2026 Kingston WritersFest
Board of Directors
KWF has assembled a skilled and experienced Board of Directors to guide the vision of the festival and oversee its renewal. These directors bring extensive financial, governance, human resources, legal, crisis management, fund development, and arts experience to the table, as well as fresh ideas and deep knowledge of the history and traditions of Kingston WritersFest.
We are delighted to introduce the 2025 Kingston WritersFest Board of Directors:
Peter Gillespie
Peter Gillespie is a strategic marketing and brand specialist with experience in public engagement, project management, and corporate relations. As the Director of Communications and Business Development for the Downtown Kingston BIA, he is committed to fostering growth in Kingston’s special downtown business community. With a diverse background in private media, public institutions, and in the not-for-profit sector, he is adept at mediation, and partnership development. He is passionate about community-building and supporting local arts organizations.
Elspeth Morgan
Elspeth Morgan (M.Ed) is a retired student advisor from Queen’s University, where she helped thousands of students find employment. A lover of words and books, she has been a freelance editor and writer, and an ardent supporter of Kingston WritersFest. She has 25 years’ experience in organizing an annual international conference and is adept at developing institutional relationships. When she is not reading, discussing books with her book club, cooking, or gardening, she can be found in a Pilates studio or on the golf course. She has an abundance of energy for her family and is a passionate life-long Kingstonian.
Harriet Waterman
Harriet Waterman is an Engineer and a Harvard University MBA who worked as a banker for a decade and subsequently as an entrepreneur in marine robotics. Most recently, she was an Industrial Technology Advisor for the National Research Council’s Government of Canada program in the Kingston to Trenton region, providing business, financial, and technical advisory services. Harriet has been Treasurer of numerous organizations, including the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, Harvard Business School Club of Toronto, and SWITCH, a not-for-profit hub for the sustainable energy community, where she sat on the Board for 15 years. Harriet is a long-time supporter and attendee of Kingston WritersFest.
Anna Samulak
Anna Samulak is a fundraising professional with 12+ years’ experience in the post-secondary education sector. Anna is currently the Principal Partnerships Liaison at Queen’s University. Prior to this, she was the Senior Development Officer, Arts overseeing major gift fundraising in support of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Anna holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Toronto, a master’s degree in art history from Queen’s and a fundraising management certificate from Humber Polytechnic. Anna has been in book clubs for nearly 15 years and enjoys discussing books with friends and colleagues.
Jan Allen
Jan Allen is a writer and artist, now retired from her roles as curator and director at Queen’s University’s Agnes Etherington Art Centre. As a passionate advocate of arts and cultural policy, she spearheaded the creation of the City of Kingston Arts Fund, the City’s Poet Laureate Program, and the Mayor’s Arts Awards. Her board experience includes the Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG), the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization, and Kingston’s Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning. Her contributions have been recognized by a Royal Canadian Academy Medal and the Arts Champion Award of the City of Kingston. Allen completed the Humber School for Writers Creative Writing Graduate Certificate with Distinction in 2025.
Jamal Saeed
Jamal Saeed is a Syrian author, editor, visual artist, Arabic calligrapher, and translator. He worked in publishing and was co-founder of Friends of Art & Literature, aimed at supporting young Syrian creators. When secret intelligence threatened members, the organization dissolved. Jamal spent 12 years in a Syrian prison as a prisoner of conscience.
Jamal landed in Canada with his family as a refugee in 2016. In 2020, he published Yara’s Spring, a children’s novel co-authored with Sharon McKay. Two years later, a memoir, My Road from Damascus. And in fall 2025, two books: Princess Nai and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and My Sister the Apple Tree, a picture book co-authored with Jordan Scott.
Jennifer Foster
Jennifer has provided legal services to the Kingston community for more than 15 years. She earned her law degree from Queen's University in 1999 and has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 2001.
For the past several years, Jennifer has served as legal counsel to Kingston WritersFest and her law firm, RBHF, has been a generous patron of Festival authors. An avid reader and supporter of the arts, she has long enjoyed the annual Festival and is delighted to join the Board of this beloved Kingston arts organization.
Jennifer is also an active community volunteer, providing leadership and board oversight to Ryandale Transitional Housing, WEMA Inc., and The Art of Courage.
Nicola Thomas
Nicola (she/her) is of settler descent, originally from Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Recently retired as a Professor of Nursing, Nicola has spent her life bringing people together through education, advocacy, and community health. Her work has ranged from hospital care to research and teaching, with a focus on cultural humility, Indigenous health, and paediatric asthma. Building strong, connected communities has always been at the heart of Nicola’s work. She helped champion Ryan’s Law (2015) and created the Kingston Asthma Friendly School Stakeholders’ Group to support local schools, families, and public health partners. She is a lifelong reader and passionate advocate for the arts.