Laura Michalchyshyn

President and General Manager of Planet Green.

Michalchyshyn is responsible for all aspects of the creative and business strategy including programming, operations and content development for Planet Green’s multi-platform businesses including the 24-hour television channel. She serves as the chief editorial executive and manages the overall direction of the network.

Prior to her role with Planet Green, Michalchyshyn served as Executive Vice President & General Manager, Programming and Creative Affairs, Sundance Channel, and was responsible for all creative expressions of the Sundance Channel brand, both on and off-Channel, including original programming, film acquisition, program planning, on-air promotion and the creative strategy of all Channel branding.

Michalchyshyn joined Sundance Channel in January 2005. Prior to Sundance Channel, Michalchyshyn had served as Senior Vice-President, Dramatic Programming for Alliance Atlantis since 1997, where she had achieved international recognition and acclaim for her programming and film production contributions. Her responsibilities there included all programming at Showcase Television, a Canadian dramatic cable channel that broadcasts dramatic series, mini-series, television movies and feature films, as well as leading the launch of three Canadian digital specialty channels including Showcase Action, Showcase Diva and IFC Canada.

In 1995, Michalchyshyn was part of the management team that launched the first Canadian women's cable channel, WTN, where she worked as Program Manager responsible for scheduling and acquiring movies, series and documentaries. For three years at WTN she also produced an ongoing half hour short film series which launched the careers of many emerging Canadian filmmakers.

Michalchyshyn has worked as a programmer, broadcast executive, mentor, marketing and development consultant and industry advisor for numerous organizations such as the Independent Feature Project, Hot Docs, Toronto International Film Festival, Norman Jewison's Canadian Film Centre, National Film Board, Telefilm, Cinematheque Ontario, Women In Communications, Harbourfront Centre, York University, City of Toronto Arts and Cultural Advisory Council, and the National Screen Institute. She produced the award winning and internationally distributed one-hour documentary Guy Maddin: Waiting For Twilight and feature film Hey, Happy!

Michalchyshyn has received many awards and accolades during her career in programming, including: Excellence in Mentoring and Professional Development (WIFT), Best Documentary (Hot Docs, Blizzard Awards), 2006 Woman To Watch (Multi Channel News), Best New Canadian Film, (Inside Out), Showcase- Best Specialty Cable Channel (Eye and X-tra 2003, 2004).