Principal Investigator
Toronto Metropolitan University

Natalie Álvarez is Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies and Dean of The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research on immersive simulations in the public sphere, Latina/o/x performance, and performance activism in the Americas has been widely published internationally. She is the author, editor, and co-editor of five books and also serves as co-editor of the Theatre & book series. Álvarez was Principal Investigator of the SSHRC Insight study “Scenario Training to Improve Police Response to Individuals in Mental Crisis: Impacts and Efficacy”, a multidisciplinary research team which led to the development of the Mental Health and Crisis Response Applied Training and Education Program (MHCR), a scenario-based training program and evaluation framework. As of 1 April 2024, the MHCR is now a regulatory requirement and mandatory training for all police officers in Ontario.

Co-Director, Data Empowerment
University of Toronto

Dr. Sarah Bay-Cheng is Professor of Emerging Technologies in Theatre & Performance and the Helen and Paul Phelan Chair in Drama at the University of Toronto. She serves as the Academic Director for the BMO Lab for Creative Research in Emerging Technologies and is a former Fulbright Scholar in Media and Cultural Studies at Utrecht University (Netherlands). Bay-Cheng’s research focuses on the intersections between technology and cultural performances, both historically and in contemporary culture. Her publications include four books and more than 100 articles, essays and lectures. Current research focuses on theatre and AI and data representations of the performing arts.

More info at: https://sarahbaycheng.com.

Co-Director, Budget
Toronto Metropolitan University

Owais Lightwala is an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, specialising in entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation within the creative industries. He is the founding Director of The Creative School Chrysalis, a 1200-seat, multidisciplinary performance innovation hub at TMU. Previously, Owais was the Managing Director at Why Not Theatre, where he played a key role in groundbreaking projects like the RISER Project and The Mahabharata. A recognized leader in the Canadian arts community, Owais has been awarded the Business/Arts Arnold Edinborough Award for his contributions to arts leadership. He holds an MBA from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a BFA in theatre from York University. 

Co-Director, Student Engagement
Skills for Change

Shawn is Director, Research & Program Design at Skills for Change, a national charity providing immigration, settlement, and workforce development programs and services. Previously, he was Senior Manager of Research & Impact at Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, Managing Editor at PUBLIC: Art | Culture | Ideas, co-founding editor at RUBIX Journal for Creative Research + Practice, and had an international dance performance and choreographic career. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies, and his past research has focused on cultural production, multiculturalism, critical disability, critical race, performance, cultural tourism, and arts’ impact. Currently, he is engaged in research, programs, and events related to GenAI skills development across sectors.

Co-Director, Partner Engagement
Mass Culture

Robin Sokoloski (she/her) is a cultural strategist whose work sits at the crossroads of research, community building, and arts management. As Director of Programs and Research at Mass Culture, she guides sector-wide initiatives that reimagine how cultural organizations measure impact and better harness their data. With over two decades of work in the arts sector, Robin is dedicated to helping Canada’s arts sector become more equitable, imaginative, and future-ready. 

Project Manager
Toronto Metropolitan University

Antoine Damiens (he/they) is a research coordinator and project manager specializing in the development of partnerships with cultural and community organizations. Their research focuses on the intersection between film festivals, feminist/queer media production, and community archives. Previously, Antoine Damiens served as the Project Manager for Archive/Counter-Archive, a research project that aimed to preserve the audiovisual heritage of minoritized communities in Canada.