BMFA 2025/26 Board Members

Carol Altilia – Chair and Director of Strategy

Carol is semi-retired having spent her career in post-secondary education. Most recently, she served as Provost and Vice-President, Academic at Sheridan College, supporting the institution’s unique academic mission to foster all forms of creativity. As a seasoned senior academic administrator, she has extensive experience in curriculum design, strategic planning, as well as advancement. Her scholarship includes planning, diversity and organizational change to which she adds a long practice of community engagement, with a focus on mentoring. Having recently moved to Collingwood, she enjoys being outdoors, participates in a range of sports, is passionate about the arts and is keen to contribute to the vibrancy of her new community.

In June 2018 I had the opportunity to move from Toronto to Collingwood full time. I retired after 18 years working as an administrative assistant with private fertility clinic. This gave me the perfect opportunity to focused on creating art first with alcohol inks and now with encaustic wax and India ink. In December 2022 I felt it was time to show my artwork and I also wanted to find a way to connect with other artists. This led me to become a member of BMFA and to volunteer in the shop.

Katie Jakobiec – Director of Communications & Fund Development

Katie has been immersed in the arts throughout her life and career. She earned a Studio Art degree from the University of Waterloo, specializing in painting, and went on to complete her MA and PhD in art and architectural history at the University of Toronto. She has worked across the arts, academia, and nonprofit organizations.

At the BMFA, Katie brings together her experience in the arts, communications, and development to support the organization’s growth and strengthen its connections with artists and the wider community. A passionate traveller, Katie enjoys exploring new places, spending time in nature, and making art. She lives in Collingwood.

Melanie recently moved to the Blue Mountains and joined the BMFA board of directors in March 2025. She is happy to return to the Georgian Bay Area with her family, after many years, where as a young girl, she would spend her summers at her Grandparents’ cottage on Christie Beach.

Melanie is a lifelong art lover and enjoys learning about art history, personally collecting different genres of art, and touring galleries around the world. She admires the endless creativity of all artists and is passionate about supporting the art community.

In her professional life, Melanie is an international marketing consultant, who has enjoyed working with several lifestyle, luxury, travel, finance, and beauty brands including Fairmont Hotels, Scotiabank, McDonalds, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, General Motors, L’Oreal, Coca Cola, General Mills, Samsung, Auberge Resorts Collection, Bank of Montreal, Raffles Hotels and many more.

Melanie holds a BA from the University of Toronto, and postgraduate studies in Marketing from Toronto Metropolitan University. She developed extensive strategic marketing skills at top creative advertising & communication agencies. She is thrilled to bring her marketing expertise to support the BMFA Board of Directors and Artist Community leading marketing strategy and planning, brand management, advertising, media, PR, and will oversee the Art About Town Program.

Heather moved to Collingwood where she taught high school until she retired several years ago. Since then, she has been an enthusiastic plein air and landscape painter, and has exihibited her work at BMFA and further afield.

Christine Fenech – Director of Visual Design

Christine Fenech is a design consultant and educator passionate about creating visuals and spaces that inspire and connect. With a background in applied arts/design, Christine aims to blend function and style while applying core design principles across print, digital, and event platforms.

Experienced in 2d planning/layouts, and the 3D environments, Christine brings creativity and strategic thinking to visual and tactile experiences. A proud supporter of BMFA and recent committee member of the BMFA50 Retrospective she was honored to contribute. Based in Collingwood, she values fostering community and strives to champion art and design as a means to connect and empower others.

Kim Ware – Director of Volunteer Engagement

Kim has retired from a career specializing in Customer Service and Project Management in the Contract Manufacturing Industry. Retirement has brought an opportunity to relocate to Georgian Bay where she worked and volunteered in Meaford for 9 years. Outdoors, art and family motivate her and the result has been relocating to Wasaga Beach where she can be close to all three.

Working with volunteers and volunteer organizations has been a highlight of her career and she is looking forward to bringing her skills and enthusiasm to the BMFA while growing her own passion for Art.

Karen O’Connell – Director of Special Initiatives 

Since moving to Collingwood in 2022 after several successful careers in the Greater Toronto Area, Karen O’Connell has embraced the community as the ideal setting for her retirement. Originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick, she feels at home in the warmth and character of small-town life.

For nearly 25 years, Karen worked in group benefits, specializing in association plans and developed strong relationship-building skills. She also operated an interior design and decorating practice in the GTA for more than 20 years, helping homeowners express their personal style.

In retirement, Karen set out to explore her creativity—a goal that led her to the welcoming and inclusive community of the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts. She is delighted to join the board as Director, Special Initiatives.

Karen looks forward to helping BMFA grow as a vibrant, creative hub where people can explore their potential and where emerging and established artists—as well as art lovers of all kinds—can connect and thrive.