Board Members

SAMANTHA KAINE (QUÉBEC)

FOUNDER & CEO

  • Samantha Kaine is a Jamaican-Canadian award-winning independent film and television producer whose two decades of creative leadership in screen-based storytelling have anchored nearly fifteen years of governance, policy, and coalition-building work advancing race relations and AREDIA (Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) across Canada’s cultural sector. She works at the intersection of creative practice and institutional change, building coalitions across Black, racialized, and Afro-Indigenous communities and translating industry insight into a durable ecosystem of policy, programs, and ownership pathways, anchored by the accelerator platform she built for Black producers and creators.

    She is the Founder and CEO of IMPACT (Independent Media Producers Association of Creative Talent), a federally incorporated, national non-profit organization established in 2020 to address anti-Black racism, anti-Black hate, and systemic barriers in Canada’s screen-based industries and build the infrastructure Black producers need to own, lead, and scale. IMPACT’s work spans leadership development, business training, market access, and responsible AI integration, equipping Black producers and creators to compete on national and global markets.

    Samantha serves as a director on the boards of the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE), where she sits on the AI Committee, and the English Language Arts Network (ELAN), where she contributes to the EDI Advocacy and Governance committees. She previously served on the board of theCanadian Independent Screen Fund (CISF) for just over 3 years. Her policy and program work has included advocacy to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, program design with the Canada Media Fund, two years of committee service with Telefilm Canada, and partnerships with the Indigenous Screen Office, BIPOC TV & Film, OYA Black Arts Coalition and Creatives Empowered.

    She recently completed the Applied Graduate Certificate in AI and Analytics for Leaders from Schulich ExecED at the Schulich School of Business, York, University, building on prior executive education at McGill University, where she completed the Mini-MBA Cycle (Executive Development) in 2022. Together these credentials deepen her capacity to lead at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cultural policy, and economic inclusion. A native English speaker with working proficiency in French, she brings fiduciary discipline, cultural humility, and a record of turning lived experience into durable institutional change.

ALIA J.DANIELS (CALIFORNIA)

BOARD CHAIR

  • From a very young age, Alia J. Daniels recognized the power of representation within the media. Quickly identifying how few women looked like her across entertainment, business and politics, Alia became determined to make an impact. She equipped herself with bachelor's degrees in Music and Communications Studies with a Mass Media emphasis from Albion College, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School and sought to change the face of media.

    As a business and entertainment attorney, Alia has not only represented clients in the digital entertainment and tech space but is also a strategist and featured speaker on the ever-changing streaming entertainment arena. Since 2015, Alia has been consistently named to the prestigious Southern California Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers for eight years in a row. In 2021, Alia was named to the inaugural Forbes Next 1000 list, honoring the next generation of upstart entrepreneurs.

    Today, Alia has found her niche at the intersection of entrepreneurship, entertainment and social impact as Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for Revry, a global queer streaming TV network. As an advocate for inclusion for all underrepresented communities, the cornerstone of Alia's personal mission is to create avenues for authentic representation in media and business.

SANKA KANGUDI (ONTARIO)

BOARD MEMBER

  • Sanka is a forward thinking strategist, with a background in Communications, Human Relations, Employee Experience & Workplace Innovation. A self- proclaimed neuroscience “geek”, devoted to moving people and businesses beyond expectations.

    She spends her time implementing compelling custom talent experiences and innovative business strategies. In joining IMPACT Sanka hopes to evangelize that artful expression has a place for all and creates the bridges that can transform our world.

DR. CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR (ONTARIO)

BOARD MEMBER

  • Christopher Stuart Taylor is the Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism (EDI-R) at the University of Waterloo. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of History. He completed his PhD at Western University (Canada) in History and Migration & Ethnic Relations (MER).

    His book, Flying Fish in the Great White North: The Autonomous Migration of Black Barbadians, is available from Fernwood Publishing.

    He also worked in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and began his career as a Policy Coordinator Intern in the Deputy Minister's Office at the Ministry of Labour. He was the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator in the Ministry of the Attorney General's Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Office; a Senior Policy Advisor at Ontario's Anti-Racism Directorate; and Manager of Social Justice & Change Cluster at the Ontario Correctional Services College.

    Dr. Taylor is a proud founding member of the University of Waterloo’s Black Faculty Collective (BFC).

    Twitter: @DrCSTaylor

BENJAMIN MUSAMPA (QUÉBEC)

BOARD MEMBER

  • Benjamin Musampa is an accomplished bilingual (French/English) communications professional with a robust background in both public and private sectors. Recognized as an analyst in mining governance, sustainability, and social responsibility, he has become a trusted advisor to junior mining companies, especially on ESG strategy, micro-political risk, and financial communication—fostering responsible mining, particularly in Francophone Africa.

    In addition to his work in corporate communications, issue management, and stakeholder engagement, Benjamin brings valuable experience as a seminar organizer and presenter for UNICEF Canada, as well as serving as an International Committee Member with the YMCA (N.D.G.).

    He is academically accomplished, holding a Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management from McGill University, a Master’s in International Law and International Politics from Université de Sherbrooke, and an Honours bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from York University.

    As part of IMPACT, Benjamin is eager to raise awareness and educate the Canadian and Quebec film, television, and media industries about the benefits of working with racialized producers and creators, promoting diversity and responsible practices across all sectors in which he works.