Andrew Cash is the President and CEO of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), the voice of Canada’s independent music sector. As a Member of Parliament from 2011 to 2015 Cash championed the music sector while raising awareness of the realities of making a living in Canada as an arts and culture worker. He continued this mission post-Parliament, co-founding the non-profit Urban Worker Project.

As a singer/songwriter, producer and performer Cash spent 25 years touring and recording, first in the post punk band L’Etranger followed by a successful solo career as well as several collaborations including the Cash Brothers, with Peter Cash, Skydiggers and Jason Collett. He has created soundtrack music for television, including as series composer for Dragons Den. Cash has released over a dozen records and his contributions as an artist have earned him a Juno award and three SOCAN awards. His music can be found at https://andrewcash.net.

Mark Kitcatt was born and raised in South London, and a music fan since his teenage years. His first job was at the Rough Trade warehouse in 1985 - he remained there until he moved to Spain in 1990 - where he has worked ever since, managing and owning Everlasting Records and Popstock, the eminent Iberian music companies, with offices in Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon. Kitcatt was a founding member of UFI, and has also served on the boards of Merlin, IMPALA and WIN.

Tony Kiewel is the President of Sub Pop Records/Hardly Art/Sub Pop Publishing, where he’s worked for the last 24 years. He also serves on the boards of A2IM and WIN. Before coming to Sub Pop he worked for Geffen Records and Dreamworks Records in LA while DJing at KXLU and promoting shows around Los Angeles. For several years he was a member of Seattle’s Music Commission where he worked with the city to address issues the local music community was facing.

Max Tiel is co-founder of Thunderboom Records, a non-profit innovation lab for the music industry. Thunderboom Records is the driving force behind various cooperative responsible music-tech projects with a goal to ensure that emerging tech adds positive value to the music industry. They work with a wide variety of national and international partners ranging from Popronde to Effenaar, Amsterdam Dance Event to Sónar Barcelona, and from the Universiteit Utrecht to King’s College London. Their project, Open Culture Tech, is a talent development, knowledge and network program making the latest AI, AR and avatar tech more accessible to emerging artists. Max is also a guitar player and music producer with prior experience as project lead on creative collaboration projects.

Joost de Boo is co-founder of Thunderboom Records, a non-profit innovation lab for the music industry. As initiator and executive producer, Thunderboom Records is the driving force behind various cooperative responsible music-tech projects. They work with a wide variety of national and international partners ranging from Popronde to Effenaar, Amsterdam Dance Event to Sónar Barcelona, and from the Universiteit Utrecht to King’s College London. Their project, Open Culture Tech, is a talent development, knowledge and network program making the latest AI, AR and avatar tech more accessible to emerging artists. Additionally, Joost is a lecturer in Creative Technology at the AVANS Academy for Technology and Design.

Gord Dimitrieff has been in the independent music business his entire professional career; as a college radio DJ, road manager, label owner and publisher. In 2000, he founded Aporia Records, an integrated label-publisher that has released near 70 albums. He is also on the board of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), and board member and vice-chair of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA).

Noemí Planas is CEO at WIN, the international organization connecting the independent music community worldwide. Previously she was a board member of IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies, and a founder member and Executive Manager of the Spanish Independent Phonographic Union (UFI).

She also worked at a record label, coordinated a music festival, did booking and tour managing, and founded her own music publishing company. She is a PM4R Expert on project management (Professional, Agile and Leadership) certified by the Inter-American Development Bank and has co-authored the reports Analysis of European IP Laws for Audio Branding Context and Report on Collecting Schemes Europe.

Tak has worked for more than 25 years in the entertainment industry, primarily in music. In addition to handling legal matters and negotiations for various stakeholders, including artists, managers, music publishers, labels, and rights management organizations, he holds executive positions in associations including the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) and IMPEL.

In Japan, he is dedicated to fostering positive change within the industry through initiatives like the establishment of Merlin Japan in 2016 and his role as a business advisor for Music Ally Japan. Tak has received several honors and recognitions, notably being listed as one of the ‘Best Lawyers’ in the field of ‘Media and Entertainment Law’ in Japan.

Jason Peterson is the CEO of GoDigital Media Group (GDMG). Peterson founded GDMG in 2006. Since then, the company has launched and acquired multiple brands that leverage technology to enable IP rights management. Peterson is an experienced entrepreneur, attorney, and producer – named as one of the ‘Top 30 Entrepreneurs under 30’ by The Los Angeles Business Journal and a ‘40 Under 40 Power Player’ in the music and video industries by Billboard and Media Play News, respectively. GoDigital Media Group includes subsidiaries Cinq Music, Sound Royalties, AdShare, ContentBridge, Mitu, YogaWorks, and Latido Networks. 

