Staff
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Gabrielle Martin
Director of Programming - Collaborative Leadership Team | ext 101 | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Gabrielle Martin is a cultural producer and live art curator practicing transformative experiential design in one of society’s few remaining ritual spaces. Her work prioritizes embodied criticality, imagination, pluralism, and risk. It centres the body, and is framed by social and political urgencies.
Gabrielle has a BFA in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University (Montréal), a Certificate in Dramaturgy from the Centre National des Arts du Cirque (Châlons-en-Champagne), and an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from Rome Business School. She was a 2021 Why Not Theatre Cultural Leadership Fellow and a 2021 and 2022 Global Fellow of the International Society for the Performing Arts. She holds certificates in Leadership and Change from the London School of Economics and Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Northwestern Weinberg College.
Before joining PuSh in 2021, Gabrielle worked as Festival Manager with the Vancouver International Dance Festival. She currently furthers her creative practice as Co-Artistic Director and choreographer with Corporeal Imago.
As a contemporary dance and circus artist, Gabrielle performed over 1,400 shows internationally with Cirque du Soleil’s TORUK – The First Flight and Cavalia, participated in choreographic residencies in Belgium, Sweden and France, and presented her work in the UK, US, and across Canada.
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Margo Kane
Director of Indigenous Initiatives - Collaborative Leadership Team
Cree-Saulteaux Metis performing artist, Margo Kane is the Founder and Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance. For over 45 years she has been active as an actor, performing artist and community cultural worker. Her desire to share artistic performance that has meaning for her people is the catalyst for her extensive work, travels and consultation within Indigenous communities across Canada and abroad. Moonlodge, her acclaimed one-woman show, an Indigenous Canadian classic, toured for over 10 years nationally and internationally. The Sydney Press (AU) during The Festival of the Dreaming praised it as being ‘in the top echelon of solo performance.’
She developed and runs the annual Talking Stick Festival celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year and numerous programs including Moccasin Trek: Arts on the Move!, Indian Acts and an Indigenous Ensemble Performing Arts Program in Vancouver.
She has received numerous awards and honors including an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of the Fraser Valley, the Order of Canada from the Governor-General, an International Citation of Merit from ISPA – International Society for the Performing Arts and most recently, an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from SFU – Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Keltie Forsyth
Director of Operations - Collaborative Leadership Team | ext 102 | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Keltie is a arts administrator and theatre director of settler ancestry based out of the
traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh
Nations. Keltie began her career in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) as General
Manager of Workshop West Theatre and co-curator of their Canoe Theatre Festival.
Since completing her MFA at the University of British Columbia, Keltie has worked as a
an arts manager, freelance director, instructor, grant writer, and associate artistic
director of both Pi Theatre for their 2016-2017 season and Ensemble Theatre Company
from 2020. She also worked with C-Space as Operations Manager at Progress Lab
1422.
Keltie is thrilled to be joining Margo, Gabrielle, Tom and the team at PuSh to support the next
phase of the Festival’s development. -
Sarah Sum
Patron Services and Administration Manager | ext 104 | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sarah Sum (she/her) is a queer performing artist of Chinese heritage, born and living on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people.
She holds her M.Mus in Opera from The University of British Columbia. You may have spotted her in UBC productions of Die Zauberflöte, the Canadian premiere of Pasażerka, and the Opera and Arias series at Bard on the Beach. Sarah is a recipient of the BC Arts Council Award and has participated in the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute and the Chautauqua Institution Voice Program on full scholarship.
Sarah has been building a career in patron services and box office, from volunteering for local theatre companies as a teen, to working as a Box Office Administrator at UBC Opera over the course of her Master’s degree. Recently she was the Box Office Coordinator for Vancouver Queer Film Festival and offered box office consultation for Chutzpah! Festival.
When she isn’t singing or slinging tickets, you can find Sarah cooking as a connection to her culture, hanging art on walls, and daydreaming about new sewing projects.
