Meet Our Judges

Andrea Cook
CEO
Jam CRM

With 25 years of communications experience, Andrea is an agency founder and industry leader in the art of connecting brands to consumers through innovation. Equal parts data geek and creative storyteller, she's known as a change agent and visionary with relentless drive and a track-record of creative and business success. 

Her agencies have earned more than 400 awards for creativity and effectiveness, including Effies, D&AD, Clios, Webby, 21 One Show Pencils and 26 Cannes Lions. She was recognized for “Leading the Charge” in Campaign’s 2020 Female Frontier Awards and was nominated for executive of the year for by AdAge A-List in 2021. In 2022 she was awarded Campaign 40 over 40.

After founding two globally celebrated agencies FCB/SIX and Performance Art, Andrea made the move more deeply into AI and technology in 2024, taking the helm of North American CRM Agency JAM. Specialists in the art of connected consumer, Andrea and her team are positioned at the forefront of the industry, driving AI and CRM innovation and integration across client partners in North America.

Sean Goodwin
VP, Marketing
Mark's

Sean has been with Canadian Tire since 2012, beginning his career as a digital signage specialist on the internal marketing team. Over the course of his 12 years, he has worked in various different roles, including sport partnerships, national brand partnerships, brand campaigns, media strategy, social media, and other executional roles.

Now, Sean leads the full-scale marketing team for both Mark’s and Sport Chek retail banners within the Canadian Tire Corporation, overseeing all aspects of Mark’s and Sport Chek’s marketing strategy, planning, and executional teams. 
  
Prior to Canadian Tire, Sean attended SAIT Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge in Calgary on an athletic scholarship for hockey while working in several marketing positions within various organizations, including the hospitality and sporting industries, completing his Bachelor's of business management which a specialization in marketing.

Ian Mackenzie
CCO, Co-founder
Memory

Ian is a platform-oriented creative leader with a passion for pushing big creative ideas into complex technological ecosystems. His systems-oriented approach to ideas has helped clients build long tail platforms that continue to return value to their brands years after inception. He’s led some of the most innovative and high-performing creative departments in Canada, including co-founding FCB/SIX, Performance Art and serving as the CCO of McCann Worldgroup Canada and as its Global Creative AI Lead. Ian’s work has earned more than 500 awards for creativity and effectiveness, including the Global Grand Effie, the D&AD Black Pencil, Clios, Webby, 40 One Show Pencils and 31 Cannes Lions, including the Grand Prix in Creative Data. Brands he’s worked with include CIBC, BMW, Honda, Cadbury, Black & Abroad, Grupo Bimbo, CFL and McDonald’s. In 2025, Ian co-founded the independent brand performance agency Memory.

Deepak Mehmi
ECD
SDImktg

Scott Pinkney
Chief Creative Officer
Publicis Hawkeye

With 35+ years’ experience across three countries, Scott is a leading Creative Strategist, Brand
Ambassador and Relationship Marketer. In 2015 he joined Publicis to launch Hawkeye – now
Canada’s largest CRM Agency, with over 240 professionals working on 14+ Canadian, North
American and global brands.

Previously, Scott worked at Ogilvy in New York, London, and Toronto. He co-founded Mosaic
Direct & Interactive, moved to DRAFTFCB/Rivet, and then to BBDO/Proximity, leading their
CRM creative practice. At each post, Scott lent experience and deep understanding of consumer insights, creative strategy, and data intelligence to create Relationship Moments ® that drive action.

His awards include prizes at the D&AD, Marketing Awards, Communication Arts, The Caples,
and the Echo Awards, and shortlisted at The One show and Strategy Awards.

Scott has twice judged at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, served on the
Board of Governors of the ANA International ECHO Awards for five years, served on the CMA
Board of Directors for two years, and was Co-Chair for the 2024 CMA Marketing Awards.

In 2020, Scott co-created and launched ‘This Is The Job’ - a Publicis Groupe initiative to help
guide students from underrepresented communities into the exciting world of Advertising &
Marketing.

Lauren Steinberg
Chief Digital Officer
Loblaws

Lauren Steinberg is Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw Companies, where she leads the organization’s digital, e-commerce, loyalty, and retail media businesses. Her portfolio spans the strategy, design, build, and monetization of industry-defining platforms and experiences—including PC Express, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh, PC Optimum, and Advance, Canada’s fastest-growing retail media network.

Lauren is at the forefront of Loblaw’s GenAI and agentic AI initiatives, driving enterprise adoption and experimentation across customer and colleague experiences. She’s also deeply committed to building diverse teams, developing inclusive products, and scaling technology that delivers meaningful business and customer impact.

Rebecca Stutley
Group Head & EVP, Brand, Storytelling and Communications
Kids Help Phone

Alfredo Tan
Chief Digital & Information Officer
Canada Goose

Alfredo Cunanan Mendoza Tan is a dynamic leader with a proven track-record of harnessing the power of technology & digital capabilities to transform consumer experiences and deliver impact for organizations. In his role as Chief Digital & Information Officer at Canada Goose, Alfredo is focused on enhancing the company’s omnichannel global shopping experience and driving operational efficiencies across the entire value chain. He leads strategy development, implementation and adoption of all global consumer-facing digital platforms, e-commerce, loyalty, data, automation & AI, global media, contact centers and enterprise technology services. 