In his role as Chairman at GoDigital Media Group, Jason utilizes technology to help the entertainment industry monetize its intellectual property and navigate the digital transformation. Prior to working at the intersection of media and technology, Jason was a producer, credited with seven feature films, nine television pilots, and numerous commercials and music videos. Peterson is also on Merlin’s Board of Advisors and WIN’s Board of Directors.

Maarten Walraven operates at the intersection of music, technology, communities, and education. He wears many different hats, from creating new models to creative funding and music projects to teaching music business at Utrecht University. Musically, it's all genre-hopping and thinking about the right sound for the right setting. There's always a song or piece of music to connect people. If you want to follow his thinking, the best place is MUSIC x, the newsletter he produces.

Nerea Serrano is the Community & Projects Manager at WIN, the international organization representing independent music trade associations worldwide where she develops projects like WINHUB International Networking. Her work is driven by a genuine passion for community-building and supporting the global independent music sector.

Previously she was the Senior Event Coordinator at the Spanish Independent Phonographic Union (UFi) where she oversaw 3 successful editions of the Spanish Independent Music Awards (Premios MIN) and other event and development projects. She also worked at record labels and has booked and toured with international artists in Spain and Europe.

Maria Amato is the CEO of AIR and WIN Executive Board member and Treasurer. Amato has worked in the arts and not-for-profit sector for over 30 years specializing in finance management and leadership.

Elected as the first female and first person from the Southern hemisphere to chair the board of WIN as part of its annual rotation in Feb 2022, Amato was then elected as treasurer in Feb 2023 and continues to serve as a member of WIN’s executive committee. Maria has held former non-executive director positions for the Adelaide UNESCO City Of Music, the Australian Institute of Music and Music Victoria.

K. Marty Ro began his journey as the President & CEO of Metropolis Korea Limited, the Korean arm of Metropolis Music Group in London. Presently, he serves as the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Sound Republica, Inc., the official partner of the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, UK. Over his career, Marty has been instrumental in sound production, contributing to the creation of over 1,000 albums and 4,500 songs from South Korea. He has organized and produced showcases, shows, and concerts in Europe in K-Pop and K-Music. He has collaborated with more than 500 artists, including notable names such as Cho Yong Phil, Yoon Jong Shin, Lee Seung Hwan, Lee Seung Chul, Dynamic Duo, Primary, Jay Park, Zion T, Nell, Infinite, Loco, Suzy, Dean, Beenzino, Apink, Jaurim, and Wanna One, among others.

Beyond his roles in music production and distribution, Marty also plays a pivotal role in introducing Korean and Japanese music to the world through his involvement in Mahocast's Korean and British services. Marty has served as the Vice-Chair & board member of Record Label Industry Association of Korea (LIAK), and is also a Director & board member of Worldwide Independent Network for Music (WIN).

Audrey Sylvestre is a Canadian music professional and strategist, currently serving as Music Operations Director at Cult Nation. She brings a unique blend of expertise in label, management, music supervision & licensing, and operational leadership, honed through her previous role at Bam Music, and through years of consulting at Deloitte and Aviseo in strategy and transformation.

Lisa is an accomplished entertainment lawyer and executive who’s highly skilled in the drafting and negotiation of key entertainment industry agreements as well as the negotiations of content for use in film, television gaming and non-traditional physical & digital products. Owner of  Lisa Whynot Entertainment and Media Law, she’s versed in Canadian, American and international copyright laws and policies.

Robert is known for developing talent and new music business/tech, as an entrepreneur, agent, manager, label executive, consultant, producer, and music supervisor. He currently works at LyricFind as SVP, International Publishing, licensing, exhibiting and monetizing legal lyrics and lyric translations from the publishers and songwriters around the globe, onto 70+ platforms such as Google Search, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, Deezer, IHeartMusic.

He’s given keynote speeches, moderated panels and spoken at events worldwide, including at Canadian Music Week, fluvial, WAMI, SIM SP, BIME, Mama, SXSW, Midem, Womex, CMJ, NMS, Sync Summit, Digital Hollywood, Isla Viva, Reeperbahn, Caribbean Music Summit, Medimex, FIM PRO, Circulart, Live at Heart, Waves, Popkomm, Tourism Summit and Reggae Month in Jamaica, and the World Cultural Economic Forum, among many others. He’s on the Board of Directors/Advisors of SIM SP, Songtradr, VenuePilot and Make Music New York.

Kesi Smyth began her career in Canada’s music industry 20 years ago, taking on roles of progressive responsibility at Simkin Artist Management and 604 Records, where she now serves as General Manager. With studies in marketing and human resources management, Kesi oversees label operations for the 604 Label Group and its diverse roster of clients, while also leading professional development, people management, and inclusive workplace practices for the company. 

Most notably, she was Senior Project Manager for Carly Rae Jepsen during the peak of her Grammy-nominated blockbuster hit “Call Me Maybe.” In that role, Kesi directed strategic marketing, day-to-day operations, and logistics for high-profile performances including the MuchMusic Video Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and late-night television appearances. 

