Board of Directors
Amanda Parriag has nearly 15 years of experience as a researcher and consultant in a wide range of social policy and public policy issue areas, particularly focused on the realm of violence against women as well as issues faced by Aboriginal peoples. Her work on women’s issues has included research on barriers faced by female offenders on reintegration into society, as well as the use of myths in sexual assault trials. Her work on Aboriginal issues has included research on violence faced by First Nations and Off-Reserve Aboriginal Women, Perceptions of Northerners and Perceptions of Off-Reserve Aboriginal People. Amanda received her Doctor of Psychology degree from Carleton University in 2001.
Andrea Benoit is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests include advertising, consumer culture, media literacy and activism and coverage around the commoditization of social causes. Andrea’s PhD dissertation focuses on HIV/AIDS awareness and activism within the consumer sphere. She did her MA in English at the University of Toronto, and recently finished her MA in the Graduate Program in Communication and Culture at York University, where she investigated consumer responses to media activism within the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Andrea’s professional experience includes a stint in Relationship Marketing at telecommunications firm British Telecom in the UK, and as an on-campus recruiter for D.E. Shaw & Co. in New York City, a Wall Street investment bank.
Mary Dila is a marketing and communications specialist with 15 years experience leading branding, media and public enegagement campaigns for government, ngo and corporate clients. For nine years, Mary was a managing partner with gordongroup marketing + communications, Ottawa’s largest agency, where she spearheaded the firm’s significant focus on public education. Mary pursued her Master’s degree in History and Philosophy of Education at the University of Toronto’s OISE. She concentrated her studies on gender politics and the manufacturing of the “authoritative voice” in the classroom, examining grade school pedagogical practices and standard curricula of the 1980s. Mary’s commitment to the issues of equity and education continue to guide her work focus. Mary lives in Victoria, B.C. where she consults with clients from across Canada. Mary est née à Montréal, et est parfaitement bilingue !
Canice Leung lives and works as a journalist in Toronto. She has written a national feminist column for Metro and was co-editor of McClung’s, a feminist magazine based out of Ryerson University. She can be found online at caniceleung.com.
Jane McDonald worked as a television researcher and video producer for nearly a decade in Ottawa before turning to federal government strategic communications, working primarily as a speech writer, for the past 15 years.
Melody MacLean is a recent graduate from the University of Ottawa with a BA in Communications and Political Science. She works and volunteers in e-communications, expanding her skills in website management and social media.
Currently on leave from the board, leading Media Action’s Informed Opinions project, Shari Graydon draws on her diverse background – as a newspaper columnist, broadcaster, communications instructor, speechwriter and media critic – in her work supporting individuals and organizations in communicating effectively about education, health and social justice issues. Former longtime president of Media Watch and of the Women’s Future Fund, she has written two award-winning media literacy books for young people, Made You Look and In Your Face. She speaks regularly about the social impacts of media to both adults and children, and contributes columns and articles to a variety of publications. She has a BA in theatre from the University of British Columbia and an MA in communications from Simon Fraser University.
Hazel Klosevych is a Certified Management Accountant with over 10 years of progressive financial experience in Canada and internationally. Hazel’s experience include industries such as manufacturing, technology and financial services.
Leslie Regan Shade, Tracy Lacroix-Wilson, Andrea Whitehead, Nicole Cohen, Patrizia Gentile, Farheen Kahn, Katherine Toms, Toni Francis and Radha Nayar previously served on the Media Action board, contributing enormously to the organization’s re-invigoration. We thank them for their energy, passion, intelligence and commitment and continue to count them as valued supporters.