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Tricia Knowles
Marketing & Communications Manager | ext.201 | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Tricia Knowles (she/her) is a queer, Mi’kmaq settler who has been exploring her
individuality and identity through a pre-colonial lens, within the arts and the natural spaces and
places where her ancestry intersects.As an arts promoter and cultural curator, Tricia has a passion for creative placemaking and
for crafting interactive, immersive events which inspire residents to be part of the
change they want to see in their community. She holds a certificate in Cultural Planning
and Development from UBC and a diploma in Radio and Television Arts (Broadcast
Journalism) from NSCC, and is the Artistic Director and Lead Creator of Calliope Collective.With more than 20 years of experience in media, marketing, and promotions she has
worked on several festivals such as Kingston WritersFest, Skeleton Park Music & Arts Festival, Kick & Push, Harvest Festival, KNIPD, and Wavelength Music. As a producer she has been involved with WWF’s Earth Hour, Ottawa’s Music and Beyond and the award-winning performance-based immersive haunt experience Fort Fright, among others.She is a lover of both old-timey and contemporary circus and is a stiltwalker and costumer. Other joy practices include swimming, bicycles, foraging, dancing, live music (especially big brass jazz bands), and getting lost in a book.
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Alex Grigg
Manager Development & Engagement | ext 103 | Pronouns: he/him/his
Alex Grigg is a veteran music industry professional with over 25 years of experience in the for-profit and non-profit sectors of the music and live events business. He started out as a promoter in Southern Ontario and then moved to Vancouver where he was an Agent for the Feldman Agency for 11 years. In 2009 he joined (VANOC) Vancouver Organization Committee for the Winter and Paralympic Olympic Games to take on the role of Manager, National Touring Program & Contemporary Music Programmer for the 2009/2010 Cultural Olympiad & Live Sites.
In 2010 Alex was hired as a consultant for the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society, the non-profit producers of the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival and soon made Associate Director. In 2014 Alex was given the opportunity to become the Manager of the Ambleside Live Concerts Series, a 20,000-capacity temporary outdoor concert facility at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. There he produced two shows, Ed Sheeran in 2014 & Kenny Chesney in 2015.
2016 saw Alex be appointed Executive Director, Music BC Industry Association leading the lobbying efforts for the $7.5 Amplify Music Fund & administering $2.8m of funding for the industry. In 2019 MRG Group appointed Alex as Director of Events (formerly John Donnelly Events & Atomique Productions) Producing / Co-Producing 10+ large scale public events throughout BC. In 2020 Alex began as an Adjunct Instructor (Music Business) for Metalworks Institute (Toronto) and currently at Capilano University (Festival Management) and at SAE Institute (Music Business). Alex also runs his own consulting company and has done work for various organizations, individuals and municipalities.
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Lindsay Nelson
Individual Giving Coordinator | ext 113 | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lindsay is an arts administrator and theatre performer with a wide range of experience in the event industry.
She first got involved with PuSh as Anika Vervecken’s intern, learning all she could about making theatre accessible. For the 2022 festival, Lindsay shifted to Volunteer Coordinator, and this year she is taking on the role of Festival Producer.
Recently, she has worked with the DOXA Festival, Touchstone Theatre and Ensemble Theatre Company. She currently sits on the board of Pi Theatre as the Vice President and Secretary.
As a performer, Lindsay holds a Theatre Arts diploma from McEwan University, and an MA in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
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Andrea Cownden
Accessible PuSh Coordinator | ext 204 | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Andrea Cownden (she/her) is an independent dance artist and emerging audio describer of european ancestry living on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations. Since completing training at Modus Operandi, she has been honoured to dance for artists such as Naomi Brand, Sasha Kleinplatz, Alexa Mardon and Erika Mitsuhashi, and to facilitate accessible dance classes for All Bodies Dance Project.
