BOARD MEMBERS
Emily Visser
Chair/ Treasurer / Communications/ Sponsorship / Awards
Emily Visser has been a union staff member for more than 15 years, including work as a labour educator, communicator and graphic artist. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and The Ontario College of Art and Design, and has designed museum exhibits and visitor centres and taught at George Brown College’s School of Design. It was while walking a picket line during the college faculty strike of 2006 that she was first hired to work for a union. As an activist, Emily believes the arts can be a catalyst for political and social change, and are an essential part of the struggle for workers rights and social justice.
Ikenna Agu
Secretary / Communications Chair
Ikenna Agu is a thought leader in digital inclusion, media and communications currently focused on providing workers from marginalized communities with opportunities to share their stories and experiences. He is currently implementing programs that communicate the equity-based initiatives of large organizations centring digital storytelling, media, and design as institutional and learning pathways.
Prior to his current work, Ikenna was Creative Director and Senior Producer at two of Canada’s largest media companies, leading talented teams tasked with developing content for television and digital platforms.
Cynthia Roberts
Strategic Planning Chair / Programming
Cynthia Roberts-Pérez is an exhibition-maker and designer whose community-engaged practice focuses on creating initiatives that harness the power of culture for social inclusion. She has managed complex multi-stakeholder processes and led the development of public programs for renowned institutions like the Smithsonian, Parks Canada, Toronto Pearson Airport, and the Dominican Republic’s Museum of Modern Art. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Mayworks Festival and makes exhibitions at the Royal Ontario Museum as Assistant Vice President of Exhibition Design.
Andrew Dick
Member at large
Andrew Dick is a creator/producer/entrepreneur who has worked in TV, Radio, Film, and Technology for over 23 years. A published writer and award-winning web and film producer/developer, Andrew’s creative and technical endeavors have been recognized for their vision and inventiveness.
Alex Sawatzky
Communications / Sponsorship
Alex Sawatzky (she/they) is a graphic designer, educator, photographer, communicator, and justice advocate. Using slow processes, collaborative communications & ethical storytelling, they strive to help grassroots movements, organizations, artists and local businesses achieve their mission. Alex has worked with non-profits in the areas of mental health, climate justice, human rights, gender equity and fair trade fashion. She currently teaches graphic design for the Environmental Visual Communications course at Fleming College, in partnership with the ROM, and is the Creative Marketing Officer at Stella’s Place. In their spare time, Alex makes and collects zines and learns different methods of printmaking.
Moumita Paul
Member at large
Moumita (she/her) is a graduate student at the Schulich School of Business. She is working towards a Sustainability specialization with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical business practices. She has also worked with student-led organizations that advocate for tenant rights. A classically trained Kathak dancer of twenty years, Moumita is involved with a Bengali socio-cultural organization to showcase and celebrate arts and culture, specifically working with the community’s children and youth. Moumita is grateful to have grown up with South-Asian music and dance and loves learning about the countless other forms of expression from around the world. She believes the arts are a powerful tool for fostering connection among marginalized communities and advocating for social justice. With Mayworks, she hopes to learn more about the intersection of contemporary labour and the arts and make meaningful contributions to the organization’s function and programming.
Eva Hellreich
Member at large
Eva Hellreich (they/them) is an experienced arts administrator and emerging artist with a background in communications, immigration policy, education and grassroots advocacy practices. Passionate about the rights of workers with a keen interest in migrant labour, disability justice, feminized labour, and the intersection of capitalism and climate change in urban spaces, Eva is humbled to be Chair of the Programming Committee for Mayworks in 2022. They hope their contributions to the festival contribute to intentional intersectionality in programming, and are grateful to learn alongside the artists and supporters that make Mayworks possible.