Alfredo was a pioneering leader at Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp), as one of the first 1000 employees globally working in North America, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region.  He helped to transform the company into a global media and technology powerhouse. He has held senior executive roles at Loblaw Companies Limited, Rogers Sports & Media, WestJet Airlines and Yahoo! Inc. He began his career as a Systems & Design Engineer in the Telecommunications Industry at BCE Inc. Alfredo is also an industry professor in the Strategic Management Faculty at McMaster University, a guest lecturer in The Directors College’s Innovation Governance program for Board Directors and is on the Leadership Council at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Alfredo holds an HBSc from the University of Toronto, an MBA from McMaster University, an LLM from the University of Toronto Law School, a Post Graduate Diploma from The University of Oxford and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. In his free time, he can be found playing tennis, practicing Muay Thai, travelling the world with his family and cuddling their 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Jennifer Adab
Founder and Principal
Triple A Media

Jennifer Maloney Adab is one of North America’s most sought-after advisors in executive PR and thought leadership.

For nearly two decades, she has helped senior leaders at companies like Hootsuite, PayPal, Galvanize, Later, Equinox, SoulCycle, Rolex, YPO, and the Chopra Center craft and amplify their voices both internally and in public.

A former award-winning journalist turned agency founder, Jennifer built and sold two high-performing boutique PR firms before launching Triple A Media Ltd.—a consultancy focused exclusively on strategic communications, branding, and thought leadership for founders, CEOs, and executive teams.

Denise Dias
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
The Terry Fox Foundation

Denise Dias is a seasoned communications professional who has developed and executed large-scale projects, events and campaigns, including some of the most successful cultural fundraising and awareness initiatives in Canadian history. She is currently the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at the Terry Fox Foundation, overseeing all aspects of its global brand, marketing, public relations, and digital strategies to increase overall awareness, engagement, and support. Prior to joining the Terry Fox Foundation, Denise held diverse leadership positions in both the corporate and non-profit sectors at the Royal Ontario Museum, Edelman Canada, Rethink, and GCI Canada.

Throughout her career, she has spoken at global conferences, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Toronto, Communicating the Arts in Berlin, and the United Nations in New York. Denise is also a published author of multiple children’s books with proceeds supporting charitable causes, a past travel and fashion columnist for Canada’s largest daily newspaper, and an accomplished writer with work that has appeared in the Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Toronto Life, and HGTV

Joyce Law
Director of Communications
P&G

Joyce Law is a seasoned Public Relations and Communications professional with almost 25 years of experience at P&G Canada. Throughout her career, she has specialized in strategic communications, influencer marketing, and crisis preparedness and management. Joyce has worked across all 11 P&G categories, contributing to iconic brands such as Tide, Pampers, Always, and Crest. In her current role, she leads Company Communications for P&G Canada and is responsible to build and protect P&G’s corporate reputation among both internal and external stakeholders.

Outside of work, Joyce is an avid runner. As a run coach, she is passionate about empowering women to develop confidence through running and to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Krystin Lee
President
Talk Shop

Michelle Lefler
VP, Communications & Public Relations
Aurora Cannabis

Michelle Lefler is a senior communications executive with over 20 years of experience shaping corporate reputation, employee engagement, and stakeholder communications across global organizations. As Global Vice President of Corporate Communications & Public Relations at Aurora Cannabis Inc., Michelle leads strategic communications in a highly regulated industry, advising Executives and the Board on reputation, ESG, and business transformation initiatives. She is also the co-founder of Aurora’s Women’s Empowerment Network.

Her prior leadership roles at Mars, Incorporated and Kraft Foods (formerly Cadbury) saw her guiding communications through acquisitions, business integrations, and public affairs initiatives, earning recognition for her ability to navigate complexity and drive impact. Michelle began her career in agency roles at Cohn & Wolfe, Ketchum and Burson-Marsteller in Hong Kong, serving clients across CPG, healthcare, and tech. Michelle serves as the Director, Communications on the Board of the Beaver Valley Ski Club.

Michelle is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University and Humber College, and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). She brings a sharp strategic lens, deep industry insight, and a passion for elevating the role of communications.

Shauna Macdonald
Principal & Founder
Brookline PR

Shauna is a PR powerhouse. When she announced she was opening her own firm, the
consistent response was “It’s about time!” Known for her unique approach and breadth
of experience, Shauna provides strategic public relations expertise to companies of all
sizes throughout North America.

Prior to starting Brookline, Shauna was Vice President and Managing Director of
Western Canada for an international public relations firm, as well as the Marketing
Communications Practice Leader for its Canadian operations. Shauna has been at
Brookline’s helm for 20 years and has cultivated long-standing client relationships and
developed game-changing campaigns across all major business sectors.

Brookline’s Socials:
IG: brookline_pr
Facebook: Brookline Public Relations, Inc.
X: BrooklinePR
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brookline-public-relations-
inc./posts/?feedView=all
Website: www.brooklinepr.com
Shauna’s Socials:
IG: Shaunabpr
Facebook: Shauna MacDonald
X: ShaunaBPR
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunamacdonald/

Alex Mangiola
Vice President
Pilot PMR

Alex brings 20 years’ experience in journalism, publishing, marketing and public policy communications to his role as Vice President at Pilot. His career spans a number of sectors, including government, financial services, tourism, tech, education and social services, and includes a wide range of clients, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

Alex began his career as a journalist, magazine editor and, later, publisher, before moving into senior management roles in marketing and public relations. Before joining Pilot, he was Senior Manager of Public Relations for United Way of Toronto.

