is an expert at creating content for kids that is fun and inviting. Fully bilingual, she has worked in many areas in kids tv: first as a host, then writer, director, producer, executive producer and broadcaster. In her role at TVO she managed the TVOKids YouTube channels and was executive producer for many TVOKids co-productions. Now at TFO, Marianne is Director of Co-Productions and Acquisitions where she is responsible for overseeing development and production for co-productions as well as acquiring content for TFO’s programming schedule (kids, film and documentaries).

Victoria Lee
Acquisitions Manager, Media Development, Kids Service Team
SK Broadband

Victoria is a seasoned professional with 16 years of experience in kids content, specializing in acquisitions, production, investment and marketing across various platforms and channels. She is currently serving as a content acquisitions and investment lead at SK Broadband, overseeing a portfolio of renowned titles such as The Little Penguin Pororo, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and Toritori. Victoria has demonstrated success in establishing exclusive partnerships with major domestic and educational companies, and she also has a proven track record in planning and producing innovative in-house content to differentiate offerings in the kids content landscape.

Annalisa Liberi
Heads of Acquisitions
RAI

Annalisa Liberi, head of Acquisitions of Rai Ragazzi, the department for children and kids of RAI, italian public broadcaster, operating the 2 free-to-air TV channels RAI Yoyo and RAI Gulp. She attends international Festivals and Markets every year and she has been member of several International Juries of kid’s programmes. Previously Annalisa had been in charge of Acquisition, Programming and Dubbing for Rai Yoyo, the leading Italian children’s channel and of Kid's Acquisition at Rai 3. Before joining RAI, she handled Postproductions and Italian Editions for RaiSat, Tele+, Mediaset, De Agostini and International Festivals, taught “subtitling and script writing” (Department of Employment and European Social Found) and was trained by Academy awarded screenwriter Ennio De Concini on TV Series screenplays.

Brenda Maffuchi
Chief of Acquisitions & Property Development
De Agostini Editore

David Michel
Co-Founder & President
Cottonwood Media

Maria-Nicole Miriklis
Acquisitions Manager, Children & Family Content
ABC Australia

Thomas Hankil Nam
Managing Director
ICONIX

Thomas Hankil Nam is a media and animation executive with extensive experience in
animation development, production, commissioning, international distribution, and the global media business. Currently based in Jakarta, he serves as Director of PT. ICONIX ASIA PACIFIC, leading ICONIX’s business development across the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia.

Prior to joining ICONIX, he spent 25 years at EBS (Korea Educational Broadcasting
System), where he worked as a producer and director before becoming Head of
Animations. He led the development, production, investment, and commissioning of
Korean animation. His major works include Pororo the Little Penguin, Tayo the Little
Bus, and Robocar Poli, among others.

His international experience also includes serving as Deputy Director of the EBS
International Documentary Festival (EIDF) and as a Senior Program Consultant at the
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Malaysia, specializing in the development and production of children’s programming and conducting workshops for producers and directors across the region.

In 2006, Thomas received the Grand Prix in the Educational, Scientific or Industrial Film category at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival for The Birds & the Bees.

Anish Narayanan Kutty
Director, Digital Media Networks & Content Distribution
Toonz Media Group

Alexis Rice
Global Head of Partnerships, Youth Content
YouTube

Nancy Roy
Head of Content, Youth & Family
Télé-Québec

Zia Sands
Director of Content Acquisitions, Partnerships & Co-Productions
Warner Bros. Discovery

Zia Bales is Lead Acquisitions, Partnerships & Coproductions WarnerMedia Kids & Family EMEA, working across Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Boing, Cartoonito, Toonami, Toonix and HBO Max Kids & Family. In this role, Zia oversees and negotiates shared acquisitions for the EMEA kids’ business, working closely with the local heads of programming and acquisitions of each of the channels and the content heads within EMEA. In addition, Zia works closely with production and coproduction partners to provide creative consultation throughout the development and production of select series, including Taffy, an original series for Boomerang with Cyber Group, Mush Mush and the Mushables from La Cabane, Thuristar and CAKE and Ninja Express with Eone. Zia joined Turner in 2013. Prior to this she held an Acquisitions role at Disney. Zia has a background in Television Production having held various positions in Production Management.

