The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has named outgoing National Film Institute (NSI) CEO Joy Loewen as the next lead of its growth and inclusion strategy.

Loewen joins CMF as VP, growth and inclusion on April 29 and reports to Mathieu Chantelois, EVP, marketing and public affairs. The role was previously held by Marcia Douglas, who became executive director of the Bell Fund in January.

While Loewen’s official departure date at NSI is June 28, she will transition to a part-time advisor role as of April 22. NSI’s next CEO had not been announced at press time.

Loewen is based in Winnipeg and has spent a combined 13 years at NSI, including four as CEO after taking on the role in 2020. NSI has introduced a number of productions during her time at the helm, including Access BIPOC Producers, the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators and Elevate. She also collaborated with the Shine Network Institute to launch the PACT Indigenous cultural competency course.

Outside of her NSI work, Loewen has held roles at CBC, the Gimli Film Festival and the W Network (formerly WTN).

“A transformative leader, she has reinvigorated and stabilized the NSI, led the creation of high-impact programs to support Indigenous and racialized creators, and established several groundbreaking partnerships,” said CMF president and CEO Valerie Creighton in a statement. “I am overjoyed to welcome Joy to the CMF, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish with her leading our growth and inclusion team.”

Image courtesy of CMF