The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has named lawyer Samia Hussein as director, national industrial relations and associate counsel.

In the Toronto-based role, Hussein will provide strategic and operational support to producers outside of B.C. with regard to CMPA labour agreements. In addition, she will represent producers in government relations matters related to employment standards, health and safety, and regulatory compliance.

Hussein joins the producers association from the boutique labour and employment law firm Sherrard Kuzz LLP, where she represented employers in areas of labour law including employee relations, collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, human rights and accommodation, union certifications and addressing strikes or lockouts since 2016. She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2014.

Hussein takes the role formerly held by Sean Porter, who was promoted to lead negotiator and senior director, national industrial relations and counsel in April when former lead negotiator Warren Ross departed. Ross went on to join Netflix in the role of counsel, labour relations.