Meet Our Judges

Brooke Leland
President
Mekanism

Brooke started her career as a media assistant within the Plusco network over 25 years ago and has worked her way up the ranks, surprising and delighting clients ever since.

Brooke was integral to the launch of Jungle Media in 2010 with inaugural client IKEA who she guided quickly to a Best-In-Show at the Media Innovation Awards. Brooke has been pushing her clients to innovate in the world of media, earning a reputation for her award-winning media work, partnering with such incredible clients as Post Cereals, Coca-Cola, Nike, Toyota, Telus and Capital One. 

Brooke held the GM role at Cossette Media and more recently that of President Jungle media.  She has been responsible for the overall media experience: culture, talent growth, client success and marketing efforts as well as managing the Media Planning teams. 

Recently Jungle Media has joined forces with Plusco sister agency Mekanism, a creative and digital agency where she will be President Mekanism Media Canada.  She is inspired to help build a modern mid-sized integrated agency powerhouse with bilingual and cross-border market expertise as more brands look to align breakthrough creativity and full service execution along the entire customer journey.

(Brooke is a bold and creative thinker who inspires great work that drives results. She has been nationally recognized with Media Innovation Awards for her clients. She has also seen success internationally, with Cannes Lions as well as an Effie award for work done on IKEA.)  

Brooke is on the CMDC Board leading the Young Ambassador Program as well as the Cannes Young Lions program run by the Globe and Mail for the media division and is passionate about the future of our industry. 

Maja Neable
Chief Marketing Officer
TD Bank Group

Maja Neable is the Chief Marketing Officer for Canada at TD. She is a progressive marketing leader, with a passion for building great customer experiences and driving business growth in both digital and traditional channels. She is well-recognized as an innovative, action-oriented, well-rounded business executive, with over 20 years of international experience.

Prior to TD, Maja led various marketing teams at BMO. Prior to BMO she held senior roles across the U.S., Canada, and Europe in a variety of industries, including technology (Microsoft and Expedia) and telecommunications (Rogers Communications and Telenor Group). Maja’s leadership across digital & traditional marketing, sales & service, and product development have allowed her to combine analytical and creative thinking to elevate the customer experience, with data-driven innovation across every touchpoint. As a mathematician who loves creativity, this combination of left and right brain is what has guided her career.

Maja led her teams to win over 10 CMA awards including "Best of the Best" award in 2023, and two gold Lions at Cannes Lion, considered "Oscars of Marketing". She was named as one of the Top 10 Global CMOs at 2023 Cannes Lion.

Maja is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, and chairs the DEI leadership committee for Transformation, Enablement and Customer Experience teams at TD. She sits on the Board of Soulpepper Theatre. Maja holds a B Math degree from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA from IMD, Switzerland. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons, and enjoys skiing, fitness, and reading.

Derek Bhopalsingh
EVP, Platform Media
Publicis Media

Derek Bhopalsingh is a leader in the Canadian digital marketing landscape. He calls Publicis Media Canada home, overseeing programmatic, search, social and eCommerce as EVP of Platform Media for the holding company.  With almost two decades of experience, Derek knows how to build high performing teams and how to drive excellent business outcomes for his clients.

He is also known for his work through the IAB, representing the Canadian agency community as a member of the board of directors.   He participates regularly in mentorship initiatives and is a regular speaker at industry events.

Previously, Derek has held senior roles in both agencies and holding companies - focusing on elevating digital marketing experiences, the use of data and application of analytics.  He is a product of both York University and Georgian College.

Sarah Broomfield
VP, Head of Marketing
Campbell

Since joining Campbells in 2014, Sarah has held commercial roles across both the Marketing and Sales teams and is currently the Vice President of Marketing, leading the development and execution of all retail marketing strategies and activations in Canada. She works across all categories to create and sustain streams of growth and revenue, while building marketing capabilities across the team. With 18 years of experience in the CPG industry, Sarah's previous work experience includes Marketing roles at companies such as Weight Watchers and PepsiCo.

