Meet Our Judges

David Adams
Partner, Creative Director
Art & Mechanical

David’s experience spans a broad range of brand and iden­tity programs working closely with organizations of all sizes – from entrepreneurial start-ups to global leaders. With a hands-on approach to both strategic and creative processes, he delivers distinct content and memorable experi­ences. His work is widely published and has been recognized by major national and international awards, annuals, editorials and blogs. He’s an Advertising and Design Club of Canada Board Member, and regularly volunteers his time to creative networks and organizations in Toronto. Being an active juror for creative competitions, he's always inspired with the boundary pushing work he sees, year after year.

Allison Butula
Chief Marketing Officer
Kit and Ace

Allison Butula is the Chief Marketing Officer of Kit and Ace, where she has recently led the company through a significant rebrand following its acquisition by Unity Brands in July 2023. With over a decade of experience in marketing, e-commerce, and brand strategy, Allison has built a distinguished career marked by growth-focused leadership and an unwavering commitment to brand excellence.

Allison's journey began in digital project management on the agency side, and she has since excelled in various roles, including overseeing web development and design teams and shaping global brand strategies. Her notable achievements include her tenure as Senior Director of Marketing at Cactus Club Cafe and her pivotal role at Herschel Supply Company as Director of Brand Experience. At Herschel, she developed and implemented award-winning global marketing strategies across 94 countries. Under her leadership, Herschel saw significant growth in their social media channels, particularly driving their Instagram account to over a million followers, and she played a key role in solidifying their position as a leading global lifestyle brand.

In her most recent role before joining Kit and Ace, Allison served as Vice President of Marketing at Vitruvi. There, she led the e-commerce and marketing teams to develop industry-disrupting go-to-market strategies and working alongside the founders implemented a comprehensive rebrand, contributing to the company’s recognition as one of Fast Company's "10 Most Innovative Companies in Wellness" in 2023.

Allison is known for her expertise in engaging internal teams, developing compelling brand strategies, and enhancing e-commerce efficiency, consistently delivering outstanding results. Her innovative approach and dedication to brand excellence have earned her a reputation in the lifestyle industry as a leader in rebrand projects. Kit and Ace marks her third major rebrand, showcasing her passion and proficiency in revitalizing brands and driving them towards new heights.

Outside of her professional achievements, Allison is an avid trail runner, cyclist, skier, pilates enthusiast, and a trained amateur sommelier.

Allison's leadership and vision continue to drive Kit and Ace's marketing and e-commerce efforts into a new era, reflecting her passion for innovation and brand excellence.

Cathy Chua
Design Director
Pigeon Brands

Vanessa Eckstein
Founder, Creative Director
Blok Design

As the visionary force behind blok design, Vanessa's life has been dedicated to the belief that design is at its best when it serves society. Her work spans iconic projects transcending cultures, causes, and disciplines—from collaborating with Iggy Pop to shaping the artistic landscape of MOCA—blending cultural awareness, humanity and a love of art to advance society and business alike.

Her experiences living and working in Buenos Aires, LA, New York, and Mexico City have given the studio a unique international perspective, partnering with some of the world’s top talents, from leading contemporary artists and photographers to architects and thinkers around the world.

Vanessa has led some of the most distinguished design juries and showcased her expertise on
international platforms, from Tokyo to Mexico City. She is a global member of the League of Innovators & Scholars at The Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI) and has recently been inducted into The Canadian Academy of Arts. This year Vanessa will be speaking at the Brand New Conference in Salt Lake City as well as participating in the exhibition "Feel Me", presented by Trapholt in Denmark and “ExhibitionIDENTIFICAR-X - Celebrating ArtCentre’s Latinx/e Alumni Community'', in Los Angeles.

Vanessa holds an MFA in Identity and Intercultural Studies from the ArtCentre of College and Design.

Karin Heinsch
Creative Director
RGD

Karin is the Creative Director at the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers. Over the past two decades, Karin has managed the brand image of the Association and has worked closely with Canadian agencies and design firms to create and elevate the branding for industry events such as DesignThinkers, Canada’s largest annual conference for designers; other initiatives such as the national Creative Earners salary survey; and awards programs such as the RGD Branding Awards, Student Awards and SoGood Awards. A graduate from the York/Sheridan design program, Karin has settled in the non-profit sector, valuing the focus on community building and advocacy.

Rasna Jaswal
Creative Director
Freelance

Edmund Lam
Creative Director
Reitmans

Edmund has 15 years of experience with Montreal's top creative agencies and leading fashion brands.

Prior to joining Reitmans Canada Ltd as Creative Director, he was Global Creative Director at Sid Lee, Executive Creative Director at Bleublancrouge, and head of brand and creative at fashion disruptors Frank And Oak and Sheertex. He's collaborated with brands like Samsung, Cirque du Soleil, Adidas, PUMA, Dr. Martens, FILA, Disney, NBA, Stella Artois, Tim Burton, Air Transat, and Aperol. He's sat on the Jury for the Marketing Awards, Applied Arts, and the RGD.

Allison Litzinger
SVP, Marketing
Sephora

An executive marketing leader with over 20 years of experience building brands and businesses across categories, with expertise in Retail on both the agency and brand side.

Prior to joining Sephora Canada as head of Marketing, Allison held the position of VP Marketing | Brand, Customer & Loyalty at Hudson’s Bay, where she was responsible for brand strategy and partnerships, marketing planning, marketing communication and creative strategy across Hudson’s Bay brand and categories. She led consumer and market research and insights, steered the Hudson’s Bay Rewards and Credit programs, and was responsible for maintaining, growing and transforming the Hudson’s Bay customer base.

Allison’s career started on the Agency side which included 14 years at Leo Burnett Toronto, where she was responsible for brand and business leadership on P&G North American fabric & surface care, IKEA and Canadian Tire.

A believer in purpose-led brands, she is passionate about breakthrough strategy and creative ideas, and has been Internationally recognized for her work across verticals by the Cannes Lions, The One Show, D&AD, The Clios, The Atomic Awards, The Marketing Awards and the CMAs.

Mark Lovely
Creative Director / Art Director
Freelance

Cameron North
Creative Marketing Lead
Umbra

Cameron is a Creative Director and Brand Marketing Strategist based in Toronto, Canada who’s lifestyle marketing experience spans the fields of fashion, publishing, food & beverage, and consumer goods.

Mark Rutledge
Principal Designer
Mark Rutledge Design

With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he is one of Canada’s design leaders with deep roots and experience designing for North America's Indigenous communities and organizations. He has a portfolio of impressive print and web designs for numerous Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations helping First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Mark is currently a part-time instructor at Yukon University, principal at Mark Rutledge Design and Senior Creative at Know History. 

