ECMA Board of Directors

Dustin Parsons is a Newfoundland-based entrepreneur and sales professional whose work spans real estate, media, live events, and tourism. He works with RE/MAX, develops and sells advertising campaigns for NTV and OZFM, and produces and hosts West Talk on RogersTV. He is active in producing, promoting, and hosting live events, gaining hands-on experience in audience development, sponsorship, and ticketed programming, while his work as a hiking and coach tour guide keeps him closely connected to audiences, visitors, and cultural consumers across the province.

Dustin approaches the music industry as an artist-first promoter with the perspective of an experienced entrepreneur and board member. He currently serves as a Director with Trails, Tales & Tunes Festival and is a member of the Humber Bay of Islands Tourism Committee, contributing to governance, strategic planning, and collaborative
decision-making. Comfortable with formal board structures and processes, he ensures that organizational decisions remain practical and community focused. This combination of governance experience and on-the-ground music industry involvement allows Dustin
to bridge policy and practice. He understands the realities artists face, audience expectations, and the operational considerations of promoters, sponsors, and partners, bringing a balanced, practical voice to the table that emphasizes transparency, sustainability, and meaningful impact for the East Coast music community. 

Dustin is passionate about supporting East Coast artists at every stage of their careers, expanding access to markets, and ensuring the ECMA remains relevant, transparent, and responsive to the evolving music industry across Atlantic Canada.

Debbie Mullins is a passionate supporter of East Coast music and musicians. For over 25 years, she has championed local talent by hosting house concerts, opening her doors to artists, and promoting music events across social media. A longtime attendee of the East Coast Music Awards, Debbie’s dedication is both personal and community-driven—she has proudly followed the successful careers of her talented nephew, Gordie Sampson, and her son, Keith Mullins. Her unwavering support has helped shine a spotlight on the vibrant East Coast music scene, making her a cherished friend and advocate to countless musicians. Debbie currently sits on the board of Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative, Current Board member of the East Coast Music Association and is the Cape Breton Producer for The Christmas Daddies Telethon.

Delvina Bernard stands as a powerhouse in the Canada’s music and cultural landscape—an 8th-generation African Nova Scotian whose ancestral lineage traces back to the Black Loyalists of 1783 and the Black Refugees of 1812. This legacy has been the heartbeat of her artistry and the driving force behind her career as a nationally celebrated singer-songwriter, visionary culture-bearer, and fearless architect of change within the Canadian music industry.

A groundbreaking oral historian and cultural strategist, Delvina has illuminated the ways in which music is not only a soundtrack to the East Coast but also a dynamic force in shaping its cultural identity. She is revered for amplifying African Canadian music history and ensuring that its stories and sounds take their rightful place on both national and international stages.

As the founding member of the trailblazing, all-female a cappella ensemble Four the Moment—winners of the 2022 Polaris Heritage Prize—Delvina helped redefine the East Coast soundscape over three transformative decades. The quartet’s powerful repertoire, rooted in African Nova Scotian traditions, transcended borders, earning acclaim across Canada and abroad and paving the way for future generations of Black and female voices in Canadian music.

Beyond the stage, Delvina has emerged as an influential champion of equity and innovation in the industry. She is the co-founder of the African Nova Scotian Music Association (ANSMA) and co-investigator of Music Nova Scotia’s Black Music Strategy, Black Music Matters—a landmark policy initiative advancing racial equity and industry access for Black artists. Her leadership extends to the national level as a member of the Juno Awards Jazz Committee, and regionally as former member of the Lieutenant Governors Arts Master Prize Committee, an award established to recognize outstanding achievements in the arts. She is co-founder of the Young, Gifted, and Black Women in Jazz Showcase. At the East Coast Music Association (ECMA), she holds multiple leadership portfolios, including Board Vice Chair, EDIA Lead, and Black Music Committee Coordinator, helping reshape the organization’s vision for inclusivity and representation.

With a professional background as an educator, policy analyst, and institutional change strategist, Delvina embodies the role of a national thought leader whose influence reverberates far beyond performance. She is recognized as a catalyst for cultural transformation—bridging artistry, advocacy, and policy to advance the music ecosystem on the East Coast and across Canada.

