Advisory Board

  • As the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian International Fashion Film Festival and its global counterpart, Fashion.Film, Roger brings an extensive background spanning over four decades in diverse roles within the fashion industry. Additionally, Roger holds a position on the esteemed Board of Directors of the Commonwealth Fashion Council (CFC), an influential fashion body representing 56 nations and dedicated to advancing fashion education, youth and gender empowerment, and innovation. Operating from the organization's headquarters in London, England, Roger’s involvement with the CFC underscores his commitment to global fashion initiatives.

    With a notable career trajectory, Roger served a commendable eight-year tenure on the Board of Directors of Fashion Group International Toronto, where he also held the position of Regional Director for three years. Furthermore, he contributed to the board of directors of Canada Fashion Group Inc., playing pivotal roles (director of strategy and member of Advisory Board) in hosting the largest fashion weeks in Canada, namely Toronto Men’s Fashion Week and Toronto Women’s Fashion Week.

  • With an academic background in Fashion Marketing and Creative Writing, Lauren Shirreffs started her career freelance writing for various publications, and hosting a popular column with an impressive monthly readership. In 2013, Lauren Shirreffs launched 2Social, Toronto’s celebrated creative agency, focusing specialty services in social media, digital marketing, and brand development. In a short time, 2Social housed an impressive roster of clients and has grown into the premier digital marketing agency it is today, with HQ in Toronto, and offices in Los Angeles.

  • Keysi, renowned as Miss Universe Venezuela 2016 and achieving Top 5 in Miss Universe 2017, boasts a multifaceted career spanning the realms of modeling, television hosting, and entrepreneurial ventures. As an international model represented by Ciotti Models in Toronto, Canada, she graces runways with her poise and elegance while also serving as a runway coach for aspiring models and pageant contestants, imparting her expertise and insight.

    Beyond the fashion world, Keysi is the co-founder of the Latinas Business Ladies conference, empowering women in business and leadership roles. With her dynamic presence, she captivates audiences as a TV host and events emcee, bringing her charm and charisma to various platforms. Additionally, Keysi holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and boasts over four years of experience in commercial mechanical projects. She further extends her passion for fashion and entertainment as a host and presenter for the prestigious Canadian International Fashion Film Festival (CANIFFF), where her blend of intelligence and elegance shines through.

  • Olympian Alysha Newman sees no limits to how high she can truly go. On or off the track, Alysha lives to raise the bar wherever she goes! The Canadian pole vault record holder has won medals at both the Commonwealth and Pan Am Games and is eyeing a podium performance at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

    Off the Pole Vault runway, Alysha has become a popular health & wellness advocate. Graduating from the University of Miami with a bachelor of Exercise Physiology and a minor in sports med. She loves spending time focusing on living a healthy and happy lifestyle through her newly launched website AlyshaNewman.com and OneBodyOneLife.ca. Alysha pushes limits and believes life is a journey of constantly surprising yourself and breaking boundaries. Modelling for top companies such as Nordstrom, Nike, Agent Provocateur and many more.

    With a creative eye, Alysha is the ultimate fashion icon, bringing fashion and excitement wherever she goes. She believes young or wise you can always better yourself as a person. She turns failure and adversity to lessons learned and never fails to understand the importance of living a balanced lifestyle.

  • Renzo is a proven leader in the biopharmaceutical industry. A driven Rare Disease executive with twenty-five years’ experience; he is skilled at adapting to new situations and utilizing these skills to transform businesses.

    Currently, Renzo is with Alexion, the Rare Disease Unit of AstraZeneca, where he is the Head of Development, Productivity & Quality. Based in Mississauga, Canada. He is responsible for launching and overseeing critical initiatives to improve ways of working internally and fostering Digital Strategy within Alexion. Recently, Renzo was Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors at BioPharma Services, where he played an integral role in expanding clinical footprint into the USA and fortifying their Bioanalytical Lab operations to meet the growing volume demand.

    Prior to joining Alexion, Renzo held senior executive management positions in the Life Sciences sector with extensive international experience working in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has worked with teams to innovate and deliver first-in-world NDA approved therapeutic drugs and medical devices in a variety of cultures and languages.