Mark was the first Indigenous designer elected as National President of the Design Professionals of Canada who led the organization from the Arctic, both firsts in the organizations 67-year history. He is also a Certified Design Professional (CDP), and Registered Graphic Designer (RGD), International speaker/lecturer, futurist and a proud Ojibway from the Little Grand Rapids First Nation who lives and works in Whitehorse, Yukon on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council.

Vicky Boudreau
CEO & Co-Founder
BICOM Communications

Yanik Deschenes
President
YPR

Yanik Deschênes is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in communications and public relations. He has collaborated with reputable agencies such as NATIONAL, Cossette, Edelman, and Sid Lee, as well as notable organizations like the Canadian Space Agency and Walmart. His diverse career also includes collaboration with A2C, demonstrating his ability to navigate varied and demanding environments.

Lauren Dineen-Duarte
VP, Corporate Affairs & Communications
American Express

Lauren Dineen-Duarte is the Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications for American Express Canada. In this role, she oversees public affairs and media relations, social media, colleague communications, reputational risk management and corporate social responsibility. Through her tenure at Amex, Lauren has played a key role in strengthening the American Express brand in Canada through a mix of strategic storytelling, thought-leadership initiatives, and developing high impact campaigns.

Lauren has a proven track record of amplifying the company’s key PR and social narratives, while growing the brand’s social footprint through strategic partnerships and innovative influencer relationships.  Lauren’s focus on expanding share of voice into new and existing channels is balanced by a steadfast commitment to protection of the reputation of the brand in Canada. Lauren’s team also leads internal communications for the business, contributing to strong colleague engagement and ensuring alignment between internal and external strategies. 

Lauren is an award-winning communicator, and sought-after speaker, delivering keynotes at top industry associations including Women of Influence and the Canadian Marketing Association. She also serves on the board of The Toronto Children’s Breakfast Club.

Lauren lives in Mississauga with her husband Romeo and her two sons, Kingsley and Theodore.

Lisa Gibson
President and Founder
Ignite Communications

Lisa Gibson is the President & Founder of Ignite Communications Inc. With more than
two decades of experience, Lisa is an award-winning and well-respected
communications executive and speaker. Prior to starting her consulting company, Lisa
led communications for some of the world’s largest brands including Microsoft, Target,
Shoppers Drug Mart, and Canadian Tire.

Over the course of her career, she has built a reputation for solving complex business
problems through strategic communications and delivering best-in-class public relations,
employee, and executive communication programs.  She is a member of the board of
The Shine Foundation and QueerTech, and volunteers her time to mentor new and
budding PR talent.

When Lisa is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking,
travelling, and listening to podcasts.

David Jang
Chief Communications & Community Engagement Officer
Metrolinx

As Chief Communications & Community Engagement Officer, David and his team are responsible for the design and implementation of innovative, multi-channel communication and public affairs strategies to better connect Metrolinx to the communities it serves. This includes communication planning, corporate communications, media relations, issues management, social media, digital engagement, editorial, government relations, community engagement and stakeholder relations. 

For the past 20 years David has helped both public and private organizations build their brands and connect to their communities. His career has spanned government, commercial real estate, broadcast media and higher education sectors. He joins Metrolinx most recently from the University of Toronto, where he held the position of Executive Director, Marketing and Communications. His work focused on growing the University’s brand by expanding its digital footprint, building authentic connections with communities, and creating innovative digital communication products. 

Prior to joining the University of Toronto, David spent 12-years at the CBC, holding senior marketing, communications, and brand roles. 

David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University. 

Misty Meeks
Vice President & Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications
NATIONAL Public Relations

Misty Meeks is the Senior Vice-President and Practice Lead of NATIONAL Toronto’s Strategy,
Insights & Digital team. With nearly 20 years of experience, she is a marketing veteran who
specializes in leading teams on complex and integrated programs that connect with audiences
and drive meaningful outcomes. She has worked to grow some of Canada’s biggest brands
across both agency and in-house environments. Her work is always rooted in strategy and yields strong results.

Misty’s portfolio is vast and impressive because she focuses on three things that she believes
leads to success across all industries: insights-driven strategic thinking, lateral thinking and
executional excellence. She is excellent at leading and developing high-performing teams and
bringing the right people together to deliver programs that work.

She's helped grow positive reputations for a wide variety of brands including Rogers, Red Bull,
Pfizer, Nestle, Franklin Templeton, TELUS, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and many
more. Misty has won several awards and was named one of the Top 30 Marketers in Canada by
Marketing Magazine.

Falan Nyarko
Vice President
Paradigm PR

Falan thrives on orchestrating multi-channel communication strategies that align with clients’ business goals. Her 17-year career in public relations and marketing has given her a unique perspective on creating cohesive and impactful campaigns. Falan’s strategic vision has driven successful initiatives, enhancing brand reputation and market share for her clients.

She has collaborated with a diverse range of clients, including global tech companies, sports organizations, CPG brands, and non-profits, ensuring their messages resonate with target audiences. With a deep commitment to excellence and a keen eye for innovation, Falan continues to deliver exceptional results, helping clients achieve their business objectives and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Emily Scarlett
Senior Director of Communications, Partnerships Organic Social
Knix

Emily Scarlett is a seasoned professional in the fields of communications, marketing, and brand
strategy, with a wealth of experience contributing to renowned brands such as H&M and Knix.
With a career spanning over fifteen years, Emily began her journey in communications with a
focus on fashion and retail, joining H&M's communications team early in her career. At H&M,
she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand's narrative across diverse markets, leveraging her
expertise in communications and public relations to enhance brand visibility and engagement.

Transitioning to Knix, an innovative intimate apparel brand, Emily brought her strategic insights
to bear on brand marketing and communications. As Senior Director of Communications and
Partnerships, she spearheaded initiatives that propelled the Knix brand and solidified its position
as a disruptor in the industry. Her efforts were instrumental in driving brand awareness and
fostering a loyal community around Knix's empowering message and products.
Emily's career is characterized by her passion for storytelling and her ability to connect brands
with their audiences authentically. She is known for her creative approach to marketing
campaigns, her keen understanding of consumer behavior, and her commitment to building
brands that resonate on a global scale.

