Welcome to S-VOX

DALE GODSOE - Chairman

Dale Godsoe retired in 2006 from Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S., after serving for 10 years as Vice President External. A dedicated community leader, she is currently a Director of Halterm Inc., the Halifax Urban Design Task Force, Symphony Nova Scotia, the National Ballet School and the Pier 21 National Foundation, as well as Past Chair of Imagine Canada and Vice Chair of The Women in Media Foundation. Her involvement in the private sector has included directorships with Viacom Canada Inc., Hambros Bank and The Maritime Telegraph and Telephone Co. Ltd. Ms. Godsoe chaired the Board of Governors of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax from 1987 to 1994, and was a Board member of the YWCA of Canada for 10 years, serving as national President from 1994 to 1996. Her experience in the not-for-profit sector also includes serving as a Director of the Atlantic Film Festival and the Halifax Metro United Way. She received an honourary degree from Mount Saint Vincent in 1997, and became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998. Ms. Godsoe joined the VisionTV Board of Directors in 2004.

PAUL MITCHELL - Vice Chair

Paul Mitchell is Senior Director, Chief of Staff for Microsoft TV. He is responsible for the division's business infrastructure, strategic projects, policy initiatives, planning and management, and oversees its industry standards efforts. Previously, he managed the division's Tools and Applications Product Unit. Mr. Mitchell joined Microsoft in 1991, and as a member of the Advanced Consumer Technology Division was involved in trials of the Microsoft Interactive TV System. An early advocate of combining television and Internet technologies, he was a catalyst for the creation of the Advanced TV Enhancement Forum, and speaks regularly at industry conferences on the subject of interactive programming and development. Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Mr. Mitchell joined the Board in 2000.

PETER LYMAN

Peter Lyman, an internationally recognized expert in the media and communications industry, is Senior Partner of the Nordicity Group Ltd., which has offices in Toronto and Ottawa. In more than 25 years of consulting, he has participated in all aspects of formulating regulatory, policy development and business strategies for the broadcasting, cable, telecom and content industries. Mr. Lyman, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, was a founding partner of the original Nordicity Group, and the firm's Managing Partner from 1985 to 1997. Prior to NGL's 2002 relaunch, he was National Lead Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, responsible for the Information, Communications and Entertainment/Media practice. Mr. Lyman has a professional interest in the development of new applications resulting from the convergence of content, Internet and broadband communications networks, and is author of the book Canada's Video Revolution . He joined the Board in 2005.

BILL ROBERTS - CEO

Bill Roberts is President and CEO of S-VOX, a diversified multimedia enterprise that offers high-quality television and digital content for individuals seeking spiritual awareness and personal growth. He was previously Secretary General of the North American Broadcasters Association - a non-profit group that serves as the voice of the industry on global issues - and a senior executive at TVOntario. He has also worked for both the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the CRTC. In addition, Mr. Roberts contributes his time to a number of organizations. He is a Director of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Trade Advisory Committee, and a member of the International Advisory Council of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the Advisory Council of the Couchiching Institute of Public Affairs, the Board of Directors of Los Angeles-based Loyola Productions Inc. and the Board of Directors of the Media Awareness Network.

LAURENCE GINSBERG

Laurence Ginsberg has counseled entrepreneurs on business issues for more than 25 years. He is Founder and President of Toronto-based GinsOrg International Inc., a provider of strategic management, business advisory and mentoring services. Mr. Ginsberg has also taught strategy and entrepreneurial studies at York University's Schulich School of Business, contributed articles to numerous publications, including The Globe and Mail , and authored several books, notably The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being an Entrepreneur in Canada . A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and Chairman of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants CFO committee, Mr. Ginsberg holds an MBA from the University of Toronto. He joined the Board in 2006.

