Board of Directors

Jason Murray, Chair of the Board

Jason (he/him) is the President and Managing Partner of BIPOC Executive Search. Over the course of his career, Jason has worked on 300+ executive searches as well as a range of EDI services in partnership with client companies. Prior to founding BIPOC Executive Search Inc., Jason worked at a multinational executive search firm as well as a boutique search firm before that. For part of his career, he worked in the Consulting Division of Deloitte & Touche as the Human Capital and Strategy & Operations Supervisor. In this position he provided organizational management and HR services to the 994 individuals in the division, and was a respected voice around matters of equity, diversity, and inclusion and increasing representation throughout the organization.

Jason has a community-facing orientation. In addition to serving as Chair of the Board for the Toronto Fringe Festival, he has volunteered with a number of other organizations including the Canadian Board Diversity Council, G(irls)20, and Pride at Work Canada.

Jason holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and a Master's degree in Management from Boston University. He is certified in unconscious-bias decision making and iOS app development, and has completed courses on predicative data analytics and artificial intelligence in recruitment and retention.

Nancy Konopinsky, Vice Chair

Nancy Konopinsky (she/her) is the Chief Operating Officer for Canada Learning Code, a charity focused on bringing digital skills to people in Canada so they can become creators - not just consumers - of technology.  Her expertise is helping mission-driven organizations grow and scale by building a people-first culture that will drive innovation, efficiency, performance and business results. Nancy also volunteers as a Coach with Ryerson’s Social Venture Zone.  She is mom to two grown-ish children - a daughter, Morgan and a son, Lucas.  Nancy is passionate about her family, literature and having fun.

Boyd Neil, Secretary

Boyd Neil (he/him) spent nearly 20 years as a senior executive with Canada’s leading public relations firm (H+K Strategies), and a total of 40 years as 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 holds B.A., M.A. (Drama) and M.B.A degrees from the University of Toronto, currently teaches social media, CSR and business consulting in Humber College’s Faculty of Media & Creative Arts. He has been a director on the Board of Bridgepoint Health Foundation and chaired the joint foundation/hospital communications committee.

Cindy Gouveia, Director

Currently serving as the President of the George Brown College Foundation, Cindy (she/her) is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of management experience in private and public sector. She is a results-driven individual whose strengths are relationship development and management, formulating optimal strategies, troubleshooting complex problems and bringing together diverse clientele. She is an inspiring individual who identifies opportunities where they are least present, is a known problem-solver and an innovative solutions provider. She has travelled overseas establishing cross-cultural partnerships, delivering strategic results through sensitivity and respect towards diversity. A college graduate, Cindy holds a PhD in higher education from the University of Toronto. She also has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Guelph.

Sage Paul, Director

Sage Paul is an urban Denesuliné woman based in Toronto and a member of English River First Nation. Her ethos centres family, sovereignty and resistance for balance. Sage is the Artistic Director of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, which she also co-founded. She has been instrumental in establishing and leading projects for Indigenous artists working in fashion, craft and textiles through several projects with IFWTO, Inland, Ikea Canada, the International Fashion Showcase during London Fashion Week, Setsuné Indigenous Fashion Incubator, the Canadian Trade Commissions in South Africa and London, Artscape Launchpad and Canadian department store Simon’s. Sage has contributed to InStudio Magazine (Banff Centre for the Arts), Walker Reader (Walker Arts Centre) and TEDx Toronto and has provided consultation for Ryerson University, Urbani_T, Canadian Art and Fashion Awards, Harbourfront Centre and several others, including artists in the art and fashion sectors.

Sage teaches the Contemporary Indigenous Fashion and Jewelry program at George Brown College, which she also developed. In 2019, Sage was nominated for the Premier’s Award in Creative Art and Design and was recognized as “… leading Canada’s Indigenous Fashion Movement” (En Route Magazine). Sage received the Design Exchange RBC Emerging Designer Award and was honoured by the Ontario Minister of the Status of Women as a trailblazing woman who is transforming Ontario. Sage likes to call herself a philosopher and artist. The ideas and process in the creation of her fashion and craft are catharsis of an urban Denesuline woman experience – resourceful, intentional and resilient. She up-cycles fabrics and incorporates natural materials like raw hide and antlers into her fashion, which has been exhibited in a few art and fashion shows. Sometimes she retails it too. But, creating is her favourite part. [Photo by Nadya Kwandibens]

Barry Peters, Director

Alligator wrestler. Ping pong champion. Tequila aficionado. None of these things are true about Barry, but what is true is that he is a die-hard Blue Jays fan, life-long volunteer and a passionate supporter of the arts.

Currently working at RBC, Barry enjoys his days counting your money. Previously, he worked for 11 years in municipal and provincial politics trying to drain the swamp.

Outside of his professional life, Barry volunteers extensively. In addition to his role with the Fringe, Barry is the chair of AS2YP (supporting Autism), the National co-Chair of RBC’s NextGen Committee, and a Director on the Kiwanis Music Festival Board.

Barry lives in Toronto with his BFF Jennifer, her kids, a dog and a cat.

Steven Smits, Director

Steven (he/him) is an emerging Arts Manager based in Toronto, currently working as General Manager for Volcano Theatre and Peggy Baker Dance Projects. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School’s Production Program and is presently studying Arts and Culture Management though MacEwan University. He currently serves on the Professional Association of Canadian Theatre’s Advocacy Committee. He has spent two seasons at the Stratford Festival, the Royal Manitoba Theatre and Centre and the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. In his hometown of North Bay, Steven worked with the Downtown Improvement Area as the Special Events Coordinator and as the Marketing Specialist.