Cultural Policy Hub welcomes Prem Gill as Policy Fellow, Creative Industries

The Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University is excited to announce that Prem Gill, former CEO of Creative BC, has joined the hub as a Policy Fellow, Creative Industries. Her visiting fellowship term is from September 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027.

Gill is a respected creative industries leader with more than 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation and strategic partnerships across Canada’s creative sectors. She brings an exceptional combination of leadership, policy expertise and deep relationships throughout Canada’s creative industries ecosystem.

Her insights into cultural and creative industry development, coupled with her extensive network in British Columbia and across the country, will strengthen the hub's ability to convene diverse voices and advance impactful policy conversations.

"I am thrilled to welcome Prem Gill as a Policy Fellow at the Cultural Policy Hub”,” says Miriam Kramer, executive director, Government Relations and Public Policy at OCAD University. “At a time when Canada is exploring how culture can contribute not only to economic growth, but also to international influence, trade relationships and democratic resilience, Prem's experience will be invaluable. I look forward to learning from her expertise and working together to help position Canada's cultural strengths as a strategic asset in an increasingly complex global landscape."

As a Policy Fellow, Gill will contribute to the hub’s efforts to drive policy change and mobilize knowledge through thought leadership, guidance on the development of hub resources geared toward supporting the creative industries, as well as engagement with the Hub’s network and the OCAD U community, including at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Her guidance will inform the hub’s research into developing a thriving creative economy, one that brings the diversity and value of Canada’s creativity to the global stage and supports creative businesses and organizations so they can adapt and transform to build resilience and address the challenges they face. 

Gill has a reputation as a champion of creative voices with a deep investment to sustainable production and strong credibility among many interest holders across the creative industries and cultural policy realms. Leveraging this network, she will help the hub establish new relationships in BC and beyond.

About Prem Gill

Gill is a respected leader in Canada’s creative industries, with more than 20 years of experience spanning film and television, digital media, technology, cultural policy, and economic development.

She is widely recognized for championing creators, advancing diverse storytelling, and building partnerships that strengthen the creative economy.

Most recently, Prem served as CEO of Creative BC, where she led the province’s creative industry agency in supporting and growing British Columbia’s film, television, music, interactive digital media, and publishing sectors. Under her leadership, Creative BC expanded its impact as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and creative development.

Prior to Creative BC, Prem spent eight years at TELUS, most recently as director of Production and Original Programming, where she led the creation and launch of the TELUS Fund, TELUS STORYHIVE, and the Optik TV community channel, landmark initiatives that continue to support Canadian content, emerging creators, and local storytelling across Western Canada.

Prem has been named one of The Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter, received the Visionary Award from the Reelworld Screen Institute, was featured in Vancouver Magazine's Power 50 and was honoured with the Community Catalyst Award by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Bell Fund and regularly contributes her expertise to conversations on creative economy development, innovation, inclusive leadership and the role of creativity in building thriving communities and economies.

About the Cultural Policy Hub
The Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University is a partnership that facilitates and

expands the arts and cultural sector’s capacity in policymaking, research, data

analysis, program innovation, and knowledge mobilization and exchange.

The hub is a national, bilingual platform that builds communities of practice among researchers, policymakers, artists and creators from across Canada’s academic, government, nonprofit and private spheres. It supports cultural policy decision-making from the local to the national levels and is a partner in public policy issues to which the cultural sector contributes.

The Cultural Policy Hub’s funders include the Metcalf Foundation, the City of Toronto, Power Corporation of Canada, Calgary Arts Development and the Canada Council for the Arts.

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