A series of presentations focused on diversity and inclusion.
Co-produced with Women in Animation Vancouver.
This program will be available to stream on Sunday, 31 October. Tickets will go on sale then.
Women In Animation Vancouver (WIA) present a focused discussion on personal experiences from diverse talent in the entertainment industry. Joining us will be members and active allies of the LGBTQ+ community speaking on their unique journey in front and behind the camera.
SPEAKERS
Ty Coyle (he/him)
Global Technical Recruiter // FuseFX
Ty is a global animation and visual effects technical recruiter for live-action movies, VR pipeline development, software engineering, episodic television shows, feature animated films, and national commercials. He is also a senior character animation artist and animated short film director.
His comedic animated short films Sunny and Steve: Enjoy the Sweets, Sunny and Steve: Meet Sally, and Baxter have screened at film festivals around the world. Baxter was nominated for a Student Oscar at the 41st Annual Student Academy Awards in Los Angeles by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Ty has over 8 years of experience working professionally as a character animation artist. This includes working on national commercials and live action feature films such as Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and animating monster fight sequences from the neon Hong Kong battle finale in Godzilla vs Kong (2021).
His passion for direction, collaboration, and guidance led Ty to become a Recruiter and Talent Development Associate at Blue Sky Studios with The Walt Disney Company, responsible for creating Ice Age, Rio, and Spies in Disguise. The studio was working on their next epic adventure, Nimona (2022) before its closure. Ty is now a Global Technical Recruiter at FuseFX, a visual effects and animation studio providing visual effects and animation services for episodic television, feature films, commercials, and VR productions.
Sara Martin (she/her)
Sara is a settler on the stolen ancestral and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. As a queer woman, Sara has a special interest in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and she is especially passionate about queer safety in and out of the workplace.
Sara's job as a Facilities Manager for an animation studio allows her to focus on this passion - to help our workplaces become safer, for queer people, and for all people.
Jillian Brooks (she/her)
Jillian is originally from Fort McMurray, Treaty 8 (Alberta) She's been residing in traditional territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (Vancouver) for the last 16 years. Jillian is an active ally in the LGBTQ+ community.
She’s worked in the Gaming and VFX industry for over 15 years. (United Front Games, Fuzzy Wuzzy Games, Prime Focus, MPC, Rising Sun Pictures, Animal Logic, Atmosphere, DNEG and Scanline VFX).
Jillian is an active member of the community and works out of The James Black Gallery and her project Métis Bannock Queen raises funds for nonprofits in Vancouver.
MODERATOR
Alka Dumont (she/her)
Alka is a Senior Implementation Manager in the Marketing Operations & Technology team, but is currently taking part in the MCP Leadership Rotation Program with secondments in the American Football Brand team and a TBD role in the Commercial org. When she is not exploring various parts of the MCP org, she is heavily involved in Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion initiatives at EA. Previously she served as an EARS Operations Leader for the Women’s Ultimate Team and as Global Communications Board Leader for Aspire, as well as an active participant in all other ERG activities.
Her engagement with ERGs and DEI work stems from a belief that everyone deserves to exist fearlessly in spaces that cater to our true, authentic selves and those with privilege should use their power to expand those environments for others. She has grown to realize that there is no greater joy than building community in all spaces, all the time.
ORGANIZERS
Candice Dermo (she/her)
Candice has worked in the digital space for over a decade, supporting teams in the fields of marketing and advertising before focusing on the gaming industry.
Within those realms has been a common effort in managing events, engaging teams, and fostering positive studio culture. Currently a Production Coordinator at Electronic Arts, Candice supports EA Create’s Art, Audio and Operation teams. She is a Regional Steering Committee member of EA’s Women’s Ultimate Team and a board member for the Vancouver Chapter of Women in Animation. Through those roles, Candice is actively engaged in many D&I initiatives and ERG activities and is grateful for the privilege to further expand on building meaningful experiences that promote connection, community, and inclusivity.
Melissa Anderson (she/her)
Melissa Anderson has worked in the Vancouver film and television industry for over 25 yrs.
She started her career in live-action as an Assistant Director, for various independent films, MOW's and television series such as Gene Roddenberry's: Andromeda and the L-Word. She was also part of the
visual effects production team at Keystone Entertainment on the Air Buddies franchise. She made the transition to CG Animation in 2011, and is currently a Supervising Producer at Mainframe Studios.
Most recently, she joined the Vancouver Chapter board of Women in Animation, where she is grateful for the opportunity to give back by collaborating with such accomplished and inspiring individuals,
mentoring the future of the industry.
Roula Lainas (she/her)
Roula has spent over 25 years in the post-production and visual effects industry in areas that include producing, sales, marketing and business development for film, television, commercials and gaming cinematic projects for several markets including Latin America.
More recently, she has joined the virtual production realm as Marketing & Business Development Executive for Versatile Media. She has been part of the Women in Animation board for Programs for 3 years where she has had the honour of working alongside talented and strong individuals making a real difference for our entertainment sector.