JONATHAN GOLDBLOOM

Jonathan Goldbloom is Vice President and General Manager of Montreal-based Optimum Public Relations. Educated at Harvard, Carleton University and the University of Western Ontario, Mr. Goldbloom began his career as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of State, and subsequently became Senior Advisor to the President of Canada Post Corporation. In 1986 he joined the communications and marketing team of Provigo Inc., and later became President of one of the grocery retailer's subsidiaries. In 1990, he established his own communications and strategic planning consultancy, which he merged the following year with Montreal-based Columbia Communications Inc. In 2003 Columbia merged with Optimum, a division of Cossette Communications. Mr. Goldbloom has overseen communications strategies for clients in real estate, consumer electronics, transportation, telecommunications, health care and other sectors. He joined the Board in 2001.

STEPHEN KAKFWI

Stephen Kakfwi served as Premier of the Northwest Territories from 2000 to 2003. First elected to the Legislative Assembly of the NWT in 1987, he completed four terms in office and held numerous Cabinet portfolios. He has worked vigorously to advance the economic well-being of the NWT, and was responsible for a breakthrough on Aboriginal and territorial issues in the 1992 Charlottetown Accord. Before entering electoral politics, Mr. Kakfwi was President of the Dene Nation. He has also served on the Board of the NWT Housing Corporation, and is past Chairman of the Constitutional Development Steering Committee. After leaving politics, he was appointed to the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy. A recipient of the Aboriginal Achievement Award for Public Service in 1997, he now heads Kakfwi & Associates in Yellowknife, NWT, working to improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples by speaking to governments, industry bodies and others. Mr. Kakfwi joined the Board in 2004.

GORDON MCIVOR

Gordon McIvor is Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for Toronto-based Canada Lands Company CLC Limited, a position he has held since 1988, when the company – which acquires, develops and re-sells federal lands on behalf of the Canadian government – was CN Real Estate. A native of Regina, Sask., Dr. McIvor earned a Ph.D. cum laude in 1980 from the Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier, France. Prior to joining Canada Lands, he held senior positions with a number of organizations, including the Bank of Nova Scotia and the public relations firm Burson Marsteller. Dr. McIvor has served on numerous boards and committees and received many honours, including a Papal Knighthood from the Vatican in 1991. He joined the Board in 2002.

SUSAN MILLICAN

Susan Millican is Chief Executive Officer of the Winnipeg, Man.-based National Screen Institute – Canada, a prestigious training school for writers, producers and directors working in film and TV. She previously held the position of Vice President, Programming for the popular specialty television service WTN. A graduate of the Creative Communications program at Winnipeg's Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology, Ms. Millican began her career at the CBC, where she became an award-winning documentary producer. She has also worked as an instructor in Television Production and Journalism at Red River College. Ms. Millican has received numerous honours, including the Canadian Women in Communication Mentorship Award and the Gordon Sinclair Award “for integrity and outspoken opinion in broadcasting.” She joined the Board in 2003.

DONALD OBONSAWIN

Donald Obonsawin is President and CEO of Toronto-based Jonview Canada Inc. Acquired by Transat A.T. Inc. in 2004, Jonview designs a full range of Canadian vacation products that it sells to tour operators in Europe and around the world. Mr. Obonsawin previously enjoyed a distinguished career as a senior civil servant with the governments of Ontario and Canada. In 1987, he was appointed a Deputy Minister for the Province of Ontario, and served in this capacity for seven different Ontario ministries over a 15-year period. He has held senior positions as well with the federal departments of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Health and Welfare Canada. A member of the Abenaki First Nation, Mr. Obonsawin also has experience as a university administrator and lecturer, television host and newspaper reporter. He joined the Board in 2003.

ROBERT OTTENHOFF

Robert Ottenhoff is President and CEO of GuideStar, the U.S. leader in providing comprehensive data on nonprofit organizations. Mr. Ottenhoff has 25 years of management experience in the public broadcasting and high technology sectors, including nine years as Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which achieved unprecedented growth during his tenure. Prior to joining PBS, he was Executive Director and General Manager of the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, and General Manager for WBGO-FM, a jazz-format public radio station in the New York metropolitan area. Mr. Ottenhoff has been a member of the steering committee for Public Broadcasters International and President of the Board of Directors of the North American Broadcasters Association, and currently serves on various foundation boards. He joined the Board in 2001.