Tao-Ming Lau- Senior Associate

Tao brings a unique background in arts leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship to Searchlight. She is the current founder/CEO of Blue Crane Agency – a creative booking and talent agency focused on diversity artists and industry professionals – female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals in North America and overseas. The agency has programmed festivals and events such as Pride Toronto, Nuit Blanche, Royal Ontario Museum, Mongrel House at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Institute of Canadian Citizenship, Women in Music Canada, and has spoken and mentored young artists at Remix Academy, HXOUSE, National Music Centre in Calgary, Music Manitoba, TELUS Storyhive in Vancouver, and more. She is currently a Board Director at Polaris Music Prize, Canadian Live Music Association, and Music Ontario's LGBTQ Prism Committee. She was featured as a ‘Local Hero’ by Now Magazine, and was named a Rising Star in Toronto Life Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Torontonians in 2018.

Since joining Searchlight, Tao has introduced a new and exciting generation of younger advocacy professionals in the NFP and arts sectors to our clients. Tao provides valuable insight and contacts with her extensive networks in diverse artistic and business communities, generating candidates and sources as well as pre-screening and profiling applicants.