Evaluation Juries

Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Communication from Laval University in 2003, Karen works in the field of video games, where the creation of experience is strongly combined with the emotion of the player. For her, the experience isn't just about what's on the screen: the user is the creative initiator. In almost 15 years, Karen has worn many hats. Going from game designer to project manager, she has evolved as much in more technical mandates as in mentoring. She now applies her knowledge to the development of software products, where artificial intelligence and data management allow companies to offer highly personalized experiences to their customers.

Laurent Guérin is a digital transformation expert specializing in content creation, development and distribution strategies. He is currently Vice President of Digital Content at Postmedia Network Inc. Prior to his current post, Guérin was one of the visionaries to whom we owe TFO’s success in the digital realm. He was successively Chief Content Officer and Vice President, Chief Content and Digital Officer. His judicious strategic direction, innovative choices and leadership were essential to giving TFO a new look. Guérin is a well-known figure on both sides of the Atlantic for his enthusiasm for digital content and platforms, and his ability to make bold creative contributions. In 2016, he was one of the Cynopsis Digital “It List” Award recipients, an award honouring the best movers and shakers in digital content, marketing, advertising, social media and online content. During his tenure at TFO, Guérin and his teams were awarded many distinctions: a Gemini for the BRBR application in 2017; a Gemini for the Rêve de Champlain website in 2015; a special NUMIX jury mention for Wuxia le Renard, also in 2015; and two YouTube Silver Play Buttons for the Mini Dorémi and Mini ABC YouTube channels. Guérin is an MBA graduate of IUA San Francisco, offering vast marketing and business development experience.

Mia Consalvo is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Game Studies and Design at Concordia University in Montreal. She is the co-author of Real Games: What's Legitimate and What's Not in Contemporary Videogames (2019) and Players and their Pets: Gaming Communities from Beta to Sunset (2015). She is also co-editor of Sports Videogames (2013) and the Handbook of Internet Studies (2011), and is the author of Cheating: Gaining Advantage in Videogames (2007) as well as Atari to Zelda: Japan's Videogames in Global Context (2016).

Mia runs the mLab, a space dedicated to developing innovative methods for studying games and game players. She's a member of the Centre for Technoculture, Art & Games (TAG), she has presented her work at industry as well as academic conferences including regular presentations at the Game Developers Conference. She is the Past President of the Digital Games Research Association, and has held positions at MIT, Ohio University, Chubu University in Japan and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Nadia Seraiocco has been a lecturer in digital media in the École des médias and in the department of social and public communications at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) since 2013. She began her career as a cultural reporter for Voir Québec and a number of other specialized magazines. She then worked in communications for some 15 years, including work for the City of Montreal, the National Gallery of Canada, Les éditions de la courte échelle, and RECYC-Québec. Having completed a master’s degree in 2009 with a thesis on the films of the Fluxus Group, she began doctoral studies in communications in 2015.

Nadia is well known as an expert on the use of social media in public relations, web project management, and, more broadly, issues associated with the arts and technology. She co-authored one of the first books in Quebec on social media, Les médias sociaux 101 (Groupe Librex). She is a columnist for Radio-Canada’s Première chaîne, a former techno blogger for Radio-Canada, and maintains two blogs, including cheznadia.com (founded in 2002). She was a jury member for the 12th annual Grands Prix digital projects competition (Magazines du Québec) in 2011, the #modeMTL Awards (interactive component) in 2013, and the 3rd cohort of the Lab Culture awards in 2017. In 2018 she authored the first report on the use of digital formats in the dance sector with the Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD).

As a speaker and moderator, Nadia has given conferences on artificial intelligence, including one for the I.Art event in the Quartier des spectacles, and has chaired panels on the subject for the Association des communicateurs scientifiques and Frontière IA. She is the moderator for the panel at this year’s MTL connect Montreal Digital Week/Digital Spring event. She is interested in the question of the datafication of society and its impacts on privacy and identity. To this end, she is preparing a thesis entitled “Créer un double de soi en données: application réflexive et performative des processus constitutifs d’un agent conversationnel” (creating a double of oneself in data: reflexive and performative application of the constitutive processes of a conversational agent). She is also a member of the Institut de recherches et d’études féministes de l’UQÀM (IREF).

Rochelle Grayson, Executive-in-Residence (EiR) with New Ventures BC, is a serial entrepreneur and digital media executive with over 20 years of experience in business, technology, entertainment, and education. She has led and launched several start-ups and innovative digital media initiatives, working with a combination of both small and large companies, as well as highly analytical and creative individuals. Rochelle is equally comfortable discussing digital media business models, digital marketing trends and strategies, online community building, and internet and mobile technologies.

Rochelle has spoken at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, G-Star in Seoul, Korea, GDC San Francisco, Whistler Film Festival, and Digital Hollywood in Los Angeles and San Jose. She has also been nominated as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, been named “The New Executive Cool Hunter” by Canadian Business Magazine, been awarded one of Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40 by Business in Vancouver, and listed as one of Vancouver's Top 10 Technology Women.

Rochelle holds an MBA in Finance and Business Policy from the University of Chicago, and Six Sigma (Black Belt) Master Certifications in Product Development Management and Business Facilitation. Her career has taken her from New York to Silicon Valley and now to Vancouver, Canada.

Tina Merry is a proven expert directing and coaching diverse teams under a distributed development model. She has shipped over 25 "AAA” game titles across multiple platforms, working with globally recognized brands and organizations. She lived several years in Romania, Sweden and the UK, which provided her with unique cultural insights and experiences, enhancing her effectiveness as a global leader and coach. Tina is also a lifelong learner. To further develop her skills, she achieved a certification in 2018 as a Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Advanced Facilitator, applying this to date both professionally and for pro-bono speaking in the education sector.