Stuart Johnston - CIMA President

Stuart is the President of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), which represents over 180 company members of the Canadian music industry.

Stuart leads a small team of dedicated professionals that work in support of the businesses and creative individuals who make Canada’s music production industry unique in the world. He is also a Board member of Re:Sound, the AVLA and CPCC, three music licensing/royalty collection agencies, as well as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Policy Priorities for the Canadian Conference of the Arts.

Prior to joining CIMA, Stuart was the Vice President of Policy and Government Relations with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. In addition to liaising with members of the provincial government and Ontario business leaders, Stuart was responsible for taking an active role in responding to policy priorities in finance and taxation, transportation and infrastructure, borders and trade, education, and energy issues. He also focused on strategically positioning the OCC as Ontario’s Business Advocate through the development of sound policy positions reflecting the interests of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and its members.

In 2008 Stuart was honoured with the James Gordon Carnegie Memorial Award for his leadership and mentorship within the Ontario chamber network.

Prior to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Stuart was the Executive Director and General Manager of the Brampton Board of Trade where he was also responsible for policy development. At the Board, Stuart was instrumental in the significant surge in membership, and the delivery of quality programs and services. From 1997 to 1999, Stuart served as the Policy Analyst for the Brampton Board of Trade, and was responsible for drafting and advocating the business community’s position on a wide range of important issues affecting the city’s corporate sector.

A journalist by trade, his experience includes serving as News Editor for Plant, a national publication focusing on the manufacturing and processing sectors in Canada, and as a political journalist at the Brampton Guardian, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press and the Erin Advocate.