The standing members include representation from City staff and local industry.
City of Vancouver – Saadi D’hoore and Branislav Henselmann
Music BC – Lindsay MacPherson or G-Luve
Creative BC – Brenda Grunau
Destination Vancouver – Rohaan Sethna
Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association – Claire Leonard
Community members
The community members are selected to represent a range of industry interests and community voices, and reflect the diverse, lived experiences of members of equity-seeking groups across the music community including, but not limited to, members of the Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, Black, and other racialized communities, and people living with disabilities.
Josh Eastman is a music producer based in the unceded homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations.
Josh’s work has landed on dozens of Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlists, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Warner Brothers soundtracks, and been recognized in outlets such as Exclaim!, Complex, CBC, The Georgia Straight, Earmilk, and Range magazine.
Eastman spends much of his time operating Helm Studios, a non-profit music production studio supporting low-income 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and otherwise marginalized artists in the music industry.
A media and marketing executive with over 25 years’ experience across the North American arts, media ,and entertainment industries, Alison Fraser has served as a marketing director for a local jazz festival, a former national publicist for Warner Music Canada, and a long-time consultant and board director in the arts sector - from film to arts, music festivals, and everything in-between.
Her 5 core values are authenticity, empathy, equitable collaboration, integrity, and trust and she is driven by solving business problems and maximizing human potential.
A lifelong learner, Alison recently completed an executive MBA and a Business in the Americas graduate certificate at the SFU Beedie School of Business. She also holds a master’s degree from the institution that administers the Pulitzer Prize, the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and she completed a mini-MBA for executives in the screen-based industries, the Women in Film and Television Media Leadership Program at the Schulich School of Business.
Denise Fraser is a professional, working musician, audio engineer, and DJ in Vancouver with over 20 years of live performance experience.
She is the founder of Denzin 8 productions, host, and producer of 2 community radio programs: QueerFM on CITR focusing on LGBTQ+ culture; and Urban Renewal Project on Vancouver Co-op focusing on Canadian hip hop, rap, afrobeat, reggae, R&B, and anything in between.
Nina Horvath is an experienced administrator grounded in a performing arts background. As executive director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, she led the organization to historically high enrollment numbers, continued artistic success, and a strong financial footing. She joined Coastal Jazz & Blues Society as executive director in November 2021 at a time of great change and transition for the organization. Her passion for the arts extends into performing as a pianist and choral singer and serving her community as a member of various boards. She is passionate about collaborative leadership and finding new ways to bring memorable music experiences to as many people as possible. When not immersed in music, you can find her roaming the local mountains.
With a career in the performing arts spanning back to 1987, Diane Kadota has been a pivotal figure in managing and promoting creative music artists in Vancouver. In 1990, she founded Diane Kadota Arts Management (DKAM), a cornerstone for providing management and tour support to a wide range of contemporary and world music artists including the award-winning Hard Rubber Orchestra and Jasmine Jazz. Beyond managing non-profit organizations, Diane has provided critical project support for independent creative music artists, cellist Peggy Lee, guitarist Tony Wilson, and vocalist Shruti Ramani, among others. She served as publicist for five Vancouver performances of the Kodo Drummers of Japan (1991-2015) demonstrating her commitment to bringing global musical experiences to local audiences.
A passionate advocate for Vancouver's music scene, Diane is a founding member of the Vancouver Independent Music Centre (VIM), a groundbreaking 20,000-square-foot music centre planned for the Plaza of Nations. She has also lent her expertise to juries for the Canada Council and the BC Arts Council for the past 30 years.
With two years of journalism studies at Carleton University and a Bachelor's degree in Science from the University of British Columbia, Diane's diverse experience includes five years as a news reporter/photographer in Saskatoon before her return to Vancouver in 1986. Her pivot into the performing arts began through work for the Urbanarium, the Asia Pacific, and the Powell Street Festivals in the late 80s.
Diane's impact extends beyond her role as a manager; she was a member of the BC Arts Board that established the BC Arts Council, served on the City of Vancouver Arts Advisory Committee, and chaired the Vancouver East Cultural Centre Board in the transformative 1990s. Committed to the vibrancy, sustainability and development of the city's cultural and musical life, she currently serves on the Board of the Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society.
