Dr. Jody Carrington is a powerhouse speaker and fearless champion for authentic human connection. She is highly sought after for her expertise, energy and genuine approach to helping people solve the most complex human-centred problems. This rapidly disconnected world is leaving so many of us overwhelmed, lonely, and burned out. Dr. Jody boldly believes that all humans have the capacity for good; however, so many of us these days, because of isolation and burnout, have lost access to that good.

Dr. Jody’s work often involves understanding just how we got to this disconnected place, what we need to put the pieces back together, and maybe most importantly, how we collectively do "the work" to find our way back home again when (not if) we lose our way. Her authentic, honest, and often hilarious approach never fails to inspire and motivate audiences.

Dr. Carrington is the founder and principal psychologist at Carrington & Company, she's written three best-selling books, speaks on hundreds of stages globally each year, and hosts the widely celebrated podcast UNLONELY. In this modern world where we look all the time, but we don't see, where we listen but we don't hear, Dr. Jody is clear on one thing: we were never meant to do any of this alone. 

Sentinel facilitates global commercial capability training, strategic consultancy projects & are global grocery code experts. Henry, previously in grocery retailing for 10 years, has also led Commercial teams in the UK, EME & North America in CPG & Media. Leading change in Global organisations such as Unilever, General Mills, Saputo & The BBC, through to SME’s & start ups. 

A nine-time winner at the Canadian Comedy Awards, Sandy Jobin-Bevans is an alumnus of the legendary Toronto Second City Mainstage, where he wrote and performed five reviews and directed a sixth. He uses his experience as a professional improviser to host and emcee memorable and hilarious events, as well as speak skillfully to topics ranging from collaboration, communication, and adapting to change to storytelling, creativity, and innovation. Past clients have included Ford, BMO, Canadian Tire, CIBC, Deloitte, Harley-Davidson, Telus, The Toronto Blue Jays, the NBA, Major League Baseball, and the NHL, among many others.

Jobin-Bevans has appeared in countless commercials and was the host of HGTV’s Great Home Giveaway, and co-host of the W Network’s gameshow, Deal with It, and the Family Channel’s gameshow, Just Like Mom and Dad. He has also appeared in such films as You Kill Me, alongside Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and the Lifetime movie, Flint, where he played the evil mayor.

A regular cast member on the Comedy Network’s sketch comedy show, Hotbox, Jobin-Bevan played the single father of four children on YTV/Nickelodeon’s sitcom, Life with Boys, and played sitcom dad on NBC Universal’s Bijillionaires and The Parker Andersons. 

Stephen Laskowski is President of the Canadian Trucking Alliance. Stephen has been a part of the trucking association for over 30 years. Over the years, he has been involved in multiple high-profile policies that have had tremendous change on the freight transportation sector, including but not limited to: 9/11 and its impact on the cross-border trucking industry, the technological and environmental enhancements, trucking labour issues like the driver shortage and multiple major truck safety reforms. Most recently, in the aftermath of the Humboldt tragedy, Stephen has led a national effort to improve highway safety across Canada, most specifically by urging, MELT, expedited implementation of electronic logging devices to monitor drivers’ hours of service and more robust industry entry standards to ensure the trucking industry is fully compliant with all rules of the road. As president, his main mission is to level the playing field for the majority of responsible, compliant motor carriers in our industry. Though Stephen’s leadership, the Canadian trucking industry was able to navigate through and weathered the pandemic storm that has been by far his most challenging task to say the least.

Stephen was selected to be a participant in the prestigious US State Department World Leadership Exchange Program in 2004. He holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario and an undergraduate degree in Political Science & History from his hometown school, McMaster University.

Stephen lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife Milena. 

Kasey, a senior Principal at Deloitte Consulting, is the Chief Consumer Industry Futurist. He leads groundbreaking research into the evolving consumer, the shifting industry dynamics, artificial Intelligence, and the resulting impacts on competition and organizational structure. With 30 years at Deloitte, Kasey has partnered with some of the world’s largest retail and consumer products companies, driving strategic initiatives, technology-driven transformations, and organizational change. His expertise lies in helping clients navigate the shifting competitive landscape, technology and rapidly evolving consumer behavior.

