The National Media Awards Foundation is thrilled to introduce the 2025 National Magazine Awards: B2B jury. This group of judges volunteered their time and expertise to evaluate hundreds of entries submitted by Canadian trade, professional, and association magazines. From everyone at the NMAF and all who submitted entries this year, thank you!
Our Jury
Lauren Bailey
Lauren Bailey has worked in publishing for more than a decade. She is currently an associate editor at Benefits Canada and its sister publication, the Canadian Investment Review, where she writes articles focused on human resources, benefits, pension and institutional investments.
Rick Boychuk
Rick Boychuk has worked as a newspaper reporter (Edmonton Journal and Montreal Gazette), a magazine writer and a magazine editor-in-chief (Ottawa Business, Canadian Geographic). He is the author of two non-fiction books (Honour Thy Mother, published by Penguin; River of Grit, published by Duval House). He is the recipient of a Gold National Magazine Award for Investigative Reporting and, during his years as as editor of Canadian Geographic, the magazine was nominated for 67 Magazine Awards and won nine gold and four silver awards. In 2001, Canadian Geographic was named Magazine of the Year by the National Magazine Awards Foundation.
Solana Cain
Solana Cain is a Photo Editor and Researcher with The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper. Prior to The Globe, Solana worked for Getty Images, HELLO! Canada and Maclean’s. She holds a diploma in photojournalism from Loyalist College and a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University. Solana is a founding member of the BIPOC photojournalism mentorship program, Room Up Front. She is passionate about ensuring diversity and inclusion behind the lens in news coverage. She was born and raised in Toronto.
Anne-Sophie Carpentier
Anne-Sophie Carpentier is a podcast producer from Montreal. Since 2014, her work is centered around story structure, narrative storytelling and immersive sound design.
She is the award-winning creator and podcast producer for the Bureau d’enquête de Québecor true crimes series (Québecor Media investigation bureau): Narcos PQ, Par pure vengeance, Le Casanova de Montréal and recently Le ripou des Hells (Winner 2024 at the Numix awards and the Digital Publishing Awards).She created the teenage show Passé date? about Quebec and Canadian history, which won a Numix award in 2022. The same year, her series Garde-manger, about the hidden stories behind the food we eat, was nominated at the Digital Publishing Awards.
Anne-Sophie has produced, edited and pitched on more than fifty audio projects. She is a former producer at Quebecor. Previously, she worked as a podcast producer for Radio-Canada-CBC. She has a degree in Theatre Studies, a Certificate in Journalism and attended the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.
Claire Cooper
Claire Cooper has worked in print and digital publishing for twenty years. She got her start at Toronto Life magazine, then spent many years specializing in custom content—as both a writer and editor—for brands such as Sobeys, CAA, and CPA Canada. She is the managing editor at The Walrus.
Diana Duong
Diana Duong is an advisor at the Canadian Medical Association. Previously, she worked at CMAJ, Canada’s premier medical journal, and her work as appeared in Chatelaine, Maclean’s, National Post, among others.
Robert Gerlsbeck
Robert Gerlsbeck is an editorial consultant and journalist. He has held senior editorial positions at magazines such as Marketing, MoneySense and Canadian Grocer. He was previously the managing editor at Smith Business Insight at Queen’s University and has written for many newspapers and magazines, including the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and Today’s Parent. He started his career as a daily newspaper reporter at the Oshawa Times.
Abi Hayward
Abi Hayward is an award-winning journalist and Canadian Geographic’s senior editor. Originally from Yorkshire, England, she’s now based in Ottawa (on the banks of the Kichi Sibi) and enjoys collaborating with colleagues, editors, writers, cartographers, photographers, illustrators and knowledge keepers as part of her role at Canadian Geographic.
Jacqueline Kovacs
During her more than 30 years of experience in the magazine industry, Jacqueline Kovacs has held editorial leadership roles at such titles as Today’s Parent, Professionally Speaking, and CAA Magazine. She is currently Editorial Director of Canada’s History magazine.
