DON'T MISS OUR FEATURED SPEAKERS
OPENING KEYNOTE
Daniel Sax
Co-Founder and CEO at Canadian Space Mining Corporation
Daniel Sax
Co-Founder and CEO at Canadian Space Mining Corporation
Daniel Sax is the Founder & CEO of the Canadian Space Mining Corporation. He is a visionary entrepreneur and angel investor, with a deep background in real estate investment, finance, and development, and a strong acumen in both private and public capital markets. He is responsible for overseeing CSMC's vision, strategy, academic and strategic partnerships, legal, hiring, capital raising, government relations, and communications. He has actively participated in over $4B of real estate deals across Canada, the USA, and Germany. Previous to CSMC, Daniel founded Sensi Properties, the first cannabis real estate investment company in Canada. Before that he worked in NYC in M&A for Hudson's Bay Corporation (HBC) on the acquisition of Galeria Kaufhof from Metro AG. He spent several years working in distressed real estate investment for a series of real estate private equity firms, first with Sabal Financial, and later Cohen Equities. Daniel has a passion for bleeding edge industries with high degrees of uncertainty. He has significant experience working with interdisciplinary teams on complex large scale mixed-use projects. He is a Director of Bordeaux Properties, and an Advisor to Hive Bio. He has a Masters Degree in Real Estate from Cornell University, and a BA in Economics from Dalhousie.
SUMMIT MC
Dr. Michael Fullan
Summit MC, Professor Emeritus, OISE/University of Toronto, Co-Director of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning
Dr. Michael Fullan
Summit MC, Professor Emeritus, OISE/University of Toronto, Co-Director of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning
Dr. Michael Fullan, Order of Canada, is the former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto. He is co-leader of the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning global initiative (www.deep-learning.global).
Fullan served as Premier Dalton’s Special Policy Adviser in Ontario from 2003-2013. He received the Order of Canada (OC) in December 2012 and holds five honorary doctorates from universities around the world. His ‘interim autobiography’, Surreal Change, covers his pre-Covid-19 Pandemic period to 2018. Michael and his colleagues are now working diligently on field-based comprehensive system change in several countries. The goal of this work focuses on the ‘humanity paradigm’ —a deep care and commitment to all living things including equity and equality in the service of helping all humans cope and thrive in complex societies of the 21st century.
Michael Fullan’s latest books are: Spirit Work and the Science of Collaboration (with Mark Edwards, 2022), The Principal 2.0 (2023), and The Drivers (with Joanne Quinn, 2023).
SPOTLIGHT KEYNOTE
Steve Brown
President & Chief Executive Officer, NELSON
Steve Brown
President & Chief Executive Officer, NELSON
Steve Brown has made his mark in Canada and Internationally by leading organizations through digital transformation. His career spans a diverse mix of industry and technology experience from multi-media entertainment, logistics services, automotive, and now to learning solutions.
Since joining NELSON in September 2016, Steve has transformed the vision for this 104-year-old company by reimagining the role and purpose of a publisher in 2017 and beyond. Introducing a matrix driven view to the management culture, and unifying a K20 student-centric business division is at the core of this shift to a cohesive customer focused structure. He has reframed the organization’s digital competency by instituting a technology department comprised of some the world’s best and brightest talent based in Silicon Beach California. Additionally, over the past 12 months the company has engaged in various M&A activities, including the acquisition of one of its largest competitors, as well as signing numerous agency and partnership deals to ensure NELSON offers a world class portfolio of learning solution and for all its markets.
Steve’s passion and commitment to transforming education, and the student learning experience, continues to fuel the innovation pipeline at NELSON.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Dr. Alec Couros
Director, Centre for Teaching and Learning at University of Regina
Dr. Alec Couros
Director, Centre for Teaching and Learning at University of Regina
Dr. Alec Couros is the Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Regina. He received his Bachelor and Master of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan and then completed his PhD in Education at the University of Regina. He also holds the position of Professor of Educational Technology and Media in the Faculty of Education.
Dr. Couros is an internationally recognized leader, innovator, and speaker who has given hundreds of keynotes and workshops around the globe on diverse topics such as open education, networked learning, digital citizenship, and critical media literacy. He is also a passionate advocate of openness in education and demonstrates this commitment through his open access publications, considerable digital presence and contributions, and highly successful MOOCs and open boundary courses. Dr. Couros has received numerous awards for innovation in teaching and learning.