Gabriela Sarmento
Audiovisual Content Manager
MSP Estúdios

Adriano Schmid
VP, Content
PBS KIDS

Nathan Schram
VP, Kids & Family
Paramount+

Damian Soriano
Content Director
Spiritum Entertainment

Philippe Soutter
Founder
PGS Entertainment

Philippe Soutter has been working in the entertainment and media industry for more than 10 years - holding positions in programming, advertising, production and international distribution. Philippe and Guillaume Soutter co-founded PGS Entertainment in 2008. Today PGS Entertainment is a leading, award-winning international brand management company, dedicated to kids and family entertainment and targeting Broadcast, Home Entertainment, Mobile, Online, Licensing and Merchandising. PGS Entertainment specializes in high-profile programs for kids and family viewing and handles a catalogue of over 1000 half hours of programming. The company represents such internationally acclaimed properties as ALVINNN!!! And the Chipmunks - from Bagdasarian Productions and Technicolor Animation Productions; MoominValley - from Gutsy Animations Monchhichi - from Technicolor Animation Productions; The Little Prince - from Method Animation; Iron Man Armored Adventures - from Method Animation & Marvel; The Emmy winning The Jungle Bunch - from TAT Productions; The first animated series based on Chaplin, Chaplin and Co - from Method Animation; Robin Hood – Mischief in Sherwood -from Method Animation. Philippe Soutter has a BA in Finance from French University Dauphine in Paris. He studied philosophy and contemporary writing at Georgetown in the US, and obtained a Masters in Media from European business school, ESCP.

Melanie Stokes
Founder & Managing Director
Kindle Entertainment

Sascha Stradtmann
Director, Commercial Affairs
Kixi Entertainment

2012 - Present

• Company: Viacom International Media Networks Germany
• Function: Programming Manager Nickelodeon Germany/Austria

2010 - 2012

• Company: KidsTV GmbH
• Function: Head of Fiction

2008 - 2010

• Company: KidsTV GmbH
• Function: Editor in Chief

2002 - 2008

• Company: KI.KA - Der Kinderkanal ARD/ZDF
• Function: Acquisitions Editor

1997 - 2002

• Company: Saban Entertainment Germany GmbH
• Function: Manager Development & Production

Laura Tapias
Founder
Mercury Kids Entertainment

Barry Toa
Assistant Lead, Strategic Partnerships & Kids
Mediacorp

Erika
Vogt-Lowell
VP, Content
HITN

Elizabeth Waybright Taylor
Creative Executive
Independent

Pablo Zuccarino
SVP & GM, Kids & Animation, LatAm & International Portfolio Strategy
Warner Bros.Discovery LatAm

Lauren Appelbaum
SVP, Entertainment & Media
Disability Belongs

Lauren Appelbaum (she/her) is the Senior Vice President of Entertainment & News Media of RespectAbility, a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities. As an individual with an acquired physical disability – Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – she works at the intersection of disability, employment, and Hollywood. She regularly conducts trainings on the why and how to be more inclusive and accessible for entertainment executives throughout the industry. Appelbaum partners with studios, production companies, writers’ rooms, and news organizations to create equitable and accessible opportunities to increase the number of people with lived disability experience throughout the overall story-telling process. These initiatives increase diverse and authentic representation of disabled people on screen, leading to systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities. She has consulted on more than 100 TV episodes and films with 9Story Media Group, A&E, Bunim-Murray Productions, DreamWorks Animation, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures Entertainment, ViacomCBS, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Discovery, among others. She represents RespectAbility on the CAA Full Story Initiative Advisory Council, Disney+ Content Advisory Council, MTV Entertainment Group Culture Orientation, and Sundance Institute’s Allied Organization Initiative. Appelbaum also increases hiring initiatives of people with disabilities behind the camera and enriches the pool of disabled talent in Hollywood by connecting them to those who can assist with their careers, both on the creative and business sides of the industry. She is the author of The Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit and the creator of an innovative Lab for entertainment professionals with disabilities working in development, production and post-production. She is a recipient of the 2020 Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award for this Lab. In 2022, Appelbaum created the Children’s Content Lab to provide education and training for disabled TV writers and creative executives interested in creating preschool and children’s television and streaming content. She produced a showcase featuring the pilot scripts of the Lab Fellows in November 2022.