Beyond her work at 604, Kesi contributes to the broader industry as a board member of FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), Creative BC, Radio Starmaker Fund, and the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). Through these roles, she helps shape policy, champion emerging talent, and ensure the continued growth and sustainability of Canada’s independent music sector.

Eric plays an integral role in driving beatBread’s partnerships with innovative artist services and distribution companies in addition to overseeing growth marketing initiatives. Over his career, Eric has worked for major and independent labels like Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group, with a focus on e-commerce and fan engagement, leading campaigns for artists including Billie Eilish, Shawn Mendes and Fall Out Boy.

Amanda Rheaume isn’t just a singer-songwriter—she’s a storyteller, community organizer, and bearer of intergenerational memory. With deep Métis roots and a lifelong commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices, her music is a powerful vessel for stories that span generations.

The recipient of the 2024 Spirit of Folk Award, the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year, and the 2023 Capital Music Awards’ Album of the Year, Rheaume has released six full-length albums to date. Beyond her acclaimed recording and touring career, she plays a vital role in building Indigenous music infrastructure. As her impact continues to grow, Rheaume remains grounded in her purpose: to carry Métis stories forward through the medicine of music.

Currently based in Toronto and originally from Ottawa, Amanda Rheaume has long been a vital presence in the Indigenous music community. Her journey spans over a decade of making music and building infrastructure to support Indigenous artists. As a co-founder of Ishkōdé Records, the International Indigenous Music Summit, and a founding board member of the Indigenous Music Office, Rheaume works to uplift others while staying true to her roots.

Sean “Gold” Thomas is a Jamaican-Canadian artist, entrepreneur, and music executive from Toronto. As co-owner and Head of Operations at X10 Entertainment Inc., he leads a multi-genre, independent label and creative agency that develops artists, brands, and cultural movements with a global impact.

Since X10’s founding in June 2020, Sean has shaped its creative and operational vision, bridging strategy, design, and artist development. His leadership has guided breakthrough acts, such as the Larger Than Life (LTL) collective, and built key partnerships, including a current collaboration with Audiomack Caribbean, following previous ventures with Coalition Records and Warner Music.

Said Yassin is the Founder and Executive Director of It’s Ok*, an organization dedicated to reimagining how art and community intersect. With over a decade of experience producing events in unconventional spaces, he has worked with Manifesto, Small World Music, the Aga Khan Museum, and The Royal Conservatory of Music. Said’s work explores how creative programming can transform non-traditional venues into spaces for connection, dialogue, and shared experience.

Mathew Fruitman and Cole Lanni have played a transformative role in elevating South Asian music within Canada and on the global stage. As the managers of Ikwinder “Ikky” Singh and strategic allies behind 91 North Records—a joint venture with Warner Music Canada and Warner Music India—they have built a platform that connects artists, cultures, and markets in unprecedented ways.

Since 2020, Mathew and Cole have guided Ikky’s evolution as a producer, artist, and executive. Through intentional career development and strategic positioning, they helped him craft a distinctive sound that blends Punjabi music with hip-hop, pop, and R&B. Under their leadership, Ikky has amassed over 4 billion global streams and delivered hits like “Bambiha Bole” (with Sidhu Moose Wala and Amrit Maan) and “Baller” (with Shubh). The 2024 global hit “Tell Me”, featuring Karan Aujla and OneRepublic,and Ed Sheeran and Karan Aujla’s Symmetry, all exemplify their ability to lead cross-cultural collaborations that resonate widely.

In 2023, Mathew and Cole oversaw the rollout of Karan Aujla’s and Ikky’s critically acclaimed album Making Memories, with Ikky as co-artist and executive producer. This was followed up with P-POP CULTURE, Karan Aujla and Ikky’s 2025 album that brought them to perform on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. In 2024/2025 Ikky would Musical Direct, Open and perform with Aujla on his sold-out arena tour across Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, MENA and India. 

Their impact extends beyond a single artist. Through the creation of 4N (Foreign) Records, Mathew and Cole have built long-term infrastructure to support South Asian talent in Canada and beyond. Their efforts have helped position Canada as a global hub for this fast-growing musical movement—connecting industry ecosystems across continents and opening doors for the next generation.

In 2022, they also served as booking agents for Diljit Dosanjh’s groundbreaking North American arena tour, selling 88,000 tickets across eight cities (Toronto sold out in 20 minutes). This historic achievement marked the first major South Asian arena tour in North America, showcasing their ability to scale and sustain cultural moments on a global level. Their broader vision includes projects like Punjabi Takeover Radio on Apple Music, hosted by Ikky, which explores the global evolution of Punjabi music and its cross-generational impact—another example of their commitment to cultural storytelling through music.