The range of expertise, diversity and enthusiasm for the development of Canadian theatre in our Board of Directors makes it a very supportive and effective governing body. the dedicated members — among them playwrights, artists and members of the community — contribute their vision and talent to making PWM an inclusive and imaginative space for discovery.
JASON POIRIER LAVOIE
PRESIDENT
Jason Poirier Lavoie is a lawyer and risk manager at CAE Inc., where he contributes his expertise to the global procurement and sourcing team. Prior to joining CAE Inc., Jason practiced civil and commercial litigation at the law firm Allali Brault. His background includes almost a decade in the aerospace industry, with various positions at Air Canada, Bombardier, and Aviation Strategies International. Jason holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Montréal, a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University, as well as a degree in aircraft maintenance from the École Nationale d’Aérotechnique.
NICOLE A. LEE
VICE-PRESIDENT
Nicole A. Lee (alias: Nicky Montparnasse) is a queer Cantonese community art educator, facilitator, and arts consultant born and based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, Quebec. She has a BFA in Art Education, with a minor in Psychology from Concordia University. Nicole’s intent as a pedagogue is to foster creativity in order to build interconnected relationships through self-expression and learning. Since 2015, Nicole has experience in cultural mediation, arts administration, art education and arts for social justice. She is also an emotional intelligence, CBC-I (Cognitive Behavioural Coach for Insomniacs) and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) advisor for mindfulness teaching and wellness coaching. Nicole oversees the MAI (Montreal arts, interculturels)’s equity-driven Alliance Mentorship Program. This program hosts between 10-15 artists from across all disciplines and engages over 100 mentors every year. Her role as an MAI mentor is to assist and support artists through coaching and providing insight into the cultural ecosystem, assisting in professional development and project management. Her ongoing mentorship explorations include understanding the art’s eco-system and assisting the artist in developing professional skills in the art milieu. Nicole has published articles and has been a guest speaker advocating for the AAPI, LGBTQIA+ and non-binary Youths, Lesbians Who Tech MTL Summit and the feminist magazine We Hate Pink. She also fosters a creative practice that includes photography, performance art, fibres and drawing, and is a proud member of the Photo Bill of Rights and the International Visual Literacy Association.
SHAYNE LOVSIN-COUTURE
TREASURER
Shayne Lovsin-Couture is a Montreal-based management professional with a diverse background spanning international trade, finance, marketing, and the non-profit sector. He began his journey in the arts, graduating from the Professional Theatre program at John Abbott College, before transitioning into business, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management from Concordia University. With a passion for strategic problem-solving and innovation, Shayne holds a specialization in Finance and Accounting from Harvard Business School, equipping him with the expertise to navigate the complexities of global markets. His managerial career has taken him across industries, from financial services to hospitality, allowing him to bring a well-rounded and creative approach to leadership. A dynamic professional with a keen eye for opportunity, Shayne thrives in fast-paced environments and is committed to driving meaningful impact in every endeavor.
GILLIAN CLARK
SECRETARY
Gillian Clark is a disabled multidisciplinary theatre creator and the artistic co-director of Keep Good (Theatre) Company. She is a settler of European descent who resides in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal. Gillian is a graduate of the National Theatre School’s playwriting program and aims to create with joy, care and risk. Her plays include: Trojans Girls and the Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March, Factory Theatre, Neworld Theatre), The Ruins (Two Planks and a Passion Theatre), Let’s Try This Standing et Adventures (Keep Good (Theatre) Company). She has held residencies with Nightswimming, Outside the March, 2b theatre and Two Planks and a Passion Theatre.
YUMI PALLESCHI
DIRECTOR
Originally from Italy, Yumi Palleschi is a multifaceted management professional with a background in event production, fundraising, non profit administration and piano performance. Yumi began her career as a concert pianist, which gave her the opportunity to perform across Europe, North and Central America and Asia. After nearly twenty years as a performer, she decided to redirect her career towards arts management, which led her to pursue a Master of Management in International Arts Management from HEC Montreal. Since then, she has held various positions in the Montréal arts scene, including being the Market Development and Administrative Director of the theatre company Joe Jack and John, the Project Manager for the vocal ensemble Les Rugissants, and the Fundraising and Sponsorship Manager at Ballets Jazz Montréal. Currently the Head of Artistic Projects at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, she is responsible for organizing the summer festival La Virée classique, developing innovative digital projects and programming for the venue Espace OSM. An active member of the local community, Yumi is a board member of Contact Theatre. In the last two years she has also been on the Cultural Diversity Committee at the Conseil Québecois du Théâtre, as well as on the Networking Committee at the Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal.
JAMES VACCARO
DIRECTOR
As head of North American growth for a global marketing agency, James specializes in marketing strategy, digital transformation, change management, and organizational operations. He believes mutual respect stimulates innovative thinking, and is energized working with diverse and passionate teams that leave their egos at the door, argue the substance, and strive for the best results. His board and committee experience within the Concordia University community taught him the value of bringing together distinct viewpoints to find common ground, and creating a sustainable path forward. He used that experience supporting the youth committee of Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission, and is thrilled to support the work of new theatre development with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal.
ALI SMEARS
DIRECTOR
Ali is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Religions and Cultures at Concordia University. She holds an MA in Religious Studies with a concentration in Gender Studies from McGill University. Ali is an interdisciplinary researcher examining the intersection of South Asian Religions, Art History, Media Studies, and Gender Studies. Her ongoing doctoral research project examines the ways that diasporic South Asian artists reconfigure the body to comment on nation(s) and tradition. She is an avid supporter of local theatre and the larger Montreal art scene.
JOHN TENNY
DIRECTOR
Originally from Texas, John is a theatre, language, and all around culture lover. His professional background in nonprofit management, fundraising, strategic planning, branding, international operations, project management, and multimedia production inform his professional contribution to PWM. John works as a consultant and producer in the immersive experiences sector and calls Villeray his home.
holly Greco
DIRECTOR
holly Greco (she/her) is a collaborative dance/theatre artist and artistic leader. Although her artistic path began with extensive dance training, including a degree in contemporary dance from Concordia University, she has over a decade of experience as a producer, creator, and community connector in the English theatre ecosystem in Montreal, bringing enthusiastic curiosity to the intersection of physicality, comedy, queerness, and storytelling in her own creative practice.
Greco has focused her artistic career on bringing choreography to theatrical productions and workshops, working with companies such as Geordie Theatre, Repercussion Theatre and MainLine Theatre. She has been nominated for two Outstanding Choreography Awards at the Montreal English Theatre Awards for these contributions. As she continues to explore and expand her artistic voice, Greco has also dabbled in both playwriting and direction.
Outside of the studio, Greco has worked as an arts administrator and is currently the Director of Programming at the Quebec Drama Federation. Her passion for the performing arts has fueled her advocacy for sector sustainability and development.