Jamie Badminton
Creative Director
Karrot

This will be Karrot Entertainment's first visit to Kidscreen after launching their pre-school property, Sarah and Duck at Cartoon Forum and MIPJr 2010. We'll be in NY to discuss opportunities for that show and our current, eclectic development slate. Karrot specialise in storytelling and children's series creation and is making its mark with striking art styles and by creating standout characters and worlds. Shows for Pre-school and 6-12 currently in development.

Koyalee Chanda
SVP, Animation
Lion Forge Entertainment

Madeline Di Nonno
President & CEO
Geena Davis Institute

Michelle Lee
Partner & Managing Director, PlayLab
IDEO

Chantal Ling
Supervising Producer
Spin Master

Shabnam Rezaei
Co-Founder & President
Big Bad Boo Studios

Shabnam is the co-founder of Big Bad Boo Studios, an award-winning, creative-led animation and production studio producing and distributing quality, inclusive family programming. Based in Vienna, New York and Vancouver, Shabnam is currently working on "Galapagos X" season 2 (TVOKids), and season 5 of "Lili & Lola" (Oznoz/ICI TV). She produced and directed Hulu Original Series “The Bravest Knight”, winner of a GLAAD Award. She has also created and directed original shows such as “16 Hudson” (Amazon Prime/TVOKids), winner of the Mipcom Diversify TV Awards in Cannes. Previous work includes digital series "Mixed Nutz”, and her first creation, “1001 Nights”, currently airing in 80 countries on Disney, Teletoon, Cartoon Network, CBC Kids, Discovery Kids, Gloob Brazil, RTBF Belgium, and MTV3 Finland. The company’s own streaming channel Oznoz provides cartoons in 10+ languages, including classics such as Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder, Babar, and more. The current development slate includes Ava Undercover, Billy & the Boingo Band, Bad Bunny, The Last Whale Singer, and 4 other unannounced projects. With a BS in Computer Science, a BA in German Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from New York University. Shabnam spent 10 years in financial software industry in New York and London at Fortune 500's such as Deloitte & Touche and Misys. She has been featured on CBC, CNN, Forbes, BBC, FOX, the New York Times, and NPR. She was born in Iran and grew up in Austria. She speaks English, German, Persian, French, and Spanish and is raising her two daughters trilingual.

Natalie Adams
SVP, Business Development
Triggerfish Animation

Tom Beattie
Managing Director
Tiger Aspect Kids & Family

Tom is the multi-BAFTA nominated MD of Tiger Aspect Kids and Family and is involved in all programming output, working across every aspect of production from development to delivery and beyond. Having started his career in advertising as a creative, Tom then moved into live action film production. After managing commercial and pop promo productions for various bands and brands from U2 to Pot Noodle, Tom transferred his skills to animation and children’s TV production. Tom joined Tiger Aspect in 2001 and is the series producer of the animated Mr Bean series and creator of the live action series Danny & Mick, for CBBC. His other selected credits include Charlie and Lola, Aliens Love Underpants, Pirates Love Underpants, Tinga Tinga Tales, Corpse Talk and Super Happy Magic Forest. Tiger Aspect Kids and Family is part of the Banijay Kids group, working closely with Zodiak Kids Distribution.

Eric Calderon
Writer, Producer & YouTube Educator
Surviving Animation

31 years in the entertainment industry with a focus on creative development, animation production and distribution, and franchise management.

Henry Dalton
Writer, Director, Producer & Creator
StoryBots: Super Silly Stories

Ellen Doherty
CCO & Executive Producer
Fred Rogers Productions

Ellen Doherty is Chief Creative Officer for Fred Rogers Productions, overseeing the development and production of content for all platforms. She serves as executive producer for the company’s current series on PBS KIDS—Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, Donkey Hodie, and Alma’s Way. She also developed Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way and is the creator, head writer, and executive producer of the award-winning Through the Woods, a short form series about nature also available on PBS KIDS. In December 2023, Ellen was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Silver Circle, which recognizes “distinguished service within the industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership, and professional accolades” for 25 years. In May 2023, Ellen was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s list for The 75 Most Powerful People in Kids’ Entertainment. She was also spotlighted in Variety’s 2022 Family Entertainment Impact Report as one of the year’s top content creators, producers, directors, and executives. In 2018, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy® Award for Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like, the retrospective tribute to the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. A Webby® and three-time Emmy® Award-winning producer and writer with more than 25 years’ experience in children's media, Ellen was previously executive producer and story editor of the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase. She oversaw production of television and digital content for the series for six seasons, including creating several shortform video series. Ellen began her career as an associate producer on the beloved PBS KIDS series Reading Rainbow. She has a B.A. in Communications from Boston College and will show you on her hand where she grew up in Michigan.

