Biographies

	Photo © Tarum Chhabra

Michael Tobias

The President and CEO of the Foundation is Michael Tobias, a global ecologist, anthropologist, historian, explorer, author and filmmaker.
> READ MORE

Tobias obtained his Ph.D. in the Department of History of Consciousness from the University of California-Santa Cruz. Tobias has lectured widely. He was an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies & Adjunct Assistant Professor of English and the Humanities at Dartmouth College, an Associate Professor of Humanities at California State University-Northridge, the Garrey Carruthers Chair of Honors and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque, and a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies and Regents' Lecturer, at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

Tobias is the author of more than 35 books (both fiction and non-fiction as well as several edited anthologies). In addition to his numerous books and published research papers, Tobias has written, directed, produced, executive produced or co-executive produced well over 100 films – TV series, documentaries and dramas, most pertaining to environmental, cultural, social or scientific issues. Tobias' field research has taken him to some 80 countries where he has specialized in an interdisciplinary approach to environmental history, animal rights, scientific, ethical and philosophical frameworks for policy research, strategies and documentation, demographic analysis, ecological anthropology, biodiversity conservation, and non-violence activism. In 1996, Tobias received the "Courage of Conscience Award" for his commitment to nature and non-violence. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Parabola Focus Award for his long-standing body of work aimed at creating a better world.

PDF FILE: Selected Books by Michael Tobias
PDF FILE: Selected Films by Michael Tobias
Michael Tobias on IMDB
Courage of Conscience

Watch Michael in “Compassion: The biological bottom line”
(1:45 min)



Jane Gray Morrison

Executive Vice President Jane Gray Morrison is an ecologist whose work has taken her to over 30 countries. > READ MORE

As a filmmaker, Ms. Morrison has produced numerous films for such networks as Discovery, PBS (where she also Co-Directed "A Day in the Life of Ireland" for Irish Television and WNET/New York) and Turner Broadcasting for which she served as Senior Producer for "Voice of the Planet," a 10-hour dramatic series based upon the history of life on Earth. Ms. Morrison recently completed a feature film documentary trilogy, "Mad Cowboy," "No Vacancy" and "Hotspots."

For eleven + years Ms. Morrison has served as the Executive Vice President of Dancing Star Foundation.

PDF FILE: Books by Jane Gray Morrison
PDF FILE: Films by Jane Gray Morrison



Don Cannon

The Vice President, Finance and Operations, Don Cannon is a seasoned financial executive with extensive entertainment industry expertise. > READ MORE

During the 18 years prior to joining the Foundation, he was the SVP, Finance and Administration for International Creative Management, a major talent agency.He directed the accounting, finance and administrative functions for this agency having over 2,500 clients and 385 employees.

Don also held senior positions at A&M Records, Elektra Records, and several television production companies including Hanna Barbera Productions.

A C.P.A., with an M.B.A. from Loyola-Marymount University, Don brings considerable industry, finance, human resources, and accounting expertise to the organization and, in his words is "thrilled to be able to help increase awareness of animal protection and biodiversity conservation."

Don is the Co-Executive Producer of the new Dancing Star Foundation feature film documentary, "Hotspots".



Karine Dinev-Hackett

Karine Dinev-Hackett, Executive Assistant to the President and Associate Producer of "Hotspots", was born in Paris to a film distribution family. > READ MORE

She studied filmmaking at UCLA and has worked extensively in film production. She also worked in publicity for the French TV channel, Canal Plus (US), and Vivendi Universal. Her films credit as public relation associate include such movies as "Apocalypse Now," "The Other," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou".

Karine has a passion for animals and the environment, including studying orangutan behavior in Borneo with Dr. Biruté Galdikas, and insects in the Peruvian Amazon. At DSF, Karine uses her background in films and the environment to help increase public awareness of the complex environmental issues facing our planet.