Elsa Lam
Elsa Lam is the editor of Canadian Architect magazine. She trained in architecture at the University of Waterloo, obtained her post-professional Master of Architecture from McGill, and completed her PhD in Architectural History and Theory at Columbia University in New York City. She is the co-editor of the book Canadian Modern Architecture, 1967 to the Present. Lam is a Fellow of the RAIC and an Honorary Member of the OAA. Lam received the National Magazine Awards’ 2024 B2B Leadership Award, and Canadian Architect was named Best Publisher in the 2020 National Magazine Awards:B2B.
Wayne Leek
28+ years in publishing, from TV Guide, Toronto Life & Shift to leading Food & Drink for more than two decades. Industry supporter with CMC and NMAF judging and still believes in the power and importance of telling Canadian stories.
Karen Lorimer
Karen’s career in B2B media started at a five-person magazine as an ad sales rep, followed by a move to Southam Communications and later to Dovetail Communications as Director and VP Sales and Marketing. She was also part of the original team that launched the Media Advertising Sales program at Humber College.Later, Karen moved to CLB Media as Director/Group Publisher where she led the launch of media products for the legal profession. When the group was acquired by Thomson Reuters, Karen led the Media Solutions Division which included media products for legal, health & safety and HR professionals. She founded Karen Lorimer Solutions in 2019, focusing on media sales training and coaching. In 2020, she was thrilled to receive the National Media Awards Foundation’s 2020 B2B Leadership Award.
Marco Chown Oved
Marco Chown Oved writes about climate change for the Star with a focus on solutions and the people building a low-carbon world.
He also occasionally covers terrorism and international conflict, and has reported to the Star’s Foreign Desk from a dozen countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Europe.
Previously, Oved was part of the Investigations Team where he wrote about corruption, tax havens, medical scams and money laundering. He is a frequent collaborator with international partners on global investigative projects, including The Panama Papers, The Paradise Papers and The Cartel Project, which received some of the world’s most prestigious media accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize and Polk Award. In Canada, his work has been recognized with two National Newspaper Awards, a CAJ Award and a Citation of Merit at the Governor General’s Michener Awards.
Before joining the Star, Oved was a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and worked for Radio France Internationale in Paris.
Fernanda Pisani
A graduate of the Central Technical School art program and OCAD Fernanda Pisani has a rewarding career in the magazine and book publishing field. She has been on the masthead of Report on Business Magazine, U of T Magazine and The Medical Post.
Kyle Schruder
Kyle has a background in editorial design, creating publications for the University of Toronto, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and Opera Canada. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Registered Graphic Designers Association.
John G. Smith
John G. Smith is an award-winning journalist with 35 years of experience in publishing and corporate environments. He is currently Vice-President – Content and Design at Newcom Media, Canada’s leading B2B publisher and trade show producer.
Andrew Snook
Andrew Snook has been working as a professional writer and editor for more than 15 years. His business writing has won him a combined nine national and international awards. In 2023, he launched his first magazine, Canadian Independent Publishers.
Joe Thompson
Joe Thompson has been covering the Canadian manufacturing sector for more than two decades. He is responsible for the day-to-day editorial direction of Canadian Metalworking magazine, providing a uniquely Canadian look at the world of metal manufacturing. An award-winning writer and graduate of the Sheridan College journalism program, he has published articles worldwide in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical, infrastructure, and entertainment.
Hannah Trumper
Hannah Trumper is the Director of Audience Development at Newcom Media with 10+ years experience in marketing, circulation and audience development (previous stints include TC Media and AZURE).
Caitlin Walsh Miller
Caitlin Walsh Miller is a Montreal-based freelance feature writer and editor. Prior to going solo, she was a senior editor at Air Canada enRoute magazine.