A native of Chile, Alex moved to Canada with his family when he was a young teenager. After studying Fine Arts at the University of Guelph, Alex went on to graduate from the University of Windsor with a degree in English and Communication Studies, and a Journalism Diploma from St. Clair College.

Sheri Morgan
Senior Director Communications
PepsiCo Canada

Sheri Morgan is the Senior Director of Communications for the newly united PepsiCo Canada
division, which includes the Canadian Beverages and Foods businesses. In this role, she leads
corporate and brand PR, internal communications, the PepsiCo Canada corporate website
(www.pepsico.ca), the national translations team, and the company's social impact strategy.

Most recently, Sheri was the Senior Director of Global Communications and Engagement for the
PepsiCo Foundation – the company’s philanthropic arm. In this role, Sheri led global internal and external communications and employee engagement around the PepsiCo Foundation's three core pillars of creating equitable access to nutritious food, safe water, and economic opportunity.

Previously, Sheri was the Head of Communications at PepsiCo Foods Canada. Sheri has been with PepsiCo for eighteen years.

Sheri has 25 years of progressive communications experience. She spent seven years working for PR agencies and in 2007, Sheri went client side with PepsiCo Foods Canada.

Sheri is an IABC Accredited Business Communicator. She is a graduate of the University of Guelph and holds an executive certificate in Strategy from the Smith School of Business.

Heidi Ruggier
CEO & Founder
Matte PR

Matte PR is a full-service PR firm based in Toronto at the intersection of the fashion, interior design, tech, real estate, nonprofit and hospitality industries. We create meaningful relationships with media and industry stakeholders, helping clients educate target customers on their brand.

Our fashion clientele ranges from iconic Canadian fashion organizations like Toronto Fashion Incubator and INLAND, and brands like Ahiri and OkayOk. Matte PR chooses to work with companies led by industry leaders delivering best-in-class products and services. We holistically look at a client’s business from every angle and create campaigns to achieve their profile-building goals. Our initiatives and activations are made to be remembered.

Matte PR is a proud member of 1% for the Planet as part of its 3% give-back pledge called THE DEAL. Through THE DEAL, Matte PR donates 3% of its revenue to ecological, humanitarian and local causes.

Lindsey Scully
PR Director, Canada
Netflix

Laura Silver
Founder & CEO
Blue Door Agency

Laura Silver is the Founder and CEO of Blue Door Agency, a Toronto-based integrated marketing. Under her leadership, the agency has grown from a single-client startup to one of Canada's fastest-growing marketing agencies, serving clients such as Ripley’s Aquarium, Longo’s, GE Appliances, the Toronto Police Association, and the Canadian Opera Company. Laura has been recognized for her contributions to the marketing industry and was a finalist for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2022–2023. A member of the Forbes Business Council, Laura is also a strategic advisor to TEDxToronto and has served as an annual judge for the Canadian Marketing Association Awards.

Maria Varvarikos
President & Founder
ZOÏ Agency

Maria Varvarikos has more than 25 years of public relations and marketing experience. Prior to founding ZOÏ  Agency in 2000, Maria studied at Concordia University where she received her Bachelor in Commerce. She then went on to serve as the Director of Promotions for Ocean Drive Magazine. Inspired to establish her own enterprise in order to fully engage her passion for brands, Maria launched ZOÏ Agency to great success.  

After launching in Montreal, the agency expanded to New York in 2010 and Toronto in 2016. These boutique offices provide full-service public relations support to clients across Canada, the United States and key global markets. Maria and her team have been an integral part of the successful launches and branding initiatives behind top fashion, lifestyle, and hospitality brands such as H&M, GUCCI, FENDI, Christian Louboutin, adidas  Originals, Tiffany & Co., COS, Hotel William Gray, Four Seasons Hotel Montréal, Fogo Island Inn,  ROYALMOUNT, Johnson & Johnson, WANT Les Essentiels, GOODEE,and many more.  

Motivated by the brand story above all else, Maria takes pride in her unorthodox approach to public relations:  Extracting the essence of the brand, highlighting their story, and communicating their uniqueness in innovative ways. Maria strongly believes that PR efforts can only be as successful as the strategy and personal relationships they’re built on, and it’s this outlook that keeps her and her team at ZOÏ Agency deeply committed and enthusiastic in their work.  

Passionate about art, design and giving back to the community, Maria is a board member of C2 Montréal, a board member for the DESTA Black Youth Network, a Soho House CWH Committee Member, a supporter for the Canadian Centre of Architecture, a patron and past committee member for the Montreal Museum of  Fine Arts Annual Fundraiser Gala, and former member of the communications committee for the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. 

Maria is an award-winning entrepreneur recognized for her leadership, innovation, and impact. She is the recipient of the 2010 Young Entrepreneur of the Year DEKA Award and the 2025 Commercial Services of the Year DEKA Award, both presented by the Montreal Hellenic Board of Trade. In 2022, she was named to  Concordia University’s prestigious 50 Under 50 – Shaping Tomorrow List, celebrating the next generation of changemakers. Under her leadership, her agency has earned the PR Net 100 Award for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024), cementing its reputation as a leader in the industry.

Michelle Veilleux
Director, External Communications & Partnerships
Sephora

Michelle Veilleux is a seasoned communications professional with over 20 years of experience enhancing brand perception for some of Canada's most prominent national retailers. In her current role as Director of External Communications and Partnerships at Sephora Canada, Michelle spearheads the external communications strategy, elevating awareness of corporate, brand, and commercial initiatives. Additionally, she oversees Experiential Marketing and Partnerships.