Shannon Parlee is a Chartered Professional Accountant from Riverview, New Brunswick, with specialized expertise in audit and finance. She spent several years as an auditor in the public sector and now serves as a Director of Finance and IT in municipal government. Since joining the ECMA Board in 2021, she has contributed to four awards events, offering strategic insight, precision, and a deep-rooted passion for East Coast music.

A lifelong music enthusiast, Shannon plays multiple instruments, with piano as her first love. She began playing at age four and has composed dozens of original songs, drawing inspiration from her favorite genres: classical, metal, and rock.

Equally dedicated to sport, Shannon is a driving force in East Coast basketball. She is the founder, owner, and general manager of the Moncton Mystics, a women’s team in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association. She also serves as director of the Moncton Women’s Basketball League and remains an active player. With her love of philanthropy and basketball, it’s no surprise that in 2023, she teamed up with Julien Matwawana , ED of ANSMA, to launch the ECMA All-Star Charity Basketball Game—an annual lively and successful addition to the awards week lineup.

At Mount Allison University, Shannon earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree while collecting numerous academic and athletic accolades, including Athlete of the Year honours, four ACAA All-Conference selections, and three Academic All-Canadian distinctions.. After graduation, she pursued her CPA designation and was awarded the CPA Atlantic School of Business Award of Excellence for her performance in both the program and final exam. In recognition of her wide-ranging impact—from finance and music to athletics and community leadership—Shannon was named one of Greater Moncton’s Top 20 Under 40 in 2023.

Outside of work, music, and sport, Shannon enjoys hiking, camping, and photographing nature with her partner and dog. She’s also passionate about gardening and cooking—and has been a vegetarian since age six.

Krista Vincent, MBA, is an accomplished solo and chamber musician whose career as a pianist, composer, teacher, and arts administrator has spanned three continents. She holds music degrees from McGill University, the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and Memorial University. While living in the Netherlands, she collaborated with internationally renowned ensembles such as Het Residentie Orkest, Leine Roebana, and ZT Hollandia. Krista has premiered numerous works by emerging composers and created three full-length theater and dance productions that toured the Netherlands and Europe.

Upon returning to Newfoundland in 2007, Krista became active as a pianist, teacher, and accompanist, and the founding member of the Ora Ensemble. Between 2008-2014, Ora presented engaging, multimedia performances that blended elements of new music, visual art and performance theatre. She earned a Master’s in Ethnomusicology in 2014 with a focus on contemporary classical music, and has held management roles with the Canberra International Music Festival, Kittiwake Dance Theatre, Kiwanis Music Festival of St. John’s, and spent nine years as Executive Director of the Tuckamore Festival. Krista recently completed her MBA at Carleton University with a concentration in financial management. Outside of her government policy role, she continues to contribute to the arts as a musician, clinician, and per-course instructor in St. John’s, NL.

A proud Australian by birth and a dedicated Cape Bretoner by choice, Nigel Kearns stands as a seasoned event and conference professional with an impressive record of accomplishment spanning over three decades. Nigel's expertise shines as a highly accomplished Technical Director, Event Manager, and Tour Manager, having lent his talents to diverse clients across government, corporate, and private sectors.

With a wealth of experience, Nigel has actively contributed to numerous projects and served on various boards, currently holding influential positions as a CBMIC Representative for the ECMAs and Vice Chair of CBMIC. His commitment extends beyond professional realms, as evidenced by his involvement with organizations such as the Southend Community Centre, Sydney Downtown Development Association, Weirdbeard Theatre Troupe, Christmas Daddies, Transition House, and more.

Nigel's dedication to community service is further underscored by his role as an active volunteer, offering his time and expertise to uplift organizations like the Southend Community Centre. In collaboration with his associates from the 902 Advertising Group, Nigel co-founded 9K Events and Productions. This venture, fueled by a fusion of skills, resources, and a passion for excellence, specializes in consulting, design, and management for events and projects of all scales.

Fueling his enthusiasm is Nigel's unwavering commitment to collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations, driven by the shared goal of elevating the Cape Breton community to new heights. His vision is a testament to his belief in the transformative power of collective effort and purpose-driven initiatives.