Karine Bénézet
Karine est journaliste et cheffe de pupitre à L’Itinéraire. Finaliste au prix Judith-Jasmin 2022, c’est un peu par hasard, mais guidée par son goût prononcé pour l’information et l’écriture, qu’elle reprend des études supérieures en communication à son arrivée au Québec, avant de se propulser professionnellement dans le milieu journalistique, en 2016. Un milieu qui n’a par ailleurs jamais été très éloigné d’elle puisqu’en France, Karine était chargée de projets dans un réseau national d’information jeunesse. Aujourd’hui, elle continue d’évoluer comme journaliste au sein d’une équipe de rédaction qui place l’humain au cœur de ses publications.
Nithya Caleb
Nithya Caleb is a senior editor with over 15 years of journalism experience in three different countries. She is skilled in various areas of communication and content creation.
Sherene Chen-See
Sherene is the managing editor of the Canadian Psychological Association’s flagship magazine, Psynopsis, and managing editor of the Canadian Pharmacists Journal. She has also written for National Post and a variety of other well-known publications.
Brandi Cowen
Brandi Cowen is the editor of OHS Canada and Talent Canada. A storyteller at heart, Brandi has nearly a decade of experience in business-to-business media and holds a Master of Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia.
Camille Dundas
Camille Dundas is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the award-winning online magazine ByBlacks.com. She is also the founder of the IDEA Practice, where she leads as a diversity, equity, and inclusion educator dedicated to transforming workplaces through scenario-based learning.
In 2022, Camille created Canada’s first corporate, online micro-credential in workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion, accredited through Dalhousie University. Close to 1,000 people have enrolled in her Inclusive Communications course.
Deanne Gage
Deanne Gage is a reporter for Globe Advisor at The Globe and Mail. She has specialized in money issues for more than two decades.
She is the former editor of FORUM and Advisor’s Edge magazines and has been the recipient of several business journalism awards during her tenure.
She was the Toronto Star‘s Money Makeover columnist for five years. Her articles have also appeared in Chatelaine, MoneySense, and Today’s Parent.
Janet Gyenes
Janet Gyenes is a writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, Smithsonian, CBC, and USA Today. She’s also author of the book, Vancouver Cocktails (2023). Gyenes is a 2024 NMA:B2B recipient, winning Silver for Best Company Profile.
Alisha Hiyate
Alisha Hiyate is a Toronto-based writer and editor who has worked in the B2B space for nearly 20 years. She joined Newcom Media as managing editor of Investment Executive and Advisor.ca last year. Before that, she led the editorial team at The Northern Miner, a 110-year-old publication dedicated to covering mining and mineral exploration.
Jessica Kirby
Jessica Kirby is editor in chief for Point One Media, a Vancouver Island-based construction trade publisher established in 1996. Over 17 years with the company, she has served the forestry, wall and ceiling, powersport, solid waste & recycling, sheet metal and mechanical insulation industries in North America. She also is a project manager and content writer for B2B sponsored content at Canada Wide Media. Jessica has over 30 years’ experience working with writers and developing print and digital content for these sectors. She lives on Vancouver Island.
Benoîte Labrosse
Benoîte Labrosse est journaliste depuis près de 20 ans. Cette généraliste montréalaise a touché autant au patrimoine, à la politique municipale et aux PME qu’à la géopolitique africaine et à l’architecture. Elle a été administratrice de la Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec durant neuf ans. Après une décennie à la pige (Les Affaires, Finance et Investissement, Esquisses, etc.), elle est maintenant responsable de la section Loisirs et famille au magazine Protégez-Vous.
Leata Lekushoff
Leata Lekushoff is a Toronto-based digital strategist who shapes brands and drives engagement across industries, from startups to financial institutions. She blends a deep understanding of brand strategy with extensive experience in product development, user experience, and creative leadership. An award-winning writer and editor, Leata develops digital content and strategies that resonate with audiences and deliver results.
Paul McLaughlin
Paul McLaughlin is a veteran freelance writer, broadcaster, interviewing coach and playwright.