Pato Escala
Executive Producer
Punkrobot Animation Studio

Punkrobot is an animation studio based in Chile. Our motivation is to create great content and high quality animation. In 2016 we received an Academy Award in the best animated short film category for our short film Bear Story. Since 2008 we've produced pre-school shows, short films, advertising and now we're developing our first feature film.

Massimo Fenati
CEO
Eaglet Films

Anttu Harlin
Executive Producer & Co-Founder
Gigglebug Entertainment

Anttu Harlin is the co-founder and CEO of Gigglebug Entertainment, an animation IP studio that creates and produces positive kids' content for the global market. The Helsinki based company's mission is to have a meanigful impact on the world through fun filled entertainment on multiple platfomrs.

In recent news, Gigglebug Entertainment is proud to have provided concept development for Disney's 101 Dalmatian Street TV series, as well as short form and digital content creation and production for the Disney property.

Previously, Anttu is credited as the co-creator, co-writer and executive producer of the pre-school favorite ‘Gigglebug’ - first launched as an app in 2013, with over 1 million downloads and #1 chart positions in 64 countries. The second season of the 52x5min Gigglebug TV series is now available and it is supported by an award winning portfolio of brand experiences in apps, books, music and live shows.

“I see myself as an entrepreneur who’s passionate about storytelling, laughs and high-quality kids content. I aspire to create meaningful and long-lasting connections between audience and content, regardless of platform. And I love surfing”

www.gigglebug.fi

Karen Vermeulen
Executive Producer
Flying Bark Productions

Jan-Willem Bult
Founder, Director & Social Media Developer
Children in the Centre

Swin Chang
Executive in Charge of Development
& Production
CBC Kids

Sherry Gunther Shugerman
Co-CEO
HEEBOO

Sherry Gunther Shugerman is a two-time Emmy-Award winning producer, media executive, and entrepreneur. Sherry has spent her career producing some of television's most successful animated hits, such asThe Simpsons, Family Guy, Rugrats, Dexter's Laboratory ,Cow and Chicken, Johnny Bravo, The Powerpuff Girls, Looney Tunes,and more. Sherry has also headed up production at studios such as Hanna Barbera, Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox Television, Nickelodeon, and more. Sherry most recently produced 'Twilight of the Gods'- the critically acclaimed adult animated Norse Mythology series for Netflix, with Zack Snyder. Sherry has also innovated in the new media space, and launched two separate ventures in the kids' virtual world and gaming space. Sherry then went on to create and launch two separate online virtual world gaming sites for kids, an story-driven edTech platform, and The Beatrix Girls, a true multi-platform media brand of fashion dolls who are pop-stars, which sold in 13 countries around the globe, boasting 22M fans on YouTube, 9 consumer product licensees, and original music on iTunes. Sherry has demonstrated a sincere dedication to quality content. She has been honored for her outstanding work with numerous awards including two Emmy-Awards, a Cable-Ace award, a Humanitas Award, and five additional Emmy nominations. Sherry earned her BS degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her MBA from the University of Southern California (USC) where she now teaches classes in media and entrepreneurship.

Scott Hewitt
Animator
FizzPop Creative

David Peacock
Director
Peacock Sound

Dee Shipley
Director
Dee and Company

As a twice Emmy-nominated Voice Director and Casting Director, Dee has worked on over 50 animated series which have aired on Disney TV, Netflix, Amazon, Google, Hulu, CBC, MTV, Teletoon, Nickelodeon, Discovery, Nat Geo, PBS Kids, NBC, CBS, and the BBC. Her recent series animated credits include the upcoming OLLIE'S PACK (Nickelodeon/Nelvana), HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (Sony/Disney), ELINOR WONDERS WHY (PBS Kids) and DOOMSDAY BROTHERS (Adult Swim /Teletoon).  Recent Feature Film credits include CHARLOTTE (January Films), LAMYA's POEM (Unity Films/PIP Animation) and AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (Cottonwood).  Dee is a member of the Casting Directors of Canada, the Casting Society of America, and the National Academy of Cinema and Television.

