TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Brian Topp, Executive Director of ACTRA Toronto since 2001, has announced he is stepping down from his post and assuming a Senior Advisory role. Sue Milling, recently Director of the Independent Production and Broadcast Department at ACTRA Toronto, has been appointed by General Council to fill his position.
Reflecting on leaving ACTRA Toronto in a position of strength, Topp said, "ACTRA Toronto is a well-respected union. Our industry is flourishing. Our public policy agenda (fundamentally about respecting artists, and seeing Canadian content on Canadian screens) is making good progress. Our members are proud of our union and its work - 99 per cent of them just voted 'yes' to our most recently negotiated agreement." Mr. Topp was involved in a total of seven rounds of negotiating key agreements for the union and will continue to advise on ACTRA Toronto's relationship with Creative Arts Savings and Credit Union, FilmOntario and other significant files.
Sue Milling has over 20 years of experience with the United Steelworkers and is happy to be working again with ACTRA. "I am very grateful for the confidence and trust of ACTRA Toronto Council. Together with the fine team of Managers and staff at ACTRA Toronto, I look forward to working with President Sparrow and Council in the days ahead. We have an ambitious agenda but I have no doubt that together we will meet our objectives, and then some - as we always do."
The change of guard was a first challenge for new President, David Sparrow. "I was just days into my Presidency when Brian announced his vision for change and renewal in the Executive Director's office. Brian has brought ACTRA Toronto through exponential growth, so I was sorry to see him leave. However, I am thrilled that Sue Milling has agreed to succeed him. I couldn't feel more confident about our future. Sue has been instrumental in areas of inclusion, gender equality, youth development, training and more. She is a collegial yet tough negotiator and politically astute. We're lucky to have her and I look forward to our continuing but new relationship."
ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada's 22,000 professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.
Image with caption: "Sue Milling, Executive Director, ACTRA Toronto (CNW Group/ACTRA Toronto)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130207_C4022_PHOTO_EN_23429.jpg
SOURCE: ACTRA Toronto
Karen Woolridge
Public Relations Officer
ACTRA Toronto
P: 416.642.6710
E: [email protected]
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