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Meet our leadership team
Here are some of the CMA staff members that work to support Canada’s museums.
Janis Kahentóktha Monture
Executive Director & CEO
Janis Kahentóktha Monture is a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is an experienced, well-rounded and knowledgeable professional with nearly 20-years' experience leading successful organizations, prioritizing healthy relationship building and promoting equity and transparency.
Janis previously served as Executive Director of Woodland Cultural Centre for over 20 years and two terms. In that role, she lobbied for funding of the restoration of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School from 2015-2017 with both federal and provincial governments and oversaw a successful capital fundraising campaign budget in excess of $20 million.
She has also served a number of other community initiatives, including steering committee member for the Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures, of the Arts & Culture Advisory Council for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Para Pan American Games as well as for two 18-month periods on secondment to Harbourfront Centre as the Guest Artistic Director of Planet Indigenous.
Janis earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Western Ontario and a Museum Studies diploma from Algonquin College.
She continues to volunteer in her community at Six Nations and in Brantford through organizations such as Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Brant Community Foundation, BIPOC Fellowship and the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation. In April 2022, Janis received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by the Governor General of Canada
Ken Blonski, MBA, CPA, CMA
Director, Finance and Administration
Ken Blonski is an accomplished and results-oriented financial executive. His leadership style is service-oriented, with a focus on protecting people and advancing organizations with creativity and standardization.
Ken's previous experience is in public and not-for-profit sectors in Ottawa, and previously Yellowknife and Edmonton. He is focused on building, extending and maintaining financial systems, corporate services and processes that provide operational efficiency and budget predictability, all in support of an organization's core mandate and strategy.
Ken oversees financial and operational processes for the CMA and supports all departments. He also works with the Young Canada Works management team to deliver millions in funds to Canada’s museums annually to support the hiring of young professionals.
In his spare time, Ken gardens hydroponically and volunteers as Treasurer for the Natural Step Canada and for the Patterson Point Parkland Association.
Rebecca MacKenzie
Director, Communications
Rebecca MacKenzie is a communications and design professional of Metis, Scottish and Acadian descent. She has a human centered and collaborative leadership style, preferring peership over hierarchy. Rebecca’s previous experience is in the private and museum sectors, always with a focus on cultural heritage and communications.
Rebecca has been with the CMA since 2018 in increasingly demanding roles and oversees product and guidance development for the CMA. She works with her team to deliver the National Conference, Muse magazine, and other CMA reports and communications. She is also a co-author of the CMA’s recently released Moved to Action report, a response to TRC Call to Action #67.
On a personal level, Rebecca is mom to an intrepid preschooler, enjoys collage art and listening to one song on repeat until it loses all value. She is also a dedicated museum visitor outside of her day job.
Stephanie Danyluk
Senior Manager, Community Engagement
Stephanie Danyluk is a public historian and researcher with extensive experience in community engagement supporting Indigenous heritage and governance initiatives. At the CMA, Stephanie works with colleagues and partners to develop and lead projects related to reconciliation and UNDRIP implementation in the museum sector, leads engagement with the museum community in relation to these initiatives, as well as leads delivery of the CMA National Conference. She is also a co-author of the CMA’s recently released Moved to Action report, a response to TRC Call to Action #67.
Her experience includes history, policy and community-based research and community engagement in support of Indigenous history, language, and culture initiatives as well as treaty, land claims and self-government negotiations. Stephanie has a Master of Arts in History from the University of Saskatchewan.
Outside of work, Stephanie is often searching out local historical mysteries in her home province of Saskatchewan or plotting ways to be outdoors.
Dnyanesh Kamat
Senior Manager, Advocacy
Dnyanesh Kamat is a policy and strategy professional in the creative and cultural industries (CCI). Prior to joining CMA, Dnyanesh worked on policy and strategy advisory at Portico Global, a Montreal- and Paris- based consultancy that advises governments in North America, the Middle East, and Asia on fostering growth in their CCI sectors. Dnyanesh has also worked in a senior policy and strategy role for a Government of Dubai agency where he helped craft policies to support the government's long-term economic diversification and innovation plan.
As senior manager of policy and research at CMA, Dnyanesh designs and leads research projects on a broad range of issues of interest to the museum and heritage community. He also supports the implementation of CMA’s policy and advocacy agenda by collaborating with his CMA colleagues.
Dnyanesh strongly believes in centering decoloniality and reconciliation with Indigenous communities in the heritage sector. Dnyanesh has an MA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a BA in Economics and International Relations from the College of William and Mary.
Fiona Thistle
Senior Manager, Membership
Fiona Thistle is a membership professional with a focus on small non-profit organizations in the arts, culture, and museum sectors. She joined the CMA team in 2021 as a Membership Services Officer. Fiona has an Honours Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University, with a minor in Italian.
As Senior Manager of Membership, Fiona works with members and colleagues to ensure the successful operation of the membership program. She is also responsible for the delivery of the bursaries and awards programs.
Outside of work, Fiona plays Renaissance and Baroque lute, and enjoys embroidering and spending time with friends.
Mark Poirier
Senior Manager, Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
Mark Poirier is a museum professional with several years of grants administration. Mark joined the CMA in August 2016 as a Young Canada Works program officer, and has been manager of the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations program since May 2019.
Mark has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Concordia University and a Diploma in Applied Museum Studies from Algonquin College.
In his spare time, Mark enjoys researching early colonial North America, working with textiles, and pursues the hobby of living history at museums and historical sites across eastern North America, as well as raising a rather spirited child.
Nathan Hasselstrom
Senior Manager, Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage
Nathan Hasselstrom is an administrator privileged to work in the heritage sector. He has been with the CMA since 2018, and since 2019 has been responsible for the CMA’s delivery of Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage. Our small but dedicated team funds paid internships for graduates in museums and related organizations.
In his spare time, Nathan continues work on several long-term historical research projects begun during or inspired by his five summers at the Birdtail Country Museum in rural Manitoba.
Karen Flinn
Senior Finance Officer
As Senior Finance Officer Karen is accountable for finance and operations support of the Canadian Museums Association (CMA). She is key in the daily and ongoing accounting functions, Human Resource functions, as well as office operations and programs.
Karen has been with CMA since 2018, with 27 years previous experience in finance.
Karen is a mother of three and a grandmother of two. She has a great love of reading and music.
Address
Canadian Museums Association
130 Albert Street, Suite 1203
Ottawa ON K1P 5G4
Canada