ERIC GILBERT, Festival Director, Treefort Music Festival (Boise, ID)

Eric is a co-founder and festival director of Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho. Treefort is a multi-disciplined community event that has taken over downtown Boise for five days in March since 2012. Gilbert also co-owns Duck Club, which produces concerts as Duck Club Presents and supports touring artists as Duck Club Touring. Gilbert and his team hold a strong focus on community building, artist discovery and advocacy, and a passion for creating a niche within the business side of music. 

Sigtryggur Baldursson, Managing Director of Iceland Music (Reykjavik, IS)

Sigtryggur Baldursson is a musician and a founding member of the Sugarcubes and the Smekkleysa label in Iceland. He sits on various boards on behalf of Iceland Music, and is still very active as an artist in the local and international music scene.

http://Icelandmusic.is

KATE BECKER, King County Film and Music Office (Seattle, WA)

Building sustainable creative communities has been at the core of Kate Becker’s career. She is currently launching a new film and music-centric creative economy initiative with the support of King County Executive Dow Constantine. Kate’s background includes founding and sustaining NW all ages venues, leading the Seattle Office of Film + Music, and leading large and small arts nonprofits. She seriously loves gatherings of music nerds.

NICHOLAS ARAMOUNI, Sound Diplomacy (Calgary, AB)

Nicholas Aramouni is a researcher and consultant for Sound Diplomacy with experience in policy analysis and market research within entertainment led industries. Nicholas received his Bachelor’s Degree in Policy Studies and obtained a minor in Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which coincided with his passion for music, cultural industries, and music-city strategy. In the past, Nicholas has completed international music market research spanning across cities, counties, provinces and states. The majority of his recent work relates primarily to aspiring music-cities within North America, including Alberta and Nova Scotia. Nicholas’ ambitions are to maximize the potential of music, entertainment and cultural industries in every region around the world.