David Usher
Juno Award-Winning Musician, Creativity & AI Expert
David Usher is an award-winning musician, bestselling author, and founder of the artificial intelligence creative studio: Reimagine AI. As Creativity & AI Expert, David defines the path an organization can follow to reboot its creativity amidst this brave new world of disruptive change. David helps innovative companies, like Google, Pepsi, and Rogers, re-inspire creativity in both employees and executives. Because David Usher doesn’t just talk creativity and artificial intelligence — he lives it.
Fab Dolan
Head of Marketing, Google Canada
Fab Dolan is Head of Marketing at Google Canada, and a regular guest lecturer at some of Canada’s top universities. He draws on his experience leading iconic brands, like Cheerios and Green Giant, and revolutionary upstarts, like Android and YouTube at work and during his talks. Dolan also teaches Fortune 500 business leaders how emerging technologies can redefine the way they do business, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing individuals and companies in this age of innovation.
Amber Mac
President, AmberMac Media
Named one of DMZ’s 30 inspirational women making a difference in tech, Amber Mac started her career during the dot-com boom. After leaving the startup world to join Microsoft, she eventually started her own successful digital agency in 2006. In 2010, Amber wrote the bestselling book, Power Friending, and later co-authored the Amazon bestseller, Outsmarting Your Kids Online. In 2019, her podcast The AI Effect won Best Technology Series. She is a regular business host and expert on radio and TV.
Michele Romanow
Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder Clearbanc; Co-Founder SnapSaves (acq by Groupon), Dragon on Dragons' Den
An engineer and serial entrepreneur, “tech titan” Michele Romanow started five companies before her 33rd birthday. Michele is also a “Dragon” on CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den, an angel investor, and a co-founder of Clearbanc — a growth capital business that gave entrepreneurs more than $100 million in funding in 2018. Named in WXN’s “100 Most Powerful in Canada” and listed as the only Canadian on Forbes’ “Millennial on a Mission” list, Michele brings her incredible entrepreneurial savvy to every stage.
Shawn Kanungo
Innovation Strategist; General Partner of Queen & Rook Capital
A strategist recognized nationally and internationally for his work in the innovation space, Shawn Kanungo operates at the intersection of creativity, business, and technology. As General Partner of Queen & Rook Capital, Shawn uses concepts — like behavioural economics, user-centred design, crowdsourcing, artificial intelligence, drones, and film — to help organizations along their digital transformation journey. Shawn has been featured in Forbes, The Globe and Mail, The Guardian, CBC, and CTV.
Josh Zweig
CPA, CA, Partner, LiveCA LLP
Josh Zweig is Partner and Co-Founder of LiveCA, a virtual CPA firm that gives Josh and his colleagues the opportunity to work from anywhere. Before launching LiveCA in 2013, Josh graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business. He spent several years in public practice at both a national and mid-size CPA firm, where he received his CPA and CA designations, as well as a public accounting license. Now he works while exploring the world — challenging the accountant stereotype everywhere he goes.
Ramy Sedra
CPA, Partner, Consulting and Deals, PwC Canada
Ramy Sedra is Canada’s AI & Analytics Consulting Leader and a co-founder of the $1B AI innovation program: Scale. An accomplished speaker and author on the topic of data and analytics, Ramy recently presented on the topic of AI Transformation at the AI Summit held by the Montreal Metropolitain Chamber of Commerce. He discussed his expertise on the sharing economy as a guest on TVA Canal Argent, and has been interviewed on Smart Cities, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence for CPA Magazine.
Michael Cherny
Chief of Staff, Deloitte Canada
Michael Cherny is Chief of Staff to the National Audit Public Practice at Deloitte, where he uses a risk-based approach to financial and non-financial assurance with clients across multiple industries. Michael recently received the CPA’s Emerging Leader Award, and the Notable Life – LGBTQ Leader Award. He currently serves as National Chair of the Deloitte Pride Community, and previously as Treasurer on the Board of Pride Toronto, Director on the Board of Start Proud, and Advisor to The Ten Oaks Project.
Michael Kravshik
Founder & CEO, Luminari
Michael Kravshik is Founder and CEO of Luminari, a platform that helps CPAs progress in their career by providing them with customized career services, volunteer opportunities, and mentorship matches. Luminari recently launched LumiQ, a professional development podcast app that highlights practical skills and features industry experts. Michael began his entrepreneurial journey when he joined a technology startup as CFO/COO, helping the founders grow their business by raising $2 million in financing.
John Ruffolo
Founder, OMERS Ventures; Co-Founder, Council of Canadian Innovators
John Ruffolo is Founder of OMERS Ventures, a company that has invested more than $500 million in disruptive North American technology companies, like Hootsuite, Shopify, and Wattpad. John is also a co-founder of the Council of Canadian Innovators, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping high-growth Canadian technology firms scale up globally. Comprised of CEOs from Canada’s most promising technology companies, the council’s role is to optimize the growth of Canada’s innovation-based sector.
Hamoon Ekhtiari
Founder & CEO, Audacious Futures
As Founder and CEO of Audacious Futures, a global launchpad for “audacious innovation,” Hamoon Ekhtiari is passionate about unlocking an organization’s potential to re-imagine the future. Previous roles in the innovation space include Director of Strategy and Innovation for the Executive Vice-President at TELUS and Founding Director of Studio [Y], a leadership and innovation academy at MaRS. Hamoon also founded a social enterprise that raised $1M in its first year, and is a Canada Millennium Scholar.
Michelle McBane
Co-Founder & Managing Director, StandUp Ventures; Senior Investment Director, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund
As Co-Founder and Managing Director of StandUp Ventures, Michelle McBane has invested in more than 40 early-stage technology companies started by women. A seasoned executive with more than 19 years of venture capital experience, Michelle sits on the board at tealbook and is a board observer for portfolio companies like Sampler, Nudge Rewards, and Bridgit. She also contributes to the ecosystem as a volunteer advisor for organizations that include Ryerson DMZ, Techstars, NEXT Canada, and #MoveTheDial.