About the Session
This panel brings together professionals from motion picture industry to explore how health and safety is a collective responsibility. Through diverse perspectives and real-world experiences, panelists will discuss how collaboration, communication, and accountability across departments contribute to safer workplaces for everyone on set and behind the scenes.
Katharine Pavoni
Deputy Director, BC Film Commission
MODERATOR
-
Katharine Pavoni is the BC Film Commission at Creative BC’s Deputy Director and is responsible for oversight and delivery of the film commission’s operations and services relevant to BC’s major strategic initiatives including, but not limited to, Reel Green, Creative Pathways and Regional Initiatives. She supports the stewardship of industry engagement and meaningful progress in green standards, inclusive practices and professionalism throughout the industry and stands in as the Acting BC Film Commissioner when required in their absence.
Katharine has more than 15 years of film and television production experience across a variety of roles and functions, and other recent roles have included Director of Industry Programs and Services with Actsafe, the entertainment industry’s health and safety association, and as a key creatives’ agent with Meridian Artists.
Dugald McLaren
Executive Producer
PANELIST
-
Dugald holds a First-Class Honours degree in Linguistics, Anthropology, and Film, and graduated with an award for Outstanding Achievement in Philosophy. He is a graduate of the Producer's program at the National Screen Institute in Winnipeg. His professional career began at a young age on feature film sets and big television series where he worked in many departments including Locations, Art, and even stunts. After a few years he transitioned to primarily television and became a PM, then Producer, and eventually VP of Production at Ocean Entertainment where he worked for more than a decade. During that time Dugald was part of the development team, was a Series Director, and Produced almost 200 hours of quality television. Genres included food, ob-doc, reality, renovation, documentary, crime, travel/adventure, and recreation. He has travelled to over 50 countries and filmed in most of them. Many of his projects have won and been nominated for awards, including a Gemini nom for Dugald himself on a Food Network special that he wrote, produced, and directed called A Chateau Dinner. It was also up for a prestigious James Beard Award in New York City. In 2008 Dugald made a foray into the commercial world and enjoyed producing large and small commercials. He also directed spots for Toyota, NSGEU, Sodexo, Craft Brewers of Ontario, political parties, and more. In 2015 he moved to the mountains of British Columbia, where he continues to grow and work as a Executive Producer of the acclaimed award-winning series Highway Thru Hell for Discovery Network.
Kim Derko
Director of Photography
PANELIST
-
Kim Derko c.s.c. is a full member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, IATSE 667 & 669, Directors Guild of Canada, The International Caucus of Female Cinematographers, verified by ARRAY CREW and was awarded the 2024 Master’s Award for Cinematography by the CSC.
A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art & Design in Vancouver, Kim Derko studied art history, colour theory and photography before becoming a cinematographer.
Perry Beckham
Motion Picture Rigger and Owner of Pacific High Rigging and Safety Limited
PANELIST
-
Perry Beckham (aka Chief) is an aerial access technician whose career highlights include over thirty years of technical rock climbing and mountaineering, a decade of coastal high lead logging, accreditation as an ACMG Alpine Guide, longtime service with Squamish Search and Rescue and over two decades as a leader and innovator in Motion Picture Aerial Rigging having rigged on K2, Cliffhanger, Vertical Limit, Watchmen and Tron Legacy to name a few.
He has resided in Squamish since 1980 having first climbed there in 1973 and enjoys a diverse and active existence with his wife and dog from their secluded home. Perry continues to be driven by an abiding passion for rigging, rock climbing, mountaineering, skiing, ongoing involvement with SAR, music, environmental and social reform and occasional bouts of flyfishing. Perry demonstrates a lifelong commitment to improving his skills as a technician, consultant, educator and trainer in the disciplines of mountaineering, technical rescue, rigging and occupational health and safety.
Nancy Hum-Balbosa
Buyer/Assistant Decorator
PANELIST
-
Nancy Hum-Balbosa is a labour relations professional, facilitator, and screen industry leader with more than a decade of experience in British Columbia’s film and television industry. Her career combines hands-on production experience with a passion for worker safety, respectful workplaces, and leadership.
Nancy began her career in film as a Set Dresser, advancing to Buyer and Assistant Decorator on major film and television productions. Working on set gave her a firsthand understanding of the teamwork, problem-solving, and safety culture essential to successful productions.
She later served as an International Representative with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), representing five union locals and supporting more than 12,000 workers across British Columbia and Canada. In this role, she provided strategic guidance on collective bargaining, workplace investigations, governance, conflict resolution, and respectful workplace initiatives while collaborating with employers, union leaders, legal counsel, and government shareholders.
Nancy also serves as a Motion Picture Industry Orientation Facilitator with Actsafe, where she helps prepare new workers for careers in film and television by delivering training on workplace safety, labour rights, respectful workplaces, and industry best practices.
A strong advocate for leadership development, mentorship, and inclusion, Nancy is committed to helping create workplaces where every worker feels respected, supported, and empowered to contribute. She believes that the safest and most successful productions are built on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to looking out for one another.
Jena Lenzi
Director of Production Safety, Paramount Global- A Skydance Corporation
PANELIST
-
Jena Lenzi, is Director of Production Safety for Paramount Global- A Skydance Corporation, supporting film and television productions across Canada, the United States, and international jurisdictions. Blending a passion for people, adventure, and travel with a background in emergency nursing and occupational health and safety, she has built a career dedicated to helping organizations create safer and healthier workplaces.
Jena has held progressive production safety leadership roles with Paramount and has experience supporting complex productions through all phases of development, prep, filming, and wrap. Her work spans a wide range of production environments, including stunts, special effects, marine operations, remote locations, and other unique filming challenges. She works closely with production executives, department heads, regulators, and safety professionals to develop practical, collaborative solutions that support both operations and people.
A graduate-educated Registered Nurse with a Master of Nursing in Health Care Education, Jena brings strong leadership, critical thinking, and adult education expertise to her work. She is actively involved with industry safety organizations in Canada, contributing to discussions that help advance safety standards across the entertainment industry. Passionate about collaboration, education, and continuous improvement, Jena is committed to fostering strong safety cultures that enable creative storytelling while supporting the wellbeing of cast and crew.