Diane's management philosophy at DKAM reflects dedication to musicianship, artistry, creative vision, respect for cultural traditions, professionalism, and a strong commitment to the artist/manager relationship.
Her ongoing contributions to the VIM and steadfast support for the city's diverse music scene position her as a key influencer shaping Vancouver's cultural landscape. Explore more about her work at www.dkam.ca.
Joseph Martin is an artist manager and label manager with the Vancouver based indie and alternative music label Light Organ Records, part of the 604 Media Group. In his role there he markets and promotes records and live events and works closely with artists on a day-to-day basis developing strategy, managing revenue streams and building relationships between artists and other industry team members
He has been actively involved in the music industry for 20 years, starting as a touring and recording musician with the indie rock band Bend Sinister and still writes and records with the group. He is currently finishing his Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance at Capilano University.
Renae is a Cree (nehiyaw iskwew ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ) and Saulteaux woman (nahkawiskwêw ᓇᐦᑲᐃᐧᐢᑫᐧᐤ) from the Treaty 1 Territory on the lands known as Manitoba. She’s been creating artistic works for most of her life and has journeyed across Turtle Island and internationally. As an interdisciplinary, inter-tribal artist, Renae has created and supported Indigenous work in music, theatre, film and television. She recently had a lead acting role in a new feature film, Angela’s Shadow directed and co-written by Cree filmmaker, Dr. Jules Koostachin. This film will hit the film festival circuit in 2024. Renae’s song, AaSheNii will also be featured in this film. She had the honour to direct Rosanna Deerchild's first theatrical play, The Secret To Good Tea in March 2023 at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Company and again had her music featured in this production. This play will be produced at the National Arts Centre in 2025. This past June, Renae directed and supported text, and voice with The Rumble Sound System, an experimental Dub music collaboration. She just completed co-directing with Bruce Sinclair, his play, Mary of Patuanak through the Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre in Saskatoon. Her song, Ogitaadis was shared for this production. Lastly, Renae is honoured to work with creative minds and hearts to bring Frances Koncan’s Women In The Fur Trade to life this winter at the Indigenous Theatre, National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Mark Reid is a leading Canadian educator, combining professional volunteerism, innovative practice, and global collaboration to model modern approaches to teaching. Mark’s career includes classroom teaching in both public and independent schools, curriculum development for the British Columbia Ministry of Education, and coaching colleagues in educational technology implementation across BC. Mark is currently a District Resource Teacher for Career Education in Vancouver.
Mark has engaged in the teaching profession as a TeachSDGs Ambassador, Google for Education Certified Trainer, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Global Teacher Prize Ambassador, 2013 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year, 2015 Global Teacher Prize finalist, 2017 Qudwa Fellow, and a member of the adjunct faculty at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He has been a resource speaker for education events in Canada, Germany, Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vietnam, and with SEAMEO in Thailand.
Geoff Robins boasts an unparalleled track record of nearly 30 years trailblazing in the live events industry. As the vice president of product and marketing at Tradable Bits, he stands at the forefront of the evolving live music landscape, collaborating with local and international artists, promoters, festivals, venues, record labels, and more to unlock the potential of data by leveraging Tradable Bits' suite of fan engagement technology.
Prior to his tenure at Tradable Bits, Geoff carved out an illustrious 22-year journey at Live Nation Canada. His role as the senior vice president of marketing encompassed the management of promotions and advertising for a portfolio of over 3,000 concerts, eight festivals, and six venues annually. His strategic prowess and marketing finesse shaped the success of numerous high-profile events and properties including Squamish Valley Music Festival, The Commodore Ballroom and the inaugural Pemberton Music Festival.
Beyond his professional achievements, Geoff's impact extends to influential advisory roles, and he has lent his expertise to Destination Vancouvers' Board, Vancouver Rugby Sevens' advisory board, the Vancouver Juno Committee's marketing committee, the Arts and Cultural Advisory for the City of Vancouver and now the City of Vancouvers' Music Task Force.
Geoff lives in Vancouver’s Hastings-Sunrise with his wife and two daughters.
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