The Unison Fund Welcomes New Chair and Additions to Board of Directors

The Unison Fund has called on new names to begin its latest chapter.

The Toronto-based music charity announced its new board of directors for 2026 following its annual general meeting, welcoming a new chair on board, Sarah Kilpatrick, formerly the vice chair for five years and the vice president of corporate affairs at Music Canada. Additionally, the Unison Fund has welcomed Patrick Guay, Ali Slaight, Iain Taylor and Philip Vanden Brande as incoming directors on its board.

The Unison fund has been crucial to artist relief and emergency support. In 2020 and 2021, the company disbursed over $3.5 million in assistance amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, and created a crucial emergency relief fund for musicians in Jan. 2025 following the Los Angeles wildfires. Last year, the charity also launched a first-of-its-kind music industry survey about mental health in partnership with Revelios, pioneering in industry recognition of artists and musicians' well-being. Amid a decorated year for the company, new executive director Alex Johnson earned a nod on the prestigious Billboard Canada Power Players 2026 list.

These additions to the board of directors reflect the company's current mission to continue to uplift Canadian musicians and their mental health, including during emergency situations, and a commitment to deepen community connections and expand into French-speaking Canada.

Guay is the senior manager of booking, concerts and events at evenko, handling massive summer festivals in Montreal like Osheaga, one of the country’s biggest festivals which has recently shown a knack for booking international superstars right as their popularity skyrockets. He brings his experience booking acts for these major gigs, and his Montreal roots allow the Unison Fund to strengthen its presence and proximity to Quebec. As the partner and vice president of annexe media, Philip Vanden Brande also offers strong knowledge of the Quebec market, running one of the biggest communications companies in Montreal for nearly two decades. He also joins Unison's board of directors with an extensive history working alongside the charity as its communications advisor and chair of its marketing and communications committee, making him a key player in understanding the company's existing growth while charting new markets.

Slaight and Taylor's inclusion is a strong push for the bolstering of homegrown Canadian talent, which both are actively involved in. Ali Slaight works in artist development at Slaight Music, which is dedicated to supporting Canadian culture and talent and recently partnered with Canadian indie publishing company MCMXVI Inc. to uplift its artists and build global potential. Slaight Music's president Derrick Ross, a Billboard Canada 2025 Power Player, is one of the departing board members at Unison, while MCMXVI founder and CEO Carlos Pineda is an active board member and on Billboard Canada 2025 Managers to Watch list. Taylor brings more than 40 years of industry experience to the table, also championing artists through his work as president and CEO of Cadence Music Group and previous involvement on Unison committees.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ali, Iain, Patrick, and Philip to Unison’s Board of Directors. Each brings valuable expertise, perspective and community connection that will strengthen Unison’s ability to serve music workers across the country," says ,” says Kilpatrick. "I am also honoured to take on the role of Chair following Brian Huston’s exceptional leadership, and look forward to working closely with Executive Director Alex Johnson, our newly elected directors, and the dedicated returning members of the Board, whose continued engagement and commitment remain essential to advancing Unison’s mission.”