SPEAKERS
We are pleased to present the following speakers and panelists.
EVAN BABINS
Event and Experiences Producer
Evan Babins has 13 years’ experience in corporate event production. Throughout his career, he has had the chance to manage event logistics and technical event production for many world class clients like: Nissan Canada, Equitable Bank, Kia Canada, Novartis, TD Bank and Intuit Canada, to name a few.
Evan has worked in both the live, virtual and hybrid event spaces, honing his craft as a top tier event industry trendsetter. Evan has been included in BizBash's Top 250 Event Professionals, Eventex's Top 50 Most Influential Event Technology Professionals & Top 100 Most Influential Event Pro’s, Bizzabo's Top 55 Event Experience Leaders & Special Event Magazine's Top 20 Young Event Pro's to Watch lists.
KRISTIN BANTA
Founder and Creative Director - Kristin Banta Events Inc.
Kristin Banta is the creative force behind Kristin Banta Events, one of the country’s leading experiential event design and production firms. Named 2025 Best Event Design by California Wedding Day, 2025 Best Overall Private Event by ILEA, and one of BizBash’s Most Influential Event Professionals of 2025, Kristin continues to set the standard for high-concept, high-impact celebrations worldwide.
Kristin and her team have spent more than two decades producing immersive weddings, influential industry soirées, luxury brand activations, and destination events for a discerning global clientele. Known for bold creativity and meticulous execution, KBE transforms visions into provocative, multi-sensory experiences that tell unforgettable stories.
BRENT BAROOTES
President and CEO - Partnership Group - Sponsorship Specialists®
Brent Barootes is President and CEO of the Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists®, a national sponsorship marketing consulting firm. In the past 35 years Brent has worked directly or indirectly with many events, conferences, festivals, municipalities, sport organizations, Canadian brands, corporations, small and medium sized businesses as well as charities and non profits, to develop, audit, enhance and build effective sponsorship marketing programs for them. Brent excels in development of sponsorship asset identification, valuation and ideation for event sponsorships that will yield the event, the attendees and the sponsoring partner maximum ROI.
Brent is also the author of Amazon.ca’s #1 Best seller in the Nonprofit Marketing and Communications category; Reality Check – Straight Talk about Sponsorship Marketing. Brent is a regular speaker at conferences and conventions as well as a TEDx presenter on “Busting the Work-Life Balance Myth”.
Brent lives with his wife of 25 years in Nanaimo BC while their daughter studies at McGill in Montreal.
MARGO BUCKLEY
Founder and Fundraising Coach - Good 4 U Consulting Inc.
Margo Buckley has been a fundraiser for over 13 years & founded Good 4 U Consulting Inc. in 2020. With experience in every corner of Fund Development, Margo specializes in fundraising systems & processes, partnering with non-profits to create effective fundraising & stewardship strategies. Margo’s fundraising approach is grounded in mindset before money and how understanding the power of gratitude and stewardship should inform every step of a fundraising model.
HAILEY DAWOOD
Owner and Chief Huntress - The Idea Hunter
Hailey Dawood is a powerhouse event professional, entrepreneur, and content creator recognized as one of the leading voices in Canada’s corporate event industry. As the Owner and Chief Huntress of The Idea Hunter, Hailey leads a dynamic team that partners with top brands like Toronto Blue Jays, Sun Life, Air Canada Vacations, Shoppers Drug Mart, and many more to create elevated, unforgettable event experiences.
Known for her creative vision and strategic execution, Hailey blends artistry with business acumen to transform events into impactful brand moments. Her leadership style is fearless, collaborative, and deeply rooted in growth—qualities that have earned her accolades such as Event Professional of the Year (2023) and Emerging Industry Leader (2019) from Canadian Special Events, as well as recognition among the Top 10 Women in Leadership shaping Canada’s event industry.
Beyond the boardroom, Hailey is a passionate content creator who shares insights on leadership, creativity, and mindset. Her content empowers other entrepreneurs and event professionals to think boldly, lead authentically, and build businesses that align with purpose and passion.
ARTHUR KEREKES
Founder, Fusion Events & Fusion Interactive | Creator, uRequest Live | Creator, BananaCam.ai | Host, “That’s Entertaining” Podcast
Arthur Kerekes is an innovator at the intersection of live entertainment, technology, and AI. As founder of Fusion Events and Fusion Interactive Agency, he creates immersive experiences that connect audiences through interactivity, storytelling, and design.
He is the creator of uRequest Live, an audience-curated concert experience, and the developer behind AI-powered entertainment platforms like Bananacam.ai and Selfie Photosphere. Through Fusion Interactive, Arthur also builds custom apps and digital experiences that explore how artificial intelligence can elevate engagement in live and virtual environments.