  • Alex’s career in film and television has spanned over twenty years and a myriad of diverse projects. As a member of the Director’s Guild of Canada (DGC), Alex’s most notable work has been as a Production Manager on the action series Nikita, Transporter, and Rogue. More recently he has served as Producer of the CSA award winning hit television series Private Eyes for 5 seasons.

    He has also been involved in various projects featuring talents such as Heather Graham, Forest Whitaker, Eva Longoria, and Andy Garcia. These invaluable experiences, combined with a strong production background, have given Alex the capacity needed to tell dynamic stories in an innovative and exciting way. Alex has continuously demonstrated a commitment to investing in production value and scope with each project he takes on.

  • Deirdre is an award-winning arts and fashion critic, investigative reporter, features writer and magazine editor based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in a variety of national and international publications including Elle (USA), Marie Claire (UK), Vogue (Australia) and Canada’s Globe and Mail where for decades she was a staff writer, critic, fashion reporter and columnist in the arts section.

    A two-time winner of Canada’s Nathan Cohen prize for critical writing and recipient of an Alumni of Influence Award from the University of Toronto, she is the author of the best-selling books, Paris Times Eight (2009), Ballerina: Sex, Scandal and Suffering Behind the Symbol of Perfection (2012) and Fashioning The Beatles: The Looks That Shook The World (2023).

  • Douglas, with his background deeply entrenched in luxury fashion retail and global brand advancement, demonstrates exceptional proficiency in pioneering market entry, enhancing brand strategies, and broadening retail and distribution networks. His illustrious career encompasses esteemed roles such as Global Commercial Vice President at Assouline Publishing in New York City, Country General Manager at LVMH overseeing Dior operations in both Russia and Canada, Creative Director at DKNY, and Entrepreneur and CEO at kamkyl Menswear.

    As a collaborative team player with adept networking abilities and a global perspective, Douglas has traversed diverse professional roles including Tailor, Fashion Designer, Marketing Director, Luxury MBA graduate with a prestigious Masters Degree in Luxury Brand Management from ESSEC Business School in Paris, Luxury Retail Executive, M&A Consultant, and Global Wholesale/Retail Books specialist. Residing in various international cities including Edmonton, Toronto, Stuttgart, Cleveland, Montreal, Paris, London, Moscow, and New York, Douglas brings a wealth of cultural insights and experiences to his professional pursuits.

  • Karim is the CEO of Sutter Hill Properties, a privately owned real estate investment company based in Toronto. Sutter Hill owns and manages a portfolio of office buildings, shopping centres, multifamily and senior care facilities in North America and Western Europe.

    Karim, a noted philanthropist, sits on the boards or has been involved with several arts, political and charitable organizations, including the Glenn Gould Foundation, War Child Canada and The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, where he chaired numerous events raising much needed funds. Karim is also a board member of the NATO Association of Canada, The Museum of Contemporary Arts (Toronto), Workman Arts (a CAMH initiative) and the children’s after school music program – Sistema Toronto.

  • Martine has applied her two university degrees to a 20-year career as a French Immersion teacher in Canada. She now utilizes her extensive communication, organizational, and diplomatic skills as the Operations Director for CANIFFF, collaborating with hundreds of filmmakers and various partners involved in CANIFFF's annual events. In her spare time, she pursues her passion for photography.

  • Multidisciplinary designer, entrepreneur and activist are all different ways one can begin to describe George Sully. Based in Toronto, with an impressive worldwide network, George has established a collective of multifaceted companies that leverage him as an innovative player in the world of multimedia content creation and fashion design.

    George Brown honorary degree recipient and FGI Visionary Award Winner, George is well known for his collaborations that include but not limited to, DHL, EBAY, Disney, Bell Media and best known for being the original maker of the Star-Trek Discovery Starfleet Boot. George is also a Bata Shoe Museum inductee, creator of Black designers of Canada, co-founder of House of Hayla and creator of break-out brand Sully & Son Company.