Executive Team

JEFF MELANSON

Jeff Melanson was appointed president of The Banff Centre on January 1, 2012. Jeff Melanson holds a bachelor of music from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, where he studied opera, Russian art song, and choral conducting. Melanson also pursued vocal studies at the Oberlin Conservatory. He holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.

From 1998 to 2000, Melanson was the director of development for Opera Ontario. In March 2000, he was appointed assistant dean of the Community School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and at the end of 2001, he was promoted to dean. In his role as dean of RCM’s Community School, Melanson was essential in building the program into the largest community arts school in North America.

In 2006, Melanson was appointed executive director and co-chief executive officer of Canada’s National Ballet School. In his time at NBS, he was instrumental in eliminating a significant annual operating deficit, increasing annual revenues by over 50 per cent, overseeing the completion of NBS’s residence renovations, and creating new strategic partnerships with many non-profit and for-profit arts and entertainment corporations.

Melanson is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and a trustee with the National Guild for Community Arts Education (US). He is a frequent guest lecturer on arts management to arts students and MBA classes from universities across North America and around the world, and was the first arts leader to be appointed one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ for 2009. In 2010, Melanson was named Wilfrid Laurier University’s MBA Alumnus of the Year. In November 2010, Melanson was appointed special advisor on arts and culture to Toronto mayor Rob Ford.

SARAH J. E. ILEY

Formerly the president and chief executive officer of the Council for Business and the Arts in Canada (CBAC), Sarah J. E. Iley took over the leadership for programming at The Banff Centre effective July 1, 2005, overseeing a new management structure that will build on the Centre’s position as a catalyst for creativity in the arts, leadership, and mountain culture.

In addition to her position with CBAC, Iley was also the leader (in partnership with The Banff Centre) of the annual Canadian Arts Summit. She has been a champion of support for the arts, artists, and arts programming in Canada throughout her career, in her role at CBAC, and before that as manager, developmental services, of the Ontario Arts Council.

J. A. (ART) NUTT

On November 1, 2001, Art Nutt was appointed vice-president and chief financial officer of The Banff Centre. Art brings over 27 years of experience in financial analysis and administration to The Banff Centre. Prior to this position, he served as vice-president, finance and administration, at Athabasca University, chief of finance and administration for the Government of the Northwest Territories, and had held a number of positions in the Government of Yukon’s Department of Finance.