As host of That’s Entertaining, Arthur spotlights the creators and technologies reshaping the future of events and inspires others to think bolder about what’s possible.
TRISH KNOX
Owner - TK Events
Trish has been producing events for over 30 years and leads an award-winning team in Canada and the UK. The agency is focused on bringing unforgettable brand experiences to life, producing live and virtual events for global corporations. Known for industry leading conferences, creative brand activations and hybrid innovation delivered with heart and precision, Trish brings an international perspective on strategy and scale. With a tech forward mindset, recently she has led the launch of Virtual Creator Studio, a first of its kind, DIY, no code virtual venue solution, where you can design and host your own virtual events in a simple point and click solution.
Whether it’s curating an inspiring technical production, immersive creative experience, or elevating an agenda, Trish brings unique insights on what resonates with today's audiences.
ANCA PLATON TRIFAN
CEO - Tree-Fan Events Production
Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, WMEP is an award-winning speaker, AI strategist, and bodybuilding champion with over 20 years of experience in event production and event technology. As CEO of Tree-Fan Events Production, she brings precision, power, and practicality to every stage—helping teams lead smarter, implement tech with confidence, and show up stronger under pressure. She’s the host of Events: Demystified, founder of the #FIT4EVENTS framework, and a top voice driving honest, no-hype conversations around AI, AV, and industry leadership.
CHRISTINE RENAUD
Founder - Braindate
An internationally recognized Montreal entrepreneur, Christine Renaud is the founder of Braindate, a pioneering technology that transforms events into peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing experiences. Built without venture capital, Braindate was named one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies in 2025 and a finalist for two Webby Awards in 2023. It is now used by global leaders such as Salesforce, TED, SXSW, and NVIDIA.
Trained at Harvard University in education and guided by deep values of authenticity and community, Christine designs spaces where collective intelligence can be fully expressed. Her unique voice inspires those who wish to do business differently—with boldness, kindness, and purpose.
A sought-after speaker (SXSW, IBTM, C2 Montreal), she candidly addresses the realities of entrepreneurship, the power of courageous conversations and the urgency of reinventing success in an era where solitude must give way to human connection.
LISA SCHULTEIS
Founder, Consultant and Event Strategist - Electralime Marketing
Lisa Schulteis is a speaker and founder of two industry-leading virtual and hybrid event companies. She is regarded as a go-to source on growing and scaling businesses through events. In addition to speaking, Lisa works directly with companies and entrepreneurs, providing event strategy and consulting. Her experience with live and virtual events comes from her years of working with Fortune 500 companies, organizations and associations, helping them grow and scale using events. As a virtual event producer and manager, she has designed, built and produced hybrid and virtual events from virtual summits to large corporate events and full-scale conferences.
ADRIEN TOMBARI
Founder and CEO - adn conféncier.e.s
Adrien Tombari is the founder and CEO of adn conféncier.e.s, a Canadian talent and content agency providing speakers, hosts, trainers, workshop creators, team-building experts, and bilingual coaches for organizations around the world.
In just five years, Adrien and his team have led over 1,000 initiatives for more than 500 clients, guided by their mission to “change the world, one connection at a time.”
Committed to making the industry more inclusive, Adrien is actively involved in the DE&I chapter of MPI Toronto and is regularly featured in the media, podcasts, and industry events across Canada, including Ignite Magazine, MPI, Adrenaline, and Hypergrowth.
Joelle Tripp
Founder - Joy by Joelle
Joelle Tripp is a powerhouse event designer, creative visionary, and the founder of Joy by Joelle. She’s most known for her out-of-the-box ideas, bold builds, and fearless approach to experience design. Joelle has produced hundreds of weddings and events across Western Canada — each one uniquely crafted and intentionally told. She blends design, logistics, and storytelling and is the rare creative who can dream big and execute bigger. She believes trust, respect and collaboration gives way to, in her words, “one kick ass event!”
Jody Paulson
CSEP, ILEA Canada Affiliate, Instructor & Cirriculum Reviewer - Mount Royal University
Jody Paulson, CSEP is a seasoned event professional with more than 30 years of experience bringing events of every scale to life—from intimate gatherings to productions for more than 2,000 guests. Her portfolio includes major milestones such as multiple University of Alberta faculty centennial celebrations, Athabasca University’s 50th anniversary, and award-winning convocation ceremonies in 2022 and 2023.
Now retired from active event planning, Jody continues to shape the industry through teaching, mentoring, and volunteer leadership. She is an instructor and curriculum reviewer for the Event Management Certificate Program at Mount Royal University Continuing Education. A long-time member and advocate for the International Live Events Association (ILEA), Jody has served in numerous leadership roles, including two terms as President of the ILEA Edmonton Chapter, Chair of the International CSEP Certification Committee, and currently as Immediate Past Chair of ILEA Canada.