JOIN US FOR THE FIRESIDE CHAT PANEL
"The Future of Post-secondary Education, Bridging the Gap with K12"
Richard Barwell
Dean & Full Professor, University of Ottawa
Richard Barwell
Dean & Full Professor, University of Ottawa
Dean Richard Barwell began his career at the University of Bristol, in the United Kingdom, where he earned a PhD in education. In 2006, he joined the Faculty of Education, and is currently a full professor and has been Dean since 2017. His research focuses on mathematics education, with a particular interest in the role of language in teaching and learning mathematics, an interest which first arose prior to his university career, when he taught mathematics in the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Dean Barwell is also interested in how mathematics education can address climate change and environmental sustainability. He is currently Chair of the Ontario Association of Deans of Education.north_eastexternal link He co-led the 2022 publication of the Accord on Education for as Sustainable Future,north_eastexternal link a report which emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge, relationality, social justice, well-being, advocacy and hope in education research and policy-making on the climate emergency.
Dr. Barbara “Bobbi” Kurshan
Public/Private Company Board Director, C-Suite Executive, Audit, CEO, Author
Dr. Barbara “Bobbi” Kurshan
Public/Private Company Board Director, C-Suite Executive, Audit, CEO, Author
As a business-centric c-suite executive, innovator, and board Member, I lead disruptive transformation through 30+ years in the development and commercialization of digital learning products for wide-ranging audiences. I bring a career of leadership roles across EdTech companies, for-profits, non-profits, PE firms, and educational institutions. Board governance and advisory roles include two public companies, 35+ private companies, and five non-profits that include charitable organizations and higher education institutions.
I’m pursuing a public or larger private company board seeking to develop, expand, or acquire innovative digital learning as part of their digital product strategy, and advise through deep insight honed from the intersection of technology, learning products, and innovation. I bring deep connections as well as experience in CEO and board succession planning, M&A, strategy and product evaluation. Leadership achievements:
• Commercialized 8 innovative, digital learning products across software, platforms, open/shared education resources websites, and online modules for Curriki.org, MSFT, McGraw-Hill Inc., TENET, Claris Inc., and others.
• Partnered with Microsoft to develop MSFT’s first children’s software product, Creative Writer and Fine Artist. Led as Executive Director of Curriki, and delivered one of the most innovative, robust global open source education communities with Sun Microsystems with +250K members and +40K resources in the first 4 years.
• Envision strategic M&A synergy of how two companies will increase stakeholder value. Acquired and sold Swiss culinary school; acquired MediaSeek, Homework Central, and Get a Clue; served as Interim President of Edunetics Ltd after acquisition, growing successfully.
• Invested in 35+ start-ups through PE and leadership at Penn in programs to train entrepreneurs including a Masters in Entrepreneurship in Education and EDSi, an educational technology. Invested $45M in through Core Learning Group.
Katina Papulkas
Senior Education Strategist, Dell Technologies
Katina Papulkas
Senior Education Strategist, Dell Technologies
Katina Papulkas is an Education Strategist at Dell Technologies and is committed to serving students from K-20 across Canada. Katina is an experienced educator with a background in teaching, online learning, educational leadership, assessment, and educational technology. In her two-decade tenure in education she has been an elementary teacher and a central instructional leader where she designed and implemented system-wide initiatives around the effective integration of technology into the curriculum. Additionally, Katina served as an administrator of a middle school at the Toronto District School Board. Most recently, she was the Director of Educational Partnerships at Television Ontario (TVO) where she focused on the design and development of digital learning resources in a cross functional and agile environment. Katina holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Technology from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Maxim Jean-Louis
Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord
Maxim Jean-Louis
Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord
Maxim Jean-Louis is President – Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education and Training Network, headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Maxim worked in senior management roles for over 15 years at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada’s open university.
He is also a member of the Comité consultatif en matière d’éducation postsecondaire en langue française dans les régions du Centre et du Sud-ouest.
Maxim is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the World University Service of Canada and of the Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario, as well as a past member of Ontario’s Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, and he served as a member of the Canadian Advisory Mission to support the implementation of the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority. He also served as President of Collège des Grands Lacs, one of Ontario’s three French-language community colleges.