Solange Ake is the owner and CEO of Distinct Magic Events.

With roots in Ivory Coast and France, she has resided in Prince Edward Island since 2017. She studied Human Resources at the University of Nancy in France.

Solange loves serving her community. She has worked with the Acadian and Francophone community for about 4 years and has over 8 years of experience in event design and decoration. She has a deep appreciation for the beauty of our differences.

Solange loves to plan and design beautiful events that bring joy and wonder to the host and attendees. She is an experienced and well-established event decorator and has created beautiful decor for important and well-known events such as VIP events for the 2023 Canada Winter Games in PEI, The Red Carpet Decor for the 2024 ECMA Awards in Charlottetown and The Royal Lepage National Conference Dinner.

She believes that life's special occasions are meant to be impressive, after all! Her cross-cultural experiences have given her a unique sense of style and a creative approach to event design. She's an intentional listener, dedicated and focused. When she's not designing a new set, you'll find her listing some music, hiking or spending time with friends and family.

John Drover is a St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador-based lawyer and partner at Roebothan McKay Marshall, the province’s largest personal-injury firm. His practice centers on personal injury and broader civil litigation, and he also maintains an intellectual property (IP) and entertainment-law practice that often intersects Newfoundland and Labrador’s arts community.

Raised in Windsor, NL (now Grand Falls-Windsor) Drover first pursued folklore, earning a BA (1999) and MA (2003) from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where his research sparked a long-standing interest in cultural ownership and copyright. He went on to complete an LLB at Dalhousie University (2008) and began practicing in St. John’s, building a career in plaintiff-side personal injury law. In 2020, Drover deepened his specialization by earning an LLM in Intellectual Property from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Alongside his legal work, Drover is active in provincial cultural and heritage circles. He previously served for many years as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society and now chairs the board of Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, while also sitting on the executive of the O’Brien Farm Foundation. His combination of litigation experience and IP scholarship has made him a frequent advisor to local artists, musicians, and not-for-profits on copyright and related issues.

With over a decade of experience in the music industry, Tiffany Martin is a dedicated music manager known for her unwavering commitment to artist development, community engagement, and the growth of independent music. Her work bridges the gap between grassroots artistry and strategic industry success.

Tiffany holds a diploma in Music Business from Nova Scotia Community College and a certificate in Social Media Marketing from George Brown College, combining deep industry knowledge with modern digital strategy. Her leadership and innovation have earned her multiple nominations from Music Nova Scotia, including Manager of the Year and Promoter of the Year (2012–2016).

Beyond artist management, Tiffany is a passionate advocate for the music community. She has served on the boards of several influential organizations, including the East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), Music Nova Scotia, the East Coast Blues Society, and the Mahone Bay Music Association—further cementing her reputation as a champion of East Coast music and culture.

Julie Arsenault is a music and cultural events professional with over 25 years of experience spanning artist management, live performance, marketing, and organizational leadership. Her career is rooted in the East Coast music ecosystem, where she has worked closely with artists, festivals, and cultural organizations across multiple genres and regions.

Her career began in digital marketing and graphic design, specializing in music professionals and artists, before expanding into artist representation. Julie spent 15 years as a booking agent and artist manager, gaining hands-on experience in touring, talent development, and festival programming.

In addition to her work behind the scenes, Julie has firsthand performance experience. She toured for several years as a backup vocalist, contributed vocals on studio album recordings, and holds several songwriting credits. These experiences shaped her understanding of the realities artists face and inform her commitment to sustainable, artist-centred work.

In 2019, Julie joined the Congrès mondial acadien as Marketing Director, leading large-scale promotional initiatives over a three-year period. In January 2020, she was appointed Executive Director of the Shediac Lobster Festival, the longest-running festival in New Brunswick and one of the province’s top three most attended not-for-profit festivals, where she continues to oversee operations, partnerships, programming, and long-term strategy. In 2021, she co-founded the Hom’Art Festival, a multidisciplinary visual and performing arts festival, where she also serves as Executive Director.

With experience on all sides of the stage, Julie brings a grounded, industry-informed perspective and is committed to advancing the growth, visibility, and long-term sustainability of East Coast artists.