Jennifer Stein
Executive Vice President
APEX Public Relations

Catherine Thomas
Vice President, Communication
Loblaw Companies Ltd

Catherine Thomas has more than 20 years’ experience in the communications field working extensively in the food industry, including at FHCP (the industry association for food manufacturers), overseeing food and beverage client groups agency-side and for more than 9 years now at Loblaw.  In her role as Vice President, Communication, she oversees all aspects of the communication function – internal, external and the strategic communication channels – for Canada’s largest food and pharmacy retailer. Her life outside of work is almost as busy, with two active kids playing all kinds of sports, and a passion of her own for outdoor activities like dog-walking, baseball and skiing.

Sally Tindal
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Royal Ontario Museum

As Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Sally is responsible for the strategic oversight of the Museum's internationally recognized brand.  In this role, Sally leads the marketing, communications, visitor experience, audience insights, membership, and publishing teams on the design and delivery of integrated communications strategies that advance the Museum’s priorities and contribute to ROM’s position as one of the top ten museums in North America. Prior to joining ROM in 2016, Sally held leadership positions in the cultural and entertainment sector, including roles at Shaw Communications, Corus Entertainment, and General Stoddart Publishing. She has also served as a Director on the Board of Canadian Women in Communications and Technology (WCT).  

Alok Ummat
Director of Marketing
Ricola

Classically trained, entrepreneurially minded Marketer with over 25 years of progressive leadership experience in Food & Beverage (Consumer Packaged Goods, Foodservice and Retail). Underpinned by a classical, CPG marketing foundation, these broadening opportunities have fostered agility at all points in the commercialization process, and an ability to find creative solutions that deliver repeatable results for global and national brands - both privately held, publically traded and franchised organizations. Alok is currently Director of Marketing for Ricola (said in a yodel) overseeing the Canadian, UK, and Latin American markets. Previous to this, he worked with various Tier 1 companies such as Tim Horton's, Parmalat, and Unilever.

Andrew Wagar
Founder, President & CEO
Swerve

I am the Founder, President and CEO of Swerve, a public relations, influencer marketing, digital marketing and events agency specializing in B2C marketing.  Swerve was founded in May 2010 and built from the ground up, quickly becoming one of Canada’s best-known family-focused marketing agencies.

Swerve represents a growing roster of household name brand clients managing full-service PR and marketing communications programs in the USA and Canada on a national scale and has had the privilege of leading strategy marketing for brands including FujiFilm, Tineco, Mattel, MGA, Playmobil, Medela and many others.

A believer and supporter of not-for-profit initiatives, I volunteer my professional time as one of the team leaders on The Toys for the North, an NFP run in partnership with the Canadian Toy Association, RCMP and Thomson Terminals that collects and distributes much-needed children's toys to Canada's most northern communities who cannot otherwise access or often afford them.  The Toys for the North services Nunavut, N.W.T., Yukon, Manitoba, NFLD and Labrador and northern Ontario.  Our goal is to support northern Canadian communities from north to south and coast to coast.

Deborah Weinstein
Partner & Co-Founder
Strategic Objectives

Newly named to Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends 2024 and Canada’s Marketing, Advertising, PR and Communications Hall of Fame, Deborah Weinstein is co-founder and partner in Strategic Objectives, Canada’s most award-winning Public Relations agency. Together with Judy Lewis – her sister, partner, and fellow Legend and Hall of Famer – she has redefined the practice of Marketing PR in Canada by integrating creative strategy and innovation with powerful storytelling. 

Deborah started her career as a reporter and producer for CBC, CTV and Global TV Networks. She hopped the fence to PR in 1983 with a mission to help brands elevate and differentiate themselves through results-driven marketing rooted in strategy and big, bold ideas. 

Deborah embodies the SO mantra, “We Make News.” She has personally partnered on hundreds of successful, brand-building programs for and with many of Canada and the world’s leading brands and marketers, and is #SOgrateful to meet and exceed their strategic objectives.  

Shane Cameron
CSO
Omnicom Media Group

During his career in marketing,  Shane has worked on the creative agency side, at one of the first, high volume, e-commerce companies in the world, as well as having helped bring a start-up to being publicly traded on the NASDAQ. This cross-section of experience and contribution has led to his commentary being featured in publications such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and Strategy Magazine.

With Omnicom, Shane works with clients to think differently with the express purpose of driving better brand and business results.  He’s played a part in bringing dozens of globally recognized communication platforms to life.

Sonia Chai
Chief Brand Officer
Harbourfront Centre

Sonia is a recognized strategic and creative leader with over 25 years of diverse sector
experience, known for transforming brands on a global scale. As Chief Brand Officer at
Harbourfront Centre, she is redefining its cultural narrative by seamlessly merging
visitor experiences with brand identity, driving unprecedented growth post-pandemic
and re-establishing Harbourfront Centre as a dynamic hub for emerging artists and
voices.

Previously, as Global VP Brand Marketing Communications and Executive Creative
Director at Canopy Growth Corporation, Sonia designed breakthrough initiatives in the
cannabis and CBD industries, significantly expanding market share and digital
engagement across North America. Co-founding Good Digital Culture, she co-led digital
strategies for institutions like the AGO, MOMA, Columbia School of Journalism and Sun
Life.

With a background spanning luxury travel at Butterfield & Robinson, strategic brand
work at the UNESCO Creative Cities Program, and marketing and programming
leadership at the Toronto Public Library and Bell Canada, Sonia continually seeks new
avenues to deliver strategic and creative excellence to new audiences.
An advocate for diversity and inclusive engagement, Sonia champions internal and
public programs that amplify diverse voices and foster community cohesion. Her
contributions have earned recognition, including awards such as the Clio, Davey, and
Webby Awards.

Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of creative and marketing leaders, Sonia is
always thinking about a future where inclusivity and tolerance drive industry innovation
and societal progress.

Maxine Chapman
VP, Brand & Marketing Officer
OLG

Maxine Chapman is the VP of Brand & Marketing Officer at OLG, responsible for Brand Marketing, IMC, Media Planning and Optimization, Commercial Sponsorships, Social and Consumer Insights. Over the past 15+ years, Maxine has been a noteworthy leader in the Brand and Experiential space. Her work at Coca-Cola in both Canada and Internationally across 4 Olympic games garnered strong business returns and Brand sentiment for Coca-Cola, earning a prestigious Grand EX award by Event Marketer. Maxine is also credited with contributions for the viral Masterbrand refresh work at Cineplex which logged over 100M views (92% organic) leading Strategy to award Cineplex as one of their ‘Brands of the Year’ in 2016. With a passion for story-telling through innovative brand, event & content strategies that emotionally connect, Maxine believes how you do that is as important as what you do.