In 2011, Maxim was appointed Special Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for an Ontario Online Institute, producing a 125-page report and recommendations to the Minister on opportunities for online learning in the province.
Clive-Anthony Stanberry
Data Engineer, NFL
Clive-Anthony Stanberry
Data Engineer, NFL
Clive is a passionate advocate for the intersection of education and technology. Currently serving as a Data Engineer at the NFL, he is living his dream, leveraging data to enhance the world of sports. Prior to his role at the NFL, Clive honed his skills as a data scientist, diving deep into the intricacies of data analysis and its applications. A proud alumnus of the University of London, Clive's academic background laid the foundation for his professional journey. Today, he is excited to share his insights and experiences at the forefront of Data Science, AI, & Education Technology, inspiring others to harness the power of data in their respective fields.
Doug Currie
VP Corporate Services, Strategic Development and Stakeholder Relations, Holland College
Doug Currie
VP Corporate Services, Strategic Development and Stakeholder Relations, Holland College
Currently Vice President at Holland College in Prince Edward Island leading all Corporate Services, Strategic Development and Stakeholder Relations. A former Minister of Health, Education Early Learning and Culture and Minister of Family and Human Services. Demonstrated leadership in Federal, Provincial and Territorial ministerial relationships in health, seniors, housing and education. A successful 20 year career in school administration and education. Skilled in coaching, leadership, public speaking, strategic development, team building, and community relations. Holds a Master of Education MEd focused in Counselling Psychology from UNB, and a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts.
Diego Magalhaes
Chief Technologist for AWS focused on Education and Partners for the Public-Sector team in Canada
Diego Magalhaes
Chief Technologist for AWS focused on Education and Partners for the Public-Sector team in Canada
Diego is a Chief Technologist for AWS focused on Education and Partners for the Public-Sector team in Canada; responsible for strategic customers, Executive relationships, and tech excellence within EdTechs and Startups. Leader of multiple worldwide engagements in Research, SaaS, Subscription lifecycle, AdTech, Serverless, and Management & Governance at AWS. Seasoned professional speaker and content creator. Before AWS, Diego led the engineering teams responsible for the worldwide deployment of Mobile App Subscription marketplace present in 60+ telecom carriers worldwide, with 25million+ customers.
CROSS CANADA CHECKUP PANEL: The State of EdTech
Gain Valuable Insights From Canadian and Global Experts on The State of EdTech in Canada
Robert Martellacci
Founder & Conference Chair
Robert Martellacci
Founder & Conference Chair
Robert Martellacci (MA EdTech) is president of MindShare Learning Technology, Canada’s leading EdTech strategy, news & events company he founded in 2001. Mr. Martellacci is also president & co-founder of C21 Canada—Canadians for 21st Century Learning & Innovation.
Mr. Martellacci is a lifelong learner who is committed to connecting business and education to transform learning in the 21st century to support student success. He completed a transformational learning journey as a mature student earning a master’s in educational technology from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California which inspired the creation of the MindShare Learning Report—Canada’s Learning & Technology eMagazine.
Mr. Martellacci has over 25 years of expertise and thought leadership in education as a former university administrator at York University; he also launched The Learning Company School Division for Kevin O’Leary which was the catalyst to forming his start-up MindShare Learning following the Mattel acquisition.
One of Martellacci’s signature slogans, “until next time, keep the learning curve steep.”
Peter Singh
Executive Officer – IT Services, TDSB
Peter Singh
Executive Officer – IT Services, TDSB
Peter brings 23+ years of K-12 sector technology know-how to his CTO portfolio. He has been at the forefront of bringing innovative technologies to the Toronto District School Board. He’s a practitioner of emotional intelligence who is spearheading the TDSB “Information Technology Services” team from a digital era to Quantum Age of Information Technology.
Bonnie Schmidt
Founder and President of Let’s Talk Science
Bonnie Schmidt
Founder and President of Let’s Talk Science
- I am the founder and President of Let’s Talk Science, an award-winning, national charitable organization that I started while completing my PhD in Physiology at Western University. Let’s Talk Science helps children and youth fulfill their potential and prepare for their future careers and citizenship roles by supporting their learning and engagement through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Let's Talk Science has achieved well over 15 million interactions with children, youth and educators since its inception.
