DON'T MISS OUR FEATURED SPEAKERS
SUMMIT CO-CHAIR
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.”
SUMMIT CO-CHAIR
Dr. Brett Caraway
Director, Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM)
Dr. Brett Caraway
Director, Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM)
Dr. Brett Caraway is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, where he serves as the Program Director for the Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM) program within the Institute for Management and Innovation (IMI). He also holds appointments with the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology; the Faculty of Information; and the School of the Environment. Prior to joining the University of Toronto, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His research explores the intersections of technological innovation, economics, and sustainability. He is the author of Digital Media Economics (SAGE) and has published in journals such as the Journal of Outdoor Recreation & Tourism–Research Planning & Management, IEEE Multimedia, Media, Culture & Society, Environmental Communication, Information, Communication & Society, and Communication Theory.
OPENING KEYNOTE
JOIN US FOR THE FIRESIDE CHAT PANEL
"Charting the Course on AI & Humanity
Building Trust, Equity & Sustainability in Education"
Room: Rotunda
Moderators: Robert Martellacci & Dr. Brett Caraway
Minister Evan Solomon
Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Minister Evan Solomon
Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Evan Solomon is Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Before entering politics, he was a well-known Canadian journalist, television host, and publisher, working with CBC, CTV, and GZERO Media. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre in the 2025 federal election and appointed to Cabinet by Prime Minister Mark Carney, where he now leads Canada's AI and digital innovation agenda while also supporting economic development in Southern Ontario.
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.
Dr. Tom D’Amico
Retired Director of Education, OCSB
Dr. Tom D’Amico
Retired Director of Education, OCSB
Dr. Tom D’Amico is a motivational speaker, education consultant, and workshop facilitator. He is the former Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. As the President of AI Leadership Consulting, Tom now supports senior leadership teams with change management and leadership to implement AI across school districts.
Tom has 35 years of experience in education. An award-winning educator, he received the Prime Minister’s Award for teaching excellence, and was named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals. As a Director of Education he was recognized by his peers with the Distinguished Leadership award. As CEO of the OCSB his district was recognized as the top K-12 EdTech district in Canada for their work in implementing and scaling AI across their district.
Tom has presented across Canada on the topics of educational technology, leadership, education reform, and AI in Education. Tom served as the Canadian co-lead for New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), a global partnership of over 3000 schools across 20 countries focused on education reform and the development of global competencies.
Tom holds an Osgoode certificate in education law; a workplace mental health leadership certificate, a diversity and inclusive management certificate, an executive certificate in conflict management, and safe schools certification.
Tom has been an off-ice official with the NHL for 27 years, and prior to his career in education was the general manager of Ottawa’s professional soccer team, The Ottawa Intrepid.
Dr. Tracey Burns
Chief Research Officer, Senior Analyst, OECD (Seconded) , National Center on Education and the Economy
Dr. Tracey Burns
Chief Research Officer, Senior Analyst, OECD (Seconded) , National Center on Education and the Economy
Tracey has authored numerous articles, reports, books, and book chapters, most recently What Schools for the Future? Leadership for Uncertainty; Trends Shaping Education 2022; Back to the Future of Education: Four OECD Scenarios for Schooling; Education in the Digital Age: Happy and Healthy Children and Educating 21 st Century Children: Emotional Well-Being in the Digital Age.
Previous to her time at the OECD she conducted research on language acquisition in children and newborn infants and was an award-winning lecturer on child development. Tracey holds a B.A. from McGill University, Canada, and a PhD in experimental psychology from Northeastern University, United States.
Curtis Carmichael
Cofounder & CEO Shurii
Curtis Carmichael
Cofounder & CEO Shurii
Curtis Carmichael is a Canadian entrepreneur, educator, bestselling author, and the Co-founder & CEO of shuriii, an education technology company developing responsible AI solutions for K–12 school districts. A self-taught computer engineer, he has become one of Canada's leading voices on the future of education, artificial intelligence, and STEM learning. In recognition of his impact, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Education in 2023.
Dr. Lev Gonick
Chief Information Officer
Dr. Lev Gonick
Chief Information Officer
Dr. Lev Gonick is the Enterprise Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Arizona State University (ASU), one of the world's most innovative universities. He oversees ASU's enterprise technology strategy, leading the infrastructure, digital services, analytics, artificial intelligence initiatives, and emerging technologies that support more than 180,000 students, faculty, and staff. In addition to his CIO role, he serves as a Professor of Practice and is a Senior Global Futures Scientist, helping shape how technology can improve higher education and society.