07 January 2025
VES News
By NAOMI GOLDMAN
By NAOMI GOLDMAN
Kim Davidson
Susan O’Neal
David Tanaka, VES
Rita Cahill
Jeffrey A. Okun, VES
The 2025 VES Board of Directors Officers, who comprise the VES Board Executive Committee, were elected at the January 2025 Board meeting. The Officers include Kim Davidson, who was re-elected Board Chair, and is the first Board member from outside the U.S. to hold this role since the Society’s inception.
“It is my privilege to serve as Chair of our worldwide community of visual effects artists and innovators,” said VES Chair Kim Davidson. “Since I joined the Society 18 years ago, I have seen the VES grow from a California-based organization to a global society with 16 regional Sections and members in more than 50 countries. As the first Chair elected from outside the U.S., I am representative of our thriving globalization, and I look forward to further championing our expansion worldwide. The leadership on our Board bring enormous commitment, expertise and enthusiasm to their volunteer service, and I’m excited about what we can achieve, together.”
“Our Society is fortunate to have strong leadership represented on our Executive Committee,” said Nancy Ward, VES Executive Director. “I am honored to work alongside these exceptional, dedicated professionals, especially amidst this time of dynamic change. We appreciate their commitment to further advance the Society’s global initiatives and impact.”
The 2025 officers of the VES Board of Directors are:
Kim Davidson is the President and CEO of SideFX, a world-leading innovator of advanced 3D animation and special effects Houdini software that he co-founded in 1987. Davidson has received three Scientific and Technical Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was the first Chair of the VES Toronto Section and served on its board for eight years. Davidson served on the global VES Board of Directors for seven years, on the Membership Committee for seven years as well as a number of VES committees. He has been a VES mentor and played an active role in the Society’s strategic planning process on its Impact & Visibility and Globalization sub-committees.
Susan O’Neal, a VES Founders Award recipient, has served on the global Board of Directors as Treasurer, 2nd Vice Chair and 1st Vice Chair. For many years, she served as the Chair for the legacy global Education Committee and currently chairs the Membership Committee, playing an instrumental role in the Society’s growth. She is currently a recruiter for BLT Recruiting, Inc. and has worked as an Operations Manager at The Mill, Operations Director at Escape Studios in Los Angeles and as an Account Manager at SideFX.
David H. Tanaka, VES, a VES Lifetime Member, is an Editor, Producer and Creative Director with experience ranging from visual effects and animation to documentary and live-action feature filmmaking. Tanaka currently holds a VFX Editor position with Tippett Studio. He has served three terms as Chair of the VES Bay Area Section and two previous terms as 2nd Vice Chair on the global Board of Directors. He is an active contributor to the VES Archives, Outreach and Work From Home Committees and the VES Handbook of Visual Effects publications.
Rita Cahill, a VES Founders Award recipient and Lifetime Member, is an international business and marketing/PR consultant and has worked with a number of U.S., Canadian, U.K., EU and Asian companies for visual effects and animation projects. Previously, Cahill was the Vice President of Marketing for Cinesite where she oversaw the marketing of four divisions of the pioneering digital studio’s services. This is Cahill’s ninth term as Secretary on the global Board of Directors. She also served as Chair or Co-Chair of the VES Summit for eight years.
Jeffrey A. Okun, VES, a VES Founders Award recipient, has been creating outstanding visual effects for film and television for over 30 years. He co-edited the award-winning VES Handbook of Visual Effects as well as the newly released and acclaimed VES Handbook of Virtual Production. Okun also created and founded the VES Awards, now in its 23rd year. Okun serves as VES Board Chair for seven years, Chair of the Los Angeles Section of the VES for two years and as 1st Vice Chair and Treasurer on the global Board of Directors for several years.
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