Chris Kerr, board vice Chair

Chris Kerr is the President and Co-Founder of XA, one of Alberta's most visible security and staffing companies specializing in live events. The XA Security division is a recognized leader in crowd management, mass gatherings, physical screening, and nonviolent de-escalation. The XA Live division supplies technical personnel, production management, and planning services to the live event industry.

He is a Live Event Producer and Festival Operations Director with global touring experience that has represented promoters, artists, venues, and service providers in nearly every aspect of live event production in locations around the world. He volunteers on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations and is the Vice Chair of the Event Safety Alliance Canada (ESAC), the Treasurer of the Global Crowd Management Alliance (GMCA), the Learning Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Calgary Chapter (EO), and board member of Kidzinc School Age Care Society of Alberta (Kidzinc).

Shannon inniss, board secretary and fundraising committee chair

Shannon spent the first portion of her career gaining an extensive background in technical theatre production and corporate audio-visual. She specialized in technical systems design and onsite management until broadening into overall event technical direction/management. Throughout this journey, the consistent driving force was a desire to seek change and innovation in an industry with varying degrees of health and safety considerations. 

Shannon later transitioned into managing event operations for outdoor festivals which broadened her skill range and knowledge, from tents to propane and everything between. Writing extensive risk assessments, emergency safety management plans, contracts, and working alongside key authorities are some of the core job functions she provides events. She has also worked alongside professionals in the industry from around the world in an effort discover best practises and open dialogue for improvement in global standards. She has recently started a Master of Science degree at the University of Manchester Metropolitan in Crowd Safety and Risk Analysis.

Kevin tanner, BOARD Treasurer and governance & nominations committee chair

Kevin Tanner is an arts and cultural leader with specialized expertise in venue and production management. As the Executive Director of Dalhousie Arts Centre, Kevin is leading one of Atlantic Canada’s premiere performing arts facilities towards a new strategic direction that seeks to align with the University’s goal to be a civic institution that makes national and global impacts. Kevin has served in production leadership roles at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, Kingston Grand Theatre (City of Kingston), Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts (Queen’s University) and, most recently, was the Managing Director of Production at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity where he oversaw large scale outdoor concerts in the beautiful Shaw Amphitheatre and the renovation project to create the Jenny Belzberg Theatre.

Passionate about promoting a strong safety culture in the arts industry, Kevin is one of the founding directors of the Event Safety Alliance Canada and holds a certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from Toronto Metropolitan University. He is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Arts Leadership program from Queen’s University and is currently studying law part-time through the University of London (UK).

Tina allmark, director

Tina Allmark is a Senior Operations Manager with three decades of experience in live television and live production environments. At the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, she leads a team of media professionals with a focus on multi-camera television production. Tina manages the activities of crew and facilities for video production across multiple studio sound stages, control rooms, and digital spaces as well as supporting requirements for staging & lighting installations across the country.

Tina is the co-chair of the CBC Health and Safety Committee and is a current representative on the Environmental Lead Team Working Group, leading the organization in implementing and maintaining environmental practices. She makes a personal commitment to inclusive leadership by creating and fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace: one where all staff feel like they belong and their opinions matter.

Passionate about creating a culture of workplace safety, Tina challenges her teams to make safety everyone’s priority and work together to minimize risk. She has prioritized safety training within her department with the belief that knowledge and skills help to create a culture of trust.

Andrew Brodkin, director

Andrew is the Manger of Production Services at Exhibition Place, Canada's premier destination for conventions, exhibitions, events, and entertainment, providing oversight and management of the production services division and technical labour requirements for over 1700 events every year. With his passion for organizational growth and strategic planning, Andrew supports the organization with the development of specific procedures, systems, and reasonable practices with an emphasis on event and site specific health & safety. 

Working across Canada with over 20 years of experience in the live events industry, Andrew has held various technical and managerial positions that all lead back to event health and safety. Taking on additional roles as a health and safety representative and human resources administrator, Andrew is a leader in prioritizing health and safety standards and practices in the workplace.