Munjal Shroff
Co-Founder
Graphiti Studios

Munjal is a creator, director and producer with 27 years of experience. He is the co-creator of the Netflix Original Deepa & Anoop. The show win four Kidscreen Awards in 2023 - Best New Show, Best Inclusivity, Best Music and Best Voice Talent. The Deepa and Anoop Season Season 2 is nominated for Kidscreen 2024 for Best Inclusivity He is co-founder of Graphiti studios. Graphiti is one of the oldest studios in India and have produced shows with Cartoon Network, Disney, Nickelodeon and Netflix.

Halle Stanford
Founder & Executive Producer
7 Crow Stories

René Veilleux
CEO & Co-Founder
Verité Entertainment

René Veilleux is the CEO & Co-Founder of Verite Entertainment, a full post-production audio and creative company based in Los Angeles, California, which has provided VO services for animated series and features for Apple, Netflix, Mattel, Warner Brothers, CBS Studios, DreamWorks, Amazon Studios, HBO Max, Sony as well as to a number of international companies around the world. René is an Emmy nominated Voice and Casting Director and has a long list of credits on numerous animated series, animated feature films, and video games. Most recently Verité has opened his affiliate companies Verité Quebec Inc, and Verite Colombia SAS to provide tax-credit services and facilitate co-productions in both countries to its partners around the world. On its development slate, Verité has three animated series and two animated features, some of which are part of a 2023 initiative to help strengthen the audiovisual sector in the city of Cali, Colombia.

Rhiannon Apple
EVP, Strategy & Operations
Super League Gaming

Molly Barton
Co-Founder & CEO
Realm

Vinoth Chandar
Founder & CEO
ChuChu TV Studios

Vinoth Chandar is the Founder and CEO of ChuChu TV Studios, one of the world’s largest digital-first children's media networks, reaching over 200 million subscribers across 12 channels and accumulating more than 100 billion total views on YouTube. Its flagship channel boasts over 98 million subscribers and 60 billion views, home to world-renowned hits like the Phonics Song with Two Words, which has surpassed 7 billion views and ranks among the top 10 most-watched videos in YouTube history. Expanding its footprint well beyond YouTube, ChuChu TV content has also launched globally on platforms like Netflix.

With over 12 years of experience in creative direction, animation, and media strategy, Vinoth pairs engaging storytelling with early childhood development principles—holding certifications from Harvard Online and NAEYC. He prioritizes low-stimulation, sensory-friendly, and value-driven content, continually shaping the future of global kids' media through original IP creation and major international platform partnerships.

Thom Chapman
President & Founder
Victura Media

Victoria Deborah
Senior Kids Content Strategist
The LEGO Group

Olivia Dickinson
Children's Media Consultant
Digital Olive

Christine Griswold
Consulting Director, Learning Experiences
Center for Early Childhood Creativity & Innovation

Daniel Haack
VP, Content Strategy & Business Development
Sony Music Entertainment (Magic Star, The Orchard)

Meredith
Halpern-Ranzer
Chief Executive Tinkerer
Tinkercast

Meredith Halpern-Ranzer is an Emmy-nominated children’s media executive and Co-founder / Chief Executive Tinkerer at Tinkercast, the independent children’s media company behind the leading kids & family podcasts Wow in the World, Flip and Mozi, Who When Wow!, and Once Upon a Beat. As CEO, Meredith leads Tinkercast’s mission to nurture curiosity in kids and grown-ups across platforms to help us all find the WOW in our world. She has been a thought-leader in children’s media, spearheading multiplatform innovations that shape industry trends for over 25 years. From 2005 to 2015, Meredith served as VP of Creative, VP of Alternative Programming, and Executive Producer on the team that launched and led the preschool channel, PBS Kids Sprout. Prior to joining Sprout, Meredith learned the answer to the burning question of childhood, when she not only found out “how to get to Sesame Street,” but worked there for eight years as a producer and editor. She is a founding member and on the board of directors of the Children’s Media Association. Meredith is a constant seeker of WOW in her world with her husband, son, puppy and a campervan named Shoshanna.

