Board of Directors

Anne has lead key economic files to build the capacity of Ontario businesses and tech entrepreneurs. She received an Amethyst Award in 2016 for designing and implementing a process to track and measure red tape reductions resulting in more than $150 million in savings to Ontario businesses, and was embedded at the tech incubator DMZ as the 2018 OPS Executive Fellow.

In joining Tarragon’s Board, Anne has returned to the arts where she spent 16 years at the Toronto Arts Council successfully advocating the social, cultural and economic value of Toronto’s non-profit arts sector. Anne has served on the boards of Young People’s Theatre, Group of 7 and GTA Chapter of Canadian Women in Communications.

Anne has an MA in Public Policy and Administration from Ryerson University and a BA from York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts.

Naomi Brown has a background in marketing, strategy and banking technology. She studied biochemistry at Dalhousie University and received an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. She has also previously served on the boards for the Canadian Sport Film Festival and the Davisville Tennis Club.

Naomi grew up going to theatre productions with her parents, often to the Tarragon. She believes there is no alternative that creates the energy and evocation of live theatre and so for Naomi, it’s a blend of nostalgia and conviction that brings her to the board.

Additionally, Naomi wants her kids to be exposed, which is increasingly difficult in a rapidly evolving digital world. She thinks the best way to do this is to walk the talk: even though not all the plays are not age appropriate, Naomi’s kids hear her talk about it and it lays the foundation.

Adam Bryk is currently the CFO and COO of California Innovations Inc. a private Canadian company that is the global leader in soft sided insulated coolers and lunch bags. Prior to this, Adam spent the majority of his career as a business advisor in both restructuring and mergers and acquisitions with international advisory firms, most recently as a Partner at Deloitte where he lived and worked in both Toronto and Mexico City.

Adam joined the Tarragon in 2013, as he believes that the Arts are an essential part of any successful society and wants to bring whatever skills he has to bear in support of Canadian arts and culture. His involvement with Tarragon also provides him with a vastly better life balance by adding culture to days occupied by business and family.

Previously Adam was also a Board Member at the Music Gallery and of the Turnaround Management Association. Before making the turn into business he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Cinema) from Concordia University.

James Buchanan has been involved with the Tarragon Theatre board for almost 10 years, including his role as former President and Board Chair.

Having enjoyed live theatre for most of his life, James’ passion for the Tarragon began over 20 years ago. After attending numerous productions with his wife, a former board member herself, he became a staunch supporter of the theatre and a board member. James’ respect for the unique contribution that Tarragon makes to the Canadian theatre community has continued to grow. In addition, he holds in high esteem the artists, executive and staff members which are involved in the organization.

James has over 30 years’ experience as a business strategy consultant. His clients have included Canadian and global companies, across many industries. He has served on several for-profit company boards. In addition to Tarragon, James is currently involved with the boards of the Lake Joseph North Association and that of The Haven, a unique entity which is developing a not-for-profit treatment centre, for first responders suffering from PTSD.

Brendan Dellandrea supports the advancement of education, contributing to the growth and success of universities and schools through leadership of philanthropic strategies, business strategy and communications. Currently the VP of advancement for Upper Canada College, Brendan has held leadership positions at Ryerson University and the University of Toronto. As a volunteer, Brendan has mentored for Futurpreneur and served as a youth coach for the RISE Asset Development program.

Brendan knows firsthand the importance of providing mentorship, education, access and experience to young and emerging creative professionals. Brendan was attracted to Tarragon for its commitment to supporting new, diverse and groundbreaking Canadian plays that harness the power of live performance to explore complex human experiences, identities, and ethics.

Jenny Gumbs, a former diplomat accredited to Canada, proudly served her community while fulfilling a varied and challenging mandate. Currently she is an adjudicator and Special Advisor to a University promoting and establishing government and institutional linkages in the Caribbean.

She has a deep commitment to volunteerism and was an Honorary Co-Chair of The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala and is a Trustee, National Scholarship Fund, Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), Chair – Sickle Cell Association of Canada and the Immediate Past President of Tropicana Community Services, a premier Toronto-based multi-service community organization.

A graduate of Ryerson University, Jenny is on the Advisory Council for the Department of Public Administration and Governance at Ryerson University and the recipient of several awards, including, Ryerson University Alumni Award of Distinction and a Harry Jerome Award from the BBPA. She was also recognized among the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian (ABC)Women in 2016.

Having a keen interest in the theatre and being an avid supporter of community and youth development – involvement at Tarragon Theatre was her next natural fit. Engagement, at the board level, in realizing the Theatre’s efforts – to create/develop plays and train artists, as well as provide a vehicle to promote and present plays of artists throughout Canada was an exciting new challenge to champion.

Naguib discovered the magic that is theatre in high school and has never looked back. He has been a passionate theatre educator for over 20 years with the York Region District School Board. He has been passionate about theatre and its ability to truly inspire people. He regularly brings students to Tarragon stressing the range of possibilities that are evident in Canadian theatre. He is also passionate about the many roles in theatre that go beyond the performers on stage. Through his work with the team at Tarragon, he was able to show it is vital to expand the focus of the Education Committee at Tarragon over the past couple of years. Naguib focused on equity and inclusion at the post secondary level and therefore is a strong advocate of diversity in theatre. He hopes to continue to encourage the next generation to see that their voices matter and that there is a stage for them.

Caroline O’Brien is Associate Professor in Costume & Performance Studies at X University* and was appointed Chair of the School of Performance in 2019. As Chair, Caroline leads the academic, creative and administrative activities within the school. Prior to taking on this role, she worked as Director of Production, with key contributions to teaching, curriculum revision and enhancing the student learning experience.

