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Our Team

FACTOR maintains an office and staff of 20 people in downtown Toronto, along with 11 Regional Education Coordinators (RECs) located across Canada. We are governed by a Board of Directors of 11 representatives from both the radio broadcast and the independent music sectors, with consultation from our National Advisory Board (NAB) comprised of representatives from all provincial and territorial music industry associations, the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), the Canadian Music Publishers Association (CMPA), and the Music Managers Forum (MMF).

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Board of Directors

Under FACTOR’s current constitution, the Board of Directors is comprised of a volunteer group of 11 individuals, six of whom represent the independent music industry and five who represent Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

Under the current by-laws there are eight members of the organization who control eight seats on the Board. These members are responsible for the appointment of Directors. The Directors they appoint are responsible for electing the remaining three seats on the Board. The eight members are:

  • Canadian Independent Music Association
  • One member, admitted by Board resolution, drawn from the Independent Recording Industry
  • Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB)
  • Canadian Music Publishers Association
  • Music Managers Forum Canada
  • Bell Media Inc.
  • CORUS Entertainment Inc.
  • Rogers Communications Inc.

In an effort to embrace as many sectors of the industry as possible, the Board of Directors gives consideration to both regional and sectoral representation.

FACTOR has a Director Emeritus, Duff Roman, who is also the founding President of the organization. He has remained an active supporter of FACTOR throughout its history. His presence ensures that there is an historical memory and ongoing guidance available to new Board members.

FACTOR also has a provision for a representative of the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA) to attend meetings of the Board of Directors as a non-voting Observer.

Serving on the FACTOR Board

Eight members of the FACTOR Board are appointed by its founding members. However, the FACTOR Board reserves three seats for independently elected members. Of these three seats:

  • One seat is reserved for a representative from private radio broadcasting
  • One seat is reserved for a representative from the independent music industry
  • One seat is reserved for a representative from the music industry who is ideally an artist

Elected Board members must be nominated by the Nominating Committee of the Board. Candidates for the seats are elected (or appointed by acclamation) by the founding members at FACTOR’s Annual General Meeting. The radio seat and the music industry seat are elected on even-numbered years; and the independent representative is elected on odd-numbered years.

Elected Board members serve a two-year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms.

  • Meg Symsyk

    Meg Symsyk

    Chair

    MMF Appointee

    eOne Music

    Vice President, International Marketing & Management

  • Steve Parsons

    Vice-Chair

    CAB Appointee

    Boom 97.3/Flow 93.5

    Operations Manager

  • Justin West

    Justin West

    Treasurer

    CIMA Appointee

    Secret City Records

    President

  • John Lewis

    John Lewis

    Secretary

    Independent Radio Representative

    SiriusXM Canada

    Senior Vice-President, Programming and Operations

  • Tim Potocic

    Tim Potocic

    Board Member

    CIMA Appointee

    Sonic Unyon

    Co-Founder

  • Amy Eligh

    Board Member

    CMPA Appointee

    Arts & Crafts Publishing

    Director, Publishing & Licensing

  • Sarah Cummings

    Board Member

    Bell Appointee

    Bell Media

    CHUM FM Program Director - Regional Program Director Ontario & Atlantic Canada

  • Adam Thompson

    Board Member

    Rogers Appointee

    Rogers

    Program Director, SONiC Edmonton

  • Gayatri Thirunadarajah

    Board Member

    Corus Appointee

    Corus

    Senior Business Manager, Regional

  • Julien Paquin

    Independent Music Industry Representative

    Elected Member

    Paquin Artists Agency

    President

  • Andrina Turenne

    Andrina Turenne

    Artist Representative

    Elected Member

    Singer/Songwriter

  • TBC

    Observer

    NAB Representative

  • Duff Roman

    Duff Roman

    Director Emeritus

    Duff Roman Media Inc.

    President & CEO

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FACTOR Staff

  • Duncan McKie

    Duncan McKie

    President

    Duncan McKie has been the President of FACTOR since December of 2010. Prior to this assignment, he enjoyed a broad and distinguished career in culture, media and market research, and regulatory affairs. Duncan was the President of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA, formerly CIRPA) from 2007 to 2010.

    Email Duncan McKie

    Phone ext 201

  • Phil Gumbley

    Phil Gumbley

    Director, Operations

    Phil joined the team in 2006 as a Program Administrator and has worked in various roles. Now, he is responsible for implementing and improving systems, procedures and policies. In his free time, Phil cans his own salsa, skips FACTOR’s music industry curling league team and enjoys teaching his toddler niece how to play the drums with chop-sticks at the dinner table.