Maxine is also an avid scuba diver, boater and enjoys family time with her Olympic baby (born on the last day of the Paralympics at London 2012 – perfectly timed!), partner and pandemic puppy Archie.

Dave Douglass
Partner & Executive Creative Director
Anomaly

Dave started out creating insight-driven work for Lexus, Toyota, Mackenzie Financial, and The Children's Aid Society. He then accepted a posting to London, where he continued to develop successful campaigns for British clients Hamlet Cigars, McEwans Lager, Hampton Court Palace, and the Tower of London.

Since returning to his homeland (Canada), Dave has developed a diverse array of work for an equally-diverse roster of clients including McDonalds, General Mills, Lexus, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Alexander Keith's, WestJet, Coca-Cola, and Molson.

His work has been awarded both nationally and internationally including Gold and Silver awards from The Cannes International Advertising Festival, The One Show, Clios, CA, D&AD and Media Innovation Awards. In 2005 his work for the Canadian Film Center was the number two most awarded campaign in the world.

Formally Dave was co-creative chief at Lowe Roche. He and his long time creative collaborator Pete Breton are co-ECDs at Anomaly Toronto.

Sanya Grujicic
ECD
.Monks

Sanya Grujicic is an award-winning copywriter and Executive Creative Director. At Monks, former Jam3, Sanya supports North American creative leadership in Brand Experience, bringing her strength in brand strategy and creative to a strong bench of experience designers and innovation experts. Sanya's worked at top Canadian agencies, including FCB Canada, john St., Tribal Worldwide, and SID LEE.

Lewise Hiltz
Global Vice President Digital and Consumer Experience
BRP

With 28 years of industry experience in Digital Transformation, Lewise is a seasoned
professional dedicated to driving organizational growth and innovation. Having
navigated the evolving landscape of technology and business for nearly three decades,
Lewise has spearheaded numerous successful digital initiatives, establishing herself as
a strategic leader in transformational journeys. Her deep expertise spans a wide range
of sectors, from power sports manufacturing to retail, where she has consistently
delivered impactful solutions to meet the demands of the digital age.

Lewise has showcased a successful career trajectory across various prominent roles.
Most recently serving as the Vice President of Global Digital and Consumer Experience
at BRP, a 10 Billion dollar Power Sports Company. Where she grew the department to
nearly 300 employees, opened the first ever near shore digital hub in Brazil and initiated
lean initiatives to save the organization more than 24 million dollars a year. Lewise
previously held the position of Vice President of Digital Transformation at KPI Digital
Solutions for more than 6 years, demonstrating expertise in driving digital initiatives and
enhancing consumer experiences for companies of all sizes across the globe.

Prior to these roles, Lewise made significant contributions as the Chief Customer
Officer at Sailthru, a SAAS organization out of NY, NY. Focusing on customer-centric
digital strategies and relationship management. As well as holding roles with some of
the most prominent retailers in Quebec including Aldo Shoes and Reitmans Canada
Limited. 

Lewise holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce with a specialization in Marketing and
Human Resources. from Saint Mary's University, in Halifax NS. As well as many
certificates in AI, Industry 4.0, and transformation that helps to further enhance her
expertise in cutting-edge technologies and leadership strategies.

Leveraging her extensive experience and forward-thinking approach, with a solid
foundation in digital transformation, strategy, customer experience, data, AI, marketing
and ecommerce, and with a proven track record of driving digital innovation and
strategic marketing initiatives, Lewise continues to make a significant impact in the
dynamic realm of digital transformation and customer experience and is committed to
shaping the future of businesses through effective digital strategies and cutting-edge
technologies.

Michael Katzikowski
ECD
Richmond Day

With over two decades of experience, Michael Katzikowski, A.K.A. “Katz”, stands out as a globally and nationally recognized creative leader with extensive training in design, art direction and creative direction. His expertise spans a range of disciplines, including graphic design, typography, branding, brand building, illustration, experiential experiences, events, UI design, UX design, omni channel and photography. He is currently the ECD at Salt XC leading the creative for Toyota Lexus Canada, Labatt and Kraft. 

Katz most recently led the integrated creative department at Commonwealth McCann Canada, which oversees all work for Chevrolet in Canada. His work for Chevrolet was recognized both nationally and internationally at award shows. He led the creative and production department at 6Degrees Integrated Communications as the Executive Creative Director and served as Group Head Creative Director of the digital department at Leo Burnett Canada.

Throughout his career, Katz has been dedicated to assembling teams with diverse creative and cultural backgrounds. His approach delivers beautifully crafted, strategically sound, and relevant creative solutions across all mediums, ensuring true impact and effectiveness. 

Among the impressive list of brands Katz has collaborated with are Chevrolet Canada, Infiniti Motors, Can AM Global, Spyder Global, Nissan Canada, Nike, Gain Laundry Detergent Global, Citi Bank, Tim Hortons, Loblaws, Gillette Global, Labatt, Canopy Growth Canada & US (Tweed, DNA, LBS, Tokyo Smoke, Quatreau) and TD Canada Trust.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Katz indulges his need for speed by mountain biking on some of the world's best trails.

Dave Laing
Global Creative Director
Scotiabank

Dave has been in the industry for over 20 years, working on a wide range of campaigns and clients across all digital and traditional platforms. From this work, Dave has won a number of both local and international awards including, D&AD, Cannes, The One Show, and others. 5-years-ago, Dave began building Lighthouse, Scotia's In-House Agency. Today, Dave is the Global Creative Director at Lighthouse and Scotiabank and works with all the countries within Scotia's footprint to elevate their brand and campaigns.

Rob Long
CMO
KITS.COM

Rachel MacAdam
VP, Marketing
SkipTheDishes

Rachel MacAdam has recently joined the SkipTheDishes team as Vice President of Marketing. Rachel comes to Skip with over 25 years of international loyalty, retail, banking, travel and eCommerce experience, most recently as the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Rewards and Customer Care with the Air Miles Rewards Program.

In her role, she will be leading the marketing organization for Canada and will also be part of the global leadership team for Just Eat Takeaway. Her focus will be to help champion the customer experience across the organization to drive acquisition and engagement through a relevant and compelling brand story, personalized digital experiences, and enhancing the value proposition through brand offers, partnerships and sponsorships.

Julie Markle
ECD
Bleublancrouge

Roehl Sanchez
EVP, CCO, Partner
BIMM

Roehl’s belief in great design, the power of data and "work that works" has led to countless award-winning campaigns and programs for some of Canada’s biggest brands such as Leon’s, Audi, Shoppers Drugmart, Loblaws, Bell, Coca-Cola, Shaw, Telus and Cogeco. He personally lead the launch of Shoppers Drugmart’s Optimum program, Murale, VIB as well as the PC Plus program from Loblaws. 

Roehl’s work has garnered awards both nationally and internationally. From CMA awards, PROMO!, ADCCs, Atomic Awards, Shopper Innovation and Applied Arts to DMA ECHOs, One Show, Webby, Epica, Effies and Cannes Lions. Together with his team, he has led his agency to Silver Digital Agency of the Year in 2018.

Aleiza Alerta
Director, Marketing & Communications
Volvo

Aleiza brings over 20 years of advertising and marketing experience, with a significant time being spent focused on shaping digital media strategy and activations at some of Canada’s leading media agencies. Her expertise extends to category leading brands such as L’Oreal, HSBC, and Canadian Tire.  Aleiza also spent a year delivering innovative marketing solutions to clients in the financial services sector at LinkedIn. 

Aleiza has been with Volvo Car Canada since 2020, initially leading social and influencer marketing and winning a Silver CMA for Volvo Car Canada’s “World Car Free Day” activation. In 2022, she was appointed to her current position as Director, Marketing and Communications; expanding her role to include oversight into advertising, PR + communications, experiential, CRM and social media.

Aleiza’s leadership approach is defined by collaboration, working seamlessly with cross-functional teams and leveraging the strength of the Volvo Car Canada retailer network to help build brand love and deepen engagement with Canadians who share in Volvo’s core values of safety, sustainability, and the understated elegance of Scandinavian design.

Derek Bhopalsingh
EVP, Platform Media
Publicis Media

“Derek Bhopalsingh is a leader in the Canadian digital marketing landscape. He calls Publicis Media Canada home, overseeing programmatic, search, social and eCommerce as EVP of Platform Media for the holding company.  With almost two decades of experience, Derek knows how to build high performing teams and how to drive excellent business outcomes for his clients.

He is also known for his work through the IAB, representing the Canadian agency community as a member of the board of directors.   He participates regularly in mentorship initiatives and is a regular speaker at industry events.

Previously, Derek has held senior roles in both agencies and holding companies - focusing on elevating digital, data and analytics.  He is a product of both York University and Georgian College.”

Matt Houghton
Digital and Integrated Marketing Leader
Interac

Matt Houghton is the Digital and Integrated Marketing Leader for Interac, where he oversees advertising campaigns, digital channels and content, and always-on marketing. Matt works closely with stakeholders across the organization to build programs in support of key business priorities and commercial products, and to maintain trust and audience consideration for the Interac brand. He is a marketing, media and communications leader, with expertise in strategy development, creative execution, and channel planning across platforms. Prior to joining Interac, Matt has held leadership roles at organizations including Bell Media, Red Bull and Publicis.

Susan Irving
CMO
Kruger Products

Susan Irving is an industry leader with a passion for brands and a reputation for delivering business results through strategic integrated marketing campaigns. As Chief Marketing Officer for Kruger Products, Susan is responsible for leading the marketing team to set the vision, strategic direction, and drive business performance for all Kruger Products brands and
marketing activities in Canada and the United States. She is also a key member of the company’s executive team.

Susan is an accomplished, award-winning senior marketing executive with over two decades of experience leading many successful and well-known brands at Warner Lambert, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. She has a strong passion for brands and building high-performance teams. She is a strategic business leader with experience spanning all aspects of business management and consumer marketing, including brand strategy, advertising and communications, P&L management, media planning, digital, social media, innovation, consumer insights, as well as sports and event marketing.

As an accomplished marketer, Susan has been recognized with several industry accolades including CMAs, Cassies, Cannes Lions, Effies, The Bessies, Clios, Media Innovation Awards, and Canadian New Media Awards. She was also among Marketing Magazine’s prestigious Top 30 Under 30, Canada’s Strategy Magazine 2020 Marketer of the Year, the Canadian
Marketing Association 2021 Marketer of the Year, Canadian Grocer’s 2022 Senior Star Women, and won Bronze at the prestigious Stevie Awards for Women in Business - Female Executive of the Year in 2023.

An avid sailor, Susan was a member of the Canadian Sailing Team, having campaigned for the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. She was the President of the Leaside Hockey Association Board of Directors where she served for seven years; the current Jury Chair for The Globe and Mail’s Cannes Young Marketers Competition; North American and Global Grand
Prix Jury Chair for the WARC Awards in association with Cannes Lions; a judge for several industry award shows including the 2023 Cannes Lions Entertainment Sports Jury; a keynote speaker for North American conferences; and a committee member of WISE Canada (Women in Sport and Entertainment). She is also a member of the Canadian Women and SportBoard of Directors and the Ontario Hockey Federation Board of Directors.

Sabrina LaRosa
Senior Director of Media
Loblaw

Sabrina LaRosa is currently the Senior Director of Media for Loblaw Media at Loblaw Companies ltd and leads the strategy and planning for the Enterprise.   She has been at Loblaw’s for 13 years taking and building and bringing the in house media model to life and supporting the #1 brands in Canada.   

Sabrina has over 20 years of media strategy and planning experience and previously was at FCB Media and Mediaedge before coming to Loblaws.   She also is a part time professor at Humber College teaching the intro to marketing course.  Her passion is to mentor and guide the new generation of media gurus to new ways of working and thinking.  

Ravi Mishra
Director, Digital
Wasserman

Ravi Mishra is the Director of Digital at Wasserman & Partners in Vancouver, Canada. He brings over 12 years of extensive experience in media strategy, planning, and buying, with a keen focus on digital media and programmatic trading. His career spans various pivotal roles across leading media agencies in Asia and Canada, where he has demonstrated a consistent drive for excellence and innovation.

Ravi has led numerous high-impact campaigns across diverse sectors, including DMOs, financial services, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, online retail, online food delivery, government organizations, and consumer goods. His strategic approach to media operations, combined with expertise in streamlining digital campaigns through process standardization and automation, has consistently driven client growth, and improved operational efficiency.

As a judge for the 2024 Media Agency of the Year Award, Ravi's extensive experience and strategic insights will be valuable in evaluating top media agencies.

Sara Moore
EVP, CMO
Cineplex

Sara Moore is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Cineplex Inc. Harnessing the power of data-driven insights and cutting-edge marketing techniques, Moore crafts meticulously planned campaigns that resonate with audiences across all of Cineplex’s leading entertainment brands. Her keen understanding of consumer behaviour and market trends ensures that every initiative is executed with precision and purpose, driving both engagement and revenue growth.

Prior to joining Cineplex Inc. Moore held key leadership roles at prominent organizations in the sports and entertainment sector, where she honed her expertise in brand management, digital marketing, and audience engagement strategies.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Porter Airlines Inc., Canada's third-largest scheduled airline. She holds a BA (Honours) from Queen’s University.

Andrew Mushing
Senior Manager Media and Marketing Excellence
Hershey

Andrew is Senior Manager of Media and Marketing Excellence for Hershey

Christine Saunders
CEO Starcom, CMO Publicis Groupe Canada
Starcom Worldwide, Publicis Groupe Canada

Christine is a strong, experienced leader, with over 20 years within the media and advertising industry. After successfully running several of Canada’s largest Media AOR’s, Christine was elevated to her current role as CEO of Starcom Canada in 2021.  In this role, she has successfully led the brand to consecutive years of double-digit growth and in 2022 won Media Agency of the Year. In 2023, Christine added the role of Chief Marketing Officer for Publicis Groupe Canada to her responsibilities. She credits a lot of her success to the talented team she has built around her and believes her most important role is to develop and inspire her talent. She leads with both empathy and business acumen and is well known for her straightforward counsel to colleagues and clients.

Scott Stewart
General Manager
Glassroom

As General Manager of Glassroom, Scott Stewart sets the pace for business growth, strategy + service, and helping build a company culture that is driven by the organization's values and goals.

Measuring success through the complexity of business problems solved and outcomes created for the agency's suite of clients, Scott has spent his career working in senior executive roles at some of the world’s largest global media companies in both Canada and the US. 

Having been recognized with both national and global industry honours, including the Media Innovation Awards, AToMiC, Cannes Media Lions, and Festival of Media Global, he is a proud graduate of the University of Toronto and currently serves on multiple industry boards and committees, including the CMA Media Council, COMMB Marketing Committee and MIA Advisory Board as part of his ongoing commitment to the Canadian media industry.

Sarah Thompson
Media Executive
Dentsu Media

Sarah is President, Media for Dentsu in Canada. She oversees Carat, Dentsu X and iProspect in Canada as well as the investment arm, Amplifi, for dentsu in Canada. She is a vocal advocate to support local media and diversity and inclusion in the workplace and representation in media.  Her career experience spans telecom (Rogers/TELUS and Shaw), retail, banking and insurance, consumer packaged goods, electronics and technology and B2B. She has experience that spans media strategy, creative and brand strategy, CRM, data and technology.

A frequent and sought-after speaker, Sarah regularly discusses responsible media and advertising, representation and the supply chain of media. And, has made multiple appearances as a guest lecturer at Schulich Business School, Humber, Centennial, Miami Ad School, and Rotman. She has spoken at numerous industry events and is often quoted in media, including articles for the Toronto Star, National
Post and the Globe and Mail. Sarah is also an avid moderator and panellist for Filling The Gap, dedicated to more inclusivity in the workforce. Sarah was also awarded " Media Leader of the Year" in 2020 from the CMDC. As the President for Dentsu’s media brands in Canada, Sarah is on a mission to make the dentsu a place where all of her colleagues can shine and thrive and clients understand when their media is working and when is it wasteful.

Azim Akhtar
Director, Marketing
KFC

Cher Campbell
Global Executive Creative Director
Edelman

She has an impressive background in the creative industry, with a wealth of experience and a unique perspective. Having honed her skills at agencies in Toronto, Montreal, and Singapore (where she was often dispatched to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Auckland, and Melbourne), she recently realized her dream of moving into PR and is currently Global Executive Creative Director for Edelman. Cher has worked with iconic brands and believes in co-creation and that good work provokes action. She’s an art director who loves to write, a Canadian with global experience, and a strong believer that data is creativity’s best friend.

Her work has been recognized by D&AD, One Show, Effies, Cannes Lions and with other shiny heavy things and has been featured on global news outlets, late night TV, parodied, spoofed and turned into memes, of which she is most proud.

Erika Dehaas
Vice President, Corporate Marketing
Empire

Throughout her career, Erika has dedicated herself to shaping some of Canada’s most iconic brands. A strategic, digitally driven, and creative leader, she is committed to nurturing and enriching brand connections with consumers at every interaction.

In her role as the Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Empire Company Limited, Erika spearheads the integration of national marketing functions that transcend individual banner brands, aiming to elevate the company's customer-facing marketing efforts. Her primary focus is on fostering brand preference and deepening consumer affinity across Canada.

Erika's extensive responsibilities encompass overseeing Creative and Media Strategy, Digital Performance Marketing, Content Management, and In-Store Visual Experience for all Empire banner Brands. Moreover, she holds a pivotal position in steering Empire’s Corporate Citizenship efforts and overseeing Sponsorships and Shopper Marketing initiatives.

Glen D'Souza
Head of Creative
Forsman & Bodenfors

Adrian Fuoco
CMO
Pizza Pizza Ltd

Since 2019, Adrian has served as Head of Marketing for Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 in
Canada and PZA Pizzeria in Mexico. In his role, Adrian is accountable for brand
strategies, omnichannel marketing planning, communications, food innovation and
menu strategy. Adrian believes great brands lead with creativity and bold ideas, backed by strategy and the courage to fail (sometimes).

At Pizza Pizza, Adrian has worked to bring renewed purpose through a new brand
strategy and investments in community, diversity, and food waste reduction. Launched in 2022, the supporting “Everyone Deserves Pizza” campaign platform has driven interest, relevance and record sales while delivering award-winning programs such as the Fixed Rate Pizza, Valentine’s Day Singles for Singles, The Dip Roller, and NHL/NBAScore a Slice.

Prior to Pizza Pizza, Adrian was at Boston Pizza and Canadian Tire, honing his
marketing skills in both the food service industry and hard goods retail. In 12 years at Canadian Tire, Adrian was instrumental in leading category marketing plans, launching the JumpStart brand and later the “Canada's Store” campaign, with supporting “Canadian Tire Guy” spokesman. During his five years at Boston Pizza, Adrian helped refocus the brand on pizza, family dining, sports and miniature patio chairs.

Personal: Lives in Toronto with his wife, two girls and cat

Education: Western University, Kellogg School of Management CMO

Timothy Jones
President and Creative Director
Banfield

Timothy is the President and Creative Director at Banfield. Based in Ottawa, Banfield is one of Canada’s longest running independent creative agencies. With over 25 years of experience at the forefront of marketing and advertising, Timothy brings a keen eye for visual communication, strategic thinking, and a relentless work ethic to lead his team and clients forward in the face of change.

Starting his career as a designer at Banfield, Timothy evolved into roles as creative director and now partner, president and driving force behind the agency’s creative product. He has played a pivotal role in building an agency that reflects his own values and always strives to be a purpose-led organization.

Dave Lafond
CEO, Founder
No Fixed Address inc.

Devorah Lithwick
SVP, Chief Brand Officer
Bell Canada

As Bell’s Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Devorah oversees all brand and marketing communications activities and national sponsorship and events programs.
Devorah is an accomplished business executive with over 25 years of experience in telecommunications, marketing and branding. She joined Bell in 2006 as Vice President, Marketing Communications and was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer in 2017.

Throughout her career at Bell, Devorah has driven Bell’s brand strategy, including initiatives Bell for Better and Bell Let’s Talk. She was behind the successful transformation of the Bell brand, which today is considered one of Canada’s most valuable brands, and the most recent transformation of the Virgin Plus brand with the successful launch
of (Obviously).

Devorah was recognized by Strategy Magazine as a recipient of its 2023 Marketer of the Year award, and serves on both the board of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Canadian Marketing Association. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and an alumnus of the Rotman School of Management’s Judy Project for rising women executives and the International Women’s Forum Fellows Program hosted by Harvard Business School and INSEAD.

Devorah mentors Bell team members through her involvement with Women at Bell, a national employee network, and is actively engaged in industry organizations like the Canadian Marketing Association and on the board of Lime Connect, a non-profit organization that is rebranding disability through achievement.

Leslie Malcolm
VP, Marketing
Molson Coors

Leslie is the VP of Marketing for Molson Coors Canada. In her current role, she oversees brand marketing in Canada and is responsible for brand health, revenue and share.

Leslie has always had a love of bringing people together so it’s no surprise her career started in marketing for ‘Swiss Chalet’ with Recipe Unlimited, which has been bringing Canadians together for generations. She stayed true to her passion to explore the intersection of human connections and marketing when she moved to Molson Coors Beverage Company. 

Over the last decade, Leslie has held a number of roles at Molson with notable highlights being her leadership of ‘Craft’, which included a diverse portfolio of strategic brands including fan favourite ‘Creemore’. Then as Director of Flavour she lead the Canadian business through the first ever expansion outside of beer in Molson’s 235 year history, which resulted in a powerhouse selection of seltzers and ready to drink beverages, and most recently, overseeing some of Canada’s biggest and fastest growing beer brands like Coors Light, Molson and Miller Lite in her role as Sr. Director of the Global Brands. 

Leslie is a passionate brand builder; she cares deeply for the work she does and the people with whom she works. She is known for unleashing people’s potential with a dedication to fostering strong, connected cultures that allow others to discover and activate their gifts. In addition to her focus on people, her commitment to seek new growth opportunities and to clearly communicate her vision for the future has consistently lead to best in class business performance. 

Outside of Molson life, she’s just as dedicated to bringing people together. She can most often be found laughing with her husband and two-and-a-half-year-old son at home in Toronto or surrounded by her close family and friends around a lively dinner table… serving Molson products of course. 

She has just completed a 3 year term on the Canadian Advisory Board for Right to Play and is an active member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Angus Tucker
Co-founder + Former CCO
john st

Johan Vakidis
CCO
Publicis

Johan Vakidis is a seasoned global creative professional with over 25 years of expertise across diverse sectors including communications, technology, entertainment, and gaming. His journey began in 2000 when he ventured to China, subsequently holding creative leadership roles at firms such as Ogilvy, AKQA, R/GA, The Walt Disney Company, and Publicis Groupe. Notably, he contributed to the kyu collective at Sid Lee and C2 before rejoining Publicis as Chief Creative Officer based in Montreal.

Renowned for his digital work, Johan thrives on projects that blend storytelling, entertainment, and connectivity. Among his favorite clients are Adidas, Nike, Coca-Cola, Apple, and Nestlé. Notably, his tenure at The Walt Disney Company afforded him the opportunity to elevate his storytelling skills through collaboration with iconic brands like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.

Johan actively contributes to the design and creative sphere, engaging with the community through speaking engagements and participation in award panels. He is deeply fascinated by culture and consumer behavior, viewing firsthand experiences as catalysts for brand affinity across both physical and digital realms.

Drawing inspiration from his contribution to China's digital landscape, Johan possesses a distinct advantage in leveraging technology to enhance brand experiences and is eager to apply this knowledge to the North American market. 

He is driven by a passion for crafting compelling narratives, fostering team growth, and seizing new business opportunities.

Hilary Zaharko
VP, Marketing
H&R Block

As VP Marketing at H&R Block, I lead all brand marketing activities, client experience, business development, analytics, and external and internal communications. I have extensive experience in creating bold strategies, market research, and developing marketing talent. I leverage consumer insights to create campaigns that resonate across multiple platforms and drive tangible business results.

Prior to joining H&R Block, I led the marketing for a mid-sized hotel & resort real estate company. I began my career in the agency world as account director overseeing communication strategies for several international clients.

Among my proudest accomplishments is my volunteer work in helping develop affordable housing, the creation of park spaces and spearheading H&R Block’s corporate social responsibility program.

Sabrina Babooram
Partner, Head of Strategy
Academy

Sabrina is a visionary marketing and advertising leader with a thorough understanding of the industry from both client and agency perspectives. Known for her strategic acumen and business expertise, she has successfully led partnerships with major brands such as Porter Airlines, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Almave, PepsiCo Foods, Sage Natural Wellness, and Wave Financial. Through her leadership, she has consistently guided these brands toward transformational growth, building both their brand identity and business outcomes.

Her leadership is rooted in a data-driven, results-oriented approach, ensuring that every strategy she leads is impactful and meaningful. Sabrina is at the forefront of modern advertising, leading teams and clients through the rapidly evolving landscape of data, technology, and consumer behaviour, always pushing the boundaries of what advertising can achieve. 

As the co-founder of Academy, a content agency, Sabrina spearheads innovative and game-changing strategies that elevate brand relevancy through cutting-edge communication and advertising solutions.

Jason Cassidy
President & GM
Endy

Jason Cassidy is the President & GM of Endy, Canada's award-winning mattress-in-a-box company. Prior to that, Jason co-founded and was the President of a CPG food business called PORTA, which is rapidly expanding across 1000+ grocery stores in 45 states in the US and nationally in Canada. Jason was also the VP of Marketing for brands like Tim Hortons, KFC and Pizza Hut. He was named to The Peak's Emerging Leaders list under 40 in 2022 and Strategy's 30 under 30 in 2014.

Anne Donohoe
VP, CMO
BC Cancer Foundation

Anne has over 25 years of experience in brand and marketing communications, working across sectors in North America and Asia. Currently, Anne is the CMO of the BC Cancer Foundation, responsible for publicly launching the historic $500 million Beyond Belief fundraising campaign and driving their brand and digital strategies. Her prior roles include CMO at MEC and Strategy Director at Interbrand.

Jordan Doucette
President
Dentsu

You’re looking at a creative maverick. A master yarn-spinner. A powerhouse brand builder with communication wizardy and empathetic leadership as her not-so-secret weapon. And yes, Jordan Doucette is award-winning. If it’s shiny and sets off a metal detector, she’s probably won it.  Jordan’s journey has seen triumphant chief creative officer stints at renowned agencies including TAXI, Publicis’ Leo Burnett Chicago, FCB and now she’s part of Dentsu Creative as both Chief Creative Officer and President. The champion of progress, Jordan continues to push for the positive transformation of advertising to do meaningful work, that works.  

Tania Goecke
Vice-President, Marketing
Bimbo

As a highly effective and perceptive leader, Tania's commitment and passion elevate the
potential of people and partners around her. Her 20-year successful track record is in delivering
growth and transformation with insightful future thinking.

Currently, as VP of Marketing for Grupo Bimbo - (Canada) the largest baking company in the
world, she focuses on building, nurturing and growing iconic Canadian brands including
Dempster's, Villaggio and Vachon confidently driving the highest standards in the fields of brand development, shopper marketing, digital and e-commerce. 

Her action-oriented approach propels positive momentum to continue building purposeful
brands, that connect with consumers in meaningful ways.

Alexander Green
Chief Experience and Marketing Officer
Longo's

Alexander Green is a retail executive who is at his best when leading teams and brands through
transformative change that aligns company, product, service and brand design with emotive, fully integrated go-to-market plans to unlock growth.

As Longo’s’ Chief Experience Officer, Alex leads the organization's strategic planning process while championing the Guest Experience across all retail design, communications, loyalty, digital products, and store activations. He has been at the forefront of Longo’s full retail transformation that began in 2018 and successfully returned Longo’s to the top spot in Leger’s WOW survey for the leading Guest Experience in Grocery retail. 

Prior to joining Longo’s, Alex’s career continued at other entrepreneurial, Canadian food companies, most recently as the VP Marketing at Boston Pizza, where he led transformations in loyalty and e-commerce paired with award winning integrated campaigns and sponsorships.

Alex is also the founder of RMRKBL, a communications training field guide and toolkit designed to help people better express their ideas, so they can get on with changing the world. You can check it out at www.rmrkbl.ca.  

Ultimately, Alex believes in people and their ideas, and is on a mission to unleash this potential to allow individuals, teams, and organizations to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Janet Kestin
Co-Founder, Partner
Swim

Janet Kestin is co-founder of Swim, a leadership lab for top creative companies, including ad Droga5, 72and Sunny, Bruce Mau Design and Refinery 29.

Janet was Co-Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy Toronto with Swim partner, Nancy Vonk, for 13 years. Their teams delivered work like Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty and Diamond Shreddies, and garnered recognition including One Club and D&AD pencils, Grand Clio and two Cannes Grand Prix. Janet has judged The One Show, D&AD, Cannes and many others. She was the foreman of the D&AD ‘Writing for Advertising’ jury in 2014 and is one of only 6 women whose work appears in D&AD’sThe Copy Book: How some of the best advertising writers in the world write their advertising. Sad, but true.

In 2012, Janet and Nancy were on Advertising Age Magazine's 100 Most Influential Women in Advertising list, and named among Creativity magazine’s Top 50 Most Creative People of ‘08. Authors ofPick Me, a staple in advertising schools from Texas to Turkey, their 2014 HarperCollins release,Darling, You Can’t Do Both (And Other Noise To Ignore On Your Way Up)was recently listed among Inc Magazine’s “top 60 books on leadership”. Janet speaks at companies, schools and organizations around the world seeking new ideas for advancing women's success.  In ‘16, Janet helped design the creative leadership stream at Factry, the ‘school of creativity sciences’, founded by Sid Lee leaders.

Laura Kim
VP, Creative Director
Edelman Canada

An art director and designer by trade, Laura Kim is dedicated to using advertising and design as a means of shifting and creating culture. She has led teams for some of the most influential brands in the world, including adidas, Burger King, Dell, Red Bull and Trojan, winning awards globally for agencies such as Sid Lee, TAXI and Bleublancrouge. Her time as Executive Creative Director at Forsman & Bodenfors led to multiple awards and funding for Innocence Canada. Known for her insights on design and aesthetics, Laura finds the most rewarding part of her job the opportunity to mentor emerging talent. She is always inspired by encouraging diverse creatives from all backgrounds to enter the industry and thrive.

Daniel Koppenol
Chief Marketing & Growth Officer
Tilley

Steve Miller
ECD, SVP, Partner
FUSE Create

Stephanie Ng
Vp, Marketing
Sunwing

Patrice Pollack
SVP, ECD
Momentum

Patrice Pollack is the ingenious mind fuelling Momentum Worldwide's creative fire as the Senior Vice President and Executive Creative Director. With an impressive track record working with some of North America's leading brands, Patrice brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Her core belief centers on the idea that an agency's success hinges on prioritizing its people. While Patrice began her advertising career in the fast lane taking home Gold in the Cannes Young Lions competition, she firmly believes that the ultimate measure of success lies in the effectiveness of creative work and the collaborative spirit it fosters among individuals.

Throughout her career, Patrice has played a pivotal role in catalyzing agency transformation and growth, all while cultivating a culture that empowers individuals to produce impactful and thought-provoking work. Her commitment to the creative community remains steadfast as she continues to contribute through teaching at OCAD U and mentoring emerging talent in the industry.

Jenny Smith
President & ECD
Ray

With 25 years in the advertising and marketing business, Jenny is no stranger to creating internationally recognized, award-winning advertising. She is Atlantic Canada’s most decorated creative person, winning literally hundreds of gold and platinum national and international awards and accolades over the course of her career.

She’s the owner and President of Ray - an independent agency based in St. John’s, launched in 2013. Jenny has judged every regional and national award show in Canada (sometimes more than once). And has had the good fortune to judge international shows including Cannes, D&AD, and LIA. She lives in St. John’s with her husband, two teens, and Nacho, the cat.