Anna Minzhulina
Anna Minzhulina is an acclaimed editorial art director known for her print and digital work with prominent Canadian publications such as Maisonneuve, Experience, and Maclean’s. With nearly 20 years of experience, she is known for her artistic talent, strategic thinking, and visionary storytelling that captivates and inspires. She has conceptualized, redesigned, and managed various magazines, editorial brands, and social media campaigns, with all three magazines recognized as the Best Magazine at some point.
Candice Pinault Novak
Candice Pinault Novak is the editor of UMass Magazine (circulation 350,000)—published twice per year and continuously online. She has worked at newspapers and magazines in the U.S. and Europe, and has led editorial teams for more than a decade. Under her editorship, UMass Magazine has received several national and international publishing awards.
Robert Price
Robert Price is a lecturer at the University of Toronto Mississauga. He was Senior Writer at Canadian Retailer and managing editor of several B2B publications. He has been nominated for CBN Awards for editorial and feature writing.
Serena Renner
Serena Renner is a journalist and editor with an eye on climate solutions, Indigenous sovereignty, and the coast. She’s written for dozens of publications, including Outside, Reader’s Digest Canada, Sierra, The Tyee, and The Guardian, and worked as an associate producer at the CBC’s only climate change show, What On Earth. Her feature “A River Runs Above Us” in Hakai Magazine—where she worked as an editor for two years—won gold for the National Magazine Awards’ Long-Form Feature Writing and the Digital Publishing Awards’ Best Topical Reporting: Climate Change. The piece also took home gold in the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards’ In-Depth category. This is Serena’s first year as an NMA judge.
Colleen Seto
As a longtime freelance writer and editor, Colleen Seto pounds out prose for national and regional publications. She’s currently working as Executive Editor for Avenue Calgary and RedPoint Media’s Content Studio. Prior to that, she was a branded content editor for SJC Media, publisher of Maclean’s, Chatelaine and more. She’s also the former executive director of the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association.
Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton is the editor of Annex Business Media’s security portfolio, including SP&T News, Canadian Security and Sécurité Québec. Neil currently oversees the editorial direction for all three brands, managing print publications, websites, events, social media, award programs, video content and podcasts. Neil has covered the security industry for more than 15 years and has also volunteered with several security associations, including the Canadian Security Association (CANASA) and the Canadian Security Lifesaver Association, where he currently serves as a board member. Neil also holds an MA in journalism from Western University.
Michael Tong
Based in Toronto, Michael is the senior art director at Spafax, a global content marketing and media sales agency. He has worked on multimedia projects for a variety of luxury and lifestyle clients including Air Canada, Bombardier, Fairmont, Birks, Lindt, Hudson’s Bay, Interac, Ford and Corby Spirit & Wine. A cross-platform creative, Michael brings his interests in food, art, and travel to life through editorial and digital design.
Prasanthi Vasanthakumar
Prasanthi Vasanthakumar is an NMA award-winning business writer who has worked in magazines and communications for 20+ years. Her bylined and ghostwritten stories have appeared in Huffington Post, Financial Post, Toronto Life and Director Journal.
Suzanne (Sue) Bowness
Suzanne (Sue) Bowness is a writer, editor and consultant. She has written for publications from The Globe and Mail to University Affairs. She provides content creation and strategy through her business CodeWord Communications (www.codeword.ca).
Cassandre Cadieux
Cassandre is the Managing Editor of 3 Magazine and Pivot Magazine and the Executive Editor of Branded & Custom Content at SJC. She brings over a decade of experience delivering award-winning storytelling across Canada’s top B2B and consumer brands.
Scott Carmichael
Scott is an Edmonton-based illustrator, concept artist, and arts educator. He spent the early part of his career in the video game industry, art-directing titles that have won awards including: “Best Gaming Experience” and “Best Character Design.” Scott enjoys mixing the old with the new, and updating the ways that rural and urban communities are visually represented. His illustration work has been recognized by the NMA: B2B and nominated for multiple Alberta Magazine Awards. Scott teaches illustration and is constantly inspired by his students and the imaginative stories they create.