- I am very interested in supporting education systems change and led the development of a series of reports that underscore the importance of engaging youth in STEM education. During 2016-18, I also spearheaded Canada 2067, an ambitious, collaborative initiative to shape the future of STEM education. That project led to international opportunities to support STEM learning, including a project with the Inter-American Network of Academies of Science and ongoing work supporting initiatives in Nepal. Canada 2067 findings, and subsequent reports such as the Climate Action Lab, inform Let's Talk Science's work and showcased the critical importance of youth voice.
- An active contributor to the scientific and education communities, I currently serve on the Genome Canada Board of Directors and am a member of the Federal Government’s AI Public Awareness Working Group. In 2020 I was a member of the PISA Expert Strategic Visioning Group to the OECD, which set about developing a new vision for the international science test that is administered in 80+ countries.
- Notable prior volunteer contributions include Chairing the National Leadership Taskforce on Education & Skills for the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC); MItacs Science Policy Fellowship Committee; Ontario Tech University Board of Governors; Ontario Genomics Board of Directors; Founding Co-Chair of the Science and Technology Awareness Network (STAN) and more.
- Committed to governance excellence, I completed the Directors' Education Program at the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto and acquired ICD.D designation.
Dr. Ron Owston
Professor Emeritus, York University
Dr. Ron Owston
Professor Emeritus, York University
Dr. Ron Owston is University Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar at York University, as well as former Dean of the Faculty of Education, and founding Director of the Institute for Research in Learning Technologies.
A pioneer in teaching and learning with the web since its early days, Dr. Owston specializes in the evaluation of technology-based educational programs in K12, government, higher education, and continuing professional education. He has spoken at numerous national and international conferences about blended and online learning, authored/co-authored some 50 commissioned studies, and published over 60 articles in top-tier journals, including Educational Researcher, Teachers College Record, Research in the Teaching of English, Journal of Computer-Based Instruction, Journal of Information Technology in Teacher Education, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Internet & Higher Education, and Journal of Research on Computing in Education.
Dr. Owston published one of the first academic examinations of the role of the Web for teaching and learning in Educational Researcher in 1997. His work has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Health Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, the Canadian Fund for Innovation, and a variety of school districts and industry partners. Over the last several years his publications have addressed blended learning in higher education courses.
Currently, Dr. Owston ranks among the most cited blended learning researchers in the world in Google Scholar. Having retired from York in 2018, he is now actively engaged in research, consulting, and public speaking, and is a research associate at Contact North|Contact Nord, where he leads a successful series of webinars on the use of Zoom for teaching which over 10,000 educators around the world have registered for or downloaded.
Tom D’Amico
Director of Education, Ottawa Catholic School Board
Tom D’Amico
Director of Education, Ottawa Catholic School Board
Thomas D’Amico was appointed Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ottawa Catholic School Board in August 2020. Previous to that, he served as the Associate Director of Education from 2015 to 2020. Mr. D’Amico has over 30 years of experience in education, including as a teacher, school administrator, and Superintendent of Human Resources and Superintendent of Learning Technologies. He is an award-winning educator recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Canada’s Outstanding Principal award. As a Superintendent, he received the EXL award to recognize excellence among members of the superintendency.
Mr. D’Amico holds a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in Physical Education from the University of Ottawa. He obtained his Honours in Physical Education from McMaster University. Tom also holds an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor Law Department. On a personal level, Tom is involved with his local parish, St. John the Evangelist. He is also an off-ice official with the NHL. Tom and his wife Michelle have two daughters, Laura and Christina, both graduates of the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
Melissa Dent
Teacher at Lambton Kent District School Board, ON
Melissa Dent
Teacher at Lambton Kent District School Board, ON
I am an experienced educator with a passion for cultivating curiosity, ingenuity, and risk-taking in my students, recently recognized by the Prime Minister for teaching excellence in STEM. I love to use technology combined with adventure to immerse students in active learning to become better global citizens. I am passionate about finding new and dynamic ways to facilitate lifelong learners to discover their zeal. I have worked as an educational technology consultant, an esports coach, and an Art, Music and Virtual teacher K-12. I am a committed learner who teaches grade 7 in Southern Ontario with Lambton Kent DSB.