Previously, Michelle served as Director of Hudson’s Bay Foundation and led PR for Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew.

Ya Shan Waley-Horhager
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
North York General Hospital Foundation

Ya Shan is a seasoned marketing and communications leader with over 20 years of experience in the private and non-profit sectors.  She is currently Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at North York General Hospital Foundation, supporting the #1 community academic hospital in Canada and one of the top 100 in the world, where she leads all marketing, communications, branding, and donor experience. Prior to her current role, Ya Shan was Senior Director, Marketing & Communications at True Patriot Love Foundation, one of Canada’s most respected military charities that provides support to serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, and their families. Ya Shan also spent over a decade in progressive marketing and communications positions at TELUS, one of the country’s largest telecommunications companies. This included roles leading the company’s largest charitable partnerships, managing strategic communications for senior leaders, and developing large-scale national marketing campaigns for the company’s award-winning brand.

Jacques Blanchet
Director, Integrated Marketing
The Coca-Cola Company

Jacques Blanchet is a seasoned marketing executive with over 18 years of experience in driving impactful marketing strategies and business development. Currently serving as the Director of Integrated Marketing at Coca-Cola Canada, Jacques leads national brand portfolios and strategic initiatives across Quebec. His career is marked by a results-driven approach, having successfully launched innovative digital strategies and customer loyalty programs at Metro Inc., and leading significant new business when working on the agency side. Jacques holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Advertising from Université Laval and is recognized for his leadership and award-winning campaigns.

Nicole Brown
President, Amplifi
Dentsu

Joining Carat in 2011, Nicole continued to grow and expand her role to become the lead across all broadcast investment within the Dentsu. When Amplifi launched in Canada in 2015, Nicole moved into the organization as the head of broadcast, later becoming overall investment lead. In late 2020, Nicole became President, Amplifi where she oversees all investment and partnerships for Dentsu. 

Amanda Chapman
VP Media, Canada
No Fixed Address

Katherine Fera
Director of Media & Communications
Nestlé

Katherine is a dynamic marketing leader with a proven track record across both client and agency environments. Recognized for her expertise in media strategy, integrated communications planning, and creative content development, she excels at forging collaborative partnerships that drive real business results. Her versatile experience spans top-tier organizations and a range of industries, including Retail (Canadian Tire), CPG (Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola), and Financial Services (Visa, RBC, Scotiabank). Currently the Director of Media & Communications at Nestlé Canada, Katherine leads the evolution of media and data, elevates content and creative development, and champions innovation through technology. After five o’clock she’s Giovanni’s Mom, and sometimes an anthem singer for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Matt Kohler
Managing Director
McCain

Matt Kohler is Managing Director at McCain Foods Canada, where he oversees the company’s retail business.  

From its humble beginnings in New Brunswick, McCain is now an international leader in the frozen food industry.  McCain produces 1 out of 4 french fries in the world, as well as other leading brands such as Deep ‘n Delicious, Pockets, TAST!EZ and Strong Roots.  

Kohler also serves on the Board of Directors of the FHCP and MLW Foods, makers of Wong Wing Asian appetizers.  He is a winner of Strategy Magazine’s 2019 “Marketer of the Year.” 

Nadia Niccoli
Head of Marketing
Diageo

I'm a marketer who thinks big, moves fast, and embraces failure as a path to innovation. My career has spanned entertainment, media, tech, and CPG, giving me the opportunity to work with some of the most forward-thinking organizations in the world. Today, I lead as Head of Marketing for Canada at Diageo.

In my current role, I’m proud to steward some of the country’s most iconic brands, including Crown Royal - Canada’s #1 whisky - and Smirnoff, the nation’s top-selling vodka. Whether it’s strengthening legacy brands or bringing new energy to the portfolio, I focus on bold, culturally resonant work that connects with Canadians in meaningful ways.

At the core of my leadership is a human-first approach: I believe in disruptive thinking grounded in purpose, creativity led by empathy, and brand building that’s both brave and honest. I see marketing as a privilege — a chance to earn trust and attention through work that’s authentic, impactful, and cool AF.

Outside of the office, I’m honoured to serve on the Ontario Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish Canada and on the advisory committee for Humber College’s marketing degree program. And above all, I’m a proud mom to two amazing kids and one very devoted fur baby.

Spiro Paravantes
SVP, Media Operations
Innocean

Alicia Petralia
Head of Media
Zulumatic

Alicia Petralia has dedicated her career to bringing insight-led media strategies to life for brands of all sizes and categories, including UHN Foundation, Tim Hortons, and RBC. She joined Zulu Alpha Kilo to spearhead the launch of their integrated paid media arm, Zulumatic, and currently oversees this group as Head of Media. Prior to joining Zulumatic, Alicia was the Director of Digital Media at Bensimon Byrne where she led media planning and activation for clients across North America.

David Rusli
Chief Strategy Officer
Wavemaker

David Rusli turns numbers into narratives as Wavemaker’s Chief Strategy Officer. Leading the agency’s strategic initiatives, David leverages his experience across client- and agency-side marketing to craft powerful, data-driven brand stories. His collaborative approach and commitment to unleashing creativity empower Wavemaker to deliver transformative results for brands.

Shalin Shah
Head of Marketing
Mattel

Shalin leads the Brand & Digital Marketing functions at Mattel Canada, bringing over 15 years of senior marketing expertise across the QSR and CPG industries. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in shaping brand strategy, building loyalty platforms, and spearheading high-impact campaigns and sports sponsorships.

Renowned for his strong commercial acumen and ability to lead cross-functional teams, Shalin places a strong emphasis on data-driven decision making and continuously challenges the status quo. In his current role at Mattel, he finds immense gratification not only in working within the dynamic and thrilling world of toys but also in contributing to a greater purpose: supporting child development through play—one of the most meaningful impacts anyone can have.

Known for bold thinking, collaborative leadership, and a bias for action, Shalin thrives at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and execution.

Nikki Stone
Consultant
Freelance

Amber Winters
Senior Marketing Director
Pizza Pizza Ltd

Sarah Di Domenico
Co-Founder, Creative Director
Wedge

Sarah Di Domenico is Co-Founder, Creative Director of Wedge – a strategically backed, creative brand agency for distinct character & narrative, based in Montreal & Los Angeles. 

Wedge is known for creating award-winning brands across new generation CPG as well as evolving legacy namesakes such as Indigo, Canada Dry, and more into their new era.

Ekaterina Dobrokhotova
VP, Marketing
Miele

Ekaterina is a growth-focused marketing executive blending corporate leadership with creator-level consumer engagement. As VP of Marketing at Miele Canada, she leads brand strategy, digital transformation, and consumer experience in premium markets. With prior leadership roles at L’Oréal and in the pharmaceutical sector, Ekaterina brings deep expertise in building high-performing teams and guiding organizations through fast-paced change. Her educational content has attracted over 500 million views, giving her unique insights into how audiences connect with brands in today’s digital-first world.

Phoebe Glasfurd
Co-Founder, Creative Director
Glasfurd & Walker

Phoebe Glasfurd is a creative leader with expertise in design, brand building, and packaging. As Co-Founder and Creative Director of Glasfurd & Walker, she has established the studio as a global leader in hospitality, consumer packaged goods, and retail. Known for her world-building approach to design, Phoebe combines strategic thinking, storytelling, and thoughtful craftsmanship at every level and touchpoint. Beyond her creative work, she advises and invests in start-ups across Canada, Australia, and the USA. She is also committed to supporting nonprofits dedicated to mental health, humanitarian causes, and environmental sustainability.

Peter Ladd
Creative Director & Co-Founder
Pendo

As a kid making things is all I wanted to do. Experimenting, creating, exploring. I’m lucky enough to still be doing this. And for a living no less. I like to bring an artful approach to everything I design. Work that strikes a balance between creative and strategy. Work that can be both inspiring and marketable. It requires open minds. Taking chances. And staying open to what can be.

Shawn Lambino
Head of Design
Anomaly Inc

Shawn Lambino is an award-winning designer with a strong focus on visual identity & concept development.

Mike Lucas
Executive Director, Creative
Cineplex

Mike Lucas is Executive Creative Director at Cineplex, where he leads a 20-person creative team powering Canada’s iconic entertainment brands: Cineplex, The Rec Room, and Playdium. His work combines design and strategy, from reimagining visual identities to creating campaigns that connect with millions of moviegoers. Mike believes in the business impact of creativity, having delivered multi-million-dollar efficiencies while earning industry recognition. Outside the office, he’s often behind a camera, at a concert, or perfecting pizza in his backyard oven.

Daniel Marrett
Global Director - Marketing and Sales
Ciele Athletics

Steve St. Jean
VP of Brand, Creative, & Marketing
Side Launch Brewing

Steve St. Jean is a Toronto-based Creative Director, Designer, and Photographer. Steve has over 15 years of experience in advertising, design, branding, content, and all things digital. His creative passion started at an early age with an immersive upbringing in skateboarding and counterculture that continues to fuel his creativity today.

Steve is currently VP of Brand, Creative, & Marketing at Equals Brewing Co. and was last the Head of Brand Creative at Collective Arts, leading a team of multi-disciplinary creatives. After hours, he spends nights photographing live music for his music publication Beyond The Watch.

Creative talk aside, Steve’s a music freak, skateboarder, husband, coffee addict and dog dad to an Australian Cattle Dog named Belmont.

Jed Tallo
Creative Direction, Design
Studio Jed Tallo

Creative and design director Jed Tallo /tal-yoh/ is regarded for wielding a refined visual aesthetic, strategic problem-solving skills and conscientious working style. Specializing in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle sectors he is a creative leader with proven experience in effortlesly elevating brand dnas. He delivers a unique blend of brand and editorial experience: business goals layered with nuanced story-telling. Most recently he was the senior director, global brand creative at Mackage where he was pivotal in shaping their current refined brand image.

Carmen Wagner
Art Director
The National Ballet

Carmen Wagner is an art director, illustrator and founder of Pink Kloud Creative, a design studio that crafts bold, emotionally-resonant brand identities. Carmen brings a sharp eye, strategic thinking, and a love of expressive, story-driven design to every project. Her clientele spans culture, cannabis, and beyond, from scrappy startups to The National Ballet of Canada. When she’s not rearranging elements on a screen, she's in the studio painting, exploring the weirder edges of narrative and colour.

Cass Zawadowski
ECD, North American Brand
Lyft

Cass is a globally recognized creative and marketing leader with 20+ years driving brand and business growth across agency and in-house roles. She currently leads Creative at Lyft, blending bold vision with strategic rigor to build emotionally resonant, data-driven campaigns. A proven change agent, Cass has led award-winning brand teams across three continents and is known for cultivating cultures of creativity, curiosity, and accountability.

Whitney Bell
Chief Marketing Officer

Whitney Bell currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for WNBA Toronto. With over 16 years of experience as a marketing leader, Whitney has successfully navigated diverse landscapes—from pioneering disruptor brands to reinvigorating established icons—always with a commitment to fostering positive social impact.

Whitney began her career in consumer packaged goods, spending over a decade in various Marketing and Sales roles at Kraft and Unilever. During this time, she managed the Dove and Axe brands and led strategic partnerships with the Toronto Raptors, the NBA, and the Montreal Canadiens.

In 2018, she joined Lyft as an early-stage team member for the company's launch into Canada. Over three years, she was promoted to Head of Marketing for Canada and International, focusing on defining the go-to-market strategy for new markets.

In 2021, Whitney became Vice President of Marketing at Clutch. In this role, she was responsible for building the strategy, driving growth, and establishing Clutch as a household brand in Canada. Clutch was named one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Canada for the past three years.

Whitney previously served on the Board of Directors for Shaping Her Esteem, an organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of young women through sport. She has also advised Influence This Canada and Buffer Festival and currently mentors with Monday Girl, contributing to the development of the next generation of talent.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from Queen’s University, where she was a member of the varsity women’s soccer team.

Joseph Bonnici
Chief Creative Officer
Tadiem

Joseph is the Chief Creative Officer and one of the 3 owners of a collective of innovative agencies including Bensimon Byrne, OneMethod, Super Proper ,Narrative XPR, Hi-Fi and Folk.  The agencies have grown to become one of the largest and most creatively lauded independents in North America with over 200 people. The agencies have won over 60 One Show Pencils, Cannes Lions, Clios and D&AD pencils and have been a top 15 independent agency at Cannes, FastCompany’s Most Innovative Workplaces, Clio Health Top 3 Independent Agency, Top 15 independent at One Show and Strategy Magazine’s PR Agency of the year. 

Joseph is unique among Chief Creative Officers in that he spent 6 years as an active board member of a world-renowned hospital, Casey House, which specializes in the treatment of HIV. He has advocated for the end of HIV stigma with the ground-breaking Smash Stigma campaign for Casey House .

Francesca Cardarelli
Chief Marketing Officer
McDonald's

Wain Choi
Chief Creative Officer
BLKW

Wain Choi is the Chief Creative Officer at BLKW inc. His well-respected talent has taken him across North America, Europe and Asia. He has held Chief Creative Officer roles in major advertising agencies including Dentsu Brussels, Ogilvy Korea, Cheil Worldwide, CJ Livecity and Zulu Alpha Kilo. Wain has extensive experience in leading global brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Uniqlo, GM, Ford, Toyota F1, Lexus, Subaru, Bridgestone, CJ Group and Samsung.

His work has been recognized with over 100 awards at Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, The Clios, London International Awards, New York Festivals, Spikes, Adfest and others. In addition, his extensive jury duties include Cannes Lions, D&AD Foreman, The One Show, Spikes Jury President, Adfest Jury President, Cristal Jury President, AdStars Jury President, Clio, Dubai Lynx, Red Apple, New York Festivals, Kam Fan Award, etc. Wain Choi has been a keynote speaker internationally including Cannes Lions 2017, Dubai Lynx 2015, AdAsia Bali 2017, A Fireside Chat Singapore Advertisers Association 2017, Goafest India 2017 and Brand Magic Summit Mauritius 2018.

Allen Kwong
Executive Creative Director
VML

Allen is an Executive Creative Director at VML Canada, where he brings a diverse point of view to his work in advertising and design. He developed a love of making things from an early age, while watching his father draft suit patterns. On the global stage, his work has been recognized at Cannes, D&AD, the Clios, and the One Show. Closer to home, Allen and his team have been recognized at every Canadian award show, including a best-in-show at the CMAs and numerous golds at the Marketing Awards. He’s fond of emojis, strong coffee, and post-it notes.

Genevieve Langlois
Partner, Executive Creative Director
LG2

Geneviève believes curiosity is the secret ingredient to a successful career. She’s one to  know: she’s been passionate about producing work that makes a difference for over 20 years. Geneviève is a partner and executive creative director at LG2, one of Canada’s largest independent creative agencies. As a role model and leader, she has helped transform the agency’s creative team into one of the biggest and most rewarded in Québec.  She brings out the best in everyone around her with a focus on employee expectations and modern leadership. Gen’s curiosity is a huge asset in the constantly evolving creative industry she’s grown up in. Her creative flair pairs perfectly with her keen interest in the ever-changing world of brands. She crafts groundbreaking products that consistently push the envelope in both impact and relevance.

Over the course of her impressive career, Gen has worked with brands such as Loblaw,  Bell, Kruger, MTY Food Group, BRP (Ski-Doo, Can-Am, Sea-Doo), Honda, the Gouvernement du Québec, Lifesaving Society, Olympic Park, Préma-Québec, New Look, Destination Québec cité, Hydro-Québec and Zoo de Granby, helping them connect and make an impact on consumers. Creative efficiency is at the core of Geneviève’s work, which has consistently earned her national and international recognition. She has won awards at Idéa, Marketing Awards, ADCC Awards, ADC Annual Awards, Webby Awards, Applied Arts Awards, FWA, The Immortal Awards, Communication Arts, The One Show, Clio Awards and Cannes Lions.

When she’s not wearing her creative director hat, you’ll find her on the slopes, snowboarding with her two daughters.

Brian Neumann
Head of Brand & Creativity
Kraft Heinz

Brian Neumann currently leads creativity and brands at Kraft Heinz Canada as the Head of Brand Communications. His career mantra of “doing cool sh*t that people notice and drive business” has led to incredible work at companies such as Unilever, Johnson and Johnson and Kraft Heinz.

He has numerous accolades at some of the most renown award shows internationally such as Cannes, The One Show and the Effies. Most recently he was recognized with a Penta Pencil and a Grand Prix at Cannes for Creative Effectiveness for his work on Heinz where he led the brand’s creative turnaround through a model that hacked culture to earn attention while breaking down the agency-client barrier for more seamless workstreams.

Some of his most recognizable work includes the Heinz Tilted Label, the all red-Heinz Ketchup Puzzle, Ore-Ida’s Deliciously Predictable Campaign, Kraft Dinner’s Pumpkin Spice stunt and most recently an international partnership between Marvel/Ryan Reynolds and Heinz.  

When he’s not on a mission to try the best breweries across the world, you can find Brian with his nose in a fiction novel or being let down by his favorite sports teams.

Mia Thomsett
Copywriter, Creative Director
Freelance

Mia has helped transform some of Canada’s biggest brands including Real Canadian Superstore, CFL and The Bay, and has turned small ones into household names. She has led creative teams and built longstanding brand platforms for everything from non profits to fashion to sports brands. Lately she has been helping clients get up to speed on how AI is shaping creative and advertising. Mia has also founded three companies of her own: an audio sleep app, an outerwear brand called Tarka, and her current venture, Songbook, an AI-powered web app for marketers.

Luke Vachon
VP, Brand
Knix

Senior executive with over 13 years of global experience in shaping and elevating brands across the fashion, lifestyle, and culture sectors. A seasoned strategic, creative, and business oriented leader renowned for adeptly navigating industry trends and cultural landscapes. 

Chris Zawada
Founding Partner, Chief Creative Officer
Full Punch

Chris began his career in Toronto at FutureBrand, where he had the opportunity to work on national and international brands, including Coca-Cola, Cadbury, RBC, Heinz, and Empresas Polar. Before founding Full Punch, Chris was the Creative Director at several world-renowned agencies, including TAXI and Cossette, leading creative for TELUS, McDonald’s, WestJet and MINI, to name a few. Along the way, Chris also found the time to create one of the world’s most popular packaging design sites—lovelypackage.com. Chris champions beautiful design with purpose at Full Punch, leading the creative department and directing a wide range of projects encompassing digital, product development, advertising, content, and, of course, design.

Natalie Armata
Co-CCO & Co-Founder
Acart Communications

Natalie has been creating things since she was 6, and was known for her "surprise endings." Surprise, surprise, she started an agency. Giants & Gentlemen was founded on a philosophy she's practiced her entire career: do great work that stands out, ego-free. With a whack of National and International industry awards, as a teacher at the Toronto Miami Ad School, creds as a Registered Graphic Designer and an MBA from Ivey in the works, she challenges the G&G team to do innovative work that's always beautifully crafted. (Some say OCD, we say high standards.)

Irene Daley
VP Marketing
Canadian Tire

Irene Daley is the Vice President of Canadian Tire Marketing and Content at Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC). In this role, Irene leads brand, sports, and community strategies and full-funnel marketing campaigns for the company’s Canadian Tire Retail, Pro Hockey Life, and Party City banners, as well as Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and Triangle Rewards marketing. She also oversees Triangle Creative Services (T3), Canadian Tire’s in house creative agency and production studio.

Irene has led the evolution of many of Canadian Tire’s most iconic campaigns, including Canada’s Store, Canada’s Garage, Tested for Life in Canada, and We All Play for Canada, Canadian Tire’s Olympic and Paralympic campaign. Irene is a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive leader who champions her team and unleashes their strategic creativity with incredible results, evidenced by her team’s reimagining of Canada’s Store and Tested for Life in Canada, which have been highly recognized and awarded, including multiple wins at the Effies, Cassies, and Canadian Marketing Awards. She oversees a best-in-class team of marketers, PR/Comms, Community & Sports Partnerships, and Social Media experts who leverage customer data and insights to drive deeper brand trust and loyalty to further the iconic Canadian retailer’s continued growth and modernization. Before joining CTC, Irene spent 17 years in consumer-packaged goods marketing, leading large global brands such as Oreo, Ritz, the What’s Cooking recipe content strategy, and the Kraft Hockeyville community platform.

Irene is committed to living CTC’s Brand Purpose – We Are Here to Make Life in Canada Better – both inside and outside the company. She is a member of the Canadian Marketing Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee, previously served as a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Irene holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Max Geraldo
Chief Creative Officer
Gut

Max Geraldo is Chief Creative Officer at Gut Toronto and one of the most awarded Brazilian creatives of his generation, having worked for some of the best creative shops in Brazil, the United States and Canada.

Winner of 90 Cannes Lions with iconic campaigns like Nivea Doll and Protection AD, Speaking Exchange, Teddy Gun, Fedex Neighbours and Missing Matoaka and brands like HP, Jeep, Leica, Boeing, Pepsi, The Red Cross and Tim Hortons. Max has also served on juries across the globe in the most prestigious Award Shows and has figured in the Top 10 rankings of the most awarded Creative Directors three times in the past decade, and as Number 1 Chief Creative Officer at The One Show 2023.

Max was born in Argentina, grew up in Brazil and is a father to Rosa and Lola.

Leslie Golts
Chief Marketing Officer
Roots

Leslie Golts joined Roots in November 2023 as Chief Marketing Officer and has been helping to
drive forward one of Canada's most beloved heritage brands. She leads the marketing and studio teams in delivering consumer-focused global content and experiences that break through.

Prior to Roots, Leslie spent 15 years in marketing and communications leadership working
across some of the world’s most iconic global beauty and personal care brands. She is a highly
awarded marketing executive with a track record of success building iconic brands across North
America and many other markets. She led the development and execution of some of the most
celebrated global campaigns on the Dove brand, including on the Dove Self Esteem
Project/Real Beauty campaign during her time at Unilever. She also led the launch of the Liquid
IV brand in Canada which experienced explosive growth, women’s focused campaigns on Olly
Vitamins and many other initiatives.

Gloria Loree
SVP, Marketing Strategy & CMO
Destination Canada

Gloria’s leadership purpose is to enable and inspire teams to be effective. She is proud to lead a
team of passionate marketers who share a common vision of inspiring those with open hearts
and minds to fall in love with Canada. Following a 20+ year career in the arts, journalism and
tourism, Gloria joined Destination Canada in 2006 where she has gained a reputation as a
skilled strategist and passionate champion of the tourism industry.

Steph Mackie
Co-Founder, Co-CCO
Mackie Biernacki

Lance Martin
Chief Creative Officer
DonerNorth

With over 30 years in the business, Lance Martin has had the opportunity to help build agencies, shape brands, and contribute to work that makes a real impact.

Along the way, he’s created memorable campaigns for brands like Nike, MINI, Viagra, and Canadian Tire. He launched TAXI 2, co-founded UNION, and saw it grow into a 122-person agency recognized in the top 10 of the Creative Report Card.

Today at DonerNorth, Lance stays focused on creating bold, insight-led ideas that resonate with people and deliver results. He brings a collaborative spirit, a love for smart thinking, and a genuine belief in the power of great work.

Andrew Oosterhuis
VP Marketing
Labatt

Andrew Oosterhuis is Vice President Marketing, Labatt Breweries of Canada -
responsible for the Labatt portfolio of brands from Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella
Artois, Michelob Ultra and Corona to Cutwater, Mike’s Hard and Nutrl.

Andrew returned to Canada in December 2020 to assume the Vice President of
Marketing role following three years based in New York as part of the global
marketing team where he launched the global partnerships with La Liga and
English Premiere League while also partnering with Barcelona legend Leo Messi
in a Cannes Lion award winning ‘644’ campaign. In his most recent role, he was
recognized as one of the Strategy Marketers of the Year in Canada in 2022.

Andrew began his career with Labatt in 2007, as a Global Management Trainee
and over the course of his time at Labatt has held various sales and marketing
roles, leading to appointment as Budweiser Canada’s director in 2015. In this
role, he led his team to developing bold, creative and disruptive campaigns from
launching the first ever alcohol partnership with Metallica in 2015 to partnering
with Wayne Gretzky as part of launching Light up the Nation (Red Light) which
received the AB InBev Creative X Grand Prix award and Cannes Lion shortlist for
promo activation. Finally, he launched the national partnership with Live Nation
including the conversion and inaugural season of the iconic Budweiser Stage in
downtown Toronto.

Andrew graduated with Honours from University of Guelph with a Bachelor of
Commerce degree in Marketing. His personal passion includes spending time
with his family and supporting Hopewell Children’s Home, a non-profit founded
by his father in 1981.

Erin Wendel
Co-CCO
The Hive

Erin is Co-Chief Creative Officer at The Hive in Toronto. Previously, she was EVP Executive
Creative Director at McCann Worldwide based in New York. Throughout her career, she’s had
the pleasure of working with some pretty cool people in some pretty cool places with stops at
agencies in Toronto, Prague, Minneapolis and New York. Along the way, she’s led U.S. and
global campaigns for brands such as Tide, Unilever, Lysol, Xbox, General Mills, Mastercard,
Coke, Cadbury, Microsoft, U.S. Bank and General Motors.
 
Her work has been translated into dozens of languages and recognized at the industry’s top
award shows including top prizes at Cannes, the One Show, the Clios, the Effies and the Tribeca
Film Festival.

Gah-Yee Won
Head of Marketing
Intuit

As the Head of Marketing, CG Canada at Intuit, Gah-Yee Won is an accomplished
marketing professional with extensive experience in driving growth for flagship products.

Her responsibilities include formulating effective marketing strategies focusing on business
model planning, customer segmentation and retention. Additionally, she oversees the
creative development, paid media strategy, and analysis of mass media campaigns while
leading teams responsible for lifecycle marketing, affiliates, SEO, and content.

Prior to her role at Intuit, Gah-Yee was the Director of Account Management, Agency
Operations, and Marketing Channel Strategy at Scotiabank, where she oversaw the in-
house creative agency account management team. She also served as the Director of
Digital Strategy at MediaCom Canada, where she was responsible for thought leadership
and led digital buying for one of the country’s largest advertisers, P&G.

Gah-Yee is a member of the IAB Canada Board of Directors and serves on the Executive
Board as Secretary. She has received several prestigious accolades for her achievements
in the industry, including being named Ad Club Digital Planner/Buyer of the Year and being
nominated for Media Rising Star. Gah-Yee holds a BA Honours in Media, Information, and
Technoculture from the University of Western Ontario.

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/gahyeewon.

Christina Yu
Partner, Chief Creative Officer
Lifelong Crush

Sabrina Zollo
Vice President, Marketing
Lactalis