Board of Directors

Kate is a fundraiser and arts administrator who hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba and her career has taken her onstage, backstage and to the office. An Honours graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film, Kate has worked as Artistic & Production Associate for Rainbow Stage, in both Audience and Fund Development for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and as Development Manager for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Additional work includes Assistant Director for Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, producer for Bravura Theatre, work with the Pantages Playhouse, and, like so many others, it all started with the Fringe.

Sherry Yuan Hunter (MEd, CTRC-A) is the Program Director of Community Services at the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She serves on the TMU Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee and the Chang School EDI Committee. She is the Founder of Point of You, a coaching and consulting company that supports overwhelmed Asian parents by Unpacking Triggers from complex trauma. Since 2019, she has hosted the Sandwich Parenting podcast and runs group coaching programs for coaches around the world. 

Sherry lives downtown Toronto with her husband Bill and two teenage sons. 

Prerna Mathews, Vice President, ETF Product & Strategy, is responsible for supporting the development and execution of the overall ETF business strategy inclusive of product strategy and related high priority initiatives. She leads cross-functional engagement with key internal partners and fosters partnerships with external stakeholders.

Prior to joining Mackenzie Investments, Prerna held several positions within ETF capital markets, product development, and product management at an international investment company. She most recently led the investment product management team for their Canadian business. She has extensive experience in the development and management of active, strategic beta and index ETFs having adeptly scaled and managed fund product shelves. She has also worked in institutional sales and product development at various Canadian financial services companies.

Prerna has an undergraduate degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Windsor, as well as an MBA from IE Business School, Spain.

She currently mentors women professionals through the Women in Capital Markets Mentorship Program and the Women in ETFs Mentorship Program, sits on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP) and is on the board of directors for Toronto Fringe Festival.

Boyd Neil spent nearly 20 years as a senior executive with Canada’s leading public relations and public affairs firm (H+K Strategies), and a total of more than 40 years as a consultant, arts journalist and speechwriter. Boyd began his career writing theatre and dance criticism and features on the arts for major publications in Canada and the U.K. (for which he was awarded the Nathan Cohen Award for Theatre Criticism). He went on to head the national corporate communications practice at H+K Strategies, then took on the role of building its national social media and digital practice.

Boyd holds B.A., M.A. (Drama) and M.B.A degrees from the University of Toronto, and currently teaches subjects related to social media strategies, nonprofits and business consulting in Humber College’s Faculty of Media and Creative Arts. He has been a director on the Board of Bridgepoint Health Foundation and chaired its joint foundation/hospital communications committee. He is currently also on the board of Necessary Angel Theatre Company.

Currently a marketing manager for Mirvish Productions, Victoria has been marketing the Toronto theatre scene for 10+ years and mentoring the next generation of arts leaders (teaching courses in arts marketing and social media for the arts at Centennial College and Toronto Metropolitan University). Victoria holds an undergraduate degree (Hons. BA in Arts & Music), a graduate diploma (Arts Management) from Western University, and is a graduate of Seth Godin's altMBA.

Avery-Jean is an award winning Transfeminine actor, director, music director, teacher, and playwright born in Kjipuktuk, now based in Tkaronto. Over the past five years, they have facilitated workshops on Trans Inclusive Practices in the Arts, which they have led for professional arts organizations across Canada, such as Young People’s Theatre, the Associated Designers of Canada, and the Stratford Festival. In 2020, they were nominated for the Bra d’Or Award from the Playwrights Guild of Canada for their advocacy work for gender parity in live theatre. Avery-Jean's first original musical, The Pansy Craze, was the recipient of Queer Theatre Toronto's inaugural LGBTQ Fringe Award for pushing boundaries in representation for Queer & Trans characters in musical theatre. Avery-Jean's work focuses on creating opportunities for queer & trans artists in plays & musicals, onstage & off. Their artistic mandate is to explore the extraordinary in the mundane to create healing, community building experiences that feel like a warm cup of tea with which to fuel a revolution.

Ian Filderman is a financial services executive with a track record of excellence and innovation in building, positioning, and improving businesses within the wealth and asset management industry. His current role is VP of Product Development, Wealth Solutions for Canada Life. Over the course of his career he has held leadership roles for some of the largest banks and insurance companies in Canada and his experience spans the globe, having worked in both Canada and Asia, and led teams across multiple geographies and continents. At Canada Life, Ian and his team lead the ongoing development and management of investment products and key supporting functions for the firm. Ian enjoys travelling the globe, is a passionate sports fan and an aspiring amateur guitar player. He is based in Toronto, where he resides with his wife and children.

