Melanie Nepinak Hadley 

Vice-President, Industry, Partnerships and Growth
Indigenous Screen Office 

Melanie is a proud member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation) and a senior leader in Canada’s film and television industry, known for her deep commitment to elevating storytellers and expanding access to opportunity across all mediums. She splits her time between Winnipeg and Toronto and currently serves as Vice-President, Industry, Partnerships & Growth at the Indigenous Screen Office, where she oversees national industry strategy, relationship-building, and initiatives that support sustainable Indigenous-led growth across the screen sector.

Previously, Melanie spent many years as a creative executive working in development and production at two national broadcasters in Canada (APTN and CBC). In those roles, she oversaw hundreds of hours of content across a wide range of formats, genres, and budget levels, working closely with creators from early development through production and delivery. This experience placed her on the front lines of creative decision-making and gave her a deep understanding of the realities facing creators navigating the system.

Melanie has also held a senior role at Warner Bros. Discovery where she led Canadian initiatives focused on talent development, strategic partnerships, and investment in underrepresented creators.

Beyond her executive work, Melanie has a history of contributing extensively through board service and advisory roles, including imagineNATIVE Film + Media Festival, National Screen Institute, Cousin Collective, and TIFF. Across all avenues, she remains driven by a clear purpose: connecting talent to opportunity and championing powerful storytellers in any medium.