Women in Exhibition (WIE), an international network of professionals working in cinema entertainment, technology, and mixed-used leisure platforms, is proud to announce the Panel Parity Project. Designed to promote universally balanced representation at industry events, tradeshows, and conferences, as well as a variety of other forums, Panel Parity is looking forward to facilitating organizers and leaders across the globe.

Founded in 2019, WIE was created with the goal of expanding the global cinema space, filled with dedicated and talented women who drive the advancements and success of the motion picture and content industries. In this century-old business, panels and other speaking opportunities have traditionally been male-dominated, with show organizers leaning toward familiarity amongst long-standing studio and exhibition relationships versus branching out to a vast pool of female experts in fields ranging from operations, marketing, exhibition management, and all other facets of the industry.

The Panel Parity Project aims to pave a new frontier. Through this initiative, WIE is actively creating a database of cinema’s finest female professionals prepared to share their knowledge, experience and wisdom to an ever-changing industry. Whether a panel member, moderator, or keynote speaker, interested colleagues and professionals can submit their information on panelparity.com, while show organizers will be encouraged to consult WIE’s database to fulfill their speaker rosters.

“Having a more gender-balanced panel can be difficult, as often trade show and event organizers don’t know who to reach out to,” said WIE’s Co-Founder and President, Heather Blair. “WIE—and the brilliant women professionals who have joined our ranks—are thrilled to be able to connect the industry with a more diverse range of talent than has been generally represented in the past.”

The Panel Parity Project is proudly sponsored by Venue Valet, an Austin-based a technology company that provides a wide range of products and services, specializing in transaction-based venue management systems; and Cinergy Entertainment Group, a leading cinema entertainment center (CEC) chain that operates seven locations across the US.

To help launch the Panel Parity Project, WIE is hosting a PANEL PARITY WEBINAR at Noon (EST) on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Moderated by Rebecca Pahle, VP of WIE and Deputy Editor at Boxoffice Pro, the panel will feature incisive discussions of the traditional barriers and solutions to more representation of female professionals in cinema.

Regestration for the panel: https://lu.ma/xpnn3hc5

The panel is open for registration and will feature the insights of:

Heather Blair — Co-founder and President of Women in Exhibition, Heather is an established 30+ year sales executive and marketing consultant working primarily in cinema and esports’ industries over the last decade. She’s also the President of Cinema Esports Alliance Corp (CEAC) which was formed to open the door of communication between esports, gaming and cinema industries, while providing educational resources and introductions. She hosts regular virtual events and IRL webinars to help cinemas learn about marketing, sponsorships, IT, Infrastructure, Community Activation and Engagement, Teams, Leagues, Influencers, and so much more.

Jackie Brenneman — A highly-respected figure in global cinema, Jackie Brenneman has worked at the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), which is the official trade body of North American exhibitors, since 2014. In December 2021, she was named NATO’s new Executive Vice President and General Counsel, reflective of the tireless work she and her teams have performed to support cinema exhibition through the Covid19 pandemic. As part of NATO, she is key to the organization and running of CinemaCon, the world’s largest international gathering of cinema professionals.

Heather Morgan — An energetic and passionate leader in the cinema space, Heather Morgan began her career in exhibition at AMC Theatres before transitioning to Harkins Theatres, where she now serves as ??VP, Content and Programming. In 2020, she was named the President of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, reflective of her commitment to bettering the cinema exhibition space.

Harish Anand Thilakan (HAT) – The Founder and Managing Director of Influx Worldwide, providing technology solutions to cinemas around the world, Thilakan was one of the earliest sponsors of Women in Exhibition. With his long-time interests in marketing, entrepreneurialism, and technology, HAT is a regular fixture at worldwide industry events and a friend of WIE.

About Women In Exhibition
Women in Exhibition is a global cinema network to empower women in the cinema exhibition industry. WIE was conceived by a group of creative forward thinkers, who have dedicated themselves to the world of cinema exhibition. Women, who in their everyday careers, as part of a global network, make significant contributions that drive the advancement, development and success of the motion pictures industry.