A series of presentations focused on diversity and inclusion.
Co-produced with Women in Animation Vancouver.
This program will be available to stream on Sunday, 31 October. Tickets will go on sale then.
Women In Animation Vancouver (WIA) present a focused discussion on personal experiences from diverse talent in the entertainment industry. Joining us will be members and active allies of the LGBTQ+ community speaking on their unique journey in front and behind the camera.
SPEAKERS
Ty Coyle (he/him)
Global Technical Recruiter // FuseFX
Ty is a global animation and visual effects technical recruiter for live-action movies, VR pipeline development, software engineering, episodic television shows, feature animated films, and national commercials. He is also a senior character animation artist and animated short film director.
His comedic animated short films Sunny and Steve: Enjoy the Sweets, Sunny and Steve: Meet Sally, and Baxter have screened at film festivals around the world. Baxter was nominated for a Student Oscar at the 41st Annual Student Academy Awards in Los Angeles by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Ty has over 8 years of experience working professionally as a character animation artist. This includes working on national commercials and live action feature films such as Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and animating monster fight sequences from the neon Hong Kong battle finale in Godzilla vs Kong (2021).
His passion for direction, collaboration, and guidance led Ty to become a Recruiter and Talent Development Associate at Blue Sky Studios with The Walt Disney Company, responsible for creating Ice Age, Rio, and Spies in Disguise. The studio was working on their next epic adventure, Nimona (2022) before its closure. Ty is now a Global Technical Recruiter at FuseFX, a visual effects and animation studio providing visual effects and animation services for episodic television, feature films, commercials, and VR productions.
Sara Martin (she/her)
Sara is a settler on the stolen ancestral and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. As a queer woman, Sara has a special interest in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and she is especially passionate about queer safety in and out of the workplace.
Sara's job as a Facilities Manager for an animation studio allows her to focus on this passion - to help our workplaces become safer, for queer people, and for all people.
Jillian Brooks (she/her)
Jillian is originally from Fort McMurray, Treaty 8 (Alberta) She's been residing in traditional territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (Vancouver) for the last 16 years. Jillian is an active ally in the LGBTQ+ community.
She’s worked in the Gaming and VFX industry for over 15 years. (United Front Games, Fuzzy Wuzzy Games, Prime Focus, MPC, Rising Sun Pictures, Animal Logic, Atmosphere, DNEG and Scanline VFX).
Jillian is an active member of the community and works out of The James Black Gallery and her project Métis Bannock Queen raises funds for nonprofits in Vancouver.
MODERATOR
Alka Dumont (she/her)
Alka is a Senior Implementation Manager in the Marketing Operations & Technology team, but is currently taking part in the MCP Leadership Rotation Program with secondments in the American Football Brand team and a TBD role in the Commercial org. When she is not exploring various parts of the MCP org, she is heavily involved in Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion initiatives at EA. Previously she served as an EARS Operations Leader for the Women’s Ultimate Team and as Global Communications Board Leader for Aspire, as well as an active participant in all other ERG activities.
Her engagement with ERGs and DEI work stems from a belief that everyone deserves to exist fearlessly in spaces that cater to our true, authentic selves and those with privilege should use their power to expand those environments for others. She has grown to realize that there is no greater joy than building community in all spaces, all the time.
ORGANIZERS
Candice Dermo (she/her)
Candice has worked in the digital space for over a decade, supporting teams in the fields of marketing and advertising before focusing on the gaming industry.
Within those realms has been a common effort in managing events, engaging teams, and fostering positive studio culture. Currently a Production Coordinator at Electronic Arts, Candice supports EA Create’s Art, Audio and Operation teams. She is a Regional Steering Committee member of EA’s Women’s Ultimate Team and a board member for the Vancouver Chapter of Women in Animation. Through those roles, Candice is actively engaged in many D&I initiatives and ERG activities and is grateful for the privilege to further expand on building meaningful experiences that promote connection, community, and inclusivity.
Melissa Anderson (she/her)
Melissa Anderson has worked in the Vancouver film and television industry for over 25 yrs.
She started her career in live-action as an Assistant Director, for various independent films, MOW's and television series such as Gene Roddenberry's: Andromeda and the L-Word. She was also part of the
visual effects production team at Keystone Entertainment on the Air Buddies franchise. She made the transition to CG Animation in 2011, and is currently a Supervising Producer at Mainframe Studios.
Most recently, she joined the Vancouver Chapter board of Women in Animation, where she is grateful for the opportunity to give back by collaborating with such accomplished and inspiring individuals,
mentoring the future of the industry.
Roula Lainas (she/her)
Roula has spent over 25 years in the post-production and visual effects industry in areas that include producing, sales, marketing and business development for film, television, commercials and gaming cinematic projects for several markets including Latin America.
More recently, she has joined the virtual production realm as Marketing & Business Development Executive for Versatile Media. She has been part of the Women in Animation board for Programs for 3 years where she has had the honour of working alongside talented and strong individuals making a real difference for our entertainment sector.