Rex Ishibashi
Entrepreneur
Independent

Paola Jimenez
VP, Content & Production, Digital & Special Projects
9 Story Media Group

Lynn
Kestin-Sessler
Creative Development, Executive Producer Podcasts, YouTube, Games
Show & Tell Productions

Lynn Kestin Sessler is a Peabody, Webby and Parent’s Choice Award-winning Producer and Development Executive who creates animated series, digital, podcast and live action TV programming for PBS, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Sesame Street, and MTV Networks. Lynn's happy place is creating content for kids and families. She specializes in podcasts, animations, games and adapting books to TV series and movies and creating content on multiple platforms. On the TV front, Lynn is Webby award winning Executive Producer on Go, Dog, Go! on Netflix ,PBS’ The Cat in the Hat Knows A lot About That! And the PBS KIDS animated movie -ROCKET SAVES THE DAY. In the podcast world, Lynn has created and produced a slate of Webby, Signal and Shorty award-winning audio and video podcasts for Nickelodeon, including Dora's Recipe for Adventure, Avatar Braving the Elements and Goodnight Bedtime Stories. She has also produced 6 current audio series for Audible and created award-winning podcasts for Noggin and Pinna. In the interactive space, Lynn was Supervising Executive Digital Producer, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That!, WordGirl, Sesame Street, Ready, Jet Go! and more. Lynn is on the National Board of Producers Guild (PGA), the TV Academy and,the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Media Association and the Common Sense Media Board of Advisors.

David Kleeman
SVP, Global Trends & Playvangelist
Dubit

Working as a strategist, analyst, author, speaker and connector, David Kleeman has led the children’s media industry in developing sustainable, kid-friendly practices for more than 35 years. His perspective is that for all that changes, children’s development and needs remain constant. In addition to his current role as SVP of Global Trends at Dubit, a UK-based research consultancy and game studio, David serves as an advisory board chair for PRIX JEUNESSE and is also on the board of the US Children’s Media Association. In 2023, he was inducted into the Children’s and Family Emmy Silver Circle, in recognition of his 25-plus years of service.

Terence Mbulaheni
Founder & CEO
VIEWED

Terence Mbulaheni is the Founder of VIEWED, a Toronto-based cutting-edge digital boutique specializing in YouTube strategy, content creation, monetization, and production. With over 14 years of experience in marketing, digital strategy, content production, and audience development in children's media, Terence has a proven track record of helping brands unlock their full potential across digital platforms. His expertise spans digital monetization, content production, and social media strategy, having worked with over 100 iconic global brands such as Unicorn Academy, Paw Patrol, Super Simple Songs, Barney, Arthur, Wild Kratts, Bakugan, Monster Jam, and more. Under his leadership, VIEWED delivers a full suite of services designed to grow brands, drive sustainable revenue, and position them as leaders in the digital space. Terence’s ability to combine strategic insights with production excellence ensures that the brands he works with not only stand out but thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Hitendra Merchant
Founder & CEO
YoBoHo New Media

Hitendra Merchant is the Founder & CEO of YoBoHo New Media, a global digital media company that specializes in creating, distributing and licensing digital-first original content in the kids & family vertical. He founded YoBoHo in 2008, after identifying a massive opportunity to produce and distribute content geared towards kids on YouTube. We are looking at collaborating adding value to our partners for YouTube distribution, building IP and production. Of shorts.

Olivier Moingeon
Co-Founder & CEO
Exclusible

Jodie Morris
Founding Partner & Consultant
Creative Sprouts/Jodie M Consulting

Aditya Prakash
Founder & CEO
SKIDOS Labs

Leanne Preston Cortez
Development Executive
Moonbug Entertainment

Mahesh Ramachandra
Director, Global Content Partnerships
Nex Team

Currently Director of Global Content Partnerships at Nex, and Product Advisor for SMASH. Ex-Hasbro, KidsKnowBest, Hopster and Azoomee.

Jo Redfern
SVP, Digital
Coolabi Group

Rich Staplehurst
Founder & IP Owner
Noodle & Caboodle Entertainment

Hanna
Valkeapää-Nokkala
VP, Transmedia
Rovio Entertainment

Hanna Valkeapää-Nokkala is VP Transmedia at Rovio Entertainment and part of the Rovio leadership team. She has 20 years of experience in marketing, sales and digital marketing in the entertainment and games industry, telco operation as well as retail. Rovio’s Transmedia business covers everything the beloved Angry Birds brand does: Brand strategy and execution, Transmedia program and Roadmap, Various businesses like Business development, the production of animated series and films, licensing and distribution on various platforms in 191 countries, theme parks and digital experiences, product licensing and publishing operations globally.

Andy Yeatman
CEO
Miraculous Corp