David Vella
In 2001, David Vella joined the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as Director of Major Gifts and moved into his current position as Director of Board and Executive Relations in 2006, managing the TIFF Board of Directors, their committees, and TIFF’s senior staff. From 2002 to 2010, David also worked on the design and construction of TIFF Bell Lightbox. Prior to TIFF, David worked at the University of Toronto as the Senior Development Officer for three of UofT’s colleges (1997 – 2001) and in various fundraising roles with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (1991- 1997). David currently chairs the board of Inside Out, an LGBT group who, among other things, annually hosts the Inside Out Film Festival in both Toronto and Ottawa. He also sits on the board of the Volcano Theatre Company and the advisory board of the Canadian Sports Film Festival.
Jack Kim
Jack is the Founder and former Executive Director of HanVoice, the largest organization in Canada advocating on behalf of North Korean human rights and refugees. He is also the Human Factor editor at www.cankor.ca, the only blog in Canada devoted completely to North Korean issues. Jack has frequently been called upon to comment on Korean issues and has appeared as a commentator in such media as CTV News, Global TV, CBC Radio, Christian Science Monitor, and the National Post. He has also spoken at such venues as the 9th and 10th International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees, the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, and the University of Toronto. He frequently consults decision-makers in Canada, including Members of Parliament and has been part of consultations with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Leader of the Official Opposition.
During the day, Jack is an immigration lawyer at Fragomen (Canada), the largest immigration firm in the world. When he has time he enjoys watching the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder, and of course, watching movies.
Ron Samson
As a researcher at Essential Skills Ontario, Ron Samson brings a passion to the field of workforce development and is interested in advancing Ontario’s and Canada’s training systems though innovation. During his time at Essential Skills Ontario Ron has co-authored numerous reports including: Realizing Local Workforce Potential through Workforce Planning Boards and Regional Literacy Networks, Becoming State of Art: Industry Shared Approaches, Menial No More, and the OALCF Goal Descriptions. His latest work is focused on the topics of career ladders and social innovation.
After graduating University of Toronto as an Honours Specialist in Employment Relations, Ron travelled to India and worked as a microfinance consultant for two years and as a Human Resource assistant at Daimler. Ron also holds a post graduate certificate in International Development Project Management.
Sannah Choi
Sannah Choi has always had a burning curiosity about the people and places around her. Ultimately, this led her to pursue journalism as a career. She was born and raised in Ottawa, now lives in Toronto, but likes to consider herself a citizen of the world. She has traveled far and wide for school, work, and pleasure.
In 2010, Sannah graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism and a minor in French. As a student, she interned at KBS in Seoul and in her last year, started working as a reporter and producer for CBC (Ottawa news, Ottawa Morning, All in a Day, and Power and Politics). She moved to Toronto in 2011 and is currently a producer for various CBC radio and television programs (Metro Morning, Here and Now, CBC Books, and the fifth estate). In 2011, she was invited by the South Korean government to tour the country alongside 10 journalists of Korean descent.
Saskia Rinkoff
Saskia Rinkoff has worked as a seasonal and fulltime staff member for the past six years in various departments at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her passion for the arts resulted in the development of an art fund for the Drama Programme at Forest Hill Jr. & Sr. Public School and the creation of Kari’s Scaries, a bursary for emerging journalists, bloggers or film critics with a penchant for horror movies.
Born and raised in Switzerland, she immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1991 to start a family and pursue an honours degree in Russian Language & Literature and Fine Art History, which she completed with distinction. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and their two children.
Sergei Petrov
Sergei’s love for films and cinema art has taken his career many places. He directed, written and produced feature length documentaries, short dramatic films, music videos, commercials, and theatrical events. His work won numerous awards at film and television festivals in Canada, USA, Europe and Russia, where he is originally from. He has directed and produced for Ontario Film Review Board, Service Canada, Fashion Television, NFB, Arts and Letters Club of Canada and many others.
Sergei joined Scarborough Arts in 2009 as a Board of Directors member, Co-Chairing Fundraiser and Gala committee, and helping in growing yearly programming and public accessibility to the arts. He wrote reviews on classic films for WildSound.ca, pre-screened films for the TIFF Kids, and programmed international films for DetectiveFEST and ATLANT International Sports Film Festival. He graduated from Centennial College in Toronto from a Film and Television Production program. Sergei has resided in Scarborough since the day his family immigrated to Canada, more than 15 years ago.
Currently Sergei is pursuing his passion for film through organizing a film festival in Scarborough.
Eui Yong Zong
Born in South Korea and raised in Northern China, Eui Yong Zong came to Canada at the age of 16. After earning a B.A in Middle Eastern Studies at University of Toronto, Eui Yong went to Documentary (DFI) Film-making Institute at Seneca College. His short-documentary “My Grandpa” produced at DFI won Allan King Memorial Prize.
Eui Yong has since worked for various documentary projects produced by OMNI-2 and TVO. Eui Yong is currently studying at York University Film Production while working for ArirangKorea TV at OMNI-2.