In her freelance career she has worked with major ballet and dance companies collaborating with choreographers from across North America and Europe, and has a long-standing collaborative relationship with Peggy Baker, Artistic Director of Peggy Baker Dance Projects. She worked with Canada’s National Ballet School as resident costume designer and wardrobe supervisor, a position she held for almost twenty years.

In addition to costuming Caroline has worked in large-scale sculpture incorporating industrial metal textiles with fashion fabrics. Her award-winning work has been performed and exhibited across Canada and internationally, and her designs were selected for the inaugural World Stage Design, 2005. She curated Sixty Years of Designing the Ballet, for The National Ballet of Canada, awarded the Richard Martin citation for excellence in costume curation by the Costume Society of America. Her recent research focuses on design processes in costume practice and the use of costume in training professional dancers. She has contributed to Luce Irigaray’s Building a New World (Palgrave) and The Oxford Handbook to Contemporary Ballet.

Caroline‘s working life has always included emerging artists and she has served with a number of organizations that prioritize mentoring and/or partnering young artists with professionals. She is excited to join the Tarragon Theatre to explore opportunities and partnerships with youth in the arts and culture sector.
*August 26, 2021 Ryerson University Board of Governors accepted all 22 recommendations in the Standing Strong (Mash Koh Wee Kah Pooh Win ) Task Force’s final report, including renaming the institution. An advisory committee has been assembled to guide the process of identifying a new name for the institution that reflects the university’s strengths, values and aspirations.

Joan Pierre has had a multi-faceted career. She has played a leadership role in the design, planning and implementation of events such as Caribana, the African Heritage Music Festival (New Orleans), University of Toronto Faculty of Law 50th reunion, African Canadian Achievement Awards, Ethnic Studies Conference at York University, and Cuttin’ Style Fashion Show.

Joan has also developed a certificate program in Event Planning and Event Management for the Continuing Education Division at York University in Toronto. She holds a Diploma in Stage Management, Television Arts, from Ryerson University. Amongst numerous other awards, she was also an honouree of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2018.

She has lent her expertise to a number of Boards and Committees in Canada, including the National Ballet School; Toronto 1996 Olympic Bid; Cultural Advisory Committee Tourism and Marketing; Canadian Stage Theatre; Young People’s Theatre and is a past Member of the Toronto Arts Council, Culture Committee. Presently Joan is a Board Member of the Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement of Ontario.

Joan is passionate about the Arts and is drawn to Tarragon’s current drive to be inclusive in its programming and training for students and professionals alike.

Katherine Pollock is a labour/employment law partner at Fasken. At the law firm, Katherine is the Chair of the Partnership Board, Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the founder and past chair of the Pride Network.

Prior to joining the board of the Tarragon, Katherine was a director at the ALS Society of Ontario, and Outward Bound Canada. Katherine was delighted to be considered for a board role with the Tarragon because she has had a life long love of live theatre, and wanted to ‘give back’ to the community in any way possible given her legal background and her particular interest in EDI matters.

A director at Tarragon since 2019, Katherine is honoured to be a part of a wonderful, dynamic, and representative group of directors.

Laurence Siegel has had an extensive career in the arts since the 1970s having worked in radio and television, arts management, education, consulting, and photography. Mr. Siegel has been producing and directing dance film since 2009.

It was Tarragon’s reputation and commitment to fostering Canadian playwrights and actors, telling Canadian stories, that attracted Mr. Siegel. As a high school drama teacher he regularly brought students to Tarragon stressing the Tarragon’s commitment to Canadian theatre making.

Mr. Siegel also has an active analogue photography practice and is a member of Gallery 44 – Centre for Contemporary Photography – an artist-run centre where he served on the board for 6 years.

He has served on Tarragon’s board since 2017 and is also a member of the executive committee.

Elaine Stavro is a Full Professor at Trent University for the Department of Political Studies. She is an author with expertise in contemporary continental philosophy and democratic and cultural theory.

Presently, Elaine is working on two books: “Slave Museums as a Site of Democratic Pedagogy” and “Politics of Catastrophe: Articulating the Social Crises of Our Times.” She has been teaching for over 30 years at Trent, and previously at universities in London, England.

Elaine is a member of philanthropy groups at Trent University, the Steve and Sally Stavro Family Foundation, and the Tarragon Theatre. She is an active member of the Curators circle of the AGO and supporter/fan of all Toronto and Ontario theatre, the National Ballet, Tafelmusik, the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto Symphony.

Elaine has always been an avid theatregoer, beginning with high school outings to Stratford, her interest was fostered during the 8 years she lived in London, England. Her intellectual interest is in the political rather than politics, specifically performative politics and cultivating democratic sensibilities, which has been enhanced by the Tarragon experience.

A link to Elaine’s recent book: Emancipatory Thinking

Heather Yamoah is a corporate/commercial lawyer with over 10 years of progressive experience at Canada’s largest companies.

She was drawn to Tarragon because of the quality and diversity of the plays. Tarragon truly is Canada’s home for contemporary Canadian plays featuring unique and untold stories. Being a member of the Tarragon board also gives her the opportunity to serve the community while supporting the arts and learning about a new industry. Heather has served on Tarragon’s board since 2019.

Walter Yim has been a practicing dentist for 32 years, a father for 28 years and a lover of the arts since childhood. He is currently in the Masters program studying Industrial Design at OCADU in an attempt to marry his love of science and art in a meaningful way. He has served on the boards of health centres, dental organizations and tennis clubs.

Serving on the Tarragon Theatre board is an expression of optimism and love for arts, culture and community in his beloved city.