Jody holds the prestigious Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation, as well as certifications in course design, MBTI, and adult continuing education. In 2021, she developed and delivered ILEA’s global CSEP Prep Course pilot, which is set to relaunch in spring 2026.
Passionate about events, lifelong learning, and the power of storytelling, Jody is committed to lifting the industry through education, inspiration, and community.
Michelle Lean
Communications Director - pipikwan pêhtâkwan
Michelle Lean (she/her) is of Plains Cree ancestry on her mother's side and Scottish settler ancestry on her father’s side. She was born and resides in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). She is a member of Frog Lake First Nation located in Treaty 6 territory.
She brings over 15 years of communication experience working in industries like engineering, healthcare, post-secondary education, utilities and finance. Her expertise includes communications planning, issues management, and employee engagement. In her role at pipikwan, she leads a team of communications professionals supporting clients with projects like communications planning and implementation, website development, and social media strategies and content development. Her training for communications professionals about decolonizing communications and reconciliation has been recognized by IABC Edmonton and IABC Canada.
Michelle holds a Masters of Arts in Intercultural and International Communications from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Alberta and a Diploma in Public Relations from MacEwan University. She is passionate about using her skills to amplify the voices of Indigenous Peoples and engage allies in contributing to reconciliation.
When she’s not working, Michelle can be found hanging out with her children, walking her dog Askiy, or spending time with her partner Jeremy.
Matt Ward
Engagement Director - pipikwan pêhtâkwan
Matt Ward (he/they) is a queer, mixed nehiyaw person and member of Driftpile Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory. They grew up on the shores of Lesser Slave Lake but have called amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) home collectively for over ten years.
Matt completed his undergraduate degree in Critical Indigenous Studies and Political Science at the University of British Columbia in 2015. His career has included strategic planning, research, engagement, workshop delivery and strategy development. He has worked in multiple sectors throughout his career, including human services, community safety, student organizing, health, and environment, and he has spent seven years in Edmonton’s housing and homelessness sector. They are a dedicated volunteer in Edmonton's human services, arts, and Indigenous spaces. In 2021, he received Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30 Award; in 2022, he received Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 Award.
Matt enjoys exploring their downtown neighbourhood, playing video games, and collaborating on projects with friends and organizations celebrating Indigenous joy. After long days, he can be found lounging on his condo patio with his fiancé, Eric, and their cat, Mr. Business.
Etienne St. Jacques
Avante AV Co-founder & Technical Director
Etienne brings over 15 years of experience in corporate AV as a project manager and sound technician. He has managed some of Canada’s largest corporate events, including the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly, and the World Diabetes Congress. His expertise sets a high standard in AV management. Before transitioning to corporate AV, Etienne toured globally with renowned acts like Celine Dion, The Tragically Hip, and Cirque du Soleil, and he contributed to high-profile television productions such as the Juno Awards and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Dori Adams
Founder & CEO - shutterb
Dori Adams is the founder and CEO of shutterb, a platform that connects event hosts with trained smartphone content creators who capture social-ready photos and video so guests and teams can stay present.
With 16 years of experience leading major brands in the advertising industry, Dori brings a deep understanding of storytelling, audience engagement, and event-driven content strategy. Since launching shutterb two years ago, she has scaled it across Toronto, capturing more than 1,200 events from conferences to corporate galas to festivals, and is now expanding into new markets across Canada.
Dori is on a mission to bring event planners and organizers a way to extend their experiences well beyond the physical space, ensuring every event has the affordable and accessible content needed to amplify impact, drive post-event engagement, and keep the story alive long after the lights come up.
Carly Silberstein
Founder & CEO - Cielle & Co
Carly Silberstein, is a serial entrepreneur and the Big Idea Award winner at the Canadian Meetings + Events Expo in 2025. She is the co-founder and former CEO of Redstone Agency, where she built one of Canada’s leading event and association management agencies. Today, Carly leads new ventures through Cielle Group—a modern holding company focused on investing in and scaling businesses across the event ecosystem—and delivers consulting, event management, and strategic services through Cielle & Co, its operating arm. She is also the first outside investor and fractional CRO of shutterb, a Canadian event technology startup that connects event hosts with talented smartphone content creators. Carly is passionate about building companies at the intersection of events, experiences, and technology, and is recognized for pushing boundaries, driving growth, and shaping the future of the event industry.
Jessica Haire
Inquisitive Disruptor. Efficiency Optimizer. Flow & Fun Instigator
Founder, Axis 360 Solutions Founder | Co-Founder, Connection Awaits
Meet Jessica, the business development maverick who proves the best transformations happen when you throw out the playbook and start asking, “what if?” She’s navigated travel and tourism to government corridors, leaving a trail of optimized processes and “aha!” moments in her wake.