Gail Cohen
Award-winning journalist Gail Cohen has 30 years of experience in daily and business news, primarily in the legal sector. She currently serves as an editor with Reuters professional news team and Canada Correspondent for Law.com International, while also providing strategic communications consulting to non-profits. In 2017, Gail became the first journalist in residence at Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School, focusing on LGBTQ equality rights in Canada.
Previously, Gail was editor-in-chief for leading Canadian legal publications, including Canadian Lawyer and Law Times. Her work has earned numerous journalism and design awards, including KRW and Jesse H. Neal awards. In 2017, she launched Run Little Monkey, a bamboo-based activewear line for women, and participated in York University’s ELLA business accelerator and Georgian College’s Further, Faster Business Training Program.
Anna-Christina Di Liberto
Anna-Christina Di Liberto is the Director of Newcom Media’s Content Solutions team. Newcom Media is Canada’s premier B2B publisher delivering information and marketing services to a variety of industries through magazines, websites, and trade shows.
Nicola Hamilton
Nicola Hamilton RGD (she/her) is an award-winning editorial designer based in Toronto, Canada. For over a decade now she’s been art directing and designing magazines. She’s worked on publications like The Grid, Chatelaine, The University of Toronto Magazine, Best Health, Precedent, and Serviette to name a few. Nicola is the President of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), where she advocates for the value of design. In July 2022, Nicola took her love of magazines to a whole new level by opening Issues Magazine Shop, a bricks-and-mortar magazine retailer with a mandate to celebrate the people and projects keeping print alive.
Wade Hudson
Wade Hudson specializes in portraiture. He celebrates his subjects’ joy and captures their vulnerability in an intimate fashion. The highly approachable Wade brings out the playful side of personalities — whether they’re everyday people, models or celebrities. In addition to his commercial work, he also specializes in fashion and beauty. Wade is a virtuoso of lighting technique, inside and outside the studio. He brilliantly illuminates a person’s complexion, bringing out the best in each of his subjects, in any environment. He describes his work as “honest and personal.” His clients describe it as “flawless.”
Kim Larson
Kim Larson is an experienced award-winning art director and designer whose career has been characterized by a combination of versatility and creativity. She’s the art director of EDIFY magazine. Kim has been the art director of AVENUE (Edmonton), Eighteen Bridges, LEAP (Alberta Cancer Foundation), Alberta Venture, and Alberta Oil magazines.
Danielle Labrie
Danielle has been an omni-channel media professional for 20 years, starting in B2C prior to moving into B2B media with Annex Business Media in 2010. She began her career at Annex tackling the company’s toughest markets, working with her teammates to create must-have industry projects and events. As a sales manager and publisher, Danielle launched several new media brands and events.
Danielle is currently a Group Publisher and Director, leading the company’s Construction Group and moving Annex into the future as a key member of the executive team. As part of those duties, she’s a co-lead on a project to re-imagine the company’s sector-leading digital footprint and leading the charge to find Annex’s next gen of CRM solution and process automation. Danielle is a natural coach, helping Annex’s next-gen grow their role in the industry. She has spoken at B2B industry events and hosted webinars on B2B sales among other topics.
Kim Latreille
Kim Latreille is an award-winning print and digital magazine publisher and producer currently working on University Affairs/Affaires universitaires magazine with Universities Canada, and CAA magazine and Sotheby’s Insight with Finally Content.
Colin Leslie
Colin Leslie is a journalist in Toronto who has worked at The Medical Post for 28 years including the last 15 as editor-in-chief. He’s won gold and silver National Magazine Awards: B2B and before that a number of Kenneth R. Wilson Awards. Colin brings a fun and engaging approach to leading editorial teams and team members have also won North America-wide Eddie and Ozzie Awards.
