By ROSS AUERBACH
By ROSS AUERBACH
The Visual Effects Society proudly announced the 2026 VES Board Executive Committee, selected by the global Board of Directors.
Kim Davidson, Chair, shared, “I’m honored to continue leading the VES Board of Directors alongside both new and returning colleagues on the Executive Committee. As a global organization, the VES continues to grow and thrive thanks to the dedication of our Board members and our many Section leaders and volunteers worldwide, and it’s inspiring to see their talent and camaraderie in action. I look forward to continuing our critical work to champion the craft of visual effects.”
“On behalf of the VES and our membership, I’m thrilled by the caliber of expertise this new leadership team brings to our global organization,” shared Nancy Ward, VES Executive Director. “Their passion and commitment will enable us to grow and enhance the VES and support the VFX industry.”
The 2026 Officers of the Board of Directors are:
• Chair: Kim Davidson
(Toronto, Canada)
• 1st Vice Chair: David H. Tanaka, VES
(San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.)
• 2nd Vice Chair: Brooke Lyndon-Stanford
(London, England)
• Secretary: Frederick Lissau
(Los Angeles, U.S.)
• Treasurer: Jeffrey A. Okun, VES
(Los Angeles, U.S.)
Kim Davidson is the President and CEO of SideFX®, world-leading innovator of advanced 3D animation and special effects Houdini® software, a company he co-founded in 1987. He has three Scientific and Technical Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Davidson was the first Chair of the VES Toronto Section and has served on the Toronto Section board for eight years, the global VES Board of Directors for nine years and several VES Committees. Davidson has been a VES mentor and played an active role in the Society’s recent strategic planning process on its Impact & Visibility and Globalization sub-committees.
David H. Tanaka, VES, 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 at Industrial Light & Magic and Pixar Animation Studios. Along with his wife, Dorianne, David co-founded Cinemabilities®, a remote and in-person filmmaking course for students with and without disabilities, ages 10 to 22+, now in its sixth year. He has been on the global Board of Directors for over 10 years, has just completed his third term as 2nd Vice Chair on the VES Executive Committee and has served three terms as VES Bay Area Section Chair. He currently Co-Chairs the VES Archive Committee, and is a contributor to the VES Handbook of Visual Effects publications.
Brooke Lyndon-Stanford is the founder and CEO of Atomic Arts, a visual effects house created in 1994 with bases in Europe, North America and Asia. Brooke is also the founder and owner of Omeira, a production company created to make thought-provoking films and high-end scripted television, including Paul Schrader’s First Reformed. Brooke has been on the global VES Board of Directors for over 12 years, has previously served on the Executive Committee as Treasurer (the first-ever member of the VES EC not from North America), London Section Chair and Co-Chair of the Outreach Committee. He has worked tirelessly to help flourish a more global leadership for the VES.
Frederick Lissau, the Director of Business Development for Black Point, a visual effects house based in Armenia, recently celebrated his 30th year in the visual effects, animation and games industry. His career has led him to hold positions in seven cities, four countries and three continents. This is Lissau’s first year as a member of the VES Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He has been a VES member since 2016 and previously served on the Board of Managers for three VES Sections: Los Angeles, New York and Montreal. He is also an active member of the VES Membership Committee.
Jeffrey A. Okun, VES, has garnered international recognition and accolades for his groundbreaking contributions to iconic VFX productions for more than 30 years. As VES Board Chair for seven years, he championed the global VFX community, and was instrumental in forming an international software anti-piracy alliance alongside the U.S. Government. He has served as 1st Vice Chair and Treasurer for the VES and founded the VES Awards program and show, establishing a lasting legacy within the industry. Co-Editor of award-winning VES Handbook of Visual Effects and the comprehensive VES Handbook of Virtual Production, Okun has helped shape the standards and best practices of the field.
