Burnaby, B.C. (January 6, 2023) - Knowledge Network’s board of directors is pleased to announce that Michelle van Beusekom has been selected as the public educational broadcaster’s new President and CEO.

“After an extensive search, we are thrilled to have Michelle join the Knowledge family,” said Satwinder Bains, Knowledge Network Corporation Board Chair. “With leadership roles in the broadcast, production and cultural sectors, she brings a wealth of experience to strengthen public broadcasting in a rapidly changing media environment. Her career long commitment to, and passion for, public media will help propel Knowledge forward, ensuring programming supports the diverse and evolving interests of British Columbians.”

Michelle brings over 25 years of experience in Canada’s broadcast and production sectors. She has held senior leadership positions at the National Film Board, the Documentary Organization of Canada and Uvagut TV (Canada’s first national broadcaster in an Indigenous language) as well as managerial positions at WTN and the CBC.

Throughout her career, Michelle has been committed to public media and its role, responsibility and untapped potential to drive creative innovation and be an industry leader in all aspects of equity, diversity, social inclusion and citizen-engagement.

“As a public educational broadcaster, Knowledge has a beautiful mandate to serve all British Columbians with a commercial -free alternative source of media that reflects their lives, inspires, challenges and informs them,” said van Beusekom. “Knowledge also plays an important role in strengthening B.C.’s talented and diverse community of screen-based storytellers through the commissioning of bold and original works. I am both excited and humbled to be joining Knowledge at this critical juncture and moment of great opportunity – as it moves forward on recent commitments to sustained transformation that will advance reconciliation, racial equity and intersectional inclusion in all areas of Knowledge’s activity. I look forward to working with the talented Knowledge team, B.C.’s independent production community and viewers and supporters from across the province as we boldly embrace the full potential of Knowledge’s public mandate.”

Michelle starts at Knowledge Network February 6, 2023.
 

About Knowledge Network:

British Columbia’s Knowledge Network is a viewer-supported public broadcaster exploring the world through its commercial-free television and streaming services. Knowledge Network works in partnership with independent producers in British Columbia and Canada to develop and commission children’s and documentary programs that educate, inform and inspire. For more information, visit www.knowledge.ca