Our Leadership Team

Stephan Jost is the Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Following his appointment in 2016, Stephan demonstrated immediate leadership by thoughtfully exploring the AGO’s visitorship, collection and key strengths in order to strategically focus on three mission-aligned areas: art, access and learning. He has overseen the revitalization of several key areas in the Gallery, helped clarify new audience target segments; and launched Look:Forward, a major reinstallation of the AGO’s remarkable Collection.

Before joining the AGO, Stephan was Director of the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) for five years, where he worked to make the Museum a welcoming and accessible place for a more diverse audience. Under his leadership, HoMA’s finances were dramatically improved; the education program expanded in reach and capacity; its membership increased by 64 per cent; and the visitor experience significantly energized.

Prior to that, he was the Director of the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, the Director of the Mills College Art Museum in Oakland, California, and held several curatorial positions at the Allen Memorial Art Museum of Oberlin College in Ohio.

Born in Michigan, Stephan holds a BA in art history from Hampshire College in Massachusetts and an MA in art history, specializing in the history of photography, from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jessica Bright was appointed Chief, Exhibitions, Collections & Conservation in 2021. She is responsible for leading all exhibition activity and associated project management; conservation; collection installation, care and management; registration, scheduling and logistical management of pan gallery installations and art movement. Jessica was previously the AGO’s Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives from 2020-2021; Director, Exhibitions from 2013-2019 and before that held positions in the AGO’s Curatorial, Education and Exhibitions departments. She worked on the Transformation AGO Project from 2006-2008 and was previously the Curator/Registrar at the Maclaren Art Centre.

Jessica holds a Master of Literature degree in Art History from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland and a BA in Art History from Queen’s University.

Lisa Clements was appointed Chief, Communications & Brand in 2017 and is responsible for marketing & design, communications, government relations, visitor experience, membership & data base marketing, and digital services at the AGO. Prior to this role, Lisa held the positions of Chief, Public Affairs & Communications, Director, Corporate and Public Affairs, and Associate Director, Office of the Director & CEO and Corporate Secretary.

Before joining the AGO, Lisa worked for the Ontario government for more than 11 years in various roles, including Chief of Staff to the Minister of Culture, Chief of Staff for the Government House Leader and as Senior Advisor, Issues Management, to the Minister for Children and Youth Services.

Lisa is a graduate of McMaster University where she received her BA in Canadian politics and her MA in public policy and administration.

Julian Cox joined the AGO as Deputy Director & Chief Curator in 2018. He leads the curatorial team in designing meaningful art experiences that embrace multiple—and often challenging—points of view. He focuses on exhibition planning in addition to developing the AGO’s significant collections, positioning Toronto and Ontario’s rich artistic landscape in the widest context possible to ensure the Gallery is inclusive and welcoming, and  reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

Before joining the AGO, Julian was Chief Curator of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), working across two museums, the de Young and the Legion of Honor. In this role, he led curatorial activities in art of the Americas, Oceania and Africa, Ancient art, European Paintings and European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Prints and Drawings, American art, contemporary art and international textiles and costume. He also managed FAMSF’s conservation, library and publications staff.

Prior to that, he served as Curator of Photography at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia and held several positions in the Department of Photography at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Julian holds a Master of Philosophy degree in the history of photography from the University College of Wales, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from the University of Manchester.

Alain joined the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2017 specializing in Labour Relations and was appointed Chief of People in 2021 with a mandate to implement transformational Human Resources initiatives and be a lead partner on the AGO’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategy. Alain graduated from Seneca College with Honours in the Business Administration-Human Resources Advanced Diploma Program and holds a CHRL designation with the Human Resources Professional Association. For more than 10 years Alain has worked with various government and non-profit institutions, his most recent being with Elections Ontario.

Kate Halpenny joined the AGO in 2019 as Chief Development Officer to inspire and lead the Development team, build the AGO’s capacity for an elevated fundraising strategy aligned with the AGO’s long-term vision, and set the groundwork for future fundraising campaigns.

Before joining the AGO, Kate was the Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts at the National Ballet of Canada, where she played a leadership role in the company’s $100 million Soaring Campaign. Prior to that, she led targeted giving initiatives at United Way Toronto and was the founding Executive Director of the WoodGreen Foundation and Director of Marketing at WoodGreen Community Services. She has also held senior positions at the Canadian Film Centre and Opera Atelier.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, and received her MBA in Arts & Media Management from Schulich School of Business at York University.

Dr. Audrey Hudson was appointed Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming in 2020. Audrey joined the AGO in 2017; prior to this new role she was Associate Curator of Schools & Early Childhood Programs. During this time, Audrey has led strategies on school programs, delivered innovative early childhood programs, developed and increased partnerships with Taking ITGlobal, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and the Urban Indigenous Education Centre/Toronto District School Board.

Prior to joining the AGO, Audrey was an Assistant Professor at OCAD University and has been an active Art Educator and programmer for 22 years. She has developed and taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at OCAD University, Ryerson, and University of Toronto. Audrey has been an active mentor in community engagement including working with marginalized women at Sistering/Inspirations. Audrey is passionate artist, educator and researcher and serves on the Editorial board of the Art Education, Journal of the National Art Education Association. She has published numerous articles on art, social change, and education.

Audrey holds a PhD from University of Toronto/Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (UT/OISE) in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning; an MEd from York University and a BFA from OCAD University.

Mike Mahoney currently serves as Executive Director, Corporate Special Projects and Director of Operations. He is responsible for strategic projects on behalf of the Gallery and oversees building and facilities services. 

Mike successfully led the $276 million construction project, Transformation AGO from 2005 to 2008.

Prior to joining the AGO, he was Assistant Director of Engineering and Technical Services for the Stadium Corporation of Ontario (Skydome), and Assistant Director of Engineering and Physical Plant at the University of St. Michael's College.

Erin Prendergast joined the AGO as Chief of Staff & Corporate Secretary in 2015, and became Chief, Strategic Initiatives in 2019. Erin is responsible for advising and assisting Leadership Team colleagues in the achievement of strategic initiatives, priority setting, corporate governance, and also manages the operation of the Directors' Office.

Erin was previously Director of Development at the Walrus Foundation, best known for publishing The Walrus magazine, from 2013 to 2015. Before joining the Walrus, she worked at the AGO for thirteen years, managing fundraising projects with goals of $1 million and above. She was the manager of the Transformation AGO fundraising campaign, which raised more than $300 million in funds. At the 2008 completion of Transformation AGO, Erin established a donor relations portfolio and helped launch the “Art Opens Minds” campaign in support of art education in 2011. Previous to these roles, Erin worked at Key Porter Books, a Canadian book publisher, and Sotheby's (Canada) Inc., an international fine art auction house.

Erin is a certified fundraising executive and holds a master's degree in publishing.

Rocco Saverino was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2000, leading the AGO's financial oversight as well as holding responsibility for the Information Technology portfolio. Prior to this role, he held the position of Controller.

Before joining the AGO, Rocco was the Director of Finance at Humber Memorial Hospital from 1989 to 1997, and subsequently the Director of Decision Support at Humber River Regional Hospital until 1998.

He is a graduate of Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and received a diploma from the Business Administration program with a specialization in Accounting and Finance. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and obtained his Certified General Accountant (CGA) designation in 1993.