Net Impact Trek 2022: Fireside Chat with Christine Simmons, COO of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Join us for an exclusive evening with Christine Simmons, COO at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! Christine is a trailblazer - not only has been a dedicated social impact professional for her entire career but she is the first Woman and Black Person to ever hold this executive position at the Academy. Christine has been at the helm of the Academy since 2019 and during some of the world's most turbulent times - from the pandemic, to the focus on increased representation in the arts, to protecting vulnerable actors and associates in the industry as we navigate the pandemic. We'll hear about Christine's journey, how to navigate and be a strategic leader during a crisis, and what the future of impact in the industry is. Come prepared with questions!



About Christine:

Born and raised in Southern California, Christine Simmons is a true California girl. Simmons was named to the position of Chief Operating Officer at the Academy  of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019. The first Woman and Black person to hold the position. Simmons is responsible for the day-to-day management and enhancement of the Academy’s internal organization and infrastructure, focusing on a number of key initiatives including the organization’s strategic and 5-year business plans, organizational restructure, career progression realignment, representation and inclusion, sustainability and much, much more. Simmons leads the first-ever, Office of Representation, Inclusion, and Equity which will lead and support internal and external initiatives to broaden the Aperture through which excellence is recognized. She also continues to oversee the Academy Foundation, comprised of the Margaret Herrick Library, Academy Film Archive, its many talent diversity spotlight and development programs, and the Science and Technology Council. She will join leadership in collaborative efforts to fulfill and further the Academy's mission, that is to  recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, inspire imagination, and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures.

 

A proud UCLA graduate, she currently holds seats on UCLA Foundation Board of Directors and the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Advisory Board. She just finished a 2-year term on the UC Board of Regents, where she served on the following committees: Finance and Capital Strategies, Public Engagement and Development, Investments & Basic Needs. She is a Past President and Director on the Board of the UCLA  Alumni Association representing all 500,000 global Bruins.

 

She is on the Advisory Council for Spry, Next Play Capital, Shared Harvest Fund, MyCOVID MD, Committee for the LA 2020 Women on Boards as well as a delegate for the Hollywood Commission. She also volunteers for Better Futures for Thomazeau, a small, grassroots nonprofit that provides aide and is currently building a vocational school in Haiti. A huge advocate of mentoring, Christine formally mentors the next generation of             Black women through Cari Champion’s foundation, Brown Girls Dream, and has informally mentored countless others. Simmons speaks nationally on topics of Business, Strategy, Leadership, Inclusion, and Women’s Empowerment. Her proudest achievement is being a mom to her son, Christian. 

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