Aman Sahota
Co-Founder at Ei Amplified -Canadian EdTech Startup of the Year
Aman Sahota
Co-Founder at Ei Amplified -Canadian EdTech Startup of the Year
Aman is currently working on a startup www.eiamplified.com that was named Canadian EdTech Startup of the Year and was apart of Top 21 of 2021 in Learning & Technology. He focus on data and experiential learning
Ethan Farmer
Third-place winner, Canadian Schools of the Future [Student] Invention Challenge 2023
Ethan Farmer
Third-place winner, Canadian Schools of the Future [Student] Invention Challenge 2023
Ethan Farmer was the Third-Place Winner of the Canadian Schools of the Future [Student] Invention Challenge 2023, from Blessed Carlo Virtual School, An
@OttCatholicSB virtual elementary school for students in K-6.
Watch Ethan's Submission Video Here!
EXPERT PANEL PRESENTATIONS
1. CIO Panel Designing Scalable Bulletproof Learning Environments with a Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Lens
Peter Singh
Executive Officer – IT Services, TDSB
Peter Singh
Executive Officer – IT Services, TDSB
Peter brings 23+ years of K-12 sector technology know-how to his CTO portfolio. He has been at the forefront of bringing innovative technologies to the Toronto District School Board. He’s a practitioner of emotional intelligence who is spearheading the TDSB “Information Technology Services” team from a digital era to Quantum Age of Information Technology.
Diane Doersch
Senior Director of Information Technology, Digital Promise & Senior Director of Information Technology Digital Promise (WI), Cosn
Diane Doersch
Senior Director of Information Technology, Digital Promise & Senior Director of Information Technology Digital Promise (WI), Cosn
Diane W. Doersch is the Senior Director of Information Technology at Digital Promise. She was formerly a Chief Technology & Information Officer of a large Wisconsin School District. As a former classroom teacher, she has been involved in education for over 36 years. Diane holds a Masters Degree in Educational Technology from Lesley University and possesses her Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) National Certificate from CoSN. Diane was a founding member and served as president of the WISEDash Local Consortium, a group of Wisconsin School Districts who built their own data warehouse. She is currently president of Northeast Wisconsin Women in Technology (WIT), an organization devoted to attracting, educating, and supporting women in the field of Technology. She is also the Consortium of School Networking's (CoSN) National Chair and leads the Board of Directors. Diane is passionate about helping IT leaders grow and providing technology opportunities to ALL students to be college, career, and community ready, inspired to succeed in our diverse world.
Kurt Binnie
Director Innovation and Technology, Lester B. Pearson School Board
Kurt Binnie
Director Innovation and Technology, Lester B. Pearson School Board
Senior IT executive and recognized leader and innovator in the strategic use of Information technology. Focus and vision include pushing the boundaries of the use of technology to transform higher education to meet the needs of today's global digital learners, researchers, their partners and collaborators. Expert in design and delivery of cost-effective, high-performance information technology and information communications infrastructure, and applications, in complex environments. successful early adopter of cloud services. Regularly consulted by the media and organizations as an expert on the transformational power of cloud, cloud security and privacy issues and effectively moving from IT strategy to results.
Senior management roles held over the past 15 years, at some of the premier higher education institutions in Canada, including Osgoode Hall Law School, the Schulich School of Business and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).
A visionary and strong leader recognized for building and motivating exceptional teams. Successfully completed multiple organizational restructuring and change management projects within multi-faceted teams. Solutions-oriented innovator and highly analytical senior information technology executive with effective leadership, communication, decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
Geoff Edwards
Co-Chair, Superintendent of Learning Technologies Ottawa Catholic School Board
Geoff Edwards
Co-Chair, Superintendent of Learning Technologies Ottawa Catholic School Board
Superintendent of Learning Technologies at the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Responsibilities for the St. Joseph and Notre Dame Families of Schools.
Timothy King
2023 Cisco Netacad Innovation Architect & Shooting Star winner. IT & cybersecurity technician who thrives in emerging tech spaces.
Timothy King
2023 Cisco Netacad Innovation Architect & Shooting Star winner. IT & cybersecurity technician who thrives in emerging tech spaces.
35 years in Information Technology, 22 years as a teacher. I publish regularly on emerging technology and digitally empowered pedagogical best practices. Motorcycles, mechanics, philosophy, cybersecurity, quantum emergence and ICT are sometimes topics too. Curriculum reviewer and writer at the provincial and national levels, currently seconded to ICTC to raise digital literacy in Canada.
