Speakers
Our speaker list is being updated frequently so check back often.
ADAM WATT
Managing Director, Event Partnerships
A lifelong Albertan, Adam founded Event Partnerships in December 2019 after spending the previous ten years working in sponsorship sales full time for various event and facility organizations. He has represented the University of Alberta, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Explore Edmonton, Canada Day London, FC Edmonton, and Fort Edmonton Park among other event and facility properties.
AMANDA PICK
CEO, Missing Children Society of Canada
Amanda Pick is a tenacious advocate and influential collaborator with over 25 years of experience at the executive level in the child protection field. Internationally recognized as a social innovator and engagement strategist, building organizational frameworks that deliver measurable impacts.
BEN OOSTENBRINK
Director of Community Engagement, Citadel Theatre
Ben is an experienced professional in community engagement and development currently serving as Director of Community Engagement at the Citadel Theatre. He holds a wealth of experience from across the non-profit sector, with expertise in philanthropic giving, corporate partnerships and government relations.
BRENT BAROOTES
President and CEO, Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists
Over 30+ years, Brent has worked with numerous organizaitons to develop, audit, enhance, design, and build effective sponsorship marketing programs. He is the author of Canada’s #1 selling sponsorship book, Reality Check – Straight Talk about Sponsorship Marketing.
BRIAN GEISLINGER
Senior Vice-President of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement, Alberta Blue Cross
Brian’s role includes providing oversight to the Alberta Blue Cross Corporate Communications, Customer Services and Community Impact portfolios. Alberta Blue Cross invests upwards of $1 million annually into supporting the communities it serves in fulfillment of its social purpose and legislative mandate, through a combination of programs, partnerships and sponsorships.
CHRISTI CRUZ
President & CEO, BOLD Consultancy
Christi Cruz has held several community investment positions at TELUS, a global telecommunications and integrated data company. Recognized as a respectful disrupter, she is often asked to share her program development, social purpose, sponsorship and cause marketing experience at international conferences.
COREY MCKEOWN
Senior Associate & Project Manager, ViTreo Group
Corey is a passionate community builder, fundraiser, and dedicated charitable sector leader who believes that philanthropy is not about giving, it’s more about making a difference. With more than 20 years of fundraising and sponsorship leadership experience, Corey is extremely passionate about building relationships, solving problems, and making change.
DENISE BROADBENT
Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, City of Leduc
Denise builds and manages sponsorship & advertising programs as well as manages lease & service contracts for City of Leduc Recreation Services. She is most passionate about developing mutually beneficial sponsorship agreements and activations where businesses and organizations achieve marketing, business, and social investment objectives.
DEREK MAGER
Managing Partner, DataJungle
Derek is Managing Director of DataJungle, a boutique insights-driven research consultancy. His team works with clients to construct measurable frameworks that drive business success. He has developed innovative and proven strategies to help clients acquire information, make sense of it, and to help businesses grow and thrive in this ever-changing economy.
DONNA ZAZULAK
Special Initiatives Director, Wolfe Pack Warriors
Bio coming soon…
ERIN GOBOLOS
Erin has over 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, fund development and strategy and has held senior and executive-level roles in the financial services, non-profit, charitable and economic development sectors.
FRANCIS DUMAIS
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Elevent
Francis works closely with clients to optimize each step of the sponsorship journey from selection, valuation, negotiation and activation to performance measurement and ROI. He understands that strategic sponsorship investments must be closely tied to corporate business objectives to clearly demonstrate the value they deliver back to the business.
JENNIFER BISHOP
Connect First Credit Union
Jennifer is a dynamic force in the partnerships landscape, bringing over a decade of experience across Canada’s private and public sectors. With a career spanning both property and brand management, Jennifer has honed her expertise in cultivating high-impact partnerships and driving strategic initiatives.
JESSE MURPHY
Capital Power
Jesse has spent the last 14 years with Capital Power, managing their community investment, sponsorship and corporate positioning activities. Jesse is passionate about partnerships and is always eager to find innovative ways to create shared value. He also enjoys helping properties and brands optimize their partnership programs.
JUDY HABER
Founder, Performance Sponsorship Group (PSG)
Judy brings extensive experience selling naming rights and corporate sponsorships in Western Canada. She is considered to be a sales expert by her peers in the industry and has conducted audits, packaged and sold Naming Rights for municipalities as well she has negotiated and sold sponsorship packages to companies on a national and international level.
KAREN RAMCHUK
President and CEO, WINS
Karen is a dedicated executive with a proven track record of achieving results and leading teams to success. Her effectiveness as a persuasive communicator and her unsurpassed interpersonal skills make her an expert in change leadership. Karen is a catalyst for strategy creation and implementation, and her passion and energy shine through her leadership.
LEANNE CALDERWOOD
Leanne is one of the hospitality industry’s most preeminent LinkedIn experts, and one of Canada’s top voices in the meetings and events industry. She helps other professionals stand out from their competition using their personal brands and thought leadership, whether on LinkedIn or using other platforms.
LEE ANN WAINES
Senior Manager, Consulting Services, MNP
Lee become well-known in Partnership Strategy & Execution and has presented to National Sport Organizations and non-profits across the country on partnership strategy. In her career, Lee Ann has experience in granting, securing, evaluating and negotiating major partnerships for well-known brands, events, naming opportunities and celebrities.
NEAL COVANT
Chief Revenue Officer, SponsorPulse
Neal Covant is best known for simplifying consumer behaviour into strategic solutions that deliver results. Throughout his career, he has worked with and advised hundreds of brands, properties, and agencies to maximize the effectiveness of their sponsorship investments. Neal’s industry expertise spans across all passion points, from sport, entertainment and culture properties to academic institutions and charitable organizations.
DR. NORM O’REILLY
Founding Dean, College of Business, University of New England
Partner, T1 Agency
Dr. O’Reilly is a high-performing academician with strong industry links who is recognized globally as one of the leading scholars in the business of sports. He is widely published, a regular media contributor, an active consultant, and an expert witness in legal cases.
SAMANTHA ALEXANDER
Senior Marketing Manager, MNP
Samantha is a marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in B2B marketing. As the Senior Marketing Manager at MNP, she leverages her extensive expertise in brand building and positioning to drive the company's marketing initiatives forward.
SARAH HILLIFER
Co-founder and Principal Consultant - Harbour & Hive
Sarah is a data-centric strategist dedicated to driving impact in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector. She works with leading NFP organizations to develop data-driven solutions that align with their missions, creating pathways to stronger community engagement and outcomes.
VICTORIA MAHONEY
Head of Marketing & Partnerships, Harmony Marketing
Victoria is a marketing, partnerships, and communications specialist with experience in media relations, event management, social media and government relations. She specializes in sponsorship, experiential marketing, government relations and communications for festivals and events and is the head of all public relations and social media for clients.