These are the people you want to hear speaking about topics that are relevant today.
Rise of the Humans: How the Robots are Making Your Creativity More Valuable
President and Narrative Lead, Curious Public
President and Narrative Lead Lloyd Rang is one of Canada’s top speech writers, having written for business leaders as well as celebrities. He has also been a pundit for TV and print and has written for big publications like the Toronto Star, Forbes and The New York Times. With plenty of experience writing for the government, Lloyd certainly knows a thing or two about crisis comms, making him the perfect person to lead a discussion on the topic using real-life examples.
Announcement Coming Soon!
Founder, Camp re:Connect | CEO & Media Director, Orchestra Marketing
Jocelyn’s entry into the digital and experiential marketing space dates back to the same year Facebook launched their Events platform. In her two decades in the industry she has had a front-row seat to all digital marketing innovations. Jocelyn has been at the helm of major campaigns at Orchestra for the past 14 years and as an agency leader, Jocelyn advises and educates clients and other industry professionals on the adoption of new tools, technologies and protocols to improve their marketing initiatives.Specializing in data, user experience planning, and digital strategy, she has worked with national and international brands such as CAMH, Humber Polytechnic, University of Toronto, Manulife Real Estate and the Foundation for Global Sports Development. She has also acted as a mentor for startups via VentureLab, Futurpreneur and more.
Get to the “Why”: Social Values + Empathy Mapping for Smarter Marketing
VP, Strategy & Insights, Environics Research
For over 20 years, Michele has advised clients across industries on marketing, brand, reputation, and stakeholder engagement strategies. She helps organizations connect more meaningfully with customers and stakeholders through a deep understanding of people and their motivations. A trusted advisor to leading global companies and organizations, she designs bespoke research programs that turn insight into action. Her expertise includes multi-country, multi-stakeholder, mixed-methodology studies, with research experience in more than 100 countries across audiences ranging from consumers and youth to government, media, academia, executives, and B2B professionals across a spectrum of industries.
The Visible Leader: How Marketing & Agency Leaders Build Presence Without Being Everywhere
Content and Brand Strategist, Daniel Does Consulting & Clarity Content
Daniel is a marketing advisor focused on brand and content strategy. He supports innovative projects that have a positive impact, helping to make things happen for founders and changemakers. Daniel is a Certified Brand Strategist, a professor in OCAD University's Advertising program and a member of the Canadian Marketing Association and the RGD. He founded The Good Growth Company in 2023 which provides training for social good organizations to upskill their teams and scale their mission. His past endeavours include the agency Now Creative Group which was acquired by King Street Media. With his experience both working in the industry and teaching future industry professionals, he will be able to add valuable insights to our Learning Landscape Panel.
This is Culturally (In) Appropriate: Black Influence in Advertising
Brand, Content and Cultural Strategist, Little Kernel Communications
June Findlay is a multitalented communications professional with 15 years of media and advertising experience. Throughout her career, she's created campaigns for clients like The Lincoln Motor Company, raised over $12 million for UNICEF's 2017 #ActionRohingya relief campaign through strategy work, and held leadership positions at dentsu, WPP and The YMCA of Greater Toronto. A sharp writer, insightful marketing maven and the founder of Little Kernel Communications, she’s also a sought-after speaker empowering audiences to make meaningful life changes. A woman whose words and impact transcends industries and borders, June has spoken for notable institutions like University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, National Forum for Voluntary Organizations (Sweden), and more.
Rebrand, Refresh, Reinforce: A Practical framework for brand transformation
Partner & Creative Director, Borealis Creative Agency
Sarah Wilby is a creative leader known for translating smart brand strategy into meaningful, effective design. Whether developing integrated campaigns or guiding teams and clients through complex creative challenges, she brings a thoughtful, grounded, and collaborative approach to every project. She is currently Partner and Creative Director at Borealis Creative Agency, following a career at several leading branding firms.
Her award-winning work spans many of Canada’s most recognized brands, including BMW Canada, BMO, RBC, Rogers, WestJet, LCBO, Maple Leaf Foods, and Manulife. She has also led major branding and identity initiatives for organizations such as Ontario Tech University, Downsview Park, Soulpepper, the Manitoba Museum, and Alectra. Her experience bridges broadcast, print, digital, and social, as well as full rebrands and identity system development.
Working across a wide range of sectors, Sarah has developed a strong ability to quickly understand client needs and translate them into creative work that resonates. She is also an active mentor within the design community, supporting emerging talent through portfolio reviews, internships, and one-on-one guidance. Her work has been recognized by leading award programs, including the ADCC, CMA, and Applied Arts.
Truth Isn’t Trending: Disinformation, Misinformation, and the Fight for Trust
Chief Communications Officer, City of Toronto
Julia is the Chief Communications Officer for the City of Toronto, the fourth largest municipal government in North America. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the communications, marketing and public relations fields and has worked with some of the most iconic brands over her career, including the Olympics, Bell, Sony, Dell, and Telus to name a few.
She’s worked in various sectors including telecommunications, healthcare, consumer goods, electronics, corporate finance, pharmaceutical and insurance. Julia has won over 25 awards in the past 5 years for her work in communications, change management, media relations, corporate social responsibility, and leadership. She is a regular guest speaker and mentor with both the Canadian Public Relations Society and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and holds several national and international mandates within IABC.
She has also served as part-time faculty member at Lambton and Fanshawe colleges.
Truth Isn’t Trending: Disinformation, Misinformation, and the Fight for Trust
Senior Digital Content Advisor, City of Toronto
Ashalea Stone is a Senior Digital Content Advisor with the City of Toronto, bringing nearly 20 years of experience across promotions, CRM, brand and social media content creation. She leads the social media content strategy for the City, shaping how platforms, channels and communities are built and sustained combining audience insight, performance data and research to inform channel strategies, storytelling, standards, and real‑time execution during high‑stakes moments that demand speed, accuracy and public trust.
Ashalea has led social media strategies across multiple business areas, including municipal elections, city operations, severe weather and emergency communications, and large‑scale city events such as real‑time communications during Blue Jays postseason runs and oversight of City of Toronto and Host City social media channels during Toronto’s World Cup moments.
She is also co‑chair of TOnow, the City of Toronto’s women’s network, supporting a community of more than 2,500 members.
Get to the “Why”: Social Values + Empathy Mapping for Smarter Marketing
SVP, Market Strategy, Environics
Susan is a strategic research leader focused on how changing human values are redefining what people expect from brands, institutions, and each other. She helps organizations move beyond surface-level insights to uncover what truly drives behaviour – and turn that understanding into more meaningful, future-ready strategies.
With over two decades of experience across corporate retail, agency, and consultancy environments, Susan advises corporate and non-profit organizations on brand, product, and marketing strategy across sectors including tourism, culture and entertainment, technology, education, and consumer goods and services.
Her expertise in values-based research connects deep human insight with practical business impact, helping organizations navigate complexity, adapt to societal shifts, and build stronger connections and relevance.
Susan is an experienced speaker and facilitator, with engagements spanning conferences, leadership forums, webinars, and national media. She holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Management from the Schulich School of Business.
The Great Trends Debate
Production Manager, Orchestra Marketing
Carley leads Orchestra's content department and manages social media projects for clients including Irving Fund, Intelligent Foods and Humber College. With a pulse on the latest social trends, she is able to build strategies that optimize the use of social media platforms with both organic and paid content, working closely with the creative team for execution. Carley is responsible for ideating creative content, managing social engagement and tracking and analyzing key metrics. Carley's 9+ years of marketing experience across digital and experiential fields have given her an expert understanding and a well-rounded view of successfully building and promoting a brand.