Specializations & training: Honours BA in English & Philosophy, certified IT & network technician, certified Ontario Teacher ('04) with qualifications in: English, History, Visual Arts & computer technology. In 2019 I became the first high school instructor in Canada qualified as a Cisco CCNA Cyber Operations Instructor.
Awards: Skills Ontario/Canada 9x medalist coach & Ontario IT & Networking Champs in 2016 & 2018. Provincial & national gold medalist coach in 3d Animation in 2022. We were national finalists in CyberTitan in 2018 (5th in Canada) and 2019 (top female team in the country), 2020 (5th in Canada). 2021, 2 national finalist teams: top female wildcard and Top Defenders. 2022, top five finalists yet again. I'm an ICTC ICT Teacher Champion, ECOO/ISTE Making IT Happen award winner, 2021 winner of the NCWIT Educators' Award for supporting girls in technology engagement, 2021 UGDSB Everyday Hero award winner, 2021 OTIP/OFT Teaching Award, and 2023 Cisco Network Academy Alumni finalist for innovation.
I'm a staunch advocate of diversifying technology training, especially in encouraging girls into the pathway. I regularly publish stories, articles and curriculum in Canada, the US and the UK, as well as writing a textbook chapter and doing professional writing work for a variety of provincial and federal organizations focused on education and technology. Along with my writing, my photography has been published online, on television and in print internationally.
Goals: Continue to explore pathways into viable 21st Century careers for my students (AI is about to go quantum). Advocate for digital transliteracy for all students since they will all be using this technology in the future and should know how it works. Continue to pursue competitive technological opportunities in order to stay at the sharp end. Advocate for greater awareness of critical ICT infrastructure and especially cybersecurity in the classroom. Publish my WW2 historical fiction novel (I've had 4 publishing offers and am currently exploring options).
Peter Prochilo
Superintendent of Education, Sudbury Catholic District School Board
Peter Prochilo
Superintendent of Education, Sudbury Catholic District School Board
Peter Prochilo is currently a Superintendent of Education with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. His portfolio includes the supervision of all Secondary Schools, Secondary Curriculum, Alternative and Adult Education, International Education and the Remote/Virtual School
Peter leads with a passion for equity of access and enhanced student pathways as he supports students, staff and school communities as they collectively strive for improved outcomes for all.
2. A CanAm Lens to Empowering, Courageous Leadership in achieving Sustainable Digital Transformation in Education embracing both AI & HI
Kathy Hurley
President, Kathy Hurley Consulting LLC, Co-Founder, Girls Thinking Global & Former EVP Pearson Foundation and Industry Consultant
Kathy Hurley
President, Kathy Hurley Consulting LLC, Co-Founder, Girls Thinking Global & Former EVP Pearson Foundation and Industry Consultant
Kathy has over forty years of experience in the education industry in both traditional publishing and the ed tech sectors. Kathy began her career as a special education teacher before moving to the private sector side of the industry. She has worked in sales, marketing and business development for DLM, IBM, The Learning Company, Grolier, Mindscape, Skillsbank, NetSchool, PLATO Learning and Pearson and the Pearson Foundation.
In addition to her work as an executive, Kathy has served on numerous education and industry boards including ISTE 100, CoSN, NSBF, SIIA, AEP/AAP, NCEA, AASA Advisory Board. She currently serves on the boards of NCTET People to People, Asia Society, Spark 101, Women s Education Project, and in 2009-2010, Kathy served as the Chair for the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).
In 2014, Kathy retired from Pearson after being with the company for ten years. Kathy, along with her colleague, Deb deVries, founded a new global non-profit, Girls Thinking Global, which seeks to connect changemakers to girls empowerment organizations across the world. She is also serving as an industry consultant and working with several companies in the ed tech sector. She is a co-editor with Priscilla Shumway of a book called "Real Women Real Leaders" which is being published in April by Wiley Publishing. Kathy completed the Harvard Advanced Leadership Program in 2014.
