TORONTO, May 28, 2024 – Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, co-founders and CEOs of The Black Academy, have appointed industry veteran Gail Case to the role of Executive Director. Case has oversight of all aspects of The Black Academy including fundraising and year-round programming initiatives, and is tasked with ensuring the success, stability, longevity, and growth of the organization. The appointment is effective immediately.
“Gail’s experience and skills dovetail perfectly with our goals for the organization,” said Shamier Anderson, Co-CEO of The Black Academy. “Her business acumen, fundraising chops, and leadership skills will take The Black Academy to the next level as we look to broaden our impact. She’s perfectly poised to be a catalyst for lasting change.”
“Gail has a rare combination of business and creative experience which will serve The Black Academy very well, but most importantly, she’s exceptionally committed to uplifting and empowering our community – and she’s proven that throughout her career,” said Stephan James, Co-CEO of The Black Academy. “Gail’s a real force to be reckoned with and we couldn’t be happier to have her on board.”
Case brings 20 years of both public and private sector experience to the role. Most recently, she was the Director of Client Services at FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), a not-for-profit that seeks to grow the Canadian music industry. At FACTOR, Case oversaw the allocation of $14 million of funding and the adjudication process for Canadian artists and record labels. During her tenure, Case championed diversity, equity, and inclusion in the funding space and significantly enhanced diversity of funding recipients. She brings a wealth of sales & marketing knowledge to the role having worked in media companies (including CBC, CTV,
Global, Blue Ant Media, JAZZFM91, and G987FM), project management, event production, and client relations.
Case is also an Executive MBA candidate at the Ivey Business School (Western University). Long dedicated to community empowerment, Case has also lent her time and expertise to organizations such as the Ontario Street Ball League (OSBL) which gives at-risk youth a place to develop team-building skills; and from 2006 to 2019 led the Canadian chapter of National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME) which seeks to advance a female-focused agenda of education, equality, inclusion, and equity.
“This role allows me to combine my experience in the public and private sectors and my volunteer work with my lifelong passions: – advocating for change and seeing my community inspired, uplifted, and celebrated on a national level,” said Gail Case, Executive Director of The Black Academy. “Shamier and Stephan exemplify Black Excellence and I’m extremely impressed with the accomplishments and aspirations of The Black Academy. My top priority is to secure sustainable funding to ensure we can continue growing our programming.”
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The Black Academy is a national, year-round Canadian organization that operates at the intersection of Black popular culture and social justice. The goals of The Black Academy are to showcase Black excellence and to share those achievements with all of Canada; to establish new spaces for Black Canadians to celebrate and network; and to kickstart careers through training and knowledge-sharing. Across all our initiatives, we inspire young people and generations to come. Co-founded by actors, producers, and Scarborough-born brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, The Black Academy is born out of a longstanding commitment to their community and is dedicated to dismantling systemic racism in Canada. Gail Case serves as Executive Director. The Skills Development Program is administered in partnership with Insight Productions. The Black Academy, Insight Productions, and CBC are committed to hiring Black senior staff and crew members for The Legacy Awards. Established in 2020, The Black Academy is based in Toronto and is a division of the not-for-profit B.L.A.C.K Canada. https://blackisnow.com; Instagram: @BLACKISNOWCANADA
Media Contacts:
Gabrielle Free | Free Publicity (for The Black Academy)
GabFree.Publicity@gmail.com | 416-220-0201