Appointee Biographies

SIMON FOSTER

Simon Foster was appointed to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) board of directors on March 31, 2023. Based in Toronto, he is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Chatter Research, a customer feedback software platform he created in 2016. Prior to this, Simon spent five years with Blue Ant Media, as senior vice president of digital and corporate development. Simon is the co-founder and chair of the Framework Foundation, a charity that promotes civic engagement of Canadians aged 22 to 35 through volunteerism. The Framework Foundation has invested almost $1 million into the careers of emerging artists. From 2007 to 2012, Simon served on the board of Canada’s National Ballet School. In 2011 he was the recipient of Business / Arts' Arnold Edinborough Award, recognizing an individual under 40 for exceptional leadership and volunteerism in the arts. Simon is a graduate of Queen’s University and has a master’s degree in political economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

DANIELLE PETERS

Danielle Peters is the President of Magnet Strategy Group, a public affairs consulting practice with a presence in Toronto and Washington, D.C. Dani’s community involvement includes serving as Co-Founder of Cross-Border Health, a US based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering Canada-US dialogue on common priorities in health, a Health Leader-in-Residence for the World Health Innovation Network (WIN) within the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business, and Co-Chair of the Women in Politics Mentorship Program through the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC). She serves on the Industry Advisory Board for Bloom Burton & Co., a healthcare investment advisory firm in Toronto. A life-long lover of the arts, Dani studied both music and dance in her youth and regularly attends theatre performances throughout the year. She and her husband actively encourage her young children in their arts activities.

MARY MEFFE

is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Municipality Property Assessment Corporation. Her community involvement includes serving as an Accounting Instructor for Seneca College.

SIMON FOSTER

Simon Foster is CEO & Founder of Chatter Research, an AI powered customer feedback solution. Chatter Research works with Fortune 5000 retailers to provide previously unknown consumer data, by talking to shoppers in a completely new way. Conversational surveys capture rich quantitative and qualitative feedback in real-time. Prior to founding Chatter Research, Simon was SVP of Digital & Corporate Development at Blue Ant Media, in charge of building a fast growth digital business in the US & Canada. At QuickPlay he launched the first worldwide audio and video podcasting service on BlackBerry, as well as the launch of Sirius XM on mobile in the US. Simon is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Queen’s University and is the Co-Founder and Chairman of The Framework Foundation/ Timeraiser. He was recognized as Humanitarian of the Year from Queen’s University and received the Arnold Edinborough leadership award from Business for the Arts. Prior to founding Chatter Research, Simon was SVP of Digital & Corporate Development at Blue Ant Media, in charge of building a fast growth digital business in the US & Canada. At QuickPlay he launched the first worldwide audio and video podcasting service on BlackBerry, as well as the launch of Sirius XM on mobile in the US. Simon is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Queen’s University and is the Co-Founder and Chairman of The Framework Foundation/ Timeraiser. He was recognized as Humanitarian of the Year from Queen’s University and received the Arnold Edinborough leadership award from Business for the Arts.

LILLY OBINA

Lilly Obina is a graduate of Dalhousie University with master’s in business administration (MBA) and a certified Project Management Professional. She has over 17 years managing large mission critical multi-million-dollar diverse projects in varied global industries Ms. Obina currently works as a Senior Project Executive providing oversight for a $253 Million Passport Program for Immigration Refugee & Citizenship Canada (IRCC). She has worked in several senior management positions; Director of Operations, Director of Delivery, Senior Program Manager, Project Manager and as an Instructor. She is a former Board of Director for Black Women Civic Engagement Network (BWCEN). Ms. Obina was a Recipient of the 2014 Global Community Alliance Community Builder Award and Top 100 Black Canadian Role Model Awards in 2015. She has excellent ability to deal with public demonstrated by her run for City Council in 2010 and 2014 and placed second.

TWEE BROWN

Twee Brown is a dynamic leader known for her diverse roles in business, philanthropy, and community service. Since 2013, she has been pivotal at the London Health Sciences Foundation, now as Board Chair and head of the Alternative Sources of Revenue Committee. Additionally, she chairs the McCormick Care Group Foundation, driving dementia care and research initiatives. As CEO of High Point Development overseeing $500M+ projects, President of Ben Thanh Restaurant chain, and President and CEO of Trident Property Management, her strategic acumen shines. With almost two decades of community service, mentoring entrepreneurs, and honors like 'Quantum Shift,' Twee's impact is profound. Her successful management of the Ed Holder Mayoral campaign in 2018 further underscores her leadership. Holding a Sociology degree from Western University, Twee resides in London, Ontario, with her family, leaving a lasting impression across various domains.

NANCY JAIN

Nancy Jain, P.Eng.,MBA,MA Nancy believes that art and culture are an integral part of a healthy business community. With over 25 years of Canadian & international work experience in real estate development, corporate strategy and business re-engineering, Nancy is passionate about supporting the arts, environment, and social concerns. Most recently, she helped secure court space for the Ontario Para Network athletes during the pandemic and launched subsidized studios and gallery for low-income artists in Toronto East, SUNRISE Studios|GALLERY106. Nancy has served on several non-profit boards and was Adjunct Professor at OCAD U where she co-developed strategic academic plan, the Interdisciplinary Business Studio, and developed/taught Design Management course. Nancy holds degrees in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto, an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, and an MA in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art (University of Manchester) London, UK.