    Email Phil Gumbley

    Phone ext 206

  • Marina Anianova

    Marina Anianova

    Accounting Manager

    Marina Anianova has been FACTOR's Accounting Manager since 2000. Prior to that, she worked for a chartered accounting firm, and provided accounting services to CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) from 2006 to 2008. Marina has a Bachelor Degree in Finance and Accounting.

    Email Marina Anianova

    Phone ext 209

  • Megan Jones

    Operations Manager & acting Manager, Client Services

    Megan joined FACTOR in June 2013. Originally from the U.S., Megan first became familiar with CanCon as a programmer at CFYT 106.9 FM in Dawson City. She has worked for arts and cultural organizations as an administrator, marketing coordinator, and festival coordinator. Megan received her M.A. in Art History from the University of Chicago in 2009.

    Email Megan Jones

    Phone ext 202

  • Danitza Nolasco

    Danitza Nolasco

    IT Manager

    Danitza Nolasco joined FACTOR in November 2013. Her duties include the maintenance, improvement and technical support of FACTOR's portal, as well as the design, creation and automation of the emerging processes to keep FACTOR at the forefront in technology. She received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Systems in '09 and her Technology Specialist from Microsoft in '10.

    Email Danitza Nolasco

    Phone ext 231

  • Karina Moldovan

    Communications and Stakeholder Relations Officer

    Karina joined FACTOR in the spring of 2015. Hailing from a small town in Romania, with the help of her wonderful parents she made it to the big city. Karina graduated from the Artist Management Program at the Harris Institute in Toronto. Currently she oversees FACTOR's external communications and works closely with FACTOR's senior staff and government and industry stakeholders.

    Email Karina Moldovan

    Phone ext 242

  • Anastasiia Danylova

    Communications Assistant

    Anastasiia joined FACTOR in February 2018. She is currently pursuing a Master of Information degree at the University of Toronto. She has previously worked at the Peter Triantos Art Galleries and interned at the Royal Ontario Museum. Anastasiia is committed to improving accessibility to art and culture and fostering cultural engagement within Canadian pluralistic communities.

    Email Anastasiia Danylova

    Phone ext 241

  • Nicole Nicolson

    Office Coordinator

    Nicole joins the FACTOR team born and bred of early 2000’s Hamilton, ON music, with a degree in cultural studies from Ryerson University, and diploma in arts administration & culture management from Humber College. Most recently, she has worked in artist management with producers Young Offenders. Loyal to CanCon, her encyclopedic knowledge of Canadian indie rock may alarm some.

    Email Nicole Nicolson

    Phone ext 200

  • EC

    Evelyn Cream

    Manager, Collective Initiatives, Sponsorship, & Outreach

    Evelyn joined FACTOR late 2016 and brings extensive experience from the Canadian and International music industry to the Collective Initiatives program. She has worked at labels, in management, publishing, helped start a jazz festival, worked with JUNO & Grammy-winning artists and 2 members of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. A big concert fan, Evelyn has attended 1,000+ shows.

    Email Evelyn Cream

    Phone ext 219

  • Taiwo Bah

    Project Coordinator, Sponsorship & Outreach

    Taiwo comes to FACTOR having spent many years working in youth-advocacy and capacity-building through various nonprofit organizations across Toronto. This journey has led him to arts funders, ArtReach Toronto & Toronto Arts Council before landing at FACTOR in 2016. Tai’s approach to the arts is guided by a focus towards equity and deep love of Black creativity and magic-making.

    Email Taiwo Bah

    Phone ext 203

  • Angela Kozak

    Angela Kozak

    Assistant Manager, Client Services

    Angela Kozak joined FACTOR in 2010. Angela has previously worked as a music writer for Chart and Shameless, and holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Ryerson University. She moved to South Africa immediately after graduating and spent a year working at a graphic design firm and cage-diving with great whites. She is a proud supporter of the Fauna Foundation in Montreal.

    Email Angela Kozak

    Phone ext 227

  • Tia Gordon

    Project Coordinator, Client Services & Outreach

    Tia joined the team in Summer Sixteen to focus on the business side of the music industry after ventures in journalism, broadcasting and public relations that concentrated on Toronto’s ever-growing hip hop culture. When she’s not discussing pop culture or her love for Flamin' Hot Cheetos® on GYALCAST, Tia can be found scarfing down tacos or scream-rapping her favourite songs.

