Marc Chalifoux, Chair
Marzena Gersho, Vice Chair
Ilona Dougherty, Treasurer
Ian Cusson, Secretary
Philip Akin
Matthew Bernstein
Piyush Bhatnagar
Simion Candrea
Kim Finkelstein
Amy Burstyn Fritz
Joel Ivany, ex-officio
Robin Whiffen, ex-officio


With a mission to make opera accessible and relevant to the artists and audiences of our time, Robin has been a leader in the success of AtG’s strategic initiatives by stewarding the artistic process, both through the growth and development of the organization and by supporting artists to tell their stories in authentic and meaningful ways. This work is evident in AtG’s debut film, Messiah/Complex, with Robin executing the success of the JUNO-nominated production and AtG winning the first-ever OPERA America Digital Excellence Award. Further projects led by Robin include the film version of Sāvitri (also nominated for an OPERA America Digital Excellence Award) and Identity: A Song Cycle, supported by the National Arts Centre National Creation Fund, to create a stage adaptation and commission the orchestral version.
As a strategic leader, Robin brings empathy, authenticity, respect, and collaboration to her work. She creates opportunities for artists to develop a deeper skill set beyond their work as performers and advocates for female-identifying persons to excel in the opera sector. Robin was recently selected to participate in the Business/Arts Executive Leadership Program and the OPERA America Leadership Intensive. These programs identify promising future leaders and provide them with mentorship and education to bolster their leadership capacity and advance their careers. In September 2021, Robin was appointed as a member of The College of Electors for the University of Toronto, representing the Faculty of Music. She has been a mentor in the Association for Opera in Canada RBC Future Launch Fellowship Program and invited to speak as an arts leader and ambassador of the operatic art form for audiences in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Robin is a Master of Business Administration candidate at Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from The University of Toronto.

She has sung on numerous opera stages across North America and the UK, including a stint at the renowned Glyndebourne Festival Opera (GFO) in the United Kingdom. Notable roles include Mimì in La Bohème (Canadian Opera Company, Minnesota Opera, Opera Hamilton, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera and Against the Grain Theatre (AtG)); Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Opera Tampa and AtG/The Banff Centre/Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival); Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande (AtG); the Governess in The Turn of the Screw (AtG); Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare (GFO); Almirena in Rinaldo (GFO); Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Lyra Ottawa and AtG), Alcina (Fargo Moorhead Opera), Marzelline in Fidelio (Pacific Opera Victoria) and Mamah Cheney in Hagen’s Shining Brow (Urban Arias) among others.
She is a proud founding member and Associate Artistic Director of the Dora Mavor Moore Award-winning chamber opera company Against the Grain Theatre (AtG). With vision and dedication, AtG explores different and innovative ways of presenting opera to new and familiar audiences. Miriam is delighted to help shape “one of the most important opera companies in Canada” (Calgary Herald).
She also recently joined the Voice Faculty at the University of Alberta and is very excited to be working with the next generation of singing artists and creators.



Andrew has worked as an arts administrator with such organizations as the Association for Opera in Canada and Tapestry Opera and has recently made his directorial debut with the Canadian Opera Company and Against the Grain Theatre as the Associate Director on Mozart’s Requiem. Most recently he directed the Edmonton Opera Valentine’s Day Gala which premiered on Global TV in February of 2022. Andrew currently works as the Artistic Producer for the Banff Centre Opera in the 21st Century program and is the Co-Founder of the national arts education collective Opera InReach. Andrew’s recognizable commitment to EDIJA advancement in the arts sector has made him sought after as a panellist, consultant, and outlet contributor.
This season, Andrew will assistant direct Identity: A Song Cycle with Against the Grain Theatre and Carmen with the Canadian Opera Company. Andrew is very excited to continue his journey as an opera producer through this opportunity provided by the Metcalf Foundation allowing him to work in Artistic Operations with Against the Grain Theatre.
