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Bio

JoAnne Fishburn has worked in media for 20+ years with a background in feature film production as well as documentary filmmaking. For the last 10 years her work has been focused in the area of impact producing and developing social impact initiatives centred around using the power of media to drive social change. As an impact producer she has built campaigns and strategic partnerships with organizations including RBC Foundation, Inspirit Foundation, Google, AARP. In 2007, as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, she worked with community groups and members from Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory to launch the Indigenous 150+ film and conversation series focused on celebrating Indigenous voices. In 2020, this work grew to include the development of a media training programme for First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth to celebrate Indigenous voices and help build pathways for Indigenous creatives to work in media. JoAnne’s journey into the impact producing world started at the inaugural Good Pitch and has been involved as a consultant, strategist, or impact producer on various film campaigns including: Pig Business, Driving With Selvi, Cyber-Seniors, The Messenger/Songbird SOS, and Data Mining the Deceased. She has also developed and taught workshops and been involved with panel discussions about impact producing. JoAnne was born on the Treaty territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. As an adult she had the opportunity to live and work in the UK for 9 years, where she gained experience in film financing, international co-productions and was first introduced to the field of impact producing. She recently moved to Hamilton, the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas.