OUR TEAM

CHAIR

DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP / OPERATIONS

Karen is an accomplished strategic leader and Executive Director with a proven track record in business growth, operational efficiency, and community-driven innovation. As Chair of the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI), Karen has played a pivotal role in scaling the organization from a startup to a thriving mid-sized business. Her expertise in governance, process optimization, and stakeholder engagement has been instrumental in ensuring TAAFI’s long-term sustainability and impact within the animation industry.

With over a decade of experience in animation production, Karen has developed a deep understanding of organizational strategy, operational excellence, and audience engagement.

Karen’s ability to implement scalable operational frameworks and develop streamlined business processes has positioned her as a key figure in driving efficiency and innovation. Under her leadership, TAAFI established best practices in governance, financial planning, and community outreach, ensuring the festival’s continued growth and industry relevance.

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

Rhys Yorke, a Creative Director with a diverse career spanning video games, comics, TV, film, and animation, has worked on notable projects like Deadpool, ThunderCats, G.I. Joe, The Secret World, FarCry, and TV series such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Expanse, Titans, and Blue's Clues and You. A member of the Directors Guild of Canada, Rhys is passionate about innovative storytelling and consistently explores new opportunities in various mediums. Rhys now brings his extensive technical expertise to TAAFI as the Director of Technology.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

As the Director of Marketing at Pipeline Studios, D’Arcy leads consumer marketing for the Pipeline brands and oversees trade marketing initiatives for the studio. D'Arcy has led the creation and execution of integrated, consumer-facing marketing campaigns for some of the hottest children's content in the world, bringing over a decade of this experience to the TAAFI board.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Ghadi is a creative communications professional with a background in animation production, social media management, and graphic design.

As Director of Communications at TAAFI, she leads strategic messaging, social media, media relations, and content creation to elevate the festival’s industry presence.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE / TREASURER

Chris’s passion for building communities and meeting new people is the driving force of why he’s been in management for most of his life. He’s been involved in a variety of organizations and capacities from clubs, camps, studios and now TAAFI. It’s never just one thing with Chris, and he thrives in that. His love for animation and his passion for people has brought him to his current career in production management and position at TAAFI, where he aims to help support and grow the animation community.

Director of Programming

Quinn Doherty is a graduate of Seneca College’s HRM Certificate, Centennial College’s Children’s Media Program and OTU’s Bachelor of Communication and Digital Media.

Quinn considers himself a multitalented individual who wants to enhance the animation industry and enrich the incredible people within it's community

Co-director of Programming

Holder of BAA from Sheridan College, Sonia has worked in various positions since 2013 in storyboards on projects such as Numb Chucks, Camp LakeBottom, Rusty Rivets, Kody Kapow, AlienTV, Angry Birds Summer Madness, Corner Gas, Doomsday Brothers and other development projects.

​Sonia recently supervised storyboards for Netflix's Unicorn Academy series and movie specials and adult series. Sonia directed a short film called Ostinato, produced by Women in Animation Vancouver and Ace Canada, released in 2023 into film festivals, won Silver Award for Best of the Pacific Northwest , Silver award Collision award for best 2D animation craft short film, screened at Comic-Con independent film festival 2024 and can be viewed on Netflix in a block of 12 short films.

Programming Assistant

Fay is a neurodivergent Brazilian-Canadian Production Coordinator with a lifelong passion for animation. She graduated from the Children’s Media program at Centennial College in 2023 and has often volunteered at TAAFI and the Youth media Alliance (YMA) enjoying connecting to like-minded people in animation.

Fay has worked with Mainframe Studios on the production of long and short-form content for the Barbie IP. With a Psychology and Social Services background, she strives to create inclusive spaces wherever she goes. In her personal time, Fay enjoys singing, crocheting, fashion modelling and practising her artistic skills in various mediums.

Shorts Programming Lead

Sonika Bagwe is a South Asian (Indian) freelance storyboard artist and digital illustrator based in Mississauga, Canada.

