Speakers + Hosts

Tracy Beckett

VP of Programming, National Geographic Channels International

Tracy Beckett is Vice President, Programming, National Geographic Channels International (NGCI). Reporting to Sydney Suissa, Executive Vice President of Content, Beckett is responsible for sourcing and developing co-productions, commissions and presales for all of the NGCI channels. She also focuses much of her attention on seeking out new programming opportunities and co-production partners for the National Geographic Channel in the UK.

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Julie Bristow

Executive Director Factual Entertainment, CBC

Julie Bristow is Executive Director of Factual Entertainment for CBC Television, launching this division for Canada’s public broadcaster in May 2006. Julie began her work at CBC in broadcast journalism, starting as a program researcher and moving onto executive production for main network programs within CBC News and Current Affairs. As the head of Factual Entertainment, Julie is responsible for overseeing the development, production and commissioning activities in such fields as talk shows, game shows, lifestyle and reality programming, as well as the acquisition and adaptation of international formats for CBC. In her current portfolio are some of the network's most successful shows including Dragons Den, The Week The Women Went and the live event sports reality program: Battle of the Blades.

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Damla Dogan

VP, Original Programming & Series Development, E! Entertainment Television

As Vice President, Original Programming and Series Development for E!, Dogan oversees the development of programs, collaborates with the outside creative community and forges key relationships within the entertainment industry on behalf of the network. Dogan has led the development for some of E!'s most popular reality series, including "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami," "The Spin Crowd" and "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood." She is also currently overseeing E!'s new six-part television event, "What's Eating You," which examines the frightening realm of extreme eating disorders.

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Mary Donahue

Executive Producer, History

A veteran cable television executive, Mary Donahue joined HISTORY in October 2008 and was part of the team that developed and launched the break out hit series, Pawn Stars, and she serves as its executive producer. She currently develops and supervises both specials and series for the network.

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Cynthia A. Fenneman

President & CEO, American Public Television

Cynthia A. Fenneman is president and CEO of American Public Television (APT), a prime distributor of award-winning programs to the more than 360 U.S. public television stations. Last year, APT presented 54 of the top 100 highest rated public television titles in metered markets.

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Robyn Hutt

SVP, Current Programming & Specials, truTV

Robyn Hutt is Senior Vice President, Current Programming at truTV. In that role, she is the responsible for the network’s original primetime series, pilots and specials including Black Gold, Speeders, Operation Repo, Bait Car, Most Daring, The Smoking Gun, The Principal’s Office, Most Shocking and All Fired Up.

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Mary Ellen Iwata

Vice President of International Programming and Development, Scripps Networks International

As Vice President of International Programming and Development, Mary Ellen Iwata oversees all elements of programming for Scripps Networks International which includes program scheduling, acquisitions, and program development. She is also responsible for strengthening the department’s ties to the international production community and facilitating new programming ideas. As Scripps Networks International launches channels around the world, Iwata is responsible for adapting the programming of the U.S. networks to global markets.

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Elliot Jacobson

SVP, Programming & Production, RLTV

Elliot Jacobson is Senior Vice President of Programming and Production for RLTV, with responsibility for the design and execution of the network's programming strategy, Elliot oversees the development and production of all original programming, as well as the network’s acquisition, scheduling and digital media teams.

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Shannon Malone

Manager of Development, National Geographic Channel

Shannon Malone has worked in the non-fiction television business for nearly 10 years after a career in talent management. A former offline and online editor, she has produced and collaborated on over 200 hours of programming and short-form content during her eight years at Discovery Communications. Her projects include Planet Earth, Discovery Atlas, Crimes that Shook the World, Risk Takers, With All Deliberate Speed, The FBI Files, The Killer Within theatrical trailer and many others. Her credits at National Geographic include Search for the Amazon Headshrinkers, Expedition Great White, Humanly Impossible, The Hunt for the Samurai Subs and others. She is the proud owner of a dog named Dexter and still a loyal Washington Nationals fan.

David Royle

EVP, Programming & Production, Smithsonian Networks

David Royle is Smithsonian Networks’ EVP, Programming and Production. In that role, Royle oversees the commissioning, acquiring and co-producing of all programming for the Networks. Royle joined Smithsonian Networks to bring a distinctive and creative point-of-view to the Networks’ editorial direction. 


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Steven J. Schupak

Senior Vice President of Content Enterprises, Maryland Public TV

Steven’s responsibilities include overseeing national and local programming development, production, new media creation, sponsorship sales and distribution for MPT’s current slate of programs. National programs include MotorWeek, Celtic Tenors, Transformation Age, Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen, Wall $treet Week with Fortune, 3 Mo’ Divas and the National Geographic Bee.

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Mike Stiller

Vice President, Development and Programming, History

Mike Stiller is Vice President Development and Programming for History, a position he assumed in August 2010. In this role, he oversees a team of programmers responsible for the development and creation of original series and specials for the network. He is currently the executive producer on the highly-anticipated series, Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, slated to air in early 2011.

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Elise Warner

Director of Development, MSNBC

Elise Warner has been with MSNBC for more than a decade, most of it spent as Senior Producer for Documentaries. In 2006 her job expanded to include the role of Director of Development. In 2008, Ms. Warner helped launch MSNBC Films, a division of the documentary department committed to spotlighting extraordinary works, both new and acquisitions.

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