Lisa Schmucki
Founder & CEO, edWeb.net
Lisa Schmucki
Founder & CEO, edWeb.net
Lisa Schmucki is the founder and CEO of edWeb.net, an award-winning professional learning network that serves the global education community. edWeb helps educators share their best ideas and practices to improve teaching and learning, and prepare students to be successful in life. Previously, Lisa held senior marketing and product development positions in education, publishing and media with Time, Macmillan, Peterson's, Films Media Group, and Achieve3000. She is a graduate of Princeton University and works with the university on issues of undergraduate social life and community service. Lisa has a Masters Degree from the Stern School of Business at NYU. Lisa has served on the board of the SIIA Education Technology Industry Network and is on the Advisory Council for the ERDI Education Impact Alliance.
Berj Akian
Founder & CEO, ClassLink
Berj Akian
Founder & CEO, ClassLink
Berj Akian founded ClassLink in 1998. What started as an effort to help one local school with their technology plan became ClassLink. Today, ClassLink serves students and teachers around the world. Berj has been a panelist, presenter, and moderator at hundreds of conferences and webinars with industry experts on various aspects of education technology. His ongoing work with school and industry leaders for almost two decades gives him a front row seat on technology in the learning process and the use of data to improve learning outcomes. He has authored many articles for industry journals and has judged many education and technology industry award programs.
Jennifer Ferrari
CEO & President of Education Research & Development Institute
Jennifer Ferrari
CEO & President of Education Research & Development Institute
Learning leader with an entrepreneurial mindset focused on ensuring bright futures for all students. Advocating for and leading research and development efforts to promote and enhance high quality public education opportunities for all. Supporting professional growth and development through rich dialogue and discourse, collaborative learning, and meaningful feedback. Expertise in PK-12 education, strategic planning, leadership development, curriculum & instruction, and the PK-12 education market. Striving for deep impact through thought leadership and collaboration between district and industry leaders.
Kristina Ishmael
Deputy Director, Office of Ed Tech U.S. Department of Education
Kristina Ishmael
Deputy Director, Office of Ed Tech U.S. Department of Education
Kristina Ishmael is an educator, learner, advocate, and agent of change. As the leader of the Office of Ed Tech, she executes the office's mission of developing national edtech policy that enables everywhere, all-the-time learning and supports digital equity and opportunity.
In her nearly two-decade education career, Ishmael has worked at the federal, state, and school level, allowing her to develop a unique perspective on policy and practice and a vast network from whom she continues to learn and share. Most recently, she worked as an educational consultant and Sr. Research Fellow on New America’s Teaching, Learning, & Tech team, where she advised on the inclusive technology portfolio at the intersection of open education, digital equity, and culturally responsive and sustaining education.
Ishmael's impressive career in education also includes her work as the Digital Learning Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education, where she led professional learning, developed policy, and advocated for school librarians. This experience granted her a unique perspective on leveraging educational technology in urban, suburban, and rural school systems. Before her state leadership role, Kristina started as an early childhood and elementary teacher of emerging bilingual students in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kristina Ishmael has become a respected voice in the world of education and edtech and is a fierce advocate for equity and access to quality education for all learners.
Julia Fallon
Executive Director, SETDA
Julia Fallon
Executive Director, SETDA
Julia Fallon is the Executive Director of SETDA, where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations.
Involved with learning technologies since 1989, her professional interest lies in making the case for public school systems wherein educators are able to optimize technology-rich learning environments to equitably engage the learners who fill their classrooms.
Prior to joining SETDA as the executive director in 2021, Julia worked for Washington’s K-12 education agency, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as the Title II, Part A Program Lead, where she provided operational leadership and oversight of the federal program designed to improve the quality of instruction and administration. In her previous role as the state’s Technology Integration Program Manager, she streamlined strategic planning for districts, championed robust professional learning programming for educators, and advocated for smart, flexible network policies. Representing Washington, she was a longtime SETDA state member and had been instrumental in the leadership of the organization as a member of the Board of Directors serving in various board positions including board chairman.
Julia holds a master’s degree in educational technology from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in business education from New York University. She was the 2019 recipient of the SETDA State Leader of the Year award, and was also a recipient of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Making IT Happen and the Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE) President’s awards.
3. Designing Your Ultimate Learning Environment of the Future
Karen Yamada
Chief Learning Office & CFO, C21 Canada
Karen Yamada
Chief Learning Office & CFO, C21 Canada
Karen has enjoyed a 37-year career in leadership and collaboration with an ongoing focus on learning innovations in technology and assessment. Karen has been privileged to serve leader roles of influence in classrooms, schools, professional networks, district, government and post-secondary organizations, with continued service nationally and internationally.