Kathryn Brownlie
VP of Brand, Marketing & Membership
Royal Ontario Museum

Kathryn has over thirty years of experience in advertising and marketing, with the earlier part of her career spent at some of Canada’s top media companies in the role of Vice President of Advertising.

The next stage in her career has allowed her to pursue her passion for arts and culture, originally established when she graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance. As well as sitting on the Board of Directors for the National Theatre School of Canada, in 2012 she joined the Royal Ontario Museum where she leads Marketing and Promotions, Membership and Tourism for ROM in her role as Vice President, Brand, Marketing & Membership.

Bjorn Bruschke
Vice President Marketing
Desjardins

Björn is Vice-President of Marketing for Property and Casualty Insurance, Wealth Management, and Life and Health Insurance Affiliated Networks and Independent Advisors at Desjardins Group. 

Since joining the organization in 2016, he has brought deep expertise in financial services and a proven track record of developing and executing high-impact marketing strategies.

Björn leads a team of marketing leaders responsible for the strategic planning, integration, and execution of initiatives that drive measurable business results. He played a pivotal role in the successful transition of the State Farm brand under Desjardins General Insurance Group, helping elevate Desjardins Insurance from a brand laggard to a top brand leader in the Ontario insurance industry.

Throughout his tenure, Björn has consistently delivered marketing strategies that build brand preference and generate profitable growth.  A strong advocate for values-based branding, Björn believes in the power of meaningful, differentiated brand experiences. His pragmatic, data-driven approach is balanced by a deep connection to the voice of the client.

Björn is widely recognized for his inclusive leadership, strategic vision, and ability to inspire teams around a shared purpose. He holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Co-op Marketing from Brock University.

Tania Goecke
Global VP Marketing: Brands with Purpose & Global Asset Activation
Bimbo Canada

Kevin Johnson
CEO, WPP Media Canada and President, WPP
WPP Media

Kevin Johnson is the CEO of WPP Media Canada and President of WPP Canada,
leveraging over three decades of industry experience to drive growth for WPP Media
(formerly GroupM) in one of the world’s largest ad markets. A seasoned media leader
and passionate advocate for inclusion, mentorship, and equity within and outside of
advertising, he frequently speaks on the importance of top-down inclusive leadership
and creating a more welcoming industry. Kevin is a dedicated community mentor and
serves on the board of multiple organizations focused on media and social services,
including the Banff World Media Festival, Numeris, Trillium Health Partners, and Blue
Ant.

Tracey Johnson
Chief Client Officer
iProspect

Tracey is a passionate leader who cares deeply about the brands she leads, and the teams that
she works with every day.

She brings over 20 years of experience across multiple categories including retail,
automotive, travel and CPG. She believes the consumer is at the core of everything that we do,
and that data-driven solutions allow us to target audiences in a smarter, more precise and
meaningful way.

“A team is successful when they are encouraged to provide fresh thinking, build innovative
solutions, and work together collaboratively towards one common goal, in a place where
everyone is comfortable being themselves”

Her strategic thinking and consumer centric approach drives to gain a deep understanding of
her clients targets so that she can apply this to business goals and objectives.

Outside of the office Tracey enjoys spending quality time with her family, and playing badminton.

Erica Kokiw
President
PHD

Erica Kokiw is the newly appointed President of PHD Canada. With over 23 years of experience in the industry and expertise across many client categories including retail, CPG and automotive, Erica has been a proponent of transformation with a focus on advanced analytics; combining business, media and data science to answer client’s most pressing business issues. Previously, she served as EVP of Digital at UM Canada, where she led digital transformation and business growth efforts. Erica is passionate about creativity and innovation, and she looks forward to driving PHD Canada's success through collaboration, service excellence, and cutting-edge solutions.

Candida Ness
VP, Marketing
Dairy Queen

Candida Ness is the Vice President of Marketing for DQ® Canada. In her current role, she oversees marketing at the iconic Dairy Queen brand including branding, menu strategy, promotions, media digital marketing and advertising.  Candida began her career in media and has held senior marketing positions across various sectors including retail, technology, and packaged goods.