The Medical Post is a six-times a year magazine for Canada’s doctors with a 60-year history. It’s also a digital news site via its online portal the Canadian Healthcare Network and its well-read Doctor Daily newsletter. Additionally, the brand puts out the annual Medical Post Awards recognizing Canadian physicians.
Colin dives into a wide range of topics that matter to Canadian doctors, from physician health policy to the latest on AI scribes and tips for managing patient sick note requests. He is also the president of board of the National Media Awards Foundation which since 1977 has promoted and honoured excellence in journalism, writing and visual creation in the Canadian magazine industry. The foundation puts on three different awards programs and annual shows: the National Magazine Awards, Digital Publishing Awards and the National Magazine
Awards: B2B.
In his downtime, he’s an avid reader, active in a book club, and even tried his hand at novel writing—before deciding his true passion lies in journalism! He’s also been a volunteer member of a Rainbow Railroad settlement team that brought a LGBTQI+ people facing violence and oppression in their home countries to Canada as refugees.
Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed
Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed is a trailblazing force in the world of media and diversity. As an award-winning television journalist, she has broken barriers and redefined representation in Quebec. She made history as the first woman to wear the hijab on Quebec television as a video journalist for CityNews Montreal and as the first to appear in hijab on a Quebec billboard.
Fariha is also the founder and editor-in-chief of CanadianMomEh™, Canada’s leading diversity blog. Recognized as one of the country’s foremost diversity experts, she hosts the acclaimed “DiverseCity” segment on CityNews Montreal. A PR specialist, social media influencer, and sought-after keynote speaker, Fariha continues to elevate conversations around inclusion and representation.
Glynis Ratcliffe
Glynis Ratcliffe is the managing editor at ALLCAPS Content, an award-winning, journalist-led agency that helps companies create editorial-style content. During her four-year tenure, she has overseen the creation of multiple magazines and digital campaigns for hospitals and other healthcare and financial organizations. A long-time journalist, Glynis’s work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Washington Post and Chatelaine, and her branded content is regularly featured in The Walrus.
Emily Rivas
Emily Rivas is a Toronto based writer, editor, producer and marketer with a decade of experience in magazine publishing. Her work has appeared in Today’s Parent, Chatelaine, FLARE, This Magazine, National Post, Destination Toronto and more. She is currently the managing editor at CAA Magazine and AMA Insider.
Nikki Simpson
Passionate about magazines and publishing, Nikki has worked in the industry since 2006 and founded the International Magazine Centre in 2018. The International Magazine Centre supports small businesses working in magazine publishing through events, training, mentoring and more. She is also Operations Director for the international magazine media association, FIPP. Previously Nikki ran the Scottish arm of the magazine trade association PPA; worked at political magazine publishers Holyrood Communications as their Marketing Manager; and at content marketing company White Light Media as their Business Manager. She has also held roles with the Institute of Internal Communication Scotland, Scottish Print Employers Federation, Scottish Newspaper Publishers Association and the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society. LinkedIn
Emma Tarswell
Emma Tarswell is a versatile designer specializing in corporate communications and editorial design. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Emma crafts captivating design that seamlessly tells compelling stories across mediums.
Pierre-Luc Trudel
Pierre-Luc Trudel est depuis 2020 le rédacteur en chef d’Avantages, magazine financier auquel il s’est joint en 2014 à titre de rédacteur adjoint. Il se spécialise dans les domaines des régimes de retraite, des avantages sociaux, de la santé au travail, des ressources humaines et de l’investissement institutionnel. Il a également collaboré au magazine Conseiller et au journal Les Affaires. Trois de ses articles ont déjà été en nomination aux Prix du magazine canadien : B2B, et il a obtenu en 2021 une mention d’excellence dans le cadre des prix En-Tête pour le reportage en santé mentale au travail.
Tanya Watt
Tanya Watt is an award-winning creative director with 30+ years producing innovative content across various platforms. She has helped define the visual identity of many iconic Canadian magazines: FLARE, Weddingbells, enRoute and most recently Zoomer.