Kasey’s career is marked by his keen insight into emerging digital trends and changing business models. 
As a pivotal figure in launching Deloitte Digital, he has earned recognition as one of the industry’s most influential leaders.

A sought-after public speaker, Kasey’s expertise has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Financial Times, and other leading publications. 

Considered by many to be the go-to expert on anything to do with technology, Amber Mac helps companies and audiences stay ahead of the curve. She is an industry veteran, renowned as a journalist, moderator, entrepreneur, consultant, and bestselling author. Whatever the setting, Mac offers clarity and a passion for digital innovation in all forms.

In 2021, Mac was named one of Bay Street Bull's "Women of the Year" for her leadership in the technology sector. She has also been named one of "30 inspirational women making a difference in tech" by DMZ. Mac began her career in San Francisco and Boston during the dot-com boom. As a strategist for Razorfish and director of marketing for an e-procurement software company, she spent four years in the technology start-up trenches.

Today, Mac is the president of AmberMac Media, Inc., an award-winning content development agency. She has also keynoted more than 500 events around the world and moderated sessions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former FBI Director James Comey, business coach Tony Robbins, author Malcolm Gladwell, astronaut Chris Hadfield, and many other notable leaders.

Mac has also hosted and co-hosted a variety of television and radio shows and several podcast series. These have included The Feed on SiriusXM, The AI Effect, Marketing Disrupted, This is Mining, and The AmberMac Show, which has led to more than five recent national podcast awards.

Mac is the co-author of the Amazon bestseller, Outsmarting Your Kids Online, and the author of the national bestselling business book, Power Friending. She is also a regular business host and expert for Fast Company, CNN, Bloomberg, CBS, BNN, CBC, Global News, CTV, The Marilyn Denis Show, and SiriusXM. 

Douglas Porter has over 30 years of experience analyzing global economies and financial markets. As Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and author of the popular Talking Points, he oversees the macroeconomic and financial market forecasts and co-writes the firm’s weekly flagship publication, Focus. Mr. Porter manages the team that has won numerous forecasting awards. Most recently, Douglas led the team to a #1 ranking for Top U.S. Forecaster among 60 global firms in the 2023 Focus Economics Survey, and #1 for Top Canadian Inflation Forecaster among 28 firms. Also, his team took the #1 spot in the StarMine Awards for Most Accurate Forecasters for Canada in 2022.

As a respected commentator on economic and financial trends, he is regularly quoted in the national press and often interviewed on radio and television.

Douglas’ career began at the Bank of Canada; then, before joining BMO, he held the positions of Economist and Country Risk Analyst with other Canadian financial institutions.

He has been a member of C.D. Howe’s Monetary Policy Council since 2008 and serves on the Investment Management Committees of the Bank of Montreal’s Canada Pension Plan and Western’s Endowment Fund.

Douglas Porter, CFA, earned a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Karen Proud is the President and Adjudicator of the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC), where she oversees the implementation and enforcement of the Code, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability across Canada’s grocery supply chain.

With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, she previously served as President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada, Chief Operating Officer at Food, Health & Consumer Products Canada, President of Consumer Health Products Canada and Vice President of Federal Government Relations at the Retail Council of Canada.

Her expertise in policy development, compliance & enforcement, and stakeholder collaboration was honed during her ten-year tenure at Health Canada, where she led several legislative and regulatory initiatives. A skilled negotiator and spokesperson, she has worked extensively with government, industry, and the media to advocate for fair and competitive markets.

Karen currently serves on the board of Rubicon Organics and is a former board member of the Canola Council of Canada, Nutrients for Life, and the Global Self-Care Federation. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental & Public Health from Toronto Metropolitan University.
 

Vinder is a consumer products and retail leader with over 20 years of experience in technology-enabled capability transformations (people, process, technology).  Vinder's experience as both a management consultant and technology executive focuses on identifying and executing core operational model changes in supply chain, manufacturing, merchandising, digital commerce, and store operations.  He has a passion for innovation, and making complex, high value transformations easy to implement, easy to execute, easy to sustain.