maxine bailey joined the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) in May 2021 as executive director. In this role, maxine is responsible for implementing CFC's strategic plan, managing the financial performance and health of the organization, and ensuring the success of its operations. Furthermore, maxine builds, establishes and maintains key long-term relationships with partners that help realize the organization's mission, with a relentless focus on community impact and shared value for all interested parties.

Prior to the CFC, maxine served as the Vice-President of Advancement at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). She was the principal liaison and lead fundraiser for the organization's government partners, donors and members in their support of TIFF's festivals and year-round programming. She is particularly proud of founding Share Her Journey, TIFF's five-year fundraising commitment to achieving gender parity both behind and in front of the camera.

Before TIFF, maxine was a theatre producer. Recently, Sistahs, an award-winning play she co-wrote, was remounted to much acclaim. An active leader in arts and community-based projects, maxine co-founded the Black Artists Network in Dialogue (BAND), which showcases Black cultural contributions nationally and internationally.

She currently sits on advisory boards and steering committees for the Toronto Arts Council/Foundation Advocacy Committee, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, Luminato Festival Toronto, and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. A voracious reader, maxine was a jurist for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize and was named one of NOW Toronto's Local Heroes in 2018.

Speaking on: Supporting underrepresented filmmakers