Monica Goyal is the VP of Legal Innovation for Caravel Law. She is a part-time lecturer at the TMU Lincoln Alexander Law School where she teaches Critical Approaches to Data, Algorithm, and Science in the Law. Monica was formerly an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, and the Institute of Future of Law Practice. Monica has a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.  Monica was nominated for Canadian Lawyer most influential lawyer in the changemaker category in 2023 and 2024.

Jayan McPherson has been championing workplace learning and talent development for 20 years. A seasoned Learning Strategist to senior business leaders, Jayan is a trusted advisor and coach having implemented complex talent programs and strategies to advance the needs of the business.

Jayan has in-depth knowledge across a range of sectors and functions: merchant services/payments, telecom, banking, pension plans, and technology, and brings the latest thinking in the future of work and talent development to employee enablement. As a transformation change leader, she has overseen several large-scale transformation projects and culture change initiatives.

She currently is the Director of Pension Learning Experience & Project Management at OMERS, accountable for delivering innovative learning solutions that set employees up for success and providing project management support to achieve strategic business results.

Jayan is passionate about finding innovative ways to design engaging learning experiences that supports employee growth and development. As a result, she has been recognized by the Institute for Performance and Learning receiving the 2017 Award of Excellence in Leadership Development for the TD Technology Leadership Program.

Jayan is a Certified Human Resources Leader, Certified Training and Development Professional, Prosci Certified Change Practitioner and Certified Scrum Master.

Chuck Okonkwo is a promising Philanthropic Advisor with a proven track record in the planning and execution of multi-million-dollar campaigns for United Way Greater Toronto. He is a driven marketing professional with business administration, project management and community development expertise. He is responsible for a portfolio of corporate partnerships and manages the fundraising, operations, employee engagement and strategic planning for some of Canada's largest corporations. Thanks to his extensive grassroots and boardroom experience, Chuck has become an effective advocate for corporate citizenship and social responsibility.

Miquelon Rodriguez is a sound designer, composer, radio play mixer & editor, digital content creator, actor, and an emerging director and arts leader based in T'karonto. He was the Apprentice Artistic Director at Factory Theatre for two years under the mentorship of Nina Lee Aquino, and co-curated Pan-Asian works over two seasons at Soulpepper through the Tiger Bamboo Festival and the Shen Development Series, under the mentorship of Ins Choi. He is a graduate of the Artistic Leadership Residency at the National Theatre School of Canada and has worked with a multitude of artists and companies across Turtle Island.

Denise Ruzage is a multidisciplinary artist, advocate and producer whose lived experience and advocacy shape her dynamic work. Her East African roots and the women in her family inspire passionate advocacy for gender equality and educational rights internationally. As a member of Plan International Canada's Speakers Bureau, for five years, she advocated for gender equality and educated others about challenges facing women and girls in Canada and beyond. Denise co-hosted an award-winning  podcast called FemRadio discussing current events, pop culture, and society from a feminist perspective In February of 2021, Denise was named among the Top 10 Artists For Social Change in Canada by Conscious Economics. As an advocate, Denise has appeared on CTV National to advocate for representation of diverse artists. In June of 2021, Denise was featured in a nationwide digital ad for Revlon's ColorStay collaboration with the FORA Network encouraging young women to pursue leadership opportunities. Denise joined the Toronto Fringe Festival board in 2020 and co-chairs the youth advisory committee.

Nikolas Tsirgielis is a seasoned Major Gift fundraiser, with expansive experience in campaigns, donor relations, and fundraising in post-secondary environments. Nikolas is currently the Associate Director, Major and Planned Gifts for Humber Polytechnic, Canada’s largest college, and has previously worked for Junior Achievement of Canada, JA Ontario, and the University of Toronto where he focused on corporate and foundation giving. 

Nikolas is passionate about the life-changing potential of philanthropy and has previously volunteered for the Pride and Remembrance Run and The Arquives. In his free time, Nikolas is a lover of arts, culture, and the outdoors, often found either seeing a show in the city or cycling/hiking somewhere in Ontario. 

Nikolas has a PMP certification and holds an honors Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.