    Email Tia Gordon

    Phone ext 200

  • Beth Hamill

    Beth Hamill

    Senior Project Coordinator

    Beth joined FACTOR in 2007. Prior to ditching the corporate world and landing happily at FACTOR, Beth earned a B.A. in journalism from Michigan State University, and spent 13 totally forgettable years as a management liability underwriter in both the U.S. and Canada. These days, she can usually be found travelling, collecting old junk, or mending fences on her farm.

    Email Beth Hamill

    Phone ext 207

  • Erin Kiyonaga

    Erin Kiyonaga

    Senior Project Coordinator

    Erin Kiyonaga joined FACTOR in 2009. She received her Honours B.A in Archaeology and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations from the University of Toronto. Before joining FACTOR she lived and worked in Australia and Japan, constantly pushing Canadian arts and culture on the unsuspecting. Erin has studied music since childhood.

    Email Erin Kiyonaga

    Phone ext 224

  • Jeremy Klaver

    Jeremy Klaver

    Jury Supervisor

    Jeremy joined the team in 2015 and oversees FACTOR's jury process and juror team. Jeremy is a graduate of Fanshawe’s Radio Broadcasting and Music Industry Arts programs, worked at The Agency Group, and promoted concerts. Jeremy works from a lens of equity and anti-oppression and considers it a privilege to work with Canada’s vibrant music communities.

    Email Jeremy Klaver

    Phone ext 223

  • Jeff Hayward

    Jeff Hayward

    Project Coordinator

    Jeff joined the FACTOR team in early 2015. He is a life-long fan and ambassador of Canadian independent music, hailing from the great city of Brantford. His love for data and spreadsheets is surpassed only by his love for Whitney Houston. By night you can usually find him DJing or watching a movie (or three). He finds it very difficult to write in the third person.

    Email Jeff Hayward

    Phone ext 245

  • Geoff Stairs

    Project Coordinator

    Geoff joined FACTOR’s client services department in the autumn of 2016 after four years spent in the worlds of artist management and grant writing. Hailing originally from New Brunswick, he previously co-founded – and acted as lead programmer for – a successful regional arts and music festival in the Upper Saint John River Valley.

    Email Geoff Stairs

    Phone ext 220

  • Sharla Bryan

    Project Coordinator

    Sharla joined FACTOR in April 2018 assisting the role of Jury Supervisor shortly after graduating from the Music Business program at Humber College. September 2018 she started her role as Project Coordinator. She earned her undergrad diploma from Sheridan College in Business Marketing and has been part of several projects within Toronto's hip hop and Caribbean.

    Email Sharla Bryan

    Phone ext 204

  • Lindsey Van De Keere

    Project Coordinator

    Hailing from the dusty Canadian prairies, Lindsey headed 'east' hoping to dial up the amount of cultural and musical exposure in her life. She joined FACTOR in 2012 after receiving her B.A. in Cultural & Environmental Anthropology at the University of Toronto, then completing a Cultural and Heritage Site Management program at Centennial College.

    Email Lindsey Van De Keere

    Phone ext 243

  • Derek Wilson

    Project Coordinator

    Derek has been with the foundation since 2012. As a former FACTOR-funded artist in the Juried Sound Recording & Demo Programs, he’s acquired hands-on experience with management, publicity and booking domestic & international tours in support of independent & label releases. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences from Ottawa U & an Audio Production diploma from Harris Institute.

    Email Derek Wilson

    Phone ext 244

  • Eryka MacLean

    Assistant Manager, Client Services

    Eryka has been a core member of FACTOR’s team since the summer of 2009. In this role she works with and assists the client services department. Being a Toronto native, Eryka is proud to support the homegrown talent coming from these streets.

    Email Eryka MacLean

    Phone On leave until October 2019.

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Regional Education Coordinators

FACTOR is committed to serving Canada’s regions from coast to coast to coast. This is why we work with 11 Regional Education Coordinators (RECs) across the country. With the exception of Quebec, each of the RECs is associated with a provincial or territorial Music Industry Association. RECs are engaged in providing one-on-one consultation about FACTOR and its programs to local artists and music entrepreneurs, running local workshops and seminars, and in recruiting and training FACTOR jurors.

Learn more about Canada’s Music Industry Associations.