Dr. Mario Chiasson
Director of Research, Innovations and Change Management at District scolaire francophone Sud
Dr. Mario Chiasson
Director of Research, Innovations and Change Management at District scolaire francophone Sud
Dr. Mario Chiasson is known for his practical insights on learning innovation. He is experienced and equipped to make big things happen. As the founder of My Learning My Space, Mario has helped countless organizations and institutions (schools, districts, ministries, colleges, universities, business and communities) to navigate through disruptive change, develop innovation capabilities and drive continuous improvement. From startups and small projects to educational and community reform.
Mario is a researcher that focuses on the design of spaces that influence the learning and the teaching process of new skills aligned with the innovative society. He holds a Bachelors degree in Physical Education with two concentration (Math and Science), a Masters in school administration with a focus on ICT and a Ph.D in Education at Université de Moncton, New-Brunswick, Canada. He is a Microsoft Innovative Teacher, a Cisco IT Essential Teacher, an Apple Distinguished Educator, an Apple Certified Trainer.
Michael Campbell
President, Advancing Global EDU
Michael Campbell
President, Advancing Global EDU
Michael Campbell is the founder and President at Advancing Global EDU.
Michael is known as a connector in the education industry. Michael’s passion for improving education through innovation has helped private and not-for-profit organizations market solutions that support the learning community. While serving in various strategic executive marketing management positions in PK – 20 technology and publishing industry, Michael has championed industry innovations in data management, learning, and student engagement strategies. Helping to influence growth and innovation in the industry. Prior to his current position at Advancing Global EDU, Inc., Michael held leadership positions with Forward Thinking EDU, Learning Bird, Follett Software Company, ETA hand2mind, Pearson, Cengage and McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Michael also works with the Ontario, Canada MaRS program as a program mentor and an Advisor to companies in their Learning start-up community and serves on various boards including the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.
Helen Pereira-Raso
BA (Hons), BEd, MEd, Head of School, (HTS) Holy Trinity School, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Helen Pereira-Raso
BA (Hons), BEd, MEd, Head of School, (HTS) Holy Trinity School, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Helen Pereira-Raso has dedicated her career to inspiring students to be creative, engaged and curious learners who are fully prepared for life. In her role as Head of School at Holy Trinity School (HTS) and HTS Online, Helen brings a forward- thinking, progressive approach to education that is the foundation for HTS’s reputation as leaders in learning.
Helen’s career as an educational leader has always focussed on what matters most — developing a school culture in which all learners, adult and young alike, are able to explore, create and learn in meaningful ways. She is committed to professional learning as essential in the journey of educators and has led workshops globally. A visionary leader, Helen has been instrumental in building the HTS Learning Network ensuring all learners, adult and young, thrive. Her leadership and innovative approaches, combined with her passion and commitment to developing learning environments that inspire all learners, are what drive her life’s work.
Fred Dixon
CEO of Blindside Networks, co-founder of BigBlueButton
Fred Dixon
CEO of Blindside Networks, co-founder of BigBlueButton
Fred Dixon is the CEO of Blindside Networks, the company that started the BigBlueButton project to create the worlds best web conferencing system for online learning.
While BigBlueButton implements all the core features you would expect in any commercial web conferencing system (but under an open source license), we've focused on extending its features towards promoting engagement of users to foster learning. It's engagement features include multi-user white board, breakout rooms, shared notes, polling, and emojis.
The market for online learning is large. More importantly, access to quality education is a core part tackling the worlds problems as outlined by the United Nations (see https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/).
For more information on our project and accomplishments to date, see https://bigbluebutton.org/.
Luc Goudreault
CEO, Vireo
Luc Goudreault
CEO, Vireo
With over 15 years of experience in education, mainly in the EdTech space, Luc has had the pleasure of working with governments, ministries, education departments, administrators, teachers, students and business partners across the country and internationally, primarily in the implementation and deployment of digital learning solutions. His interpersonal skills and collaborative approach have allowed him to accumulate a valuable network of international contacts in the fields of education and technology.
His training and expertise are focused on organizational and human development. Luc excels in implementing organizational strategies and developing optimal teams to generate growth.