In 2019, Andrea had the pleasure of working as a sighted guide in Translations, a dance performance for the non-visual senses created by All Bodies Dance Project and VocalEye. Since this rich introduction to the creative potential of integrated access in the performing arts, she has grown as an audio describer through the creation of descriptions for All Bodies Dance Project, Company 605, Arts Assembly, and a number of independent artists. She is grateful for these opportunities, as well as consultation and feedback from friends and community members, as she continues to learn about accessibility and the arts.
As a long-time audience member, Andrea is thrilled to be joining the PuSh team!
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Jessi Li
Bookkeeper | Pronouns: she/her/hers
CPA, with 20 years of accounting full-cycle experience specifically for performing arts organization. While working to build a successful career, I am striving to keep a good work-life balance, as the best time is time spent with my family and friends.
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Steve Chow
Graphic Designer | Pronouns: he/him/his
With a 250 lb. bench press and multiple tournament wins, Steve is arguably pound-for-pound Vancouver’s strongest graphic designer. His unpredictable technique was cultivated in early stints at The Western Front, Ricepaper, and indie music labels; and later refined with LolaDance, Wen Wei Dance, and The Holy Body Tattoo — leading to an undisputed, record-breaking 10-year run as Communications Manager of The Cinematheque.
In addition to PuSh, Steve’s current training partners include the Vancouver International Film Festival, DOXA, the National Film Board of Canada, Vancouver New Music, the Criterion Collection, and independent filmmakers in Canada and around the world.
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David Kerr
Production Manager | ext 111 | Pronouns: I celebrate and honour all pronouns, my preference is DK
DK (David Kerr) would like to acknowledge that he was born and raised on Treaty 6 Territory, the Homeland of the Métis. He pays his respect to the First Nation and Métis ancestors of that place and reaffirms our relationship with one another.
DK has been a fixture in the Vancouver Festival world for the past 30 years, more than half of that in various management positions. He is well versed in the presentation of large-scale indoor and outdoor projects. Aside from PuSh, he is the Production Manager for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival and the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. He is also the Site Manager for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and a Production Consultant for the Talking Stick Festival
DK has consulted on several other projects as well including the Canada 150+ Indigenous Production Assistant Program and landscape planning for Bard on The Beach.
Prior to moving into Production Management DK Stage Managed for numerous Vancouver theatre companies and toured the world with LaJoye Productions’ “Snowflake”.
He was also the Second General Manger of Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan back in the good old days.
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Trevor Battye Advertising Sales
Sponsorship and Advertising Consultant
Trevor Battye Advertising Sales provides client-driven advertising and monetization strategies for print and digital publications, festivals, and events for over 15 years. Clients include The Alberta Teachers Association, The Vancouver Writers Festival, The Vancouver Film Festival, and The Tyee among others.
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Denim & Steel Interactive
Website Designers & Developers
Through digital strategy, design, and custom development, Denim & Steel is behind the online presence for leading artistic and cultural producers like PuSh. Our work brings innovation and reliability to producers and connects audiences with new, memorable experiences through the web and mobile apps.
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Jodi Smith
Publicist | Pronouns: she/her/hers
Managing Director of JLS Entertainment
Jodi Smith, executive director of JLS Entertainment has been working in the entertainment industry in various capacities for over twenty-five years. Throughout her career, Jodi has produced live events, is involved in artist management, entertainment coordination (including PNE, Harmony Arts Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, First Night & Vancouver Olympics) and has been a freelance publicist for festivals, musical concerts, dance, special events, theatre and literary fests.
JLS Entertainment’s past and present publicity clients include Vancouver Opera, MusicFest Vancouver, Ballet BC, CelticFest Vancouver, Vancouver International Flamenco Festival, Dance In Vancouver, Dancing on the Edge, Carousel Theatre for Young People, Toronto Dance Theatre, DTES Heart of the City Festival, Chutzpah! Festival, and the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.
Jodi Smith has sat on various boards throughout the years and has taught publicity and marketing at the Trebas Institute.