Stephen Waddell
National Executive Director, ACTRA National

Stephen Waddell is ACTRA’s National Executive Director and the union’s Chief Negotiator.

Having obtained a degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Stephen began his career in 1970 as a Toronto-based staff representative for the International Woodworkers of America. In 1972, Stephen left the IWA to work as Assistant General Secretary of ACTRA.

In 1984, Stephen was recruited by the Screen Actors Guild and moved to Los Angeles where he became SAG’s Assistant Hollywood Executive Director. Leaving SAG in 1988 to return to Canada, Stephen became a talent agent at a national talent agency based in Toronto where he successfully represented leading performers, writers and directors. In 1992, Stephen was enticed back to work for ACTRA as National Executive Director where he continues today as chief negotiator and chief of staff of the national performers’ union.

In 2007, Stephen led ACTRA through its first strike in its 65-year history. The primary issue in the strike was compensation for performers in new media production. That successful strike led to the first collective bargaining agreement in the world containing provisions for production and use of new media product.

Daintry Dalton
Regional Executive Director

Anna Falsetta
Director, Finance and Administration

Brad Keenan
Director, ACTRA Performers Rights Society

Jacob Leibovitch
Director, Research

Marit Stiles
Director, Public Policy & Communications

Ben Switzer
Director, Information Services