Having graduated from OCAD in 2022 under their EXAN program, with a specialization in 2D Animation and Film-making, she has been working in the Toronto indie scene as a board artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. Primarily a story artist, her work often emphasizes on the emotional core of the journey, and always finds a bit of comedy in any situation. As well, she works part-time as an art instructor, teaching children how to foster their own creativity in the medium of animation!

They have been a part of TAAFI since 2020 initially as a general volunteer; later working as a Volunteer Coordinator (2023-2024), and as a Film Screener (2022-2024). She has recently stepped up as the Shorts Programming Lead (2025-present), leading a team of equally passionate screeners in celebrating animation as a medium!

When she isn’t drawing, you can find her knitting, crocheting, or watching cartoons!

Copywriter / Newsletter

Mark Ramsay is an emerging creator, award-winning actor, and graduate from Humber College’s Bachelors of Film & Media Production with a life-long passion for the animation industry. Having been trained in 2D-hand drawn and 3D animation styles, Mark works in a variety of mediums in order to create fantastical worlds and characters.

A strong believer in retaining your inner child (and following that Rainbow Connection), he is an active advocate for unique voices in the arts and creator-driven projects within the animation industry.

When he isn’t writing Newsletters or other pieces of copy for TAAFI, he can be found enjoying conventions, making fan-edits of his favourite films, or delving into his next D&D adventure!

Technology Lead

Ambassador/Volunteer Coordinator

Winnie is a graduate from OCAD's DPXA Program and is still finding her way around the animation industry and continuously working on her portfolio. She enjoys working alongside fellow animation enjoyers and connecting the community through their shared love of cartoons and animation of all forms and keep the conversation going.

Sponsorship Coordinator

Nic is a LGBTQIA+ artist and an animation grad with a passion for cartoons! They have worked as a 2D FX animator on shows ike Bubble Guppies, Vida the Vet and The Loud House. When not volunteering with TAAFI, they can usually be found gaming, doodling or drinking a good cup of coffee.

Merchandise Lead

Sara Khalil-Bayley is an award-winning graduate of OCAD University's inaugural Experimental Animation cohort and former animator at Slap Happy Cartoons. Adjunct to her role as Merchandise Lead, Sara is on a mission to help TAAFI highlight the unique, global influence Canadian animation has had. She is currently enrolled in the dual-degree Media Production MA/MBA graduate program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her favourite color is pink.

Special Events Coordinator

Sabrina is a whimsical 3D artist with an undeniable affection for all things pink and sparkly. She has a strong belief in allowing your inner child to enchant your adult life, a belief that has led her to work on animated productions such as Unicorn Academy and Barbie. Currently she is working as a game artist at the National Bank of Canada, and at TAAFI she is proud to call herself the Special Events Lead.

Partnerships Coordinator

Shannon Kingston is an emerging creator. She has written and produced two audio plays, the first of which won “Best Show by a Young Producer” at the UK Festival of Audio Drama in 2023. A graduate of the Children's Media program at Centennial College, Shannon’s primary focus is on family and children's entertainment with an emphasis on teaching soft skills through humour and storytelling.

Partnerships Coordinator

Marketing, co op Supervisor

Provincial Grants Lead

Chris is a creative media professional with extensive experience in business management and entrepreneurship. She specializes in creative project funding/strategy, development and creative project management, and works alongside creators to bring their stories to life! Chris has a passion for developing children’s media and animation projects, and she's delighted to be in a position to support TAAFI and the animation community as the Provincial Grants Lead.

City Grants Writer

Zak Dranoff-Caspi is a writer of grants, scripts, and bios! Despite finding himself in the high-tech world of virtual production, Zak's heart lies in animation, specifically canadian. He will talk your ear off about any Canadian animation. Go on, ask.

Social Media Assistant

OCAD University

Centennial College

Durham College

George Brown College

Cambrian College

Algonquin College

Mohawk College

Seneca College

Seneca College