At Explore Edmonton, Jessica reimagined what lead generation could be, creating a breakthrough pilot project that became the team’s new blueprint. In 2019, she launched Axis 360 Solutions, turning complex challenges into competitive gold mines by mastering the art of translating research into actionable transformation.
Jessica’s superpower? Asking incisive questions that get to the axis of any problem, turning bold visions into measurable outcomes through methodical discovery.
A CRM whiz armed with leadership development and performance measurement credentials, Jessica brings a rare combination of systems thinking, analytical rigor and relationship-building authenticity.
Her CliftonStrengths®: Futuristic, Focus, Achiever, Ideation, Activator, read like a recipe for transformational magic, perfectly capturing her ability to envision possibilities, execute with precision, and drive lasting competitive advantage.
Most recently, she co-founded Connection Awaits with Anna Look, a tech startup using its Regenerative Ecosystem Model to map destination’s insights into data-driven narratives that boost business event ROI. Shift mindsets → Activate the model. Proof Jessica doesn’t just adapt to the future; she invents it.
Anna Look
Connect the Dots. Inspire Minds. Regenerate.
Founder, Look Ahead Consulting | Co-Founder, Connection Awaits
Meet Anna, whose dyslexic thinking superpower transforms scattered pieces into strategic masterpieces. Think of her as the "dot-connecting" GPS for your destination. Her panoramic perspective connects intel, people, and backgrounds, positioning business events as catalysts for long-term social, environmental, and economic benefits.
Originally from the UK, Anna studied at the University of Brighton and worked with international tour operators before emigrating to Canada in 2005 spurred by a passion for sustainable tourism.
For eight years, she led Explore Edmonton's Business Events team, transforming their sales and attraction approach into a strategic, economic sector-focused operation. Her success stemmed from collaborating with economic development agencies, post-secondary institutions, and thriving tech ecosystems to create compelling destination narratives.
Her secret? Strategic alliances that stretch far beyond the visitor economy, creating intellectual capital networks aligned with government priorities and community needs. Anna holds certifications in Regenerative Destination Management and Events from the Global Destination Sustainability Movement—credentials she puts into practice daily.
In 2022, Anna launched Look Ahead Consulting to help trailblazing destinations attract regenerative business events across Canada and the UK. Then, co-founded Connection Awaits with Jessica Haire, a tech startup that maps destination ecosystems like a treasure hunter with algorithms, empowering teams to target prospects strategically and boost ROI.
Sébastien David
CEO - Senik Group
Sébastien's passion for the event industry was sparked in the late 1980s when he stumbled into a part-time job as an event coordinator. While pursuing a degree in Political Science and eyeing a diplomatic career, he quickly realized that planning events was far more exciting than international politics.
In 1996, he launched his first event production company. A few years later, SÉNIK Events was born, growing steadily through key acquisitions: Champagne Events in 2020, and both e=mc² events and productions and Fuze Entertainment in 2024.
Today, Sébastien leads a team of over 50 event professionals who design and produce corporate events on a global scale. With offices across Canada, he brings together strategy, creativity, and flawless execution to deliver bold, high-impact experiences for a wide range of clients.
A recognized speaker at industry conferences such as The Special Event and Canadian Special Events, Sébastien is known for sharing valuable insights (and the occasional dad joke). His contributions to the industry have earned him several accolades, including Event Professional of the Year at the 2020 Canadian Event Industry Awards.
Andrea “AJ” Carroll
Director, Experience & Production, e=mc² events
Andrea “AJ” Carroll has spent the last 20 years bringing live entertainment and events to life. A trained musician and educated in theatre production and event management, AJ’s background set her up for a career as a Stage Manager, Event Producer and Production Manager. With a brain wired for logistics and show management, she thrives at the intersection of event planning, production, and stage management—making the complex look effortless. She is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and championing industry best practices.
AJ’s career spans multiple facets of the live events world. She has managed production, AV rentals, touring logistics, festival and corporate event stage management, venue operations, and labour management. She has supported Live Nation Canada’s stadium concerts in Edmonton and produced major events for not-for-profits and government organizations, including the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. From 2016 to 2024, AJ served as Director of Event Operations and Production Manager for the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), overseeing three venues from their inauguration—including Rogers Place, ICE District Plaza, and Fan Park @ ICE District—and producing the now-legendary outdoor watch parties, Canada Day and NYE celebrations.
In 2024, AJ joined e=mc² events, a globally recognized event management and production agency, as Director of Experience & Production. She now leads the Experience & Production team, ensuring events are seamlessly resourced while fostering growth through education and mentorship.