Jacquie Ryan
Chief Brand and Commercial Officer
Canadian Olympic Committee

Jacquie Ryan is the Chief Brand and Commercial Officer at the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, where she oversees all commercial operations, including revenue growth, brand strategy, partnerships, digital, and sustainability. Since joining the COC in 2019, she has led transformative initiatives such as the launch of the Team Canada app, the Team Canada Impact Agenda, award winning brand campaigns, and the re-set of the Canadian Olympic Foundation business, while also securing landmark national partnerships with lululemon, Bell, Canadian Tire, and RBC.

With over two decades of leadership in brand, sponsorship, and sport marketing, Jacquie previously served as Vice President, Sponsorship and Partnerships at Scotiabank, where she led the historic $800 million Scotiabank Arena naming rights deal and oversaw acclaimed hockey marketing programs. Prior to that, she was Head of Olympic Marketing at RBC, where she and her team delivered the highly successful Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games marketing program.

Jacquie has been widely recognized for her influence in sport and marketing. She has been named to the Top 100 People of Power in Hockey by The Hockey News, one of the Most Influential Women in Hockey by the Toronto Star, and among the Most Influential People in Canadian Sport by Yahoo! Sports. In recent years, she was named one of Bay Street Bull’s Women of the Year (2021), a Sports Business Journal Game Changer (2023), and the Canadian Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year (2024).

Jacquie currently serves on the Board of the Canadian Marketing Association and is a previous Board Director with the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation.

Scott Stewart
EVP, Managing Director
Epitaph

Scott Stewart is a senior media executive with extensive experience at some of the world’s largest global networks and leading independent agencies. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Managing Director at Epitaph Group, one of Canada’s largest independent media agencies.

Over the course of his career, Scott has held senior strategy and executive roles across global, North American, and national teams, consistently driving growth and innovation for a broad portfolio of clients. His leadership has helped teams earn accolades at prestigious industry events, including the Cannes Lions, Festival of Media Global, Canadian Marketing Awards, and Media Innovation Awards.

An active contributor to the industry, Scott has served on several boards and advisory committees, including the Canadian Marketing Association’s Ethics & Standards Committee, Media, and Sponsorship Councils, the Canadian Out-of-Home Marketing & Measurement Bureau (COMMB), and the Media Innovation Awards Advisory Board.

A proud graduate of the University of Toronto, Scott continues to champion excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership in Canada’s media and marketing landscape.

Karel Wegert
CEO
Media Experts

As CEO of Media Experts, Karel is responsible for leading the agency and its clients into the next frontier of media solutions. An insightful leader with over twenty years of experience in digital media and an extensive agency background, Karel has an impressive track record for evolving advanced business solutions and delivering high-yield results for some of Canada's most successful brands. Karel has been part of the IPG family since 2007 when he joined Media Expert's burgeoning digital division. During his 15-year tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the agency as a digital innovator. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Media Experts in 2023, Karel served as President of Kinesso Canada, IPG's connected intelligence company, overseeing Matterkind and driving lifetime customer value through addressable activation.

Cobi Zhang
VP, Media Investment and Activation
Horizon Media

Cobi brings over 20 years of media investment and strategic planning experience to his role as VP, Investment & Activation at Horizon Media Canada. He leads the investment practice on key clients such as SharkNinja, Felix, Poshmark and Alberta Blue Cross. His expertise spans across all media channels and multiple business categories such as auto, entertainment, retail, travel and not-for-profit.

Cobi started his career in media investment where he built a strong foundation of knowledge on the Canadian media market. He is known for his expertise in the entertainment sector, having serviced multiple clients in this category such as Warner Bros. Entertainment, HBO, Sony Pictures, Elevation Pictures and CBS All Access. He has gained a reputation as a fierce and fair negotiator, and he has earned the trust and respect of his clients, peers and media partners.

Cobi is passionate about building brands, finding solutions and making a difference for his clients. He is also a great mentor who maintains a sharp focus on promoting growth within his team. Cobi is also a vocal advocate for DEI.