Jessica Payne (president) is a writer, poet and interdisciplinary artist currently at work on an autofiction novel she began at the University of King’s College, where she holds an MFA in creative nonfiction. Her personal essay “Mirrors and The Madonna” won a 2019 HA&L Short Works Prize for literary nonfiction. Previously, her botanical art, poetry and interviews were featured in The Hamilton Spectator, Green Living Magazine, Flower House Detroit, Urbanicity, Grimsby Wayzgoose and other independent journals. Her poem FIREWEED was exhibited in Alchemical Afternoon for the 2023 CONTACT Photography Festival and she has a forthcoming essay on creativity in Bad Artist anthology. When she’s not writing you can find her rooting around in her garden. She lives in Toronto.
Wanda Taylor (vice-president) is an award-winning journalist, author of seven books, filmmaker and college professor. Her middle grade nonfiction book, Birchtown and the Black Loyalists was listed as one of the top Black History books for children by the Canadian Children’s Book Center and Parent Today Magazine. Her magazine features, poems, and essays can be found in publications across Canada, the UK, and the US. She teaches courses in Journalism, Story Writing for Media, Communications, Essay Writing and Creative Writing and is also Faculty/Mentor for the MFA Writing and Publishing Program at the University of King’s College, Halifax. Her new nonfiction book is forthcoming with Nimbus Publishing in 2024. Wanda served on CNFC’s 2023 Conference planning committee.
Laura MacGregor (treasurer) is an ethicist, researcher, and writer. She is a recent graduate of The Writer’s Studio (SFU) and completed a PhD in her early fifties. Recent publications include ‘Felt Faith’ in Broadview Magazine, and Beyond Saints and Superheroes, a church manual exploring how faith communities can support parents of disabled children.
Taslim Jaffer
(director-at-large) is a freelance writer, editor and writing instructor with a special interest in culture, identity and home. Her bylines include Maclean’s, CBC, WestCoast Families, Unearth Women and more. Taslim is currently working on her memoir-in-essays, a book she began during her MFA in Creative Nonfiction (University of King’s College). She serves on the Board of Directors for Word Vancouver and enjoys moderating panels, hosting events and contributing program ideas. Taslim lives in Surrey, B.C. with her husband, 3 kids and a very cute puppy named Ruby.
AnnMarie MacKinnon (director-at-large) has worked in both magazine and book publishing for nearly two decades in a number of editorial and marketing positions, including for Geist, Visual Arts News, and Douglas & McIntyre. She has also taught creative writing and has worked as a freelance writer and editor.
Sue Nador (director-at-large) is an Ottawa-based freelance writer with personal essays and feature stories in several publications including The Globe and Mail, LiisBeth, and Corporate Knights. She was in a consulting partnership for many years, providing advice on employee communication and engagement and she continues to do some corporate consulting independently. Prior board experience includes Chair, Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto, and national board member of the Strategic Capability Network. Currently, she volunteers as an ESL tutor. Sue holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of King’s College, Halifax. She served on CNFC’s 2023 Conference planning committee.
Nancy Dutra (director-at-large) is a Toronto-based journalist, essayist, and editor. Her byline has appeared in the Toronto Star, Toronto Life, Words and Music, and Brevity. In her previous life as a singer-songwriter, she released Time Will Tell—an album that charted on the Euro-Americana Roots Music List and received favourable reviews from CBC, Exclaim, Now, and No Depression magazine. She is proud to have graduated with High Distinction from the University of Toronto at the tender age of 42 and is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction from University of King’s College. She is the chair of the CNFC’s Marketing and Communications Committee.
Following a Bachelor of Applied Science, Erin Pollard (director-at-large) began a career in the not-for-profit sector as a conference planner, advocate, grant writer, educator, and support worker. Clients with mental health, addictions, and food and housing insecurity told stories of struggle and resilience and inspired Erin to pursue diplomas in Documentary Film and Creative Writing. Graduating in May 2024 with an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, this emerging author will continue writing bruising narratives, including her biography/memoir and short pieces on foster care, adoption, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. When she’s not attached to her laptop, she’ll be walking her geriatric dog with her favourite people.