A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Andrew started his career in technical theatre production primarily working on musicals, plays and operas before transitioning to managing all types of events and entertainment. His knowledge has been enhanced through experiences working indoors & outdoors in ‘found’ event spaces that required additional risk assessments and preparation for crowd management, emergency planning, and weather elements. He strives to educate and lead individuals and organizations in health and safety compliance and reasonable practices, as well as to be at the forefront of growth to the live events industry.

jason gordon, director

Jason Gordon completed his studies in Civil Engineering Technology at St. Lawrence College in 1998. With 25 years of experience in Occupational Safety Jason has developed confidence in interpreting and implementing Health and Safety Legislation as well as developing and implementing Health & Safety Management Systems. From 2004 to 2014, Jason worked as an Inspector and Inspectorate Peer Trainer for the Ministry of Labour, where he received the prestigious GEM award for developing a provincial enforcement initiative.

In 2011, after investigating a serious incident in the Event Sector, Jason became a leader in promoting Safety in the Event Sector. During this time, Jason recognized that he could better serve the industry as a consultant, and, in 2014, he followed that dream. Today, as a Founder of ESP – The Event Safety Professionals Company, Jason continues to focus on fostering a safe work environment for all his clients and is proud to have an increased focus on growing Safety Culture in the Event Sector. Jason is proud to be a member of the Board of directors for the Event Safety Alliance Canada.

In his spare time, Jason enjoys spending time with (and BBQ’ing for) his family & Dogs as well as taking adventures on his motorcycle and ATV.

kevin jones, director

Kevin is Odyssey Medical’s Executive Director of Event Operations nationally – call-sign Ops Kilo. Kevin is the ‘go-to’ Ops Man. His tenure with Odyssey goes back to the beginning. Kevin’s passions are in the tactical and operational event delivery. He is committed to crew, patients, and customer positive outcomes. 

“Working at Odyssey is a natural culmination of everything that I love to do – working with people, working outside and being the centre of chaos.” Kevin has extensive experience in risk management, emergency communication and event operations. Kevin’s experience spans from remote wilderness expeditions to large scale urban sporting events and multi-day, 24/7 music festivals. He has led event medical programs for many large obstacle course events. Building on a background in insurance and education, he is committed to evidence based decision-making and systems development.

Scott pollard, director

Scott is the President of Palmer Audio Inc. located in Cambridge Ontario and has been since its inception in 1980.

Scott’s primary area of expertise is the technical design and implementation of large special events. His experiences include; Technical Director of World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, that hosted over 500,000 visitors to Toronto, as the Public Safety Planner & Manager for the Rolling Stones SARS Concert in Toronto in 2003 with 500,000 attendees.

In 2008 Scott took on the role of Director of Operations for the Inaugural Pemberton Festival and more recently became the Senior Site Director & Public Safety Planner of the 2014 & 2015 Squamish Valley Music Festivals.

Scott’s more recent interesting events were mounting the Opening Ceremonies on the One Young World Conference on Parliament Hill in September of 2016 and again working on Parliament Hill in 2017 Scott provided Technical consulting and execution of the Canada 150 Skating Rink.

Scott has numerous ongoing projects such as the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, CityFolk Festival and numerous motorsport events across North America where he acts as Production Manager / Technical Director.

Scott’s experience in Production Management, worker and public safety planning provides him with a well-balanced view of all aspects of the special events industry.

Tony potestio, director

Having over twenty years of professional experience in the live entertainment industry, Tony is grateful that he has found success in an industry he loves.  He was fortunate that his grandfather, a traditional Italian folk singer, gave him the experience of live music from the technical side at an early age. After which Tony attended Humber College’s technical theatre program. 

Tony spent the formative part of his career at The Creative Reality Group Inc (CRGI). In which he was given the opportunity to hone his skills in all aspects of the event process from both the technical production and venue management side. Progressing from freelancer to principle, with years of onsite management at the Rogers Centre and supporting client events across Canada. Tony has been recognized for his preproduction in large scale events and festivals.

Currently, Tony is the Director of Live Production at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). Having oversight over the technical production portfolio, managing the live technical production department and technical labour requirements at all MLSE venues. Including Scotiabank Arena, Canada’s premiere sports and entertainment venue that is consistently ranked in the top ten in North America, and globally, for live entertainment.  When not dealing with an event directly, Tony has been busy helping to develop